Wollongong’s industrial beginnings are making way for ‘leisure and wellbeing’
The physical character and reputation of different places matter a great deal. They affect the quality of life of local residents, as well as the degree to which non-residents might decide to visit, work or invest money in a particular place. While the fortunes of places are often affected by forces beyond their control — as with the Covid-19 pandemic that began in early 2020 — some local actors nonetheless have a major role in determining their character and image. Chief among these actors are local governments. This article examines an important local government initiative in Wollongong, New South Wales. Focused on increasing bike use throughout this former coal mining and steel manufacturing town, the initiative is intended to have wider, transformative effects on how locals and non-locals both view and experience the city.
Wollongong is a ribbon city (that is, long and thin) stretching about 30 kilometres along beautiful coastline. Historically it was a set of small separate settlements established south of Botany Bay by British colonists from the early nineteenth century. Over time, these localities were connected by rail and road. The discovery of coal deposits, the establishment of a steel works and the construction of large port facilities made it a major industrial centre in Australia by the early twentieth century.
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