City of Shoalhaven

City of Shoalhaven New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates	35°07′S 150°30′E / 35.117°S 150.500°E / -35.117; 150.500
Population	108,531 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	23.7642/km2 (61.549/sq mi)
Established	1 July 1948 (1948-07-01)
Area	4,567 km2 (1,763.3 sq mi)
Mayor	Amanda Findley
Council seat	Nowra[2]
Region	South Coast
State electorate(s)	South Coast Kiama
Federal division(s)	Gilmore
Website	City of Shoalhaven
LGAs around City of Shoalhaven: Goulburn Mulwaree Wingecarribee Kiama Goulburn Mulwaree City of Shoalhaven Tasman Sea, Jervis Bay Territory (ACT) Queanbeyan–Palerang Eurobodalla Tasman Sea

The City of Shoalhaven is a local government area in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is about 200 kilometres (120 mi) south of Sydney. The Princes Highway passes through the area, and the South Coast railway line traverses the northern section, terminating at Bomaderry. At the 2021 census, the population was 108,531.^[1]

The City was established on 1 July 1948 as the Shoalhaven Shire, following the amalgamation of the Municipalities of Nowra, Berry, Broughton's Vale, Ulladulla, South Shoalhaven, and the shires of Cambewarra and Clyde.^[3] The Governor of NSW on 13 July 1979 proclaimed Shoalhaven as a city. The Shire was converted and constituted on 1 August 1979 simultaneously as a municipality and city.^[4]

Modern-day groupings of the Illawarra and South Coast Aboriginal peoples are based on information compiled by white anthropologists from the late 1870s. Two divisions were initially presented (refer Ridley, 1878), using geographical location and language, though these criteria are now expanded into five divisions and given Aboriginal names, as follows (after C.Sefton, 1983):

• Dharawal – general name for the Aboriginal people of the area on the east coast of New South Wales from Botany Bay to Shoalhaven, and west to Berrima and Camden.
• Wodiwodi (or Wadi-Wadi) – a subdivision of Thuruwal, includes the Aboriginal people of the coast from Wollongong to Shoalhaven.
• Gurandada and Tharumba (or Dharumba) – those people living around the Shoalhaven River.

The Jerrinja people record their traditional lands as stretching from Crooked River in the north to Clyde River in the south, from the mountains to the sea at Roseby Park.^[5]

George Bass explored the area in 1797, following Seven Mile Beach. He crossed the shoals at the entrance to the river, calling it "Shoals Haven" due to the shallowness of the river mouth. This river is now known as the Crookhaven,^[6] but the name was adopted for the Shoalhaven area and the Shoalhaven River.

Shoalhaven, although designated a city, is a dispersed region spread over 125 kilometres (78 mi) of coastline, with the vast majority of its population located in the north-east around Nowra, Jervis Bay and Sussex Inlet.

It includes the following towns, suburbs and localities:

Localities with no population in 2016 included:

Shoalhaven City Council is composed of thirteen councillors, including the mayor, for a fixed four-year term. The mayor is directly elected while the twelve other councillors are elected proportionally as three separate wards, each electing four councillors.^[7][8][9]

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 New South Wales local elections in Illawarra § Shoalhaven results.[edit]

2024 New South Wales local elections: Shoalhaven

Party			Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Shoalhaven Independents		30,231	46.33	+4.79	6	2
	Team Tribe		13,301	20.38	+20.38	3	3
	Labor		13,281	20.35	+0.13	3
	Greens		8,439	12.93	-13.66	0	3
Formal votes			65,252
Informal votes			5,614
Total			70,866			12
Registered voters / turnout			85,835

	Image	Mayor	Party	Term	Notes
		Greg Watson	Independent	20 September 1980 – 24 September 1983	First directly-elected mayor.[10] Lost seat[11]
		Harry Sawkins (1913/14–1987)	Independent	24 September 1983 – 11 March 1987	Died in office.[12] Was planning to contest the 1987 election[13]
		Max Atkins	Independent	26 September 1987 – 11 September 1999	[14][15][16]
		Greg Watson	Independent	11 September 1999 – 2004	Lost seat[17]
			Shoalhaven Independents	2004 – 13 September 2008
		Paul Green (b. 1966)	Independent CDP	13 September 2008 – 8 September 2012	Elected to New South Wales Legislative Council in 2011[18]
		Joanna Gash (b. 1944)	Team Gash	8 September 2012 – 10 September 2016	Lost seat
		Amanda Findley	Greens	10 September 2016 – 14 September 2024	Retired[19][20][21]
		Patricia White	Shoalhaven Independents	14 September 2024 – present	Incumbent

The Shoalhaven can be reached from Sydney by car via the Princes Highway and by rail via the South Coast railway line which terminates just north of Nowra at Bomaderry. The Shoalhaven is adjacent to the Jervis Bay Territory. The area is approximately 160 kilometres (99 mi) long along the coastline, including 109 beaches, which allegedly possesses the whitest sand in the world, as well as pristine natural Australian bushland. The Shoalhaven area is home to numerous species of native Australian flora and fauna.^[22]

The area is well known for its strong commitment to the arts and music, featuring the See Change and See Celebrations festivals in the Jervis Bay and St Georges Basin areas, as well as the EscapeArtfest festival and Blessing of the Fleet in the Ulladulla area.^[23]

Tourists to Shoalhaven can enjoy a wealth of cultural and nature-based activities and experiences, including whale-watching, kayaking, visiting beaches and tastings at wineries.^[24] Some of the most famous establishments for visitors in Shoalhaven are Rick Stein at Bannisters, Cupitt's Estate and Coolangatta Estate.

Heritage listings for the City of Shoalhaven include:

• Bherwerre Beach, Wreck Bay: Hive shipwreck^[25]

• Local government areas of New South Wales
• Shoalhaven River
• Shoalhaven Scheme