Port Kembla, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Port Kembla is a suburb of Wollongong 8 km south of the CBD and part of the Illawarra
region of New South Wales
. The suburb comprises a seaport, industrial complex (one of the largest in Australia), a small harbour foreshore nature reserve
, and a small commercial sector. It is situated on the tip of Red Point, first sighted by Captain James Cook
in 1770. The name "Kembla" is Aboriginal word meaning "plenty wildfowl".
and Red Point. Hill 60, originally the site of an Aboriginal settlement, was used by the army during World War II to make a coastal gun emplacement known as Illowra Battery
. In September 1942, Aboriginal inhabitants were forcibly evicted from the area. It has remained in the army's ownership and is now a public lookout reserve, despite a vigorous campaign to return some of the land to its Aboriginal owners.
steelworks operations on Springhill Road and throughout North Port Kembla.
Other notable industrial operations in the suburb are: Port Kembla Coal Terminal, Port Kembla Copper, Port Kembla Port Corporation, Incitec, Adstream
Services, Port Kembla Gateway and GrainCorp.
The station has one side platform, used for terminating trains. It is served by approximately one train per hour, usually a local service to Thirroul, but extra direct trains to and from Sydney are provided in the peak hours.
Pacific National
operates daily coal trains to the Inner Harbour section of the port, and into the blast furnace section of the steelworks.
Downer Rail has a workshop opposite the CityRail passenger terminus that services diesel powered locomotives for Pacific National
.
As part of the state governments plan to divert ships containing auto mobiles, the port has received significant upgrades and infrastructure including a new Maritime Office and many jobs have been created as the need for port logistics grows. Patrick Corporation
holds a contract for integrated port services in the harbour and transports goods by road or rail through its parent company Pacific National
.
Home grounds are Noel Mulligan Oval
Home grounds are King George V Park
Home grounds are Darcy Wentworth Park
Home grounds are Kully Bay Park
Port Kembla Rugby League
, Port Kembla Soccer Club and Port Kembla AFL
home grounds are not located in Port Kembla, they all play in parks across Warrawong.
A foreshore park located in walking distance from Port Kembla Beach. Used in summer for Port Kembla Cricket Club home games.
A popular take off area for hang gliders and para gliders, Hill 60 Park has BBQ facilities as well as picnic shelters, seats and tables positioned to enjoy the scenic views.
An award winning beach, seasonally patrolled from September to April and home to the Port Kembla Surf Life Saving Club.
A small sheltered beach at the bottom of Hill 60's eastern side facing the Five Islands Nature Reserve
.
Also known by locals as MM Beach for is close proximity to the Metal Manufacturers site on Gloucester Boulevard. Remenants of a tidal rock pool are still standing near the southern end of the beach below the headland.
, Port Kembla North railway station, New South Wales
, South Coast railway line.
Port Kembla has two railway stations.
Port Kembla railway station
is a CityRail
railway station on the Port Kembla branch of the South Coast railway line. It is the terminus of the branch line, and serves the residential area of Port Kembla.
Port Kembla North
is a CityRail
railway station on the Port Kembla branch of the South Coast railway line. It serves the industrial area of the suburb of Port Kembla to the south-east of Wollongong. The station is the nearest to the BHP Billiton
site in the area.
Both stations have a one sided platform, with the platform at Port Kembla
used for terminating trains. The stations are served by approximately one train per hour, usually a local service to Thirroul, but extra direct trains to and from Sydney
are provided in the peak hours.
. The stack was planned to be demolished in early 2010 at a cost of A$10 million.
As of 6th September 2010 the plans to knock down the stack have been revised by the NSW Department of Planning. These plans include demolition of the existing Port Kembla Copper structures surrounding the chimney, excluding the locally heritage listed Precious Metals Mill Chimney and the Assay Offices. The work is now due to start in the middle of 2011 with a team of 30 workers, under supervision by NSW Police, NSW WorkCover and relevant emergency services at a cost of A$8 million with an expected time frame of 16 months.
