“In post-Second World War Wollongong, new organisations flourished in migrant communities.  The diversity of languages and backgrounds provided the impetus for religious and social organisations which continued languages and traditions.  By the 1960s, Wollongong had many organisations related to the countries of origin of its migrants; in time some of these were later linked with similar organisations elsewhere.  The impetus for these organisations was to provide a communal social space and activities for migrant communities.  A secondary aim was to provide a place for meeting other Australians.” (extract from MHP publication ‘Every Story Counts Recording Migration Heritage’).

Not all migrant groups were made to feel welcomed post-World War 2 and some organisations, such as the RSL, even opposed non-British memberships including those who fought alongside the Allied Forces. Attitudes and policies have since changed. Community organisations, associations and clubs formed following an increase in the arrival of migrants from many different countries.

Many of the post-World War 2 migrant communities established their groups, churches and built their club houses, from donations and volunteers from within their migrant groups. Some are still operating; others have ceased or evolved.  Cessation of such community groups could be attributed to the reduction in numbers caused by less migration from home countries, the younger generation having less need for them and increased needs in other areas such as aged care.

The earliest post-WW2 arrivals in the Illawarra were drawn mainly from those selected under the International Refugee Organisation resettlement program.  From about 1947 and consisting mainly of Displaced Persons (DPs), single or unaccompanied married men from the Baltic states (Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia), Poland and (the former) Yugoslavia were sent to work in the heavy industries in Port Kembla.  At this time, the late 1940s, there was only one Commonwealth migrant hostel unit operating at Unanderra.  Employer migrant worker hostels such as the AI&S hostels in Cringila and Warrawong and the Metropolitan Water Sewage and Drainage Board (MWSDB) hostel in Coniston (for those working on the water amplification for the Berkeley Mains) were also operating.  Much of the hostel resident’s entertainment revolved around sporting clubs or social functions organised by the Welcome Committee formed by local Wollongong community organisations in 1949.  Wollongong was the first place in Australia to have a migrant welfare committee which eventually became a branch of the Good Neighbour Council.  At this time the numbers of these men resettled in the Illawarra did not really lend themselves to creating clubs or associations pertaining to their country of birth.  This changed as their wives and children were able to join them and as more migrants were sent to the Illawarra in much larger numbers and from more countries which meant they were able to begin establishing their own associations and groups.  Progressively, organisations such as the Illawarra Migrant Services (IMS) and the Multicultural Communities Council of the Illawarra (MCCI) were established to assist, represent and advocate for all migrants regardless of their country of origin.

Choirs and Music Groups

Choirs and music groups were formed not only for entertainment, but to connect with their culture by singing traditional songs from their homeland or performing songs from operas by the grand European masters.  Many choirs were also associated with or performed at churches.

A Polish mixed choir was formed in the 1950s and would sing at church services at St Francis Xaviers where they practiced in the Church Hall.  Polish church services were often held at St Francis Xavier in Wollongong.  The Polish Community Choir, in 1967, sung national songs with the children from the Polish Saturday School during celebrations of the Polish Constitution Day.  The Polish Youth Club also performed national dances on this occasion.

In December last year the Illawarra Mercury ran the story about how the Wollongong Welsh Choir was to sing for the last time at Christmas.  The Wollongong Welsh Choir was formed over 30 years.  The first Illawarra Welsh choir was formed in about 1968 and performed Welsh hymns, ballads and songs and songs of other countries and of course sang at the annual St David’s Day festival.

The Italian Choir was disbanded many years ago and sadly many of the choir members are no longer with us.  Like the recently disbanded Welsh Choir, this choir was aging and unable to attract newer and younger members which saw their numbers dwindle and therefore could no longer continue.

The German male Choir “Sanssouci” was a very accomplished and successful choir that was formed in 1963, even performing on Red Faces in 1968 as well as performing in concerts in Wollongong, the first being held at the Town Hall in 1966 with 900 people in attendance.  In 1967 the German Mixed Choir of the Germania Club was formed.  They would hold choir practice at the Open Hearth Hotel at Warrawong.  Another German Choir was the mixed choir known as the Germania Choir.  The German Children’s Choir was newly formed in 1967 and once performed at the David Jones Wollongong German Week Exhibition.

The South Coast Accordion Ensemble was founded in 1965 and by 1967 had 14 members made up of 7 different nationalities.  In October 1968 the South Coast Accordion Ensemble gave its first concert in the Wollongong Town Hall Annexe and performed to an audience of about 459.  The ensemble group had senior and junior groups with a total of 31 members made up of 8 nationalities.

An Estonian Choir was performing in 1966 and was incorporated with the Estonian Association of Wollongong.  They performed at a dance which was held in the North Wollongong Police Boys’ Club to raise funds for the 1967 Estonian Sports Carnival.  An Estonian Sports Club as well as an Estonian Club were present in the Illawarra.  In 1968 there were about 150 Estonians living in Wollongong.

The Volendammer Quartet was formed in 1966 and become part of the cultural scene in Wollongong.

A group of Dutch, Australian, German and Latvian women formed a singing group in 1967 and called themselves the Dirndl-Singers after the Austrian-Bavarian costumes they made to perform in.  They had come together after having met at a lecture on music appreciation at the WEA in Wollongong.  They would practice every two weeks in the home of a member.  In 1971 they appeared on the first series of the TV Channel WIN 4 English teaching programme “You Say the Word”.

A Dutch Australian Choir had also formed and in 1971 participated in Carols by Candlelight together with the Dirndl Singers.

