Discover the wheelchair friendly hidden military history of Port Kembla's Heritage.
🏞️ Port Kembla Heritage Park is a coastal park on Foreshore Road, beside Port Kembla Harbour. The park reflects the area’s military and industrial history, with open grassy areas containing concrete anti-tank barriers and other remnants of the former Breakwater Battery. The Breakwater Battery was completed in September 1939 on the southern harbour breakwater. It was built to protect Port Kembla from enemy shipping and submarines, with two 6-inch gun emplacements and related underground facilities. Overlooking the working port, the park brings together maritime, military and Aboriginal heritage.
🏛️ WHAT TO SEE
WWII concrete gun emplacements and the former command tower, now home to the Breakwater Battery Museum.
A field of white-painted concrete anti-tank tetrahedrons, originally placed on the beach to hinder tanks.
A German 77mm field gun, captured by the 45th Battalion AIF on 8 August 1918.
Memorials to the 1938 Dalfram Dispute over pig iron exports to Japan, including a plaque with a picture of the Dalfram.
A Cowans-Sheldon 30-ton steam crane, a dredge bucket and several anchors, including a memorial to lives lost when the Gabriella capsized.
Views over the Five Islands, the harbour, industry and the escarpment.
HOW TO GET THERE?
🚗 Parking
One perpendicular accessible parking space within the Maritime Centre, in front of the Lo Stretto restaurant.
No access aisle available.
No time limit for accessible parking.
🚌 Public Transport
Port Kembla Station is the closest accessible train station with street-level access (no stairs) and accessible parking spaces. It is approximately a 16-minute walk to Port Kembla Heritage Park.
Transport NSW lists Port Kembla Station as Independent Access, with a wheelchair-accessible car space, ramp boarding assistance onto trains and tactile platform edges.
A bus stop is located on Old Port Road, opposite Port Kembla Station, about a 14-minute walk from the park.
🦽 ACCESS FEATURES
The paved pathways within the park are wide and even, making it suitable for parents with prams, wheelchair users and people with mobility aids.
🚻 TOILETS
The closest accessible toilet is adjacent to Port Kembla Harbour Boat Ramp. It is open 24 hours.
The accessible toilet has an automatic sliding door, grab rails, an automatic wash basin unit and a low toilet seat.
For visitors who need a hoist and adult change table, a Changing Places facility is at Port Kembla Pool. It is open 24/7 with an MLAK key, or during pool hours by asking pool staff.
📍 NEARBY
Hill 60 has a new accessible viewing area with accessible parking and safety railings, overlooking the Five Islands and Port Kembla Harbour.
Port Kembla Beach is one of Wollongong’s accessible beaches, with free beach wheelchairs you can book during patrol hours and beach matting on request.
FAQs
Is Port Kembla Heritage Park free to visit?
Yes. Entry to Port Kembla Heritage Park is free, and the park is open to the public.
When is Port Kembla Heritage Park open?
Port Kembla Heritage Park is open 24 hours, although visiting during daylight hours is recommended.
Are there accessible parking spaces?
Yes. There is one accessible parking space within the Maritime Centre, directly in front of the restaurant, Lo Stretto.
Can I buy food at Port Kembla Heritage Park?
Yes. Lo Stretto, a pizza and seafood restaurant, is located in the Maritime Centre. It serves breakfast and lunch overlooking the ocean, with indoor and covered outdoor seating.
Are there places to sit?
Yes. Picnic tables and benches are available throughout the park’s grassy areas.
Can I get there by train?
Yes. Port Kembla Station is listed by Transport NSW as Independent Access, and staff can provide a ramp to help you board the train. The park is about a 16-minute walk from the station.
Can I visit the Breakwater Battery Military Museum?
The museum is housed in the 1939 building that served as the battery’s headquarters and command post during World War II. In late 2024, its volunteers were told their lease would not be renewed, so check its current status before you visit.
