The regional centre of Nowra, situated on the beautiful Shoalhaven River, is a major town on the New South Wales south coast and is close to the many popular natural and cultural features of the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands districts.
Nowra’s bustling commercial centre belies the pleasant laid back lifestyle enjoyed by locals.
The lazy expansive Shoalhaven River flows under the bridge at Nowra on its way to the coast at Shoalhaven Heads. River cruises, photography and fishing are some of the popular experiences on this beautiful and precious waterway.
Useful Facts
Size : 210km 2
Population : 25,000
Climate : Climate is comfortable all year round, with balmy sea breezes to cool in summer and clean crisp air in winter. Average temperature range is 13° to 28°C in summer and 8° to 17°C in winter. The average annual rainfall is 975mm.
Transport
Road: 115km from Sydney, 40km from Wollongong
Rail : The nearest rail station is at Bomaderry with regular services to Sydney.
Airport : Sydney for international, Wollongong for regional
Local : Nowra Coaches and Shoalbus provide the local bus services around the area.
Education
Employment
The major industries around Nowra include tourism, and dairying. There is also an Australian Navy presence.
Dining
A good selection of restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets are located in the main centre and points of entry.
Sport
Nowra has a strong sports orientation so there’s plenty to do whatever your interest. Aside from the many watersports (including a 50m Olympic sized pool and waterslide), there are playing fields for many team sports, a skatepark, and rifle club. For the more leisurely inclined, local river cruises offer a balmy relaxed style of activity.
Arts & Culture
Along with its many wonderful natural attractions, Nowra itself provides an extensive selection of entertainment for all ages. Live entertainment is found at local clubs, hotels, halls and schools. Cinemas offer the latest releases and touring circuses pitch their colourful big tops throughout the year.
The Shoalhaven City Arts Centre houses an ever changing array of excellent works by local artists, while nearby is the gracious Meroogal, an Historic Houses Trust property, its contents a tribute to the four generations of Australian women who lived there.
A short drive from the city centre is the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm Museum – the largest aviation museum in Australia. Housing innovative displays of military aircraft, engines, weapons, uniforms and equipment this is a ‘must-see’ for anyone remotely interested in flight. It is located adjacent to HMAS Albatross, Australia’s home of naval aviation.
Many community festivals and events are also held during the Shoalhaven’s busy entertainment calendar.
Aboriginal culture
Prior to European settlement the area was probably inhabited by the Dharawal Aboriginal people. Written ‘nou-woo-ro’ by Charles Throsby in 1821, Nowra is an aboriginal word reputedly meaning either ‘camping place’ or ‘black cockatoo’.
Nowra is home to the South Coast Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and the TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute Nowra runs an Aboriginal Cultural Arts Program.