Associations and Groups

“Over time the character of organisations changed as the needs changed.  For large communities, the activities and services expanded; but for smaller communities, the membership, and range of activities reduced…” (from Every Story Counts Recording Migration Heritage)

One Scottish Dancing group would use one of the Nissen Huts at the former Berkeley Migrant Hostel to meet and practice.  The Wollongong Scottish Country Dance Association was formed in 1951.  In the early years dance classes would also take place at Smith’s Hill Girls’ High School every Friday.  A recent Google search led to the Wollongong Scottish Country Dance Club, the White Heather Club, which according to this website still holds classes in 2026 in the Wollongong Central Church Hall in Wollongong.

In 1952 a meeting was held by some members of the local Dutch community to form an organisation to assist Dutch migrants who had made their home in the Illawarra.  Thus, the Nederlandse Vereniging in Illawarra was established and would eventually become known as the Dutch-Australian Society in Illawarra (DASI).  Although the main reason the DASI was formed was to assist new settlers, it also had bands, a choir, a theatre group, a ladies gymnasium group and a library.  Dutch card games such as “Klaverjassen” would also be played at the Woonona Clubhouse.  Social events were first held at the Corrimal Community Hall.  In 1967 they held an “Oranje-Bal” in the Corrimal Community Hall to celebrate Queen Julianna’s birthday where the Accordeolas and Strolling Players provided entertainment.  By 1968 they were ready to move into their new clubhouse in Woonona which was the former clubhouse of the Woonona Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women in Woonona.  The DASI clubhouse located on the Princes Highway at Woonona, was officially opened in November 1968.  A 20th anniversary dinner was held at the Corrimal Community Hall in 1972.

Also, in 1952, mention was made of a skiing club that was established in Wollongong where they would train during the off-season before they would head to Smiggins Hole.  Dutch, Australian, German, Estonian, English, Czechoslovakian, Austrian, Swedish, Hungarian and French nationalities made up the 200 members.  The Lysaght Alpine club was founded in 1966 and by 1967 had 65 members of varying nationalities.

The Polish Association in Wollongong was established in 1956 at the Port Kembla Church Hall.  It was known as the “Ognisko Polskie, Okręg Illawarra”: (Polish Bonfire/Campfire or Polish Hearth) until it changed its name to the Polish Association Wollongong.  In the 1950s a Polish Youth Group would meet to learn Polish national dances, and this led to the establishment of the Polish Dance Group in 1956 and in 1973 the dance group became name known as “Wawel” and would always perform at Wollongong Council events.  While today there is no longer a large Polish dance group, small children are still practicing Polish folk dancing.  In1962 a Ladies Group was formed to organise events to raise funds for the construction of a Polish Hall.  From 1963 to 1969 a Polish soccer group played under the name of “Wisla”.  The Foundation stone for the new Polish Centre was laid in 1966.  Known as the Polish “Millenium” Hall it was constructed at Gipps Road in Gwynneville.  The hall was named “Millenium” because it was constructed in the year that Poland celebrated 1000 years since Christianity became the foundational faith.  The Hall was built by the volunteers from the Polish community, founded by the Polish Association members as well as money raised through fundraising events organised by the Polish Ladies Group.  The Hall became a home far away from their homeland where Polish national events are celebrated, language schools are conducted and where Polish folk dancing classes took place.  In 1966 the census records show that there were 898 Polish in the Illawarra region.  By 1968 the Polish Youth Group would meet every Friday at the Polish Centre Hall in Gwynneville where they engaged in Polish folk dancing.  In 1975 a Polish theatre group was formed.  In the 1990s the Polish Hall was extended to accommodate the growing number of children in the Polish School and the installation of a library.  The number of Polish families in the Illawarra had also increased from the influx of people fleeing Poland from 1981.  All building and extensions were made possible largely by volunteers from the local Polish community.  In 1995 the Polish Association in Wollongong and Polish School celebrated their 40th and 30th anniversary respectively.  In 2013 the Polish History Group was formed, and a Polish Museum was opened in 2016.  In 2026 the Polish Association Wollongong’s 70th anniversary will be celebrated at the Polish “Millenium” Hall at Gwynneville.

The British-Australian Friendship Club was formed to help new British migrants assimilate in the community.  Their first dance was held in Warrawong Hall in November 1966, with the Ladies Scottish Dancing Group forming part of the entertainment.  They would meet each month at the Normandie Hotel.  Excursions would also be organised by this group for migrants living in hostels.

The Ukrainian Centre was inspired by the 200 families who had fled Ukraine in the late 1940s and 1950s and settled in the Illawarra.  The first Ukrainian Society in the Illawarra began in 1951 in Thirroul.  The Ukrainian Centre in Wollongong was initially located in a small house that had been purchased in 1963 at First Avenue in Wollongong and was known as the Ukrainian Cooperative Society.  In 1970 it sold its First Avenue premises, transitioned into a club and planned to build its two-storey community hall in Auburn Street, Wollongong, where 4 blocks of land had been purchased in 1969 for this purpose.  Saturday school was when language classes were held.  They also had Ukrainian Boy Scouts and Girl Guides in the Wollongong Group who would attend scout and guide camps once a year where they were taught about their Ukrainian heritage, history and geography, as well as Ukrainian songs and dances.  In 1972 the laying and blessing of the foundation stone of the Ukrainian Community Centre in Wollongong took place which marked the completion of the first stage of the Ukrainian Centre in Auburn Street.  A Ukrainian concert followed at the Wollongong Town Hall annexe with performers from Ukrainian Youth Association, a mixed choir, male choir, a junior choir, a dancing group, an orchestra and the Bandura Ensemble.  In 1998, when it was no longer financially viable to continue and unable to interest the younger generation, the building was sold to the WEA.

