Towradgi, New South Wales

Towradgi Wollongong, New South Wales
Towradgi Beach, looking south to Wollongong
Towradgi
Coordinates	34°23′S 150°54′E / 34.383°S 150.900°E / -34.383; 150.900Coordinates: 34°23′S 150°54′E / 34.383°S 150.900°E / -34.383; 150.900
Population	3,123 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	2518
Location	5 km (3 mi) from Wollongong
LGA(s)	City of Wollongong
State electorate(s)	Wollongong
Federal Division(s)	Cunningham
Suburbs around Towradgi: Corrimal East Corrimal Pacific Ocean Tarrawanna, Fernhill Towradgi Pacific Ocean Fairy Meadow Pacific Ocean

Towradgi is a small beach-side suburb approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Towradgi is a corruption of the aboriginal word Kow-radgi, meaning "guardian of the sacred stones". On an early map it was called Towroger. Towradgi is served by electric double deck trains to Towradgi railway station, opened in 1948.

Towradgi is bordered to the north by Corrimal, the west by Fernhill and Tarrawanna, and to the south by Fairy Meadow. The Pacific Ocean can be found to the east. Towradgi has also come to incorporate much of the former suburb of Reidtown (to the south-west), some of which has also been incorporated into Fairy Meadow.

Towradgi has a surf club along with a bowling and recreation club, Chinese restaurant, croquet club, 2 petrol stations, hairdresser, retirement village, Towradgi Public School, train station, many open parks and a rock pool.

One of Towradgi's landmarks is the small bridge on Towradgi Road that passes over the south coast train line at Towradgi station. This bridge is affectionately known in the area as "the hump" due to its short steep rise and it is not uncommon for some cars to become airborne if they pass over this bridge at too high a speed.

East of Towradgi is Towradgi Point, the location of the Towradgi rockpool, a mildly jutting rocky projection to the east. The rockpool itself is at the tip of the point. To the north is the entrance to Towradgi Creek and to the south and north are small areas of rocks, known as "Black Rocks".

Towradgi Creek goes inland from Corrimal Beach. A short distance out to sea from here is the point where the famous ship, Queen of Nations, was wrecked in the 1880s. It lies just north of the pools and, at low tide, a darkish blur marks it. A plaque at the point tells the story of the wreck. The captain, Samuel Bache, who, in his drunken state, thought the Mount Keira coal mine slag heap fires to be the light on Port Jackson's South Head in Sydney, crashed the barque clipper vessel on 31 May 1881. The first mate was equally drunk and threatened crew members. It is now a protected wreck site. The ship was transporting alcohol at the time, which explains this accident.