The History of the Blowhole

The main Kiama Blow Hole was discovered by George Bass on his voyage of coastal exploration on December 6, 1797, after anchoring his whaleboat in the sheltered bay which became Kiama Harbour. 

The shore Bass wrote, showed evidence of considerable volcanic fire and on the point he found: "The earth for a considerable distance round in the form approaching a circle seemed to have given way; it was now a green slope.....Towards the centre was a deep ragged hole of about 25 to 30 feet in diameter and on one side of it the sea washed in through a subterraneous passage...with a most tremendous noise..." 

Bass was not, in fact, the first to discover the Kiama Blow Hole, as local Aboriginals had for generations referred to it as Khanterintee. 

In January 1889 a performer by the name of Charles Jackson attracted large crowds to see his crossings of the mouth of the Blow Hole on a tightrope. 

In more recent times a local newspaper editor caused a furor by reporting that the Public Works Department was going to give the Blowhole a "reline" as it was not working as well as it used to due to erosion. All manner of media coverage & public protests were subsequently arranged for the day which was scheduled for the work to be done, which turned out to be April Fools Day.

Suggestions by visitors disappointed that the Blowhole was not working when they visited, have included the installation of a coin operated pump.

A smaller "little Blow Hole" is located a few minutes south of the main Blow Hole & performs best under moderate seas.

Blowhole Drownings  

On Saturday 11th July 1992, Fared Cina, 26, his wife Angella, 28 & their daughter Baran, 4, all from Gwynneville, drowned along with Mrs Cina's nephew Arash, 7. Nasarin Zobair, 37, her daughter Kahlida, 21 & her son Mustafa, 11, at Blowhole Point, Kiama.

All seven people were washed into the ocean by a wave while standing on rocks. Mr Cina's body was never recovered.

On 10th April 1997, the bodies of Sydney cousins Masuda Khushbakht, 16 & Khatera Nawabi, 20, were found floating in the ocean off Kiama. They had been in the water for more than 12 hours. Both girls were relatives of four of those drowned in 1992.