Port Kembla's industrial heart has caused significant environmental problems. The heavy industry of the area makes significant emissions of nitrogen oxide
s and other dangerous gases. Gas emissions also result in the formation of acid rain which has caused spotting of metal surfaces and the rapid corrosion of many structures to be reported by locals and other residents in neighbouring suburbs.
Health problems associated with noxious gases are more common. One 1998 study of the industrial areas of Newcastle and Port Kembla found 'an important association between relatively low levels of particulate air pollution and respiratory symptoms' among primary school children. Fallout has also introduced elevated levels of lead and other heavy metals to the soil around Port Kembla and has formed thick deposits in many buildings and industrial structures.
Illawarra
Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
region of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. The suburb comprises a seaport, industrial complex (one of the largest in Australia), a small harbour foreshore nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
, and a small commercial sector. It is situated on the tip of Red Point, first sighted by Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
in 1770. The name "Kembla" is Aboriginal word meaning "plenty wildfowl".
History
Before Port Kembla was an industrial suburb of Wollongong, it was a town with a remarkably self-sufficient society, a growing commercial centre, and a vibrant civic life. Town subdivision began in 1908, and by 1921 there were 1622 residents. Economic expansion propelled further population growth.Industrial Change
A new copper smelter and refinery, the Electrolytic Refinery and Smelting Company of Australia, began production in 1908, followed by the opening of Metal Manufactures in 1917 and finally the arrival of the Hoskins Iron and Steel Works in 1927, which became Australian Iron and Steel in 1928. By 1947 the town's population has increased to 4,960 with smaller satellite suburbs such as Cringila and Lake Heights, mushrooming on its fringes. That year, 1947, marked the climax of a local campaign for municipal autonomy which was ultimately thwarted by the creation of a Greater City of Wollongong. In the post second world war period there was an inexorable decline of a 'Port Kembla' society as local town boundaries were slowly but surely absorbed into a more Wollongong-focused or regional identity.Multiculturalism
Despite the decline from the heyday of the 1920s, the town experienced major social and demographic change in the 1950s and 1960s. Waves of migrants, mostly from the United Kingdom, Italy, Macedonia and Germany, moved to the town. During this period, Port Kembla was on the cusp on changes affecting Australian society generally as new ethic and cultural influences found a place in local society. With its long migration history accommodating waves of migrant workers and their families, Port Kembla is still one of the most culturally diverse suburbs in New South Wales.Hill 60
Port Kembla's highest point, Hill 60, overlooks the Five IslandsFive Islands Nature Reserve
Five Islands Nature Reserve is a 26 ha reserve comprising five islands close to Port Kembla, New South Wales, Australia. The islands - Flinders Islet , Bass Islet, Martin Islet, Big Island and Rocky Islet - lie between 0.5 and 3.5 km off the coast...
and Red Point. Hill 60, originally the site of an Aboriginal settlement, was used by the army during World War II to make a coastal gun emplacement known as Illowra Battery
Illowra Battery
Illowra Battery was an Australian Army coastal battery at Port Kembla, New South Wales, Australia during World War II. It was also known as Hill 60 Battery.-History:...
. In September 1942, Aboriginal inhabitants were forcibly evicted from the area. It has remained in the army's ownership and is now a public lookout reserve, despite a vigorous campaign to return some of the land to its Aboriginal owners.
Industry and Infrastructure
Port Kembla is known for the BlueScope SteelBlueScope Steel
BlueScope Steel is a flat product steel producer with operations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Pacific and North America. It was spun off from BHP Billiton in 2002 as BHP Steel and renamed BlueScope Steel on 17 November 2003...
steelworks operations on Springhill Road and throughout North Port Kembla.
Other notable industrial operations in the suburb are: Port Kembla Coal Terminal, Port Kembla Copper, Port Kembla Port Corporation, Incitec, Adstream
Adstream
Adstream, is global advertising technology company based in London, operating across 25 countries.-Overview:Adstream provides a variety of solutions and services to advertisers, agencies, production agents, publishers and broadcasters to assist with the production, management and distribution of...
