Minnamurra is a village in the

Illawarra The Illawarra is a coastal Regions of New South Wales, region in the southeast of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the South Coast, New South Wales, South Coast region. It encompas ...

region of New South Wales, Australia, in the

Municipality of Kiama The Municipality of Kiama is a local government area in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is situated south of Shellharbour and the City of Wollongong and is located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, the Princes Highway ...

. It has a

station Station may refer to: Agriculture * Station (Australian agriculture), a large Australian landholding used for livestock production * Station (New Zealand agriculture), a large New Zealand farm used for grazing by sheep and cattle ** Cattle statio ...

(opened 1891) on the NSW TrainLink

South Coast Line The South Coast Line (SCO) is an Regional rail, intercity rail service that services the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The service runs from , and runs the entire length of the eponymous South Coast railway line, New South W ...

. The

Minnamurra River The Minnamurra River, an open mature wave dominated barrier estuary, is located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The village of Minnamurra is near the mouth of the river, where it flows into the Pacific Ocean. Location ...

flows into the ocean at Minnamurra. There is a sandy beach and a sand spit at the river mouth. The name Minnamurra means "plenty of fish" in the local Aboriginal dialect. Aboriginal people of the

Dharawal The Tharawal people and other variants, are an Aboriginal Australian people, identified by the Yuin language. Traditionally, they lived as hunter–fisher–gatherers in family groups or clans with ties of kinship, scattered along the coasta ...

language group are the original inhabitants and traditional custodians of the area now known as Minnamurra and its surroundings. Within a two-hour drive south of Sydney, the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre is located just 15 km west of Kiama on the NSW South Coast (Tourist Drive '9'). The centre offers visitors an opportunity to experience a rare

rainforest Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...

remnant which is representative of the once extensive rainforests of the Illawarra region. The sandstone canyon in which the centre is located enables visitors to experience the various types of rainforest and examine the diversity of ferns species. Visitors can see first hand the fauna of the area such as

lyrebird A lyrebird is either of two species of ground-dwelling Australian birds that compose the genus ''Menura'', and the family Menuridae. They are most notable for their impressive ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environme ...

Australian Water Dragon The Australian water dragon (''Intellagama lesueurii)'', which includes the eastern water dragon (''Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii)'' and the Gippsland water dragon (''Intellagama lesueurii howittii)'' subspecies, is a semi aquatic agamid speci ...

s and a host of bird species which make Minnamurra and Australia their home. The centre also provides a café and a barbecue/picnic area. The visitor centre has a retail shop where visitors can select from a wide range of Australian made products, environmental publications, and souvenirs as a reminder of their visit to Minnamurra Rainforest. Minnamurra Public School is the local school for the Minnamurra, Kiama Downs and Gainsborough area. Minnamurra Rainforest is a forest with much wildlife and many plants. This rainforest has produced over the years and is becoming a tourist attraction. It is located 15 km west of Kiama.

History

The land now known as Minnamurra was traditionally inhabited by the Dharawal-speaking Aboriginal people. Their deep connection to the land is evident in the area's name and the rich cultural heritage they left behind. Its name is derived from the Aboriginal word of Meme Mora, meaning "river of many fish". European settlers arrived in the early 19th century, leading to significant changes in the region. In 1818, a tragic event known as the

Minnamurra River massacre On 1 October 1818, approximately six Wodiwodi people were killed in a clash with nine settlers from the Colony of New South Wales along the Minnamurra River in the Illawarra, New South Wales. The settlers claimed to have been attempting to recov ...

occurred, where approximately six Wodiwodi people were killed in a clash with colonial settlers. In the mid-19th century, a punt service operated across the Minnamurra River, facilitating travel between the 'Peterborough Estate' and the opposite shore. This service was essential for crossing the river before the construction of bridges. Today, Minnamurra is a tranquil village known for its natural attractions, including the Minnamurra Rainforest and the Minnamurra River. The area continues to honor its Indigenous heritage and natural beauty, making it a significant part of the Illawarra region's history and culture.

References

Suburbs of Wollongong Municipality of Kiama Coastal towns in New South Wales {{Kiama-geo-stub