Culture & History

Shellharbour’s rich history and heritage is here for you to explore. From indigenous communities dating back many thousands of years to European settlement and rapid growth through land grants and agriculture.

The Aboriginal name for Shellharbour has been recorded as both Yerrowah (meeting place) and Wonwin (place where there were big fish).

The Shellharbour City Museum is a wonderful source of history on the Shellharbour area including amazing artefacts and a place where you can learn some interesting facts about our city, stop in to find out more.

Shellharbour’s History comes to life through the free to download Tread Shellharbour App that provides fascinating facts, history and heritage of some of the most interesting locations in shellharbour.

If planes, trains and automobiles are more your thing then a must visit is the HARS Aviation Museum, the Illawarra Light Railway Museum and the Australian Motorlife Museum you will be amazed at what you see and learn.

The Shellharbour Visitor Information Centre has available for purchase historical publications including 150 Years of Shellharbour, Voices of a Lifetime and Shellharbour’s and Albion Park’s Forgotten Cemeteries.