Kiama NSW Australia, now a
popular tourist destination, is a town rich in Australian history. Where can
you find the Kiama museums? The
answer: the whole town is a museum itself, showing and telling its own history
with original historic buildings still in use today as well as some of the
original landowners still on their property after 10 generations. But while the
town is full of history, to get yourself started, be sure to visit the Pilot’s Cottage Museum first. The museum
is located on Blowhole Point not far from the famous Kiama Blow Hole and Kiama
Harbor Lighthouse. It showcases the town’s history, giving an insightful
backstory for the inquisitive tourist. Be sure to visit on the weekend as it is
only open Friday-Monday from 11am-3pm. Admission is only $6 per family or $3
per adult.
A brief history of Kiama and Pilot’s Cottage Museum
Kiama is well known for
year-round mild temperatures, ample rainfall (compared to other parts of
Australia), and fertile volcanic soil. These features enabled Kiama to flourish
in agriculture in its earliest days. Most were wheat farmers in the 1830s but
when the wheat crops started to flounder, dairying became the main event in the
1860s. Kiama was even home to the first Dairy Factory (The Kiama Pioneer
Factory) and first Dairy Co-operative in all of Australia. However, what really
caused a population increase in Kiama were the rock quarries. The same volcanic
eruptions that produced the rich soil in the area were also responsible for
vast quarries of basalt which the town soon began to take advantage of. Kiama
completed and flooded its harbor in 1876 which enabled a flourishing sea trade
with Sydney. The town quickly began supplying crushed blue metal and paving
blocks to pave the streets of Sydney. In 1887, the Kiama lighthouse was built
due to the now flourishing sea trade. Two cottages were built along with the
lighthouse. These cottages were the living quarters of local harbor pilots and
lighthouse attendants from 1881 to 1981.The lighthouse was automated and
de-manned in the 1920s. Soon after, one cottage was destroyed by vandals. The
second cottage survived however, and has recently been beautifully restored and
turned into the Pilot’s Cottage Museum.
Other Historical Sights around Kiama
After a trip to the Pilot’s
Cottage Museum to get an overview of the Kiama’s history, you will be itching
for more Kiama museums. Thankfully, there
are several other historical points of interest you can explore. Be sure to
stop by the Kiama Lighthouse, of
course. Kiama light was built in 1887 and is still in operation today. For some
historical architecture in town, visit Westpac
Bank, a two-story Victorian Classical Revival stone and brick building
which was originally the City Bank of Sydney in 1887. The Old Kiama School is also an impressive architectural structure
originally built in 1871. The school was popular for its cooking classes in
which students could take home what they cooked. Kiama’s Italianate Post Office
is another famous site. It has a Victorian Classical Revival design with colonnades
and a tall clock tower. It was completed in 1878. Also, don’t miss Christ Church, originally constructed
out of blue metal rubble but now painted into white. The interior is built of cedar and the ceiling
resembles the whole of an upside down ship. It was completed in 1858.
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