The premises of the Cyprian Community of Wollongong was located in Auburn Street Wollongong, two blocks north of the Ukrainian Centre.  Next door to the Cyprian Community Centre was a building painted white and blue trim, possibly an early Hellenic Club.  A Hellenic Club was constructed on the Princes Highway at Figtree.

A Lutheran Ladies Guild was formed in about 1957.  A Latvian Ladies Friendship Club was also present in Wollongong in 1967 as was the German Catholic Ladies Auxiliary.  They met at various members homes during different days of the week.

The Lithuanians were a small community and in 1970 was said to have numbered about 30 families in the Wollongong area.  There was a Wollongong Lithuanian Association that was part of the Australian Lithuanian Association, and every year would gather to celebrate their traditional Day of the Sea.  This was celebrated in Corrimal in January 1970.  Church services were held every second Sunday of the month at the chapel of St Francis’ Home for the Aged with a priest from Sydney to conduct the Lithuanian service.

The Wollongong District Finnish Society was formed in 1962.  It was still going in 1967 when the Society held a social event at Unanderra Community Hall.  The Finnish Society in Wollongong was attached to the Australasian Finnish Union which included 10 Finnish societies.  These societies would organise annual “Suomi Paivat”, an Easter Festival, the first of which was held in Wollongong.  A three day festival that included sporting events such as volleyball and pesepallo (Finnish-style baseball) and cultural content such as folk dancing, singing and plays and displays of painting and handicrafts.  The Wollongong Finnish Society would meet every Sunday in the Syd Parrish Park in Figtree to play pesepallo.  By 1970 there were about 120 members who belonged to the Finnish Society of Wollongong.  Dances would be organised about 5 times a year in Coniston, Dapto, Albion Park or Oak Flats which were the suburbs most of the Finnish settlers lived.  A women’s committee met once a month where they would produce handicrafts to be sold at functions to raise funds for the Society.  The women had exhibited embroideries that used traditional Finnish patterns.  A handloom would go from house to house to make mats and rugs.  Members of the women’s committee of the Finnish Society met once a month in the CWA rooms in Burelli Street.  By 1971 there were more than 400 Finns living in Wollongong.  A library of Finnish books and magazines was located in the private home of a Finnish migrant couple who lived in Coniston.

A German Catholic Association was formed in 1964.  The Association met every fourth Thursday of the month in the Bishop’s House in Wollongong and their focus was on welfare and social functions.

By 1966 the Serbian Association had 53 registered members.  The Association owned a house and chapel in Kenny Street and used the Pioneer Hall for their social functions and the Free Serbian Orthodox Church and Education Committee planned to build its own church in Kenny Street and would hold dances once a month in the Greek Hall in Stewart Street to raise money for the project.

In 1966 the Austrian-Australian Cultural Association was mentioned in relation to an Austrian National Day Celebration.  It is unclear if the Association was from Wollongong as the event was held in Sydney.

In 1966 a Latvian Coffee Party hosted by female members of the Latvian Lutheran Congregation was held.  A Latvian Women’s Friendship Club was also formed.

The Burns Society was founded in 1966 and it was affiliated with the Burns Federation in Scotland.

Also mentioned in 1966 was the South Coast Hebrew Association.

In 1967 a joint function of the Estonian Society and the South Coast Friendly Society was held at the Wollongong Trades Hall.  Joint solstice celebrations would be held by the Estonian and Latvian communities such as the one held in the Corrimal Community Hall in 1971.  Attached to the Estonian Society was a Women’s Guild who met every two weeks and held discussions as well as did needlework and organised fundraisers.

Estonian language classes were held every second Saturday at Wollongong Primary School.  Estonians would celebrate their traditional St John’s Day (Janis Day) such as the one in June 1968 in the Trade Union Centre in Wollongong and would include folk dancing, traditional songs and music.

In 1967 the Port Kembla library reported it had an excellent collection of Hungarian books that had been given to them by the former Hungarian Association of Wollongong, which suggested that this association had disbanded prior to 1967.  However, the Hungarian community members had held a ball at Coniston Hall in that year with Hungarian church services still being held at St Patrick’s Catholic Church Port Kembla with guest preachers from Sydney and as well as a “Vidamest” night held at Coniston Hall.  The Hungarian public holiday, Szent Istvan (St Steven’s Day) would be celebrated in August 1968 in the Warrawong Community Hall organised by the Australian-Hungarian Club of Greater Wollongong and included national songs and dances.  They would also hold celebrations for the Hungarian National Day on 15 March.  The Hungarian-Australian Club of Greater Wollongong was founded in March 1968 but it appeared not to have had a permanent clubhouse.

In 1967 the Wollongong Handweavers Association gathered and amongst its members were women from Australian, Estonian and Latvian communities in Wollongong.  They held their first exhibition in 1967 at the Tom Thumb Gallery.

The Wollongong Welsh Society presented its Illuminated address on the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969 to the Illawarra Historical Society Museum at a function held in the Wesley Hall.

The Australian International Friendship Association was formed in June 1969.  It started with 40 members representing 8 nationalities and grew to 300 members of almost every nationality living in Wollongong.  It had a darts team, two ladies’ basketball teams as well as a carpet bowls team.  The aim of the association was to bring people of different nationalities together to enjoy the diversity of their backgrounds and at the same time share in the common experience of settling in a new country.  They met every second Wednesday and held functions every 4 weeks.

