Mount Kembla - Historic buildings

Head Masters Residence - Mount Kembla School

The residence is situated on Cordeaux Rd, at the rear of Mount Kembla School, overlooking the village and looking toward the ocean. Designed by Government Architect, William Edmund Kemp, the residence was built in 1895/1896 in the typical "Cottage Classic" style. The home was constructed of brick, rendered, stood on freestone foundations and had a cedar interior. It replaced the original weatherboard residence. The first resident was Mr. A. Hamilton. (Ali, 1991)

Mount Kembla Hotel

This two storey building was built in 1887. It is constructed of weatherboard with a corrugated iron roof, and a timber front upstairs verandah. It was a meeting place for the miners of Mount Kembla for many years. In 1924 the Tooth's company purchased the hotel from its original owner, Mr O'Halloran, the village's first publican. Over recent years the interior has been extensively refurbished. (Ali, 1991)

Miner's Cottages and Club Room

These single storey cottages were constructed in 1896 and are situated in Soldiers Road, Windy Gully (Kembla Heights). They were constructed with corrugated steel hip roofs, painted weatherboard wall and verandahs to street frontage. The row of miner's cottages and the Miner's Club Room is a unique group of buildings, representing a period of time and settlement of miners moving up the hill to Kembla Heights. Past owners include the Stacy, McNamara, Reece, Moran and Gallagher families. (Ali, 1991)

Mount Kembla Post Office and Store

Situated on Cordeaux Road, the post office/store was built in 1883 and is described as 'a simple vernacular construction, built of weatherboards. A quiet reminder of the early days in the village.' The first resident and Post Master for Mount Kembla was Mr John Graham. (Ali, 1991)

Kembla Heights Village Conservation Area

These buildings were constructed around 1896. They were built for the miners in the area by the local mine company. The 1991 City of Wollongong Heritage Study describes the area as a "Mining village comprising of dispersed layout of similar weatherboard buildings with corrugated steel roofs." and "A rare and intact example of an early mining village in the Illawarra Region. Buildings are excellent examples of vernacular architecture from the Federation period. Dispersed pattern of dwellings with generous unfenced yards is a significant feature of the relationship to the landscape."

Although most of the buildings are owned privately, the buildings are largely in fair condition and intact. The conservation area includes the visual catchment between the State Recreation Area ridge track at the top of the escarpment down to the creek line below the Nebo Colliery. (City of Wollongong Heritage Study. Provisional Inventory. Volume 4. 1991)