By Local Studies Senior Library Service Officer Lisa Hutton
Summer holidays spent at a caravan park with long days in the sun, swimming, fishing, riding bikes and enjoying the freedom of school holidays brings back fond memories for many Illawarra families.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Windang was one of the popular destinations that families would flock to, turning a tiny caravan or small family tent into home for a few days – or a few weeks over summer. Windang offered the added attraction of Lake Illawarra where families could add prawning to the list of summer holiday activities.
Windang is said to have been 'founded' by William Turnbull who purchased land near the waterfront and surrounds in 1920 and erected a two-story building called 'Wyndang House'. In 1926 the Post Office attached to the house was re-named Windang Post Office – an Aboriginal word meaning “scene of a fight.”
Believing it would be wise to hold some land “in perpetuity” for the public, Turnbull suggested that Council acquire land at the mouth of Lake Illawarra and proclaim the area a reserve. “Thus for all time, a beautiful spot on the seafront at the mouth of Lake Illawarra is there for the people,” Turnbull recalled in 1988.
To support lake fishing and prawning, Ben Howard built the Windang boat shed in 1936 and along with his wife Mary, opened a shop with a fresh seafood restaurant attached.
In June 1949 the South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus reported that the City Council had decided to establish its first caravan camping area as caravan camping was becoming increasingly popular.
Council decided to allocate a “suitable site for a caravan parking area at the Windang camping reserve.” It was also decided to erect power posts in the area to provide electricity for 12 caravans at a cost of forty pounds.
With Windang Beach on one side and Lake Illawarra on the other with the stunning Illawarra escarpment as a backdrop it was not long before holiday makers flocked to the campground for an affordable holiday by the beach and lake.
Each summer a Carnival would set up next to the lake providing nighttime entertainment for the tourists in the caravan park and locals alike. Rides, sideshow alley, bright lights, music and fairy floss and popcorn finishing off the perfect summer holiday.
You can find many interesting stories and photos in Wollongong City Libraries online catalogue.
Email: localhistory@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
Sources
- Chronicles of Windang: Windang celebrates 1788-1988, Bicentenary, by Neels, Olive, 1988.
- TROVE: South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus.
