Wollongong, city and port in eastern New South Wales, Australia. It is the state's third-largest city and stands on the Tasman Sea, east of the Illawarra Escarpment, 82 km (51 mi) south of Sydney. The metropolitan area of Wollongong includes several urban centres, lying in an area of coal mining and dairy farming. Port Kembla is a deep-sea port and industrial town: Australia's largest steelworks is there, and iron and coke are also produced; Bulli and Woonona are coal mining towns; and Thirroul is a rail centre. Bricks, textiles, clothing, and foodstuffs are also manufactured. The metropolitan area of Wollongong also includes many seaside resorts. The main campus of Wollongong University 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 262,600 (1999 estimate).
