Wollongong, city in southeastern Australia, located in the state of New South Wales State, on the Tasman Sea, east of the Illawarra Range, 82 km (51 mi) south of Sydney. The metropolitan area of Wollongong includes several urban centers, lying in an area of coal mining and dairy farming. Port Kembla is a deep-sea port and industrial center, and iron, steel, and coke are produced here; Bulli and Woonona are coal-mining towns; and Thirroul is a rail center. Bricks, textiles, apparel, and food products are also manufactured. The metropolitan area of Wollongong also includes many beach-resort areas. The University of Wollongong is in the city. The entire coastal region may be viewed from Mounts Kembla and Keira.
Settled in 1815, Wollongong was established as a town in 1834 and as a municipality, the first in Australia, in 1859. In 1947 various nearby communities, including Port Kembla, were merged into the greater city area of Wollongong. Population (1999 estimate) 262,600.
