Mount Kembla

Location

Mount Kembla is located approximately 11 kilometres west south west of central Wollongong. It is bounded on the south by Farmborough Heights, on the south east by Cordeaux Heights, on the east by Figtree and on the north by Mount Keira. Its western side is dominated by the Illawarra Escarpment State Recreational Area. Mount Kembla is isolated and accessible only via Harry Graham Drive/Cordeaux Road which bisects the village on an east/ west route.

Place names

Mount Kembla

Parish of Kembla County of Camden

Kembla is an aboriginal word meaning "wild game abundant" or "plenty of game". The aborigines called the area "jum-bullah" or "Djembla" which means a wallaby. Mount Kembla has been described as a "sub-tropical belt of rainforest " which "housed a variety of game life which provided an abundant food supply". The first grant in the Parish of Kembla was made to George Molle in 1817. It was for 300 acres. In 1818 W. F. Weston received a promise of 500 acres. Both these grants were on the northern side of Mullet Creek. In 1843 four grants were obtained by Henry Gordon which had frontages to American Creek. Another grant on American Creek, 24 acres, was issued to Patrick Lehaey. A settlement developed in this locality and in March 1859 a National School was completed here.

First record of the name Mount Kembla appeared on H.F. White's map of the Illawarra in 1834.

American Creek

Parish of Kembla County of Camden

In the late 1800's American Creek was the name more generally applied to the Mount Kembla area. American Creek is the name of the creek which flowed through the valley. It is believed that it was called American Creek because in the 1840's three Americans came to the Illawarra and, with American axes, cleared some land on the banks of a beautiful creek flowing through Avondale.

Violet Hill

Parish of Kembla County of Camden

"Violet Hill" was a name given to the area of Mount Kembla south of the main road and near the school. The Public School at Mount Kembla was known as Violet Hill from 1859 to 1883.