Also in 1969 a Macedonian function was held in the Pioneer Hall in Wollongong, organised by the Macedonian Orthodox Community in Wollongong and Port Kembla to commemorate the Macedonian National Day of 3 August.

The Greek Orthodox Church and Community of Wollongong was also present in Wollongong.  At a function held in 1969 the Greek community was praised for its effort in building the church and the church hall and felt fortunate that their European neighbours, the Macedonians would be building their church nearby.  The construction of St John the Baptist of the Free Orthodox church was underway in 1973 in Kenny Street Wollongong

An International Coffee Inn was an association that formed to welcome young people from all over the world to help them overcome loneliness and isolation.  They organised outings and events and in 1971 one such event was a trip to Nowra for some horse riding and a barbecue.

Wollongong’s first French Club was L’Association des Residente de Langue Francaise.  French and English lessons were held by the club whose membership included people from France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, America and Australia.  They would always celebrate Bastille Day on 14 July usually in Wollongong Town Hall as well as organise other functions such as dances or picnics.  They appeared to have been founded in the late 1960s.  L’Association participated in the “Adopt a Migrant” practiced in the Illawarra amongst other migrant association and groups.

In April 1970 a guard of honour of more than 180 migrant children in their respective national dress was formed for the Queen’s visit.  The nationalities mentioned were Estonian, Turks, French, Chinese, Polish, Greeks, Hungarians and Spaniards, as well as Ukrainian, Austrian, German, Maltese and of course British.

A Yugoslav cultural evening was organised at a private residence in Cringila where about 70 people attended.  Bearing in mind that in 1970 when this event took place it was still known as Yugoslavia, however, the guests were described as people from Bosnia, Croatia, Dalmatia, Slovenia and Serbia.  Also mentioned were “Skiptars” who were Yugoslav Muslims of Albanian descent and someone from Bulgaria.  A Macedonian priest from Sydney was also at the function as a guest.  Macedonian poetry and songs were part of the entertainment.  It was during this cultural evening that it was said that “in order to facilitate the integration of settlers from Yugoslavia, a non-political and non-sectarian organisation was to be formed, not to indulge in the past but to look to the present and the future”.

The Good Neighbour Council began language conversation classes in Wollongong in 1970 as informal social gatherings.  Two Rumanian socials were held as well as German, French, Spanish and English coffeehouse-type conversation classes.

“Enzian” was an Austrian-Bavarian folk dancing group that was formed in about 1970 when it consisted of 6 adults and 5 junior couples.  Weekly practices were held at the German School in Oak Flats.  Enzian would perform at functions including fundraisers.

There were about 400 Muslim families in 1971 that had formed the Islamic Society of Illawarra.  About 100 of the families were from Turkish descent.  A Fijian Indian was re-elected as its president with the elected committee representing the countries of Turkey, Cyprus, Macedonia, Fiji and Indonesia.  An Islamic Centre was located in Bethlehem Street, Cringila in the 1970s.

The Italian Welfare Committee, known as COASIT, was formed in 1968 in Sydney and became integral to the provision of services to Italian migrants.  A Wollongong branch of COASIT was established in 1971 to provide those services to the Illawarra region.  The first annual ball of the COASIT was held at the Fraternity Club in August 1971 and was attended by 700 people.  The first meeting of the Wollongong COASIT Branch Women’s Committee was held at the Italian Centre in 1972.  When COASIT closed its Wollongong branch, the Italian Social Welfare (ItSoWel) was established to continue the activities to assist Italian migrants in the Region.  Today ItSoWel is located in Stewart Street in Wollongong.

A newly formed Wollongong International Set held its opening function in 1972 at a private residence in Figtree.  The International Coffee members had joined the “Set” which was a self-governing body of the Good Neighbour Council.  The new association welcomed members between the ages of 16 to 36 with its main aim to help towards the integration of migrants and welfare work.

The Latin American Association formed in January 1972.  Migrants from almost all the South and Central American counties were welcomed to join the Association.

The Spanish and Latin American Organisation (SALCO) started out as a small organisation to help newly arrived families maintain the language and traditions.  Over the years they have grown to offer more services centred around cultural programs, language, youth engagement programs and community events.  Today, SALCO represents over 21 Spanish-speaking countries from Latin America and Spain and are located in Gipps Street in Gwynneville.

In 1975 the Zagreb Croatian folklore group was founded and a second group, Zrinski, was formed in 1976.  After the new Catholic Croatian Centre in Figtree was built, the two groups merged into one and used the facilities at the new centre.

In the early 1970s the Illawarra Chilean Association originated from soccer after a group of Chilean migrants attended soccer matches at Bellambi.  In 1975 Australia accepted the first 130 people from 35 Chilean families that escaped from the violent unrest of Chile’s coup d’etat, some of whom were sent to the Illawarra, lived in hostels and worked at the steelworks.  The Association grew and became incorporated in 1991.  The Association would meet each fortnight at the Log Bridge Farm centre.  Over the years the Chilean Club membership numbers have dwindled.

A Macedonian Educational and Cultural Association was formed in 1983 to promote the culture, language and Traditions of the Macedonian people and to meet the diverse needs of the Macedonian community in the Illawarra, including unemployment, ageing and lack of specific services.  This association was formed in answer to the increasing number of Macedonians, particularly young children, who had moved into Shellharbour in the late 70s and 80s from suburbs such as Port Kembla, Warrawong and Cringila.  There were 3 folk dancing groups as well as Macedonian classes teaching students how to speak, read and write the language.  The Macedonian Welfare Association, operating since 1984 and currently located at Port Kembla, is “made up of members, volunteers and community workers who work together to address the diverse needs of the Macedonian Community in the Illawarra and wider, stemming from language difficulties, unemployment, ageing and lack of specific services”.

