Congo, New South Wales

Congo is a village in Eurobodalla Shire on the South Coast of New South Wales.[1] Congo is located 315 km south of Sydney, and 10 km south of Moruya.

Congo New South Wales
Congo
Coordinates	35°57′S 150°09′E
Population	245 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	2537
Location	315 km (196 mi) SSW of Sydney 10 km (6 mi) SE of Moruya
LGA(s)	Eurobodalla Shire
Region	South Coast
State electorate(s)	Bega
Federal Division(s)	Eden-Monaro

The population of Congo and the surrounding area was 245 at the 2016 census.[2]

Congo Creek flows to the Tasman Sea at the northern end of the village. Congo's beach is noted as a good location for surfing, with a colloquial name "The Suck".[3] Beach safe classes the hazard of the unpatrolled Congo beach as 6/10 "Moderately hazardous".[4]

National parks and aboriginal heritage

Congo is a village surrounded by Eurobodalla National Park on three sides, and the ocean (Tasman Sea) on the east.

Congo campground is situated on Congo Creek within the national park.[5] It is a good base for walking the 14 km Bingi Dreaming track described by the National Parks and Wildlife Service as "a coastal walk that traces the ancient Song Lines of the Yuin Aboriginal people".[6]

Aborigines have occupied the area for over 6000 years, prior to the sea reaching current levels.[7]

Eurobodalla Coast Tourism notes that the Congo area was a major source of silcrete, used to make stone tools. Silcrete was widely traded throughout the region.[8]

Wildlife

Eurobodalla Shire council reports that the greater glider is endangered, and has been recruiting residents to undertake spotlighting as part of the Bingie Congo Glider project.[9]

Land use and planning

A small area on Congo Creek may be affected by rising sea levels.[10]

A parcel of land on Congo Creek at the north of the village has been identified as Endangered Ecological Community "25 South Coast Swamp Forest - Casuarina glauca".[11]

Outside the village and national park, Eurobodalla Shire Council's planning map shows land classified as agricultural class 1-4 and 5.[12]

Crafts

Congo's one commercial business is the Congo Crafts Gallery & Studio. It features paintings, tapestry, hand-loom weaving and jewellery with wood-fired and gas-fired ceramics with a wide range of glazing techniques.[13]

References

1. "Place name search". Geographical Names Board of NSW. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Congo (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
3. "Congo Beach - The Suck". wannasurf.com. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
4. "Congo: unpatrolled beach". Surf Life Saving Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
5. "Congo campground". NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
6. "Bingi Dreaming track". NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
7. "Eurobodalla National Park -- BINGI DREAMING TRACK" (PDF). Cobowra Local Aboriginal Land Council. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
8. "Indigenous sites". Eurobodalla Coast Tourism. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
9. "Wanted: Greater Glider spotlighters". Eurobodalla Shire Council. 18 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
10. "Congo Investigation Area Mapping: Sea level rise investigation area mapping for Congo" (PDF). Eurobodalla Shire Council. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
11. "ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES: EUROBODALLA SHIRE SURVEY 2006: Map 9: Moruya Heads - Congo area" (PDF). Eurobodalla Shire Council. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
12. "Eurobodalla Map". Eurobodalla Shire Council. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
13. "Congo Crafts Gallery & Studio". The original gold rush colony. Retrieved 8 April 2015.