A very rare and substantially intact survivor of a building style common in Bulli in the mid to late 19th century.
The cottages were built close to mines and rail lines, often by the mining companies themselves or by local landowners. Modest in size, they featured a simple layout of one or two rooms, with a front verandah, and a backyard featuring a veggie patch and out-house toilet.
These homes weren’t just places to sleep, they were the heart of tight-knit communities. Families lived side by side, sharing stories, meals, and looking out for one another during tough times. Life was simple but often hard, with long hours in dangerous conditions for the miners and plenty of challenges at home. Today, many of these original cottages still stand and can be seen in Mount Kembla, Scarborough and Bulli. Some have been lovingly restored, modernised or extended, while others are preserved like a snapshot in time.
Bulli Miners Cottage, located next to the historic Denmark Hotel on the Princes Highway, is an example from the 1870s, and remains “a very rare and substantially intact survivor of a building style common in Bulli in the mid to late 19th century.’’
Walking past these cottages today, it’s easy to imagine the lives lived inside them—of families who helped build the foundations of Wollongong as we know it. They’re not just old houses; they’re living history, reminding us of the community spirit of residents’ past.
We’d love to send you occassional news and updates of happenings along the Coal Coast to your inbox!
We’d love to send some occasional news and updates of happenings along our Coal Coast to your inbox!