Services, Port Kembla Gateway and GrainCorp.
Rail
Port Kembla has a CityRail railway station on the Port Kembla branch of the South Coast railway line. It is the terminus of the branch line, and serves the residential area of the suburb of the same name.The station has one side platform, used for terminating trains. It is served by approximately one train per hour, usually a local service to Thirroul, but extra direct trains to and from Sydney are provided in the peak hours.
Pacific National
Pacific National
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest private rail freight businesses. Originally a joint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings; it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited following the restructure of Toll Holdings....
operates daily coal trains to the Inner Harbour section of the port, and into the blast furnace section of the steelworks.
Downer Rail has a workshop opposite the CityRail passenger terminus that services diesel powered locomotives for Pacific National
Pacific National
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest private rail freight businesses. Originally a joint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings; it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited following the restructure of Toll Holdings....
.
Port
Port Kembla Harbour is a major export location for coal mined in the southern and western regions of New South Wales.As part of the state governments plan to divert ships containing auto mobiles, the port has received significant upgrades and infrastructure including a new Maritime Office and many jobs have been created as the need for port logistics grows. Patrick Corporation
Patrick Corporation
Patrick Corporation Ltd was an Australian publicly listed logistics conglomerate. Headed by CEO Chris Corrigan before it was absorbed by Toll Holdings in 2006, Patrick had interests in shipping, rail and aviation, including a 62% shareholding in airline Virgin Blue...
holds a contract for integrated port services in the harbour and transports goods by road or rail through its parent company Pacific National
Pacific National
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest private rail freight businesses. Originally a joint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings; it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited following the restructure of Toll Holdings....
.
Sporting Teams
Port Kembla has both junior and senior teams in local popular sporting leagues such as:- Port Kembla Rugby LeaguePort Kembla BlacksThe Port Kembla Blacks are a Rugby League team that compete in the Illawarra Rugby League competition.-History:...
in the Illawarra Division Rugby LeagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
Home grounds are Noel Mulligan Oval
- Port Kembla CricketCricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
Club in the Cricket Illawarra Competition
Home grounds are King George V Park
- Port Kembla Soccer Club in the Illawarra Football Association
Home grounds are Darcy Wentworth Park
- Port Kembla AFL Club plays in South Coast AFLAustralian rules footballAustralian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
and AFL Illawarra
Home grounds are Kully Bay Park
Port Kembla Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, Port Kembla Soccer Club and Port Kembla AFL
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
home grounds are not located in Port Kembla, they all play in parks across Warrawong.
Parks and Beaches
Port Kembla has a number of parks, nature reserves, beaches and a Saltwater Olympic pool:- King George V Park
A foreshore park located in walking distance from Port Kembla Beach. Used in summer for Port Kembla Cricket Club home games.
- Hill 60 Park
A popular take off area for hang gliders and para gliders, Hill 60 Park has BBQ facilities as well as picnic shelters, seats and tables positioned to enjoy the scenic views.
- Port Kembla Beach
An award winning beach, seasonally patrolled from September to April and home to the Port Kembla Surf Life Saving Club.
- Fishermans Beach
A small sheltered beach at the bottom of Hill 60's eastern side facing the Five Islands Nature Reserve
Five Islands Nature Reserve
Five Islands Nature Reserve is a 26 ha reserve comprising five islands close to Port Kembla, New South Wales, Australia. The islands - Flinders Islet , Bass Islet, Martin Islet, Big Island and Rocky Islet - lie between 0.5 and 3.5 km off the coast...
.
- North Port Kembla Beach
Also known by locals as MM Beach for is close proximity to the Metal Manufacturers site on Gloucester Boulevard. Remenants of a tidal rock pool are still standing near the southern end of the beach below the headland.
Train
Further information: Port Kembla railway station, New South WalesPort Kembla railway station, New South Wales
-Transport links:Premier Illawarra runs four routes to and from Port Kembla railway station:*34 - to Wollongong*43 - to Dapto*65 - to North Beach*69 - between Westfield Figtree and Westfield Warrawong-Neighbouring stations:...