A Pakistan Association of Wollongong was formed in 1988.  It was a social, non-political and non-religious organisation.  The association demolished the old run down Towradgi Community Hall and replaced it with a new building and this hall provided a venue for social functions not only for the Pakistan Association but for other community organisations.

The South Coast Portuguese Association continue to operate from their Flagstaff Road, Warrawong premises and provide both social and community care to its Portuguese constituents.

In 2025 the Vietnamese Association in Wollongong commemorated 50 years of settlement following the fall of Saigon in 1975.  The Association was formed following the arrival of refugees in the late 1970s.

By 1996 there were 107 ethnic groups and services in Illawarra that offered meeting places, support groups, community events and other activities for their members.

Sports

In the early days soccer was played by migrants from the United Kingdom, such as those from the Balgownie mining region.  Even as late as 1950s, soccer was still dominated by British migrants.  A mix of Australians and English played for clubs such as Corrimal Rangers, Woonona and Balgownie.  This changed in about 1958 with Corrimal United playing in a new Federation competition.  Corrimal United eventually became South Coast United.  The 1960s saw a gradual change in soccer in the Illawarra starting at first with Italians and Greeks followed by other nationalities.  EPT were known as the ‘glamour side’ of the late 50s and 60s and had very strong support from the Region’s Italian community.  EPT sponsored the side and supplied the talented players from Italy by employing them in the Illawarra.  A Greek soccer club originated with Hellas, Piccadilly and then Wollongong Olympic.  Clashes between the Greek and Italian supporters often made the headlines.  Conflicts overseas would sometimes impact games and concern was had between South Coast Croatia and Serbia during the Bosnian conflict.  Illawarra Lions were known as the Macedonian team, as well as Coniston and Cringila.  Later Port Kembla became known as the Italian team and Wollongong Olympic had the support of the Greek community.  Other soccer teams of ethnic supported clubs or social teams represented Turkish, Spanish and other nationalities.  Although the teams may have singular support from the various migrant communities, these teams were also made up of other nationalities, including Australian and British.  Eventually ethnic based soccer teams and the displaying of national flags at matches in NSW was no longer allowed as a way to stop the off-field violence amongst supporters.

View reel from Yesterday Stories Facebook page about how the Port Kembla Soccer Club started

Yesterday Stories

North Wollongong Soccer Club had 40 active members and 70 non-playing members in 1967 and included people from Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Scotland, England, Italy, Spain and Australia.

The Spanish Soccer Club, the Warilla Wanderers, was formed in about 1967.  About 60% of the team were Spaniards with the other nationalities comprised of Australian, Yugoslavian and Hungarian players.  In 1970 they organised a “Noche de Espana” at the Berkeley Hall where it was reported that more than 400 Spaniards of all ages attended.  At this time there were nearly 200 members of the Soccer Club.  In 1971 the Wollongong Spanish Association held a contest to elect its beauty queen.  The gathering was held in the Warrawong Hall.

A German rifle and bowling club, “Waldeslust” celebrated its first “Scheutzenfest” in 1969 at the Albion Park Centenary Hall.  They would practice every Sunday at Uncle Tom’s Cabin at Jamberoo and hold regular rifle shooting competitions.  In 1971 the Waldeslust was re-named the German Air Rifle Club Illawarra and held shooting practice at Oaks Hotel at Albion Park Rail.  Every third Sunday an open shoot was held at the Tullimbar Inn, Albion Park.  In 1974 a majority vote saw the Rifle Club no longer joining forces with the AGA Club Germania but instead voted to build its own shooting range in Albion Park on ground that had been allocated to them by Shellharbour Council.

EPC Kemblawarra Soccer Club was another soccer club.  EPC stood for Esperance Portugal Club.  The soccer club played in the Illawarra district competition.  National day celebrations also took place in Wollongong which the EPC Kemblawarra Soccer Club would host.  During the 1970s the club president also assisted in the establishment of Portuguese language classes for about 40 children.

The Irish Australian Sports and Social Club was formed in 1971 and was a non-political and non-sectarian group.  Its main aim was to build its own premises and engage in youth work.  Sporting activities included tennis, squash and soccer.  Dances were held at venues around Wollongong such as that which was held in 1973 at Collegians Club.

The Wollongong Petanque Club was formed in 1979 as the sporting arm of the Wollongong French Association.  They held its first games in Stuart Park and after several different playing venues based themselves at the AGA Club Germania at Kembla Grange.  Members were from many various backgrounds, not just French.  The gravel pitch playing surface is maintained by volunteers.  It is a very small club and in 2024 had just 21 licensed players.

Clubs

The six biggest licenced Clubs in the Illawarra by 1996 were reported in the local paper as being the Fraternity Club, the AGA Germania Club, the Polish Country Club, the Wollongong Spanish Club, the Wollongong Hellenic Club and the Ukrainian Australian Social Club.

The Maltese George Cross Falcons Club started in 1951 to serve the Maltese Community in the Illawarra Region.  Meetings were held in a tin shed across from where the Club is today or at each other’s homes.  A weekly fee of 10 cents was paid by members to help fund the building of a club house.  Two lot blocks were bought in 1953 and in 1955 two basement rooms had been built by volunteers.  The Club celebrated their 70th anniversary in 2021 and 75th anniversary in 2026.  The Club fielded soccer teams in the 1960s and again in the 1980s and 1990s.

