Wollongong

The Tharawal people The Tharawal (also written Dharawal) people are the Traditional Owners of a large stretch of coastal country in New South Wales, extending from the southern shores of Botany Bay south through the Illawarra region to the Shoalhaven River. Their country encompasses the dramatic Illawarra Escarpment, coastal lakes and lagoons, rainforest gullies, and open beaches. The coastline and its rich marine environments sustained Tharawal families for tens of thousands of years. Shell middens, rock engravings, and axe grinding grooves found across the Illawarra provide evidence of continuous occupation and a complex cultural life. The escarpment and its rainforest pockets provided plant foods, timber, and shelter, while the coastal lagoons and rock platforms yielded fish, shellfish, and other marine resources. Today, the Tharawal people maintain their cultural heritage through community organisations and language revitalisation programs. The Dharawal language, closely related to neighbouring coastal languages, is being revived through educational resources and community teaching. The name "Wollongong" itself derives from the Dharawal language, reflecting the deep connection between the language and the landscape of this country.