South Coast NSW History

Colonial Era: Shaping South Coast NSW

Colonial Era of South Coast NSW

Discover the stories of early European settlement and the development of South Coast NSW during the colonial era.

Colonial Era of South Coast NSW

Early Exploration

  • Captain Cook's first sighting in 1770
  • Bass and Flinders' coastal mapping

First Settlements

  • Establishment of penal colonies
  • Free settler arrivals and land grants

Industries

  • Timber cutting and sawmills
  • Dairy farming and agriculture
  • Whaling and fishing

Town Development

  • Growth of major coastal towns
  • Infrastructure and transport links

Visit historical buildings and museums to step back into the colonial era of the South Coast.