WOLLONGONG, an important town and seaport of New South Wales, Australia. Pop. 11,402. It lies in, and is typical of, the Illawarra district which extends south of Sydney from near Clifton to the Shoalhaven River (c. 48 miles). Tectonic and ero sional processes have produced a narrow strip (2-12 miles widening southwards) of lowlands backed by steep and ofter precipitous scarp (Illawarra "Range": Mount Kembla : 1,752 ft.) Along this stream-dissected scarp the seams of the Sydney coal basin are frequently exposed and can be worked by horizontal adits. The lowlands with their mild and equable climate (ay. ann.
temps. c. 70-54° F; ay. ann. rainfall: 38-47 in.), hilly terrain, fer tile soils and favourable position made this one of the earliest, and later one of the leading, dairying districts of Australia, and agri culture also flourishes in parts. Coal is mined at Bulli (q.v.), Mount Kembla, Clifton and other places, though the exposed nature of the coast tends to hamper direct loading on to vessels.