Windang Island and Railway Relics

DESCRIPTION

NameWindang Island and Railway RelicsAlternative NameKanyangang Last edited by: Will Chittick

Coromgang

Gan-nan-gung (or Gan-man-gang) Last edited by: Will Chittick

TypePark/ReserveLandscapeRuinGeolocation^[1] Last edited by: Will Chittick

AddressWindangDescriptionWindang Island is home to several species of fauna including Kelp Gull, Superb Fairy Wren, Nankeen Kestrel, Willy Wagtail, Australia Raven, Silver Gull, Sooty Oyster Catcher, Australasian Pipit, Black Shouldered Kite, Red Fox, Eastern Water Skink, Sun Skink, and Red Bellied Black Snake.

A proposal to mine Windang Island for coal appeared in the Illawarra Mercury in August 1888 but did not eventuate. In the 1890, the private company The Illawarra Harbour and Land Corporation was given permission to build a harbour within Lake Illawarra. Plans included dredging a 23 feet deep and 100 feet wide channel across the lake: allowing ships access to Elizabeth Point (near Tallawarra Power Station) for loading coal and lead.

A tie wall was built from Windang Island to the southern channel wall. About £4,000 was spent on the works but heavy seas soon destroyed the wall. The company could not secure further capital and by the early 1900's work was abandoned.

All that remains today are the rails and wheels from trolleys that were used to transport rock for the break wall by rail.

Rock for the construction of the part of the break wall was quarried from Windang Island. A small dam on the western side of the island, which appears to be manmade, may also date from around this time.

Officially assigned 29th June, 1973

External LinkThe Lake Harbor Project 1891Lake Illawarra Harbour Works 1892Illawarra Lake Harbour Works 1893Lake Illawarra Harbour 1897Lake Illawarra Harbour Scheme 1889Strange Sea Monster 1930

Photograph

Document

Object

Windang Island, Windang, c.1950.

Heritage Information

Heritage NSW LinkShellharbour Heritage Inventory Sheet Last edited by: Erin Tierney

CONNECTIONS

CollectionPlacesLocalityWindang

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Windang Island and Railway Relics