NSWRail & telegraph
Bomaderry
The South Coast railway stopped at the river, and a town grew at the end of the line.
1892Township lots sold beside the railway site
WHAT STARTED IT
The Illawarra railway was meant to cross the Shoalhaven River, but it stopped on the north bank, about two miles short of Nowra. Bomaderry was subdivided from the Berry family’s Shoalhaven Estate in 1892, with the first lots facing the planned station.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
The terminus opened in 1893 with a large goods yard, and industries moved beside it for the rail link: a milk condensery and bacon factory around 1901, then a city milk depot in 1912. Later sidings served oil, Horlicks and paper mills by the river.
TURNING POINTS
1892The Bomaderry township subdivision is auctioned; 56 lots sell.
1893The railway from Kiama is opened to Bomaderry on 2 June.
1901The Jersey Milk Company moves its condensery beside the station.
1912Nowra’s dairy co-operative builds a city milk depot at the station.
1946A new brick station replaces the building burnt in 1945.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
Nowra’s northern twin and still the end of the South Coast line, with homes, schools and industry. The 1893 goods shed and stationmaster’s house survive in the heritage-listed station yard.