DISCOVERY

For five days in April, 1770, HMS Endeavour, commanded by then Royal Navy Lieutenant James Cook, remained off Wollongong’s Pacific Ocean coastline. Cook, accompanied by Joseph Banks and others, made their first attempt to land on Australian soil at Collins Rock, north of present-day Wollongong.

Wollongong discovery Lieut James Cook’s April, 1770, journal entry
http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/treasures/mar_treasure.html

Wollongong discovery Joseph Banks’ April, 1770, journal entry
http://www2.sl.nsw.gov.au/banks/series_03/03_611.cfm


Heavy surf and breakers prevented one of the small boats launched from the Endeavour and carrying Cook, Banks and crew from landing on the beach where Aboriginal people had been sighted and where their canoes were drawn up clear of the surf. This beach is near Wollongong’s northern suburb of Woonona. A plaque commemorating the event is located on the headland south of the beach.

Wollongong Aboriginal history
http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/aboriginalhistory.asp


Now, almost 240 years later, Wollongong, bordering Sydney’s Sutherland Shire and the Royal National Park in the north and the City of Shellharbour to the south, occupies regional capital city status for a population catchment approaching 500,000).

Wollongong Royal National Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_National_Park

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutherland_Shire

Wollongong Shellharbour City
http://www.placeleaders.com/index.php?page=shellharbour-city-council