Area Snapshot
Wingecarribee Shire covers an area of 2700 km2, has an estimated population of 51,134 and is also known as the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.
This Shire is an important catchment area for water supply to Sydney, Wollongong and the Northern Shoalhaven. Much of the Shire is located at or above 640 m above sea level, with the main towns being Bowral, Moss Vale and Mittagong.
The Wingecarribee Shire (the Southern Highlands) is located 110 kilometres south west of Sydney, 160 kilometres North-East of Canberra, 70 kilometres from Wollongong, and an hour to the beach. The region is well connected via Motorways/Hume Highway, Illawarra Highway and the Main Southern Railway. Port Kembla is a multi-purpose port linking export markets for Southern and South Western NSW. 25% of Australia’s total population is within a two hour drive from the Wingecarribee.
The Shire is predominantly rural in character with agricultural lands separating towns and villages, characterised by unique landscape and aesthetic appeal.
The development of the Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis by 2026 will present a number of opportunities for the Southern Highlands, including tourism, with the potential to tap into a more lucrative international visitor market.
Climate
With four distinct seasons, the Southern Highlands is renowned for many European-style gardens. With a land area almost as big as Sydney, the region contains many micro-climates. Average rainfall is approximately 1000 mL per annum where summers are comfortable and partly cloudy and the winters are short, cold, and mostly clear. The average temperature for January is 25 °C and 12 °C for July.
Education
There are 20 primary schools, two public high schools, four private high schools, one special needs school, Moss Vale TAFE and a University of Wollongong campus.
Health Facilities
Two hospitals offer an extensive range of on-site medical, surgical and support services. There are numerous aged care homes, plus home care supports and facilities for residents with a disability. A broad range of services such as dental, optometry, podiatry, physiotherapy, alternative health practitioners and therapies are on offer. Community centres and programs include drop in, counselling, loan and crisis support and information.
Family Support Services
The Shire contains 16 preschools, family day care, or out of school hours care services. There is also an array of resident and community associations, Rotary, CWA, Lions, Red Cross, Men’s Sheds, gardening, environmental groups, and bush care clubs.
Sporting Facilities
The Shire contains 23 sporting grounds hosting numerous clubs and representing most sports, three outdoor swimming pools and a year-round aquatic centre.
Cultural Services
The Wingecarribee region hosts annual food, music, and cultural festivals featuring performing arts, cinema, galleries and libraries, and contains the Ngununnggula Regional Gallery at Bowral.
Leisure and Dining
Wingecarribee contains many cafes and restaurants at a broad range of price points in all towns and villages, with a growing focus on locally-grown produce. There are 18 cellar doors and four breweries.
Retail Services
Main street shopping is available in the towns of Bowral, Moss Vale and Mittagong and the villages of Berrima, Robertson, and Bundanoon. Highlands Marketplace and Highlands Hub offer a mix of stores and parking in one convenient location at Mittagong.