Helensburgh - NSW

Helensburgh township (formerly Camp Creek) was established in the 1880s as a workers’ camp for the influx of coal miners who flocked there when coal was discovered, with much fanfare in 1884.Helensburgh is the northern-most suburb governed by Wollongong City Council, and marks the northern end of the Illawarra region, though in recent years the urban sprawl of Sydney has almost reached Helensburg. It also borders the southern end of the Royal National Park and the western side of the Garawarra State Conservation Area, which adds to the town's isolation from its neighbours. Many travellers drive straight past Helensburgh on the Southern Freeway or Princes Highway without ever even knowing the town is there.Helensburgh is surrounded by the bushland of the Royal National Park, the Garawarra State Conservation Area and the water catchment of the Woronora Dam and adjacent Heathcote National Park, so is environmentally sensitive, though picturesque and naturally bound. This bushland location also makes Helensburgh susceptible to damage from frequent summer bushfires. The drysclerophyll bush is home to several walking tracks and lyrebirds are not uncommon nearby. From Helensburgh you can access lookouts over Kelly's Falls, a waterfall that marks the top of the Hacking River and serves as a great backdrop for a picnic or bush walk.Helensburgh Country Fair is an annual community event, usually held on the last Saturday in October at Charles Harper Park, Helensburgh.