Illawarra Historical Society

‘Five days to save Kiama’s Pilot’s Cottage museum’ - free talk - all welcomeDate: Thursday 3 September 2026 Time: 6.30pm-7.30pm Venue: Wollongong City Library, Burelli Street (Level 2)

Tony Gilmour from Kiama Historical Society will talk about the successful recent campaign to save the Pilot's Cottage museum. The cottage was built 1880-1881 and has been a museum since 1988. As part of its cost-saving strategy, Kiama Municipal Council sought to evict the Society. The community rallied, to save the museum and preserve an important part of Kiama history.

Michael Samaras latest book - Jim McNeill and his mates in the Spanish Civil War. Includes images and documents held by the Illawarra Museum. Jim McNeil and his comrade, Joe Carter, lived and worked in Illawarra

MISFORTUNE OR FRAUD - ILLAWARRA AND THE 1840s DEPRESSION by Lorraine Neate. Contains details of 40 local residents who suffered insolvency during Australia's first economic depression. Available at the Museum $30 or $45.00 posted within Australia. Click for ordering de tails

SCANDAL, SLANDER AND INTERFERING WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS - An expose of bad behaviour by some early Illawarra residents. By Lorraine Neate. 190 pages with illustrations. Available at the Museum $30 or $40.00 posted within Australia. Click for details for email ordering

LOST WOLLONGONG - Discover Illawarra history, museums and events. Search over 50,000 images of past and present people, places and events contributed by community members. Add your memories and comments. Click to access the LOST WOLLONGONG site

We respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Land; Elders past and present; and extend respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.