The story of this place
The name Kiama derives from the Aboriginal word 'kiarama,' meaning 'where the sea makes a noise' — a reference to the spectacular blowhole carved into the basalt headland by thousands of years of wave action. When conditions are right, the blowhole erupts with a thunderous roar, sending plumes of water up to 60 metres high that drench onlookers on the viewing platforms. The Kiama Lighthouse, built in 1887, stands sentinel above the blowhole on Blowhole Point. Nearby, the Bombo Headland exposes a geological formation of columnar basalt — hexagonal volcanic columns that geologists travel from around the world to study. Kiama also holds another distinction: in 1884, it became home to Australia's first dairy factory and co-operative, pioneering the organised dairy industry that would define the region.