North Wollongong, New South Wales

North Wollongong Wollongong, New South Wales
Smiths Hill Fort
Coordinates	34°25′S 150°53′E / 34.417°S 150.883°E / -34.417; 150.883Coordinates: 34°25′S 150°53′E / 34.417°S 150.883°E / -34.417; 150.883
Population	2,272 (2011)[1]
Postcode(s)	2500
LGA(s)	City of Wollongong
State electorate(s)	Wollongong, Keira
Federal Division(s)	Cunningham
Suburbs around North Wollongong: Mount Ousley Fairy Meadow Pacific Ocean Keiraville North Wollongong Pacific Ocean Gwynneville Wollongong Pacific Ocean

North Wollongong is the immediate northern coastal suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. North Wollongong residents used to refer to the northern area of Wollongong as well as North Wollongong by locals, despite the official suburb not including the northern apartment areas of Wollongong and North Beach, known as North Wollongong. The suburb has a beach, North Wollongong Beach, or simply North Beach, with adjacent cafes and restaurants as well as the Novotel Northbeach Hotel.^[2]

The suburb achieved tourist popularity in the 1920s, and many Norfolk Island Pines planted during that era still remain. A Bather's Pavilion was opened in 1936.^[2] North Beach remains a popular surfing and swimming destination with a year-round surf patrol.^[3] The North Wollongong beachfront is also the beginning of the Heartcare Foundation section of the Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track which runs adjacent to the coast to Thirroul to the north. West of North Beach is a small strip of park along the cliff that runs between Cliff Road and the bike track. This is the location of Smiths Hill Fort with two remaining out of the three original cannons. It was completed in 1893 to fend off possible Russian attack.

North Wollongong has a beachside recreation ground, Stuart Park, which also houses the headquarters of Skydive the Beach. North of the park is Puckeys Estate Reserve. Most of North Wollongong is commercial or residential with many of Wollongong's highrises situated there. The main commerce is along a strip on the Princes Highway near North Wollongong Station and the overpass as well as another strip on the north (western) side of the overpass including food stores. North Wollongong is the terminal of Mount Ousley Road, the main route to Sydney.^[4]

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