Wollongong is an established residential and commercial area, which continues to experience growth. Settlement of the area dates from the 1820's, with growth taking place in the 1880's into the early 1900's, spurred by the opening of the railway line.

Wollongong the eighth largest city in New South Wales stands by example as a fine place to springboard into the rest of the New South Wales' South Coast pleasures.

Australian history buffs will definitely want to discover facts about Wollongong's major foundation in coalmining and one of it's main establishments Port Kembla Steel Works (Blue Scope Steel).

Major features in the area include Wollongong Crown Street Mall, Wollongong Central Shopping Centre, Wollongong City Gallery, Illawarra Museum, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (Merrigong Theatre Company) WIN Sports Entertainment Centre, WIN Stadium, University of Wollongong, TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute, Wollongong Botanic Gardens, Wollongong Golf Course, Flagstaff Hill Park, Market Square, Viva La Gong Annual Festival, Wollongong Harbour Belmore Basin, MacCabe Park, Five Islands Brewery Company, Hangdog Climbing Gym and Wollongong Visitor Information Centre.