KIAMA

town, Illawara district, eastern New South Wales, Australia. The town is situated near the Minamurra River. Its harbour was visited in 1797 by the British explorer George Bass. Its name is Aboriginal for either good fishing ground or where the sea makes a noise, the latter referring to a local sea cave known as the Blowhole. A former cedar port, it was proclaimed a town in 1839 and became a municipality in 1859 that was enlarged in 1954 by the inclusion of Jamberoo and Gerringong. Situated along the Prince's Highway, 55 miles (88 km) south of Sydney, Kiama serves an area of dairy and mixed farming, coal mining, and blue-metal (basalt) quarrying. Its fine beaches and rocky coast attract tourists. Pop. (1981) 7,717.