THE WAY WE WERE
fancy a cold one? COMMANDING ONE OF THE SOUTH COAST'S PRIME WATERFRONT POSITIONS, THE OCEAN BEACH HOTEL HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF SHELLHARBOUR FOR OVER 90 YEARS Words Lauren Pomphrey Sources Lost Wollongong, Shellharbour City Museum, Visit NSW Image P09722 Ocean Beach Hotel at Shellharbour, 1959 from Wollongong City Libraries
The history of the Ocean Beach Hotel began in the 1920s, when Henrietta Bush, a nurse and hotelier from Sydney, saw an opportunity to pioneer the tourist trade in Shellharbour. Built in 1929 for 8500 pounds, the hotel could accommodate up to 60 guests, with luxurious marble bathrooms and a grand dining room opening to a tiled verandah.
With its huge outdoor deck and idyllic water views, Shellharbour's Ocean Beach Hotel is never short of visitors. But over the years, for the local community, the hotel has been more than just a nice spot for lunch.
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In 1930, the Kiama Independent reported the new hotel to be "an ornament to Shellharbour and the South Coast", putting the village on the map and introducing visitors to "one of the prettiest spots on the coast". With its harbourfront position, the Ocean Beach Hotel became a destination in its own right, serving afternoon tea with a side of sweeping views.
