TRADITIONAL USE

There is no traditional use of the name “Shoalhaven Coast” this being the first recorded usage. The name has been selected to indicate that the region is strongly, but not exclusively, associated with the Shoalhaven region of NSW.

The region popularly known as the “Shoalhaven” stretches along the coast of New South Wales, south from the Berry area, approximately fifteen kilometres north of the Shoalhaven River, to Durras, south of Ulladulla. Grape growing is carried out throughout the Shoalhaven area but in the past has been concentrated in the area immediately north of the Shoalhaven River, between the escarpment and the coast, centred on the town of Berry. The proposed GI of Shoalhaven Coast occupies all the area within the Shoalhaven City Council area and a small area immediately to the north in the Kiama City Council area. In recent years extensive plantings of wine grapes have been made around the small settlement of Gerringong south of Kiama. The area has geology, soils, elevation and climate identical to that to the immediate south. The area also lies within the northern extremity of the coastal catchment area of the Shoalhaven River.

The Gerringong grape growing area is thus contiguous with the Shoalhaven growing areas and lies within the same river catchment area. It is therefore considered that it should be included in the same regional GI. In the circumstances the name “Shoalhaven Coast” is deemed most appropriate for the GI.

The name has a further benefit to the local wine industry in that the major market for local wine is tourism. The tourist marketing strategies of the Shoalhaven and Kiama areas are directed towards presenting the regions as part of the South Coast of New South Wales and the name carries this aspiration within it.