History
of Tourism
1906: ... a good hotel should also bring in a large
influx of tourist, for there is no more delightful
watering place in the State than Ulladulla, where
fishing, surfing, boating, shooting, charming and health
recruiting opportunities. Terms for boarding were £1
per week providing clean and comfortable quarters,
parties could be arranged and catered for. Owner George
Hughes also took advantage of the Ulladulla surrounds
when advertising the hotel - ‘Sportsmen and Lovers
of Good Fishing’. How true words spoken, Ulladulla
back then had realised the beauty of the area and the
possibility of the tourism industry.
1914: The Harbour View
Motel (located where the Ulladulla Plaza is today) was
reported in the local newspaper as bringing in a large
influx of Tourists.
Princes
Highway & Ulladulla
harbour foreshore pre 1920
1926: The South Coast
Tourists' Association was formed and the Milton Times
newspaper features reports of the increase in
tourism.
1929: The tourist valued Clyde Shire Council putting
roads in order.
1935: Visitors opinion:
"South Coast is beautiful" (and still is).
1937: The Hollywood Park Ballroom opens at South
Ulladulla, tourists staying at the Park operated by the
Powell family had free use of the Hall for dancing during
their vacation in Ulladulla. In town there was the
Central and the Sea Breeze providing accommodation to
motor parties as Ulladulla had now become a popular
holiday resort, along with the camping area on South
Ulladulla headland
Another early holiday guest house was set up by Jess Sams
known as the "Heights” (located between Milton &
Mollymook) and was supported by the Tourism Bureau in
Sydney.
Ulladulla
Harbour 1940s
With the advent of WWII, the Ulladulla virtually came to
a stand still. But during the war times Ulladulla was
still being promoted as popular seaside holiday
destination with fishing and swimming.
January 1947: Ulladulla council made application for the
declaration of Ulladulla Municipal as a tourist area. In
the late 1940s Ulladulla Council decided to address the
needs of the growing tourist trade by providing a waiting
shed for bus passengers.
Milton still was the main Centre of the district so in a
way time has stood still in the township of Ulladulla,
until Leslie Pitman made that bold move by building the
Marlin Hotel in 1948.
1948 - 1960s: The
Marlin’s main source of income was from the Tourist
buses which used Ulladulla as an overnight stop when
traveling between Sydney and Melbourne. The record for
the most beer sold at the Marlin hotel is 318 (18 gallon)
kegs of beer over the Xmas New Year period in 1965.
Marlin
Hotel 1950s
1956: The first
Blessing of the Fleet when the Catholic Parish Priest
Father Weatherall suggested to the boat owners and crews
that they should follow the old and revered tradition of
blessing the boats. The fishermen decorated their boats
for the ceremony and family picnic day, the blessing
ceremony was originally held in late December or early
January and held yearly until 1960.
1960s - 1970s: Water skiing attracts many holiday makers
to Lake Conjola and Burrill Lake. By 1969 Ulladulla was a
haven for tourist with many motels, caravan parks and
holiday flats established in the area with Motel
Mollymook, Coachman Motel, Sandpiper, Ocean View Motel,
Amanda Motel (Milton), South Ulladulla Caravan Park,
Newmans camping area and Bungalow Park at Burrill Lake.
Along with approved camping reserves at Killarney (Lake
Conjola), Merry Beach and others.
1971: Father Kenna revived the blessing of the Fleet
ceremony and so the festival has been held at Easter each
year since. Blessing
of the Fleet Festival
1980 - 1990s: Many other festivals were established,
including the Milton Settlers Fair and the Scarecrow
Festival.
Ulladulla
Tourism Today