, Port Kembla North railway station, New South Wales
Port Kembla North railway station, New South Wales
-Neighbouring stations:...
, South Coast railway line.
Port Kembla has two railway stations.
Port Kembla railway station
Port Kembla railway station, New South Wales
-Transport links:Premier Illawarra runs four routes to and from Port Kembla railway station:*34 - to Wollongong*43 - to Dapto*65 - to North Beach*69 - between Westfield Figtree and Westfield Warrawong-Neighbouring stations:...
is a CityRail
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
railway station on the Port Kembla branch of the South Coast railway line. It is the terminus of the branch line, and serves the residential area of Port Kembla.
Port Kembla North
Port Kembla North railway station, New South Wales
-Neighbouring stations:...
is a CityRail
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
railway station on the Port Kembla branch of the South Coast railway line. It serves the industrial area of the suburb of Port Kembla to the south-east of Wollongong. The station is the nearest to the BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
site in the area.
Both stations have a one sided platform, with the platform at Port Kembla
Port Kembla railway station, New South Wales
-Transport links:Premier Illawarra runs four routes to and from Port Kembla railway station:*34 - to Wollongong*43 - to Dapto*65 - to North Beach*69 - between Westfield Figtree and Westfield Warrawong-Neighbouring stations:...
used for terminating trains. The stations are served by approximately one train per hour, usually a local service to Thirroul, but extra direct trains to and from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
are provided in the peak hours.
Bus
Premier Illawarra runs three routes to and from Port Kembla railway station:- 34 - to Wollongong via BerkeleyBerkeley, New South WalesBerkeley is a suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales. The suburb is located in Wollongong's southern suburbs, on the northern shore of Lake Illawarra....
- 43 - to Dapto
- 65 - to North Beach
Port Kembla Chimney Stack
Port Kembla is home to one of Australia's tallest industrial chimneys, a 198 metre tall chimney built in 1965. Port Kembla Primary School was once located adjacent to it but was closed down due to pollution problems from the chimney including lead contaminated soil, acid rain and soot. A warning alarm was fitted to warn of high toxin levels. In November 2008, the Port Kembla stack was inspected and confirmed to have concrete cancerConcrete cancer
Concrete cancer is a colloquial name for the deterioration of concrete caused by the presence of contaminants or the action of weather combined with atmospheric properties. While often used in the context of the rusting of concrete reinforcement bar , the term can equally be applied to any number...
. The stack was planned to be demolished in early 2010 at a cost of A$10 million.
As of 6th September 2010 the plans to knock down the stack have been revised by the NSW Department of Planning. These plans include demolition of the existing Port Kembla Copper structures surrounding the chimney, excluding the locally heritage listed Precious Metals Mill Chimney and the Assay Offices. The work is now due to start in the middle of 2011 with a team of 30 workers, under supervision by NSW Police, NSW WorkCover and relevant emergency services at a cost of A$8 million with an expected time frame of 16 months.
Industrial pollution
Nitrogen oxide
Nitrogen oxide can refer to a binary compound of oxygen and nitrogen, or a mixture of such compounds:* Nitric oxide, also known as nitrogen monoxide, , nitrogen oxide* Nitrogen dioxide , nitrogen oxide...
s and other dangerous gases. Gas emissions also result in the formation of acid rain which has caused spotting of metal surfaces and the rapid corrosion of many structures to be reported by locals and other residents in neighbouring suburbs.
Health problems associated with noxious gases are more common. One 1998 study of the industrial areas of Newcastle and Port Kembla found 'an important association between relatively low levels of particulate air pollution and respiratory symptoms' among primary school children. Fallout has also introduced elevated levels of lead and other heavy metals to the soil around Port Kembla and has formed thick deposits in many buildings and industrial structures.
See also
- BlueScope SteelBlueScope SteelBlueScope Steel is a flat product steel producer with operations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Pacific and North America. It was spun off from BHP Billiton in 2002 as BHP Steel and renamed BlueScope Steel on 17 November 2003...
- Port Kembla Port Corporation