The North Wollongong Hotel has been the main drawcard on Flinders Street for more than 10 years – now the precinct is up for a revamp. Photo: From the collections of Wollongong City Libraries and the Illawarra Historical Society – P02/P02298.
Could Wollongong’s Flinders Street score a facelift?
The street is also known as the strip of Princes Highway between Smith Street, Wollongong and Ajax Street, North Wollongong.
It’s home to North Wollongong Hotel , a couple of big box liquor stores, Illawarra Toyota and a long stretch of unshaded, highway-adjacent footpath.
Wollongong City Council reckons it could become a thriving hub for housing and jobs, and has come up with a draft urban design framework (UDF) to shape the vision.
It would involve changes to planning controls such as land use, building height, floor space ratio and minimum lot sizes.
Developed in collaboration with urban design firm Architectus, the UDF outlines a comprehensive review of the precinct’s constraints and opportunities, such as the area’s riparian corridors, flood risk, heritage items and how people can move around the precinct.
The draft is on display and you can let them know your thoughts as long as you get onto it before Monday 15 December.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said the Flinders Street precinct could become a northern gateway to the CBD.
“The review has done a great job of unpacking what’s to love about the area,” she said.
“It’s addressed how we can elevate its natural environment more, unlock better development outcomes, enhance its transport corridor and more.
“The site is nestled in the northern part of our Wollongong City Centre … it’s not surprising the precinct has attracted interest for residential and commercial development.”
The area has been identified for review in three strategic documents – the Wollongong Housing Strategy 2023, Wollongong Industrial Lands Review 2023 and Wollongong Retail and Business Centres Strategy 2023.
To help inform the draft framework, the council undertook stakeholder workshops and engagement with Aboriginal community representatives earlier this year.
Cr Brown said the precinct had the potential to be a key hub for Wollongong and the council was keen to get residents’ input to ensure development reflected the community’s needs.
“We’re also aware of state government planning pathways and how they can work alongside our ambitious plans,” she said.
“If the framework is endorsed, it’ll become a tool to guide future planning proposals and major development and shape a hub for our growing community.”
In November 2025, the NSW Government amended the Wollongong LEP to allow taller buildings in North Wollongong under the Transport Orientated Development Program.
This area includes some land within the Flinders Street precinct.
To have a look at the draft and provide your feedback, visit the council’s engagement website Our Wollongong.
