What to know about Wollongong
- In 2021 the Census found 305,691 people in the Wollongong Significant Urban Area, where the median age was 39.Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats
- At the 2021 Census, 14.8% of occupied private dwellings in the Wollongong urban area were flats or apartments and 71.3% were separate houses.Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats
- Under the Local Government Act 1993, Wollongong City Council issues approvals to engage in a trade or business on community land, and a fitness professional running outdoor fitness training on community land in Wollongong may need one.Source: Australian Business Licence and Information Service (business.gov.au)
- Wollongong City Council's Beach Services and Surf Sports Strategy counts 60 kilometres of coastline and 34 beach locations, and lists fitness groups among beach activities.Source: Wollongong City Council (Let's Talk Wollongong)
- The Grand Pacific Walk is a planned 60km pathway linking the Royal National Park with the Wollongong CBD and Lake Illawarra, and stage one, from Stanwell Park to Coalcliff, is complete.Source: NSW Health, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
A city of apartments as well as houses
The 2021 Census counted 305,691 people in the Wollongong urban area, with a median age of 39. Flats and apartments made up 14.8% of occupied homes, against 71.3% separate houses. That matters if you are weighing up training at home: a trainer visiting a unit may bring bands, a mat and light weights rather than bulky gear, so tell them how much room you have.
Council approval for outdoor sessions
On the Australian Government's business licence register, Wollongong City Council lists an approval to engage in a trade or business on community land under the Local Government Act 1993. Its example is a fitness professional running outdoor fitness training on community land. The council also has a policy on commercial fitness training on public open space, with its own licence application. The register does not set out the conditions, so ask the trainer whether they hold the council's approval for the place you want to meet.
Beaches and the Grand Pacific Walk
Wollongong City Council's Beach Services and Surf Sports Strategy counts 60 kilometres of coastline and 34 beach locations, and names fitness groups among the activities on its beaches. NSW Health's Illawarra Shoalhaven district describes the Grand Pacific Walk, a planned 60km pathway to link the Royal National Park with the Wollongong CBD and Lake Illawarra. Stage one, from Stanwell Park to Coalcliff, is complete. A walk with a trainer along a finished stretch is an easy way into outdoor training.
Wollongong questions
Does a trainer need permission to train me on the beach?
Commercial fitness training on community land may need approval from Wollongong City Council, which has a policy just for it. Raise it with the trainer before your first session so you know the spot is sorted.
Can I share sessions with a friend?
Yes. On the request form, say you would like to train with a partner or a small group and add your suburb, whether that is Corrimal, Dapto or Figtree. Partner and small group training explains how it usually runs.
What if I would rather not train in public?
Ask for a trainer who comes to you. Mobile personal training covers sessions at your place, whether that is a house or a unit.