Members of the Italian and Australian communities met in the Tarrawanna Hall on 17 February 1952 to form the South Coast Social and Fraternity Club.  Forty-six people attended that first meeting.  A small section of land that had formed part of a 10 acre market garden owned by Emilio Fogliati on the corner of Princes Highway and Bourke Street Fairy Meadow was purchased which enabled the construction of the first club house, a two-storey brick structure, built mainly by volunteers from the Italian community.  On 29 August 1953 the official opening of South Coast Social and Fraternity Club was held.  In 1955 a Liquor Licence was granted.  In order to get the licence the name of the Club was changed to the Fraternity Bowling and Recreation Club.  Further land was purchased over several years with the final purchase in 2001, which allowed for the expansion and growth commensurate with that of the Club’s membership base and the provision of member facilities such as restaurants, function venues, indoor sports, lawn bowls and community events.  In 2023, “the Frat” celebrated its 70th anniversary.

Following the establishment of what became known as the Polish Association of Wollongong in 1956 and the completion of the building of the Polish “Millenium” Hall on Gipps Road at Gwynneville in 1966, the Polish Club was established in 1981 to financially support the Polish Association and existed for about 20 years until the Polish Club closed in 2001.

The need for a club for Spanish migrants was first realised in the late 1960s when groups of Spanish families began to meet regularly after soccer games involving the Warilla Wanderers.  The club was formed in 1970 and then had about 175 members.  The Spanish Club started to build their club house in Kemblawarra in 1972.  It raised money to purchase land and more for construction costs and voluntary labour and donations helped lower the building cost.  At this time there were about 800 Spanish families living in Wollongong.  Members of the Spanish community would gather on Saturday night at the Warrawong Hall for monthly dances.  The new clubhouse, which was officially opened in September 1972, would open from 6pm onwards every day of the week when it first opened and on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays there was music and dancing.  In 1974 the Spanish Club was promised a grant by the Spanish Government.  The Spanish Club supported the Warilla Wanderers Soccer Club, a junior soccer team and a boys’ basketball team.

In 1963 and 1964 there were many splinter groups within the German Community in Wollongong.  First formed in 1955 was the Australian-German-Austrian Club.  There were initially two clubs one being the Australian-German-Austrian Club and the other, Germania Club, which was formed in 1965.  In 1967 plans for the Clubhouse at Kembla Grange were submitted to Wollongong Council.  Prior to the clubhouse being built they would hold events at venues such as the Warrawong Hall.  At the annual general meeting of the Germania Club in 1968 a majority vote in favour of a merger with the Australian-German-Austrian Club was passed.  The members of the Australian-German-Austrian Club unanimously voted for the merger as well at their meeting.  Committees of both clubs met to work out the how the merger was to be conducted and eventually a new committee consisting of the members of both clubs in equal numbers was elected to allow the merger to be accomplished for the Australian-German-Austrian Club Germania.  Attached to the Club was the AGA-Kaner (carnival group).  In August 1969 the Australian-German-Austrian Club Germania held an annual meeting at the Warrawong Hall where in addition to elections, pointed out that the Club was non-political and non-sectarian organisation with the main aim of development of friendly relationships with Australian organisations and Australians and closer co-operation between the German Saturday school, German and other national organisations.  However, in 1969 the main focus was still directed towards the building of the clubhouse and called for members to invest in the project.  In 1972 the club was renamed and registered as AGA Club Germania Limited.

Local community clubs such as the Lions Club also had migrants who were members such as the Corrimal Lions Club who in 1971 had about 25% of their membership being migrants from Scotland, Yugoslavia, England and Holland.

The Anzefa clubs were clubs managed by the Australia and New Zealand Emigrant and Families Association Ltd and a Wollongong branch had been formed in about 1971.  Its aim was to foster fellowship between people of different nationalities with the aim of higher standard social functions.

The Planica Club Wollongong, a Slovenian club, was formed in 1971.  It succeeded the former Slovenian Association that was established in about 1949 under the name of Danica, which means Morning Star.  In the 1970s there were about 800 Slovenians living in Wollongong.  Planica is the name of a mountain and well-known skiing resort in Slovenia.  The aim of Planica was to provide Slovenians with opportunities to meet fellow countrymen, continue speaking their language, keeping old traditions alive and remembering their national identity, while adopting their new homeland Australia.

In 2025 the former Kemblawarra Portuguese Sports and Social Club in Shellharbour Road, Port Kembla, was put up for auction.  It had been established for over 49 years and served a very large Portuguese Community, but there was no longer any interest in the Club venue from younger Portuguese community members.  Liquidators had been appointed the previous year.

Churches and Places of Worship

For migrants of the predominate Christian faiths, Churches established from early settlement to pre-World War 2 were readily available from which to practice their faith, or to be loaned as a place in which to hold services of other denominations that did not yet have a place or had to rely on a visiting priest as they did not yet have a parish priest.  With the increase of migrants from non-British backgrounds came the settlement of people in the Illawarra from many different faiths and as those numbers increased, they were able to fund and construct their particular places of worship.  The increase of varying faiths also saw cemeteries provide different types of interment such as crypts as well as areas divided into sections according to different religion or faiths.  Some churches are still operating today, while others have ceased, been re-purposed or sold.

The first Lutheran service in Wollongong was held on 22 December 1946 at St John’s Church where a very small number of people attended, 14 in all.  In 1966 the union of Churches conference in South Australia was held to organise the union of the two Lutheran Churches in Australia.  The foundation stone for the Lutheran Church in Burelli Street, Wollongong, was laid in December 1967.  St John’s Lutheran Church was officially opened in May 1968.  Lutheran services and Sunday schools were also held in the Church of England Hall in Roxborough Road, Thirroul.  The services, which started there in 1962, would be conducted in German.  The new Lutheran Chapel at Thirroul was opened on 19 December 1971.  The purchase of the property at Lawrence Hargrave Drive and the building of the chapel was financed through a loan from the Lutheran Layman’s League with some contributions by the local congregation that went towards furnishing the chapel.

