Day 20 – 8,805 KM. Town 33: A short drive from Unanderra took me to the coastal town of Wollongong (a name which is believed to mean “sound of the sea” in the local Aboriginal language) and the 9th largest city in Australia with a population of 285,000.
I had read earlier that Wollongong is the only place in the east of Australia to have two lighthouses located in close proximity of each other. I wanted to see this for myself and appreciate just how close was close. Following a few town roads east soon took me to the beachside where the larger of the two lighthouses can easily be spotted – Wollongong Head Lighthouse. With good weather, excellent views and well maintained grass surrounds the Head Lighthouse was proving to be a very popular site as people enjoyed the day overlooking a rather industrial view of heavy industrial plants to the south of the town.
Wollongong Head Lighthouse
The smaller Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse (pictured at the top of this page) is also known as Old Wollongong Lighthouse and is indeed located just a short walk away down an incline in the Belmore Basin on the southern breakwater. Built in 1871 and used until 1974 its 103 year service endeared it to the locals who now restore and maintain it for future generations and light it only for special occasions.
A local photographer undertakes a fashion shoot.
Wollongong has also found limited fame though being the the home of a fictional professional Quidditch team, the Woollongong Warriors [sic]. They meet and play regularly but only within the pages of the Quidditch Through the Ages book by J. K. Rowling.
Finally, had I decided to base my trip on the infamous ABC “Aunty Jack” version of the I’ve been everywhere song, my journey would now be ended…
I’ve been ev’rywhere, man,
I’ve been ev’rywhere, man;
Crossed the desert sand, man;
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I’ve had my share, man;
I’ve been ev’rywhere.
I’ve been to Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,
Yeah, I’ve been everywhere!