The Collection

This telescope was used at Cooby farm, Stockyard Mountain. The Smith family who lived at the property, would keep watch for ships coming into Shellharbour, and then make their way to the harbour to sell their farm produce.

In the 1950s, with Warilla Beach gaining in popularity, the need for a dedicated Surf Club arose. The first club operated from the current site of Warilla Barrack Point Surf Club.

Shellharbour is rich with basalt. In the mid-19th century, the land was scattered with blue metal which was put to good use building drystone walls, homes and public buildings.

This rare example of mid-19th century dress was handmade by Sarah on her voyage from England to Australia in 1838, with a gathered waist that could be let out when pregnant.

John Thomas came to Australia with his parents William and Sarah in 1838. The family first lived on the Marshall Mount Estate and worked for Henry Osborne.

Horsehair wig made by Ede & Ravenscroft Ltd. 93-94 Chancery Lane, London, and worn by the Town Clerk of Shellharbour Municipal Council.

A proposal to mine Windang Island for coal appeared in the Illawarra Mercury August 1888 but did not eventuate.

Born in 1893, Gus was the second son of Alfred and Katie East of Shellharbour. He attended Shellharbour Public School and later worked on the family farm at Bass Point.

In 1942 the Ford V8 Army Blitz truck served as the only fire fighting vehicle for the Albion Park Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade (APVBFB), and surrounding district.

The Rangoon, one of the largest sailing ships to grace Shellharbour waters, was wrecked in heavy seas off Rangoon Island (Stack Island) at Minnamurra 22 March 1870.

This deed box once held land transaction documents for George Laurence Fuller of Dunmore House.

A cash register from Allen’s Bros Post Office Store in Addison Street, Shellharbour, with a sliding lid and combination metal alarm.

This parachute silk is from Ben Turner Parachute Factory at Broadway Sydney NSW. Albion Park’s Esme Walsh worked for Ben at his factory making parachutes for World War 2.

The Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy (ICCD) Factory produced its famous Warrilla (correct spelling) brand butter from 1956. The name Warrilla is a derivative of the name Illawarra.

These miniature cows were handmade from wax and cowhide by members of the Thomas family of Shellharbour.

Doctor Arthur Wigley Bateman was the first official doctor based in Albion Park, and lived in their beautiful home, Ravensthorpe.

Aboriginal people have lived in Shellharbour for at least 17000 years. To put that in some perspective, the Great Pyramid at Giza was built about 4500 years ago.

This handmade flag was flown on the passenger launch Lady Albion, which sailed around Lake Illawarra in the 1920s.

This coal loader was manufactured in the USA by Joy Mining Machinery, and used at Tongarra Mine from 1947 until the mine’s closure in 1965.

Mary Thomas (nee James) used this Victoria Automatic Sock Machine to knit socks for soldiers during World War 1.

This double pulley from SS ‘Cities Service Boston’ was used to lower lifeboats into the water. This US oil tanker was wrecked off Bass Point on 16 May 1943.