Formed in 1951 by migrants from the Netherlands the Dutch Reform Church held its first church service in August 1951 in the Methodist Church in Corrimal and was attended by about 50 people.  Services were then held in a small timber hall at the corner of Carters Lane and Holder Street, Fairy Meadow which the church had purchased from the Australian Institute of Evangelism in September 1952.  By 1953 the Church became independent and at the end of that year their first minister arrived from Holland.  In 1959 the foundation stone for the new Christian Reformed Church on Carters Lane was laid.  The new church was built by volunteer craftsmen from the congregation.  The second stage of the building programme was completed in 1971.

The Parish of Unanderra was established in 1952, largely from the increase in the population from migrant hostels and the Italian migrant community.  The foundation stone for the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Unanderra was laid in 1954.  The Church is closely associated with the Italian community and the Scalabrini Order of Catholic missionaries who arrived in Australia in 1952.  The order contributed significantly to the funding of the Church at Unanderra as well as running the Parish until 1977, as did members of the Italian migrant community.  Shortages of materials and tradesmen caused completion of the church to be delayed.  The Portico and additions were built in 1997.

Another Italian Church, the Pious Society of St Charles Sacred Heart, was constructed in Stewart Street in Wollongong.  The building was erected in 1966 by an Italian priest of the Scalabrini Fathers as a Sacred Heart War Memorial Chapel.

St Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Catholic Church was constructed in Kenny Street Wollongong.

Latvian Church services were held in St John’s Lutheran Church in Burelli Street Wollongong every second and third Sunday of the month with Church services every quarter for the Estonian community.

Russian church services were held every second Sunday of the month in Wilford Street, Corrimal, with clergy from Sydney conducting the service, otherwise the Wollongong Congregation would travel to the Russian church in Sydney.  A Russian Orthodox Church was established at Treetop Glenn in Thirroul.

German Catholic services were regularly held at St Francis’s Home for the Aged and the hall in Fisher Street in Oak Flats as well as St Francis Xavier.

Every fourth Sunday of the month a priest from Sydney would conduct church services for the Serbian community.  The Free Serbian Orthodox Church and Education Committee had converted one room of its Kenny Street premises into a temporary chapel.  Otherwise they would travel to Cabramatta to attend Serbian Orthodox Services or sometimes services would be held at the Greek Orthodox Church in Stewart Street Wollongong.  The Free Serbian Orthodox Church School Congregation was formed in Wollongong in 1960.  The Saint John the Baptist Free Serbian Orthodox Church is in Kenny Street Wollongong.

Every second and last Sunday of the month a Ukrainian church service as held at St Francis Xaviers in Wollongong with a visiting priest from Sydney conducting the service.

Originally an Anglican church, hall and house, the Slovenian Club purchased the Figtree property in the early 1980s.  It was owned by the Slovenian Australian Club ‘Planica’ Wollongong Limited which had celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.  However, the Club had been placed into liquidation and in 2026 the Slovenian Catholic Church located on the Princes Highway at Figtree was put up for auction.

The Croatian community in Wollongong began forming in the late 1950s.  It became even stronger from the early 1960s.  In 1973 a wooden house on Corrimal Street in Wollongong was purchased by one of the priests who had already established a Croation Saturday school and religion lessons.  Visiting priests would come to the Illawarra for church services until 1974 one a permanent priest was installed.  A wooden Anglican church building at 38 Rosemont Street in West Wollongong was purchased in 1976.  Land was purchased at 7-9 Bellevue Road, Figtree and in 1983 the consecration of the Mary Queen of Croats Centre took place at the Croatian Catholic Centre.  The Croatian Catholic Centre in Figtree serves Croatians for religious, cultural, social, sporting, and recreational gatherings.

Other churches and places of worship established by members of the many migrant communities were: St Dimitrjia Orthodox Church located in Stewart Street Wollongong and St Kliment Ohridski Orthodox Church in Keira Street Port Kembla which ministered to the Macedonian migrant community.  A Serbian Orthodox Church was located in Dale Street in Dapto.

The Bilal Mosque, an Islamic Mosque in Bethlehem Street Cringila, primarily serviced Lebanese and Turks.  Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church in Kenny Street, Wollongong mostly for the Lebanese community.  Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church is located in Stewart Street Wollongong with the Autocephalic Greek Orthodox Church Illawarra in Atchison Street Wollongong and in Rosemont Street West Wollongong Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church.  The Portuguese Pentecostal Church was in Captain Cook Drive at Barrack Heights.

On Temple Road in Helensburgh is the Sri Venkateshawara Temple.  Since 1985 and 1994 has been used for worship predominately by people from Southern India.

For the Vietnamese community the Phuoc Hue Temple was established in Church Street Wollongong from a single-storey fibro clad house.  When it was established the Temple was affiliated with the United Vietnamese Buddhist congregation in Australia and New Zealand.

The newest places of worship to be established are the Nan Tien Temple, Berkeley Road, Berkeley which is a purpose-built Buddhist temple complex with accommodation on site and the Omar Mosque in Gwynneville.

Language Schools

 In 1955 Polish community language school held classes in community halls at Port Kembla, Corrimal and Wollongong Catholic Churches, including St Francis Xavier.  Classes would then be held after the Polish Hall at Gwynneville was constructed in 1966.

