Bulli’s Black Diamond District Tales – A Journey Through Time
Experience a journey of tales & images of Bulli, the Black Diamond District Heart of Northern Illawarra's Dharawal land. From its pre European era, bypassed by Cook, whaling, coal mining & steam train days, to top surfing spot, of community activism in a Picket & Aboriginal Tent Embassy to 21st century.
Come, discover stories and photos as we share a journey through time of the Black Diamond District including Bulli, in the Heart of Northern Illawarra’s Dharawal land.
Coal brought wealth & security, but for others heartache. Bulli grew with coal – seeing early Illawarra steam trains taking coal to the Bulli Jetty. The jetty suffered in severe storms as did others nearby in the severe coastal storms – and the Illawarra Shipwreck Coastline saw over 100 shipwrecks. Things had been looking quite bright in 1887 with the imminent arrival of the Railway from Sydney. However the catastrophic explosion in the Old Bulli Pit killed 81 men & boys, ripping families apart. The tragedy is still commemorated annually.
Eventually the community recovered, coal continued through the arrival of the 1950’s Housing Commission estate and the nearby Sandon Point surfing spot. When mining ceased, tensions ran high eventually with a Picket Line organised by locals & a nearby Aboriginal Tent Embassy.