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Broker's Nose, Corrimal in the afternoon sun. The town of Corrimal is named after Kurimul, an Aboriginal dreamtime warri...
19/06/2026

Broker's Nose, Corrimal in the afternoon sun.

The town of Corrimal is named after Kurimul, an Aboriginal dreamtime warrior who took another man's wife. When pursued by her husband, Kurimul raced up the mountain and climbed a tall tree. The husband gathered wood and set fire to the tree, and Kurimul was carried up in flames into the sky. A star then appeared above Broker's Nose.

Corrimal is a mispronunciation of Kurimul by the early settlers. Broker's Nose was referred to as Mount Corrimal and Corrimal Point officially, but the nickname of Broker's Nose is what stuck. This name came about from an old bridal track called Brooker's Track, and it led to Brooker's Brothers farm. In the end, Brooker's Nose gradually became Broker's Nose, which is the most common name used today.

One of the Brooker's was Edward Brooker, who was born Edward Harrigan, later taking the surname of his stepfather, Edward was the son of Mary Wade. His stepfather, Jonathan Brooker, and Edward worked the slopes of the Illawarra Escarpment as cedar getters. Edward was said to be a strong and ambitious lad and, at just 15 years old, asked Governor Macquarie for a land grant. He was granted 60 acres of land at Tarrawanna.There is a Brooker Street, Harrigan Street and Corrimal Street located in Tarrawanna.

Did you know there was a Corrrimal kid in the 1940's that fell off Broker's Nose not once but twice and survived both times. It was a story told to me many years ago, by an old family friend. I wish I wrote down the details and the name, but I didn't.

As long as I can remember Broker's Nose has had an antenna on top, it's hard to picture it, without it now. I can't find any information on when it went up. I had a look at historical aerial imagery and it looks as though it was not there in 1980 but it was there in 1986.

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Unfortunetly this isn't bush toilet paper some refer to this tree as the devil's toilet paper. Did you know that the Ill...
14/06/2026

Unfortunetly this isn't bush toilet paper some refer to this tree as the devil's toilet paper.

Did you know that the Illawarra Escarpment is home to one of Australia's most venomous trees? It is also one of the world's most venomous trees, and it actually is indeed venomous as the fine hairs on the leaves are loaded with neurotoxins similar to those of spiders and scorpions These hairs have spurs on the end, and once in the skin inject toxins, and the hairs are very hard to remove. The pain is excruciating and can last for months and, in rare cases,can cause an anaphylactic shock.

This tree is the Illawarra Giant Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide Excelsa), also known as Fibrewood. It is a member of the stinging nettle family and is similar to the Gympie-Gympie tree found in Queensland.

This isn't a post with great photos as it is a difficult tree to shoot. It's often in dense vegetation. This post is more of a warning to keep an eye out when hiking through rainforest areas of the Illawarra. The giggest clusters I have seen range on the top half of the escarpment between Bulli Pass and Mount Kembla.

Growing up hiking the escarpment, I was always aware of the giant Illawarra stinging tree and had heard stories about its sting, so I knew to be careful, but back then I thought it was an introduced species. That it is not. It is native to the Illawarra Escarpment and found in abundance in many rainforest areas. I have not been stung myself, although I have many times by the stinging nettle vines, which are very painful but not as bad as the tree.

They say this tree can grow up to 40 metres high, and I have seen many, at least at that height. You can see some when driving up Mount Ousley Road and Bulli Pass. It's not always the big ones that are the problem. Many areas on the escarpment have an abundance of juvenile plants and some line hiking tracks. Keep an eye out for them. The leaves are a broad green heart shape, and the stem and fruit can also sting you. With the big trees, be particularly careful on windy days as many leaves can come floating down to the ground.

The Giant Stinging tree is found right across the escarpment, mainly on the upper reaches. The biggest cluster I have seen is located above Bulli and at Mount Pleasant but there are many on Broker's Nose, Mt Keira, Mt Kembla, and above Coalcliff/Stanwell Park as well as right along the escarpment.

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Werri Beach, Gerringong NSW. Gerringong NSW.The word Gerringong is a Dharawal word meaning fearful place or place of per...
12/06/2026

Werri Beach, Gerringong NSW.

Gerringong NSW.

The word Gerringong is a Dharawal word meaning fearful place or place of peril in the local indigenous language. In the 1800's, Gerringong was called Smith's Swamp. Gerringong is part of the Kiama council area and is in the southern area of the Illawarra region.

The first Europeans to arrive in Gerringong were survivors from the Sydney Cove shipwreck. They hiked 700km along the coast from Victoria to Sydney in 1797. George Bass explored the area later in 1797.  

Between 1810 and 1814, the cedar getters arrived, and the area was logged for red gold. The clear land gave way to dairy farmers who took advantage of the rich rainforest/volcanic soil at the base of the Escarpment. The landscape of Gerringong is still dominated by dairy farms today. 

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I thought this log looks like a giant stick insect with eyes and a mouth.Taken on top of Jamberoo Mountain.Jamberoo Vall...
10/06/2026

I thought this log looks like a giant stick insect with eyes and a mouth.

Taken on top of Jamberoo Mountain.

Jamberoo Valley

In the Dharawal language, Jamberoo means track or path, and many of the local roads we use today follow old Aboriginal trails. Jamberoo was the busiest centre in the Kiama area in the 1850s, and in 1838, there was another township called Woodstock just to the west of Jamberoo. This was a timber mill town, and after the mill closed in 1873, the town disappeared off the map.

Here is a great quote about the Illawarra region from the 1800's: From Wollongong to Jamberoo, the road was a mere day track, through a forest of tropical foliage; gum trees 200 feet or more in height, gigantic India rubber trees with broad shining green leaves, lofty cabbage palms, and many other kinds of tree, towered above us, so that their tops made a twilight canopy, impenetrable to the sunlight, save for an infrequent clearing in the forest made by the settler's axe. Huge lianas, some as thick as a man's arm, hung, sown snakelike from the trees. Quote by the mill manager's daughter.

One of the most interesting landmarks in the village of Jamberoo is the pub built in 1857 and also known for its family connection to former Australian Socceroo legend Johnny Warren. Jamberoo is the birthplace of Illawarra Short Horn dairy cattle breed and was home to the first dairy, butter, and cheese co-operative, which opened in 1884.

Most of the dry stone walls in the Kiama area were built by Thomas Newing, who arrived in Australia from Kent in 1856. Kiama is one of the few areas in Australia to use stone wall fences similar to those in Britain and Ireland. Thomas Newing worked 8 hours a day, 6 days a week for 60 years to build the hundreds of walls throughout the district, and they stretch from the coast right up to the sheer upper reaches of the escarpment, to an elevation of about 650 metres above sea level.

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A view familiar with many Corrimal, Tarrawanna, Balgownie, Bellambi and Russell Vale locals growing up, this is the vie...
09/06/2026

A view familiar with many Corrimal, Tarrawanna, Balgownie, Bellambi and Russell Vale locals growing up, this is the view to the east from Broker's Nose, Corrimal.

The town of Corrimal is named after Kurimul, an Aboriginal dreamtime warrior who took another man's wife. When pursued by her husband, Kurimul raced up the mountain and climbed a tall tree. The husband gathered wood and set fire to the tree, and Kurimul was carried up in flames into the sky. A star then appeared above Broker's Nose.

Corrimal is a mispronunciation of Kurimul by the early settlers. Broker's Nose was referred to as Mount Corrimal and Corrimal Point officially, but the nickname of Broker's Nose is what stuck. This name came about from an old bridal track called Brooker's Track, and it led to Brooker's Brothers farm. In the end, Brooker's Nose gradually became Broker's Nose, which is the most common name used today.

One of the Brooker's was Edward Brooker, who was born Edward Harrigan, later taking the surname of his stepfather, Edward was the son of Mary Wade. His stepfather, Jonathan Brooker, and Edward worked the slopes of the Illawarra Escarpment as cedar getters. Edward was said to be a strong and ambitious lad and, at just 15 years old, asked Governor Macquarie for a land grant. He was granted 60 acres of land at Tarrawanna.There is a Brooker Street, Harrigan Street and Corrimal Street located in Tarrawanna.

Did you know there was a Corrrimal kid in the 1940's that fell off Broker's Nose not once but twice and survived both times. It was a story told to me many years ago, by an old family friend. I wish I wrote down the details and the name, but I didn't.

As long as I can remember Broker's Nose has had an antenna on top, it's hard to picture it, without it now. I can't find any information on when it went up. I had a look at historical aerial imagery and it looks as though it was not there in 1980 but it was there in 1986. If anyone knows or can remember the mountain without it, please let us know in the comments

A couple questions.....

Does anyone remember Wilson's Caves?

When I was younger, I came across a book called Tales of Broker's Nose at Corrimal library. It wasn't a proper book as such, it consisted of white A4 paper folded in half, however it did contain many great local stories about Broker's Nose and the surrounding suburbs. Has anyone ever come across this book? I've searched for it but can't find anything.

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Bulli Tops in the fog!It's an amazing spectacle to watch the fog race up the mountain between Sublime Point and Bulli lo...
07/06/2026

Bulli Tops in the fog!

It's an amazing spectacle to watch the fog race up the mountain between Sublime Point and Bulli lookout, it comes in from the ocean and run up the mountain, sometimes at a very high speed and then it spills over the top onto the Tops and Maddens Plains, which is what many see when driving on the F6.

For the latest weather article about fog on Bulli Tops, you can see the latest article and photos right here
in -
https://www.theillawarraflame.com.au/escarpment-we-are-reading-you-cloud-and-clear/

A giant strangler fig reaching out of the lush green rainforest canopy of the Illawarra Escarpment, within the upper rai...
06/06/2026

A giant strangler fig reaching out of the lush green rainforest canopy of the Illawarra Escarpment, within the upper rainforest of the Rhodendron Gardens at Mount Pleasant.

Nestled beneath the slopes of Mount Keira lies the beautiful and tranquil Illawarra Rhododendron Gardens. This hidden gem is a place I’ve visited many times over the years and continue to enjoy with every return. The gardens feature a spectacular rainforest walk, home to a rich variety of Illawarra rainforest natives including towering strangler figs, vibrant flame trees, cabbage tree palms, giant stinging trees, and red cedar.

Visitors can explore a large pond, flowing creeks, grassy open spaces, and a network of walking paths. During spring, the rhododendrons burst into bloom, creating a stunning display.

Work on the gardens began in 1969 after the Illawarra Rhododendron Society leased the land from Australian Iron & Steel (later BHP), who then owned the property. The vision was brought to life by dedicated volunteers, particularly Bill Means and Don Stanton, with support from AIS General Manager Mr. A.A. Parrish, who granted a peppercorn lease. To this day, the gardens remain entirely volunteer-run and maintained.

The gardens operate as a not-for-profit, with a $5.00 entry fee that helps fund their upkeep, as they receive no government funding. The transformation of the site was an enormous undertaking. Historical photos on the garden's website show the scope of work done, including the regeneration of the surrounding rainforest over the years.

The site also holds historical significance. The Mount Pleasant Colliery, which once operated within the grounds, opened in 1861 and played a key role in the development of the Mount Pleasant suburb. A tramway was constructed in 1862 to connect the mine to Wollongong Harbour. The colliery closed in 1933 during the Great Depression, and the infrastructure was later dismantled and repurposed.

Throughout the park, you’ll find brick pathways made from locally sourced bricks from the Woonona and Bulli brickworks. Among the garden’s features is a birdbath sculpture by artist Mar Barrie, installed in 1983 in memory of Jean Robertson, the great-granddaughter of Charles Throsby Smith who passed away at 93.

Today, the land is owned by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. The gardens are open from 10 am to 5 pm on weekends, public holidays and Tuesdays. The location is Parish Avenue, Mount Pleasant. Entry is just $5.00 per adult. Visit their website here - https://irrg.au/history/
If you are interested in helping, volunteers meet every Tuesday and Saturday morning at 9.30am

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Long exposure light trails of cars driving over the famous Sea Cliff Bridge. This bridge was constructed between 2003 an...
05/06/2026

Long exposure light trails of cars driving over the famous Sea Cliff Bridge.

This bridge was constructed between 2003 and 2005 after many rock falls and landslides caused closures off the coast road. If you look to the old road when travelling across, you will see the large boulders that continue to fall from these very unstable cliffs.

The location of the bridge is steeped in history and was the first place that coal was discovered in Australia, hence the name Coalcliff. The coal was discovered in 1797 by 3 survivors of the Sydney Cove Ship Wreck who walked from Victoria back to Sydney, well before any settlements were established along the route. You can still clearly see the coal seams today.

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The Enchanted Forest, Illawarra Escarpment taken back in 2010. Here is a list of some of our Illawarra Escarpment peaks ...
03/06/2026

The Enchanted Forest, Illawarra Escarpment taken back in 2010.

Here is a list of some of our Illawarra Escarpment peaks and their elevation above sea level:

Bald Hill - 180 metres

Mt Mitchell - 300 metres

Sublime Point - 415 metres

Bulli Mountain - 350 metres

Woonona Mountain - 440 metres

Broker's Nose - 442 metres

Mt Ousley - 350 metres

Mt Keira - 464 metres

Mt Kembla - 534 metres

Mt Nebo - 252 - metres

Hill 60 - 71 metres

B**g B**g Pass, Huntley - 550 metres

Mt Murray - 768 metres

Stockyard Mountain - 301 metres

Knights Hill - 709 metres

Bells Hill - 803 metres

Mt Noorinan - 666 metres

B**g B**g Mountain - 644 metres

Saddleback Mountain - 600 metres

Berry Mountain - 387 metres

Cambewarra Mountain - 678 metres

Wedding Cake Mountain - 712 metres

Drawing Room Rocks - 600 metres

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Sea Cliff Bridge in 2010, just 5 years old at the time. This bridge was constructed between 2003 and 2005 after many roc...
31/05/2026

Sea Cliff Bridge in 2010, just 5 years old at the time.

This bridge was constructed between 2003 and 2005 after many rock falls and landslides caused closures off the coast road. If you look to the old road when travelling across, you will see the large boulders that continue to fall from these very unstable cliffs.

The location of the bridge is steeped in history and was the first place that coal was discovered in Australia, hence the name Coalcliff. The coal was discovered in 1797 by 3 survivors of the Sydney Cove Ship Wreck who walked from Victoria back to Sydney, well before any settlements were established along the route. You can still clearly see the coal seams today.

According to Lonely Planet, in 2022, Sea Cliff Bridge was the highest ranked tourist attraction in the Illawarra and the 26th most popular in the nation. It's the 2nd most visited bridge in Australia by tourists, after the Sydney Harbour bridge.

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