 The German Saturday School officially opened in Oak Flats in 1965.  The school first started in both Oak Flats and Wollongong in 1962 and not only taught German but English as well.  A Philatelists’ Club was also conducted at the Oak Flat school formed from the school members.   The German Children’s Choir was formed from the Wollongong German School students.  By 1972 the German School Association of Wollongong-Illawarra was organising language classes, subsidised by the West German Government.

The original premises of the Italian Centre was located in Burelli Street Wollongong until a new centre was built in Stewart Street Wollongong.  English language were held weekly, as well as Italian language lessons for those who spoke an Italian dialect as well as Australian community members.  Music lessons were also conducted at the Centre.  The Wollongong COASIT branch ran Italian language classes for more than 200 children of Italian parentage that were held on Saturdays in Wollongong, Corrimal, Warrawong and Port Kembla.  Classes ran from 8am to 3pm and were subsidised by the Italian Government.

The German School Associations also ran classes on Saturdays from 9am to noon for children in the 1970s and began accepting 5 year old students.

Other language schools operating for the benefit of children in the 1970s were Greek, Spanish, Macedonian, Serbian, Polish, Ukrainian and Turkish.  The Spanish Government subsidised the running of Spanish classes, with Greek and Macedonian students receiving text books from the Greek or Macedonian Governments.

In 1975 the Illawarra Ethnic Teachers and Parents Association was formed to service the needs of migrant communities in the area and to ensure language and culture was maintained.  Funding came from both State and Federal governments to maintain the language, history, culture and geography of ethnic communities.  By 1989 they held 32 classes, had 2000 students and 90 teachers, many of whom worked in a voluntary capacity, which was impacted by funding cuts.  When first formed Greek, Italian, Spanish and Finnish were the first languages taught.  Other languages taught were Turkish, Chinese, Ukrainian, Macedonian, German, Syriac Aramaic, Croatian, Portuguese, Arabic, Polish, Korean, Serbian, Maltese, Vietnamese.

The Association of Community Language Schools (ACLS), formerly the Illawarra Ethnic Parents and Teachers Association has about 52 member organisations in NSW.  It helps preserve languages through collaborative, culturally, and linguistically diverse education, often assisting schools in the Illawarra region and supports the teaching, promotion, and maintenance of community languages and cultures in New South Wales.  Information from the ACLS website (accessed 30 April 2024) list schools for Arabic, Bangla, Burmese, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Karen, Lao, Mandaean, Marathi, Nepalese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Serbian, Spanish, Telugu, Tibetan, Tongan and Vietnamese languages.

Migrant Services

The Cringila Community Cooperative in Lake Avenue, was the only community centre of its kind in the Illawarra region and had been established in one form or another since 1968.  Nationalities that would seek assistance at the Lake Avenue centre were mainly Macedonian, Arabic, Turkish and later, Vietnamese.

A single storey house built in the 1930s at 26 Lake Avenue Cringila, began life as a community health centre in 1976.  In 1988 it evolved to become the Migrant Health Centre for the Illawarra Region.  A new centre was built at 32 – 36 Lake Avenue which housed the Cringila Co-op, The Illawarra Ethnic Council and the Illawarra Area Health Service, Migrant Health Team in a modern purpose built centre. The house at number 26 was sold to help fund the new multipurpose centre.

The Illawarra Migrant Resource Centre (IMRC) was a Commonwealth government funded centre that provided services to migrants and refugees in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven local government areas.  In 1980 it operated from a unit in Rawson Street, Wollongong.  After a fire destroyed the building in 1996, it was located on the corner of Kembla and Market Streets in Wollongong.  It was one of the first centres to open in Australia and one of its first tasks was to identify issues facing migrants in the Illawarra.  2VOXFM was a community radio station that started out transmitting from the bathroom of Wollongong’s Migrant Resource Centre in 1981 and became a presenter of news, music, general information and language programs. The IMRC changed its name to the Illawarra Multicultural Services (IMS) in 2003 and in addition to supporting migrant and humanitarian entrants, now provides services to people with a disability.

The Illawarra Ethnic Communities Council (IECC) was formed in the 1975 as a collective voice for various ethnic communities.  It provided solutions about issues and problems that were common among the groups such as problems of language, culture, ageing and youth.  The Council lobbied government departments and politicians on behalf of the Illawarra migrants.  Early on they ran a Greek day care at Cringila and Albion Park and also a Baltic states day care in Wollongong and Oak Flats. The IECC changed its name to the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI) in 2009.

Emerging Communities

Some of the emerging communities and groups today (courtesy Wollongong Council:

Pacifica Community

Karenni Community

Indian Australian Cultural Association Illawarra

Iranian and specifically Persian community

Illawarra African Community Association

Source:

This information was compiled from local papers, The Illawarra Mercury and The South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus, starting from the 1950s.  The research undertaken in the MHP Places Project and the MHP publication ‘Every Story Counts’ were also sourced.  The timeframe of this brief snapshot embraces the DPs resettlement, assisted migration agreements and refugees such as those from Europe, Latin America, Lebanon and Indo China.  Some nationalities, associations or clubs may not be included in this article but that is not intentional, it just means that not all issues of newspapers were reviewed, or they were not mentioned in those newspapers or participated in research.  Hermine Rainow, who migrated to Australia in 1951, was a reporter for both the South Coast Times and the Illawarra Mercury when her weekly columns would report on the migrant communities and much of this information is derived from her columns.  Hermine Rainow’s migrant story is available on the MHP Share Your Story webpage: