Scarborough - History

Land Grants

North of the town of Wollongong the land available in the Illawarra consists of a narrow strip lying between the Illawarra escarpment and the ocean.  This narrow strip gradually tapers to a point where the range dips to the sea at Clifton.  The majority of this area was absorbed in grants north of the township of Wollongong made to R and C Campbell and John Buckland. (Lindsay, 1994)

Early residents

McLaren, Walter
Mr McLaren was the first teacher at Clifton Public School (renamed Scarborough Public School in December 1915). He arrived in July 1878 after travelling by coach from Campbelltown to Bulli.  He completed his journey to Clifton on foot.  Mr McLaren began his classes in a shed rented from the Colliery – he had 17 pupils.  Eventually a timber school with accommodation for 49 pupils was completed together with a teacher’s residence consisting of two rooms and a kitchen. (Barnetson, 1988)

In 1884 the School Inspector, Mr Murray, recommended that Mr McLaren be transferred and replaced by a married teacher.  Mr Murray believed that the school residence was more suitable for a married person.  Mr McLaren was very popular among the parents and residents who strongly objected to this proposed transfer.  Mr McLaren was not transferred.  He was married the following year. (Barnetson, 1988)

Mr McLaren finally left the school in 1896.  Over 400 people attended his farewell at the Clifton Public Hall.  He received a number of gifts, including an ‘Illuminated Address’ illustrated with local scenes and designed by many prominent local citizens. (Barnetson, 1988)

Early industry

South Clifton Colliery
The South Clifton mine opened in 1891.   In 1905 the output of the mine was 63,750 tons.
In 1906 it was reported that the South Clifton Coal Mining Co Ltd held about 2000 acres of land.  This land included the Bulli seam which had a height of 4 feet to 5 feet 6 inches.  “The mine is worked from a shaft sunk 200 feet, the old method of pick and shovel being employed for the getting out of the coal.  The miners are paid on a tonnage basis.  The electric light is installed throughout the mine”. (South Coast Times, 24 November 1906)

The coal was despatched from the mine in Government railway traffic wagons for shipment at Darling Harbour or Port Kembla.  The company also had 32 coke ovens on the property.  The output of coke was 800 to 1000 tons per month.  (South Coast Times, 24 November 1906)

Early transport

Rail
Construction of a rail link between Sydney and Wollongong was approved in 1881. It was to be done in three sections, from Sydney to George’s River , from George’s River to Clifton/Coalcliff and then from Clifton to Albion Park. The third section was completed and opened in 1887 and a year later the second section was completed and stations built at Clifton, Bulli and Wollongong. The section between Waterfall and North Clifton was the most complicated of all. In the comparatively short distance of seven miles, there were seven tunnels to be constructed, one of them being almost a mile long. (Illawarra Mercury 10 August 1900)

Road
In 1878 the road from Bulli to Stanwell Park was only a rough track.  Once mining began in the area a road became a necessity. In 1878 the Government allotted funds to build a road from Bulli through Clifton to Stanwell Park. Reports in the Illawarra Mercury show that rockfalls and landslips were a continual problem.  (Wollongong Advertiser, 15 June 1988, p.10)