How the Region Came to Be
To fully understand the history of Scouting on the South Coast and Tablelands, we first have to understand the basic history of the organisation of the District/Area/Region:
July 1914
The formation of The Boy Scouts Association, New South Wales Section took place in July 1914 replacing the League of Boy Scouts that had guided the Movement since 1908.
Pre-March 1924
There was individual Scout Troops that were for the most part not officially affiliated with the Scout Association Imperial Headquarters.
1st March 1924
The South Coast District Association was formed with three Troops (Port Kembla, Wollongong and Austinmer) and was to cover the territory from Helensburgh in the north to the Victorian border and later Troops were started at various towns along the coast. There were two sections (now known as Districts) – Northern, (Helensburgh to Nowra) and Far South (Milton to Eden).
09 April 1932
Tablelands Section added to the South Coast District. The groups were Bowral, Moss Vale and Mittagong.
1st July 1946
The name was changed to the South Coast and Tablelands Area and consisted of the following Districts: North Illawarra, Keira, South Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Far South and Tablelands.
1st July 1978
The name changed again to the South Coast Area when the Tablelands District moved to the Hume Area. The Tablelands District covered the towns of Berrima, Moss Vale, Mittagong, Bowral, Hill Top, Bundanooon, Gibraltar, Penrose and Tudor House School.
1st July 1979
The Canberra-Monaro Area was abolished when the Australian Capital Territory Branch was formed and the districts in New South Wales (Monaro, Black Range and Tablelands) were transferred to South Coast Area. The Tablelands District consisted of Groups in Goulburn (7 Groups), Marulan, Gunning, Collector and Crookwell. Name was changed to South Coast and Tablelands Area.
26th March1980
Kori-Mul and North Illawarra Districts combined into North Illawarra District.
27th August 1986
Keira and Nebo Districts amalgamated to form Kemira District
20th April 1987
Central Illawarra and Warrigal Districts amalgamated to form Lake Illawarra District.
9th September 1996
The name was changed to South Coast and Tablelands Region when State Headquarters decided to consolidate some of the Areas and make larger Regions.
South Coast District / South Coast and Tablelands District
District formed 1925.
The Emblem (Badge) of the South Coast Area was originally chosen as a Lyre Bird, as this bird is indigenous to most of the territory of the South Coast of New South Wales. It was first introduced about October 1934, and the Emblem was worn by all South Coast and Tablelands (then) District to the Australian Jamboree at Frankston Victoria in December 1934/January 1935.
The emblem was worn on the peak of the scarf and depicted a Silver Lyre Bird on a black background. Some years later the emblem was worn above the right pocket (about 1943) and later (about 1965) in the present position of the centre of the right pocket.
The first Lyre Bird faced towards the left. Later designs faced towards the right.
In 1978 when all Districts were allowed to adopt their own emblem, a small “Scout Badge” and the name “South Coast” were added to the Lyre Bird.
In 1930 the District was called South Coast and had 12 Troops, 11 Packs, 4 Sea Scouts, 424 total members.
In 1938 Tom Rainbird was appointed DCM of South Coast and Tablelands District. In 1940 was South Coast & Tablelands District and had 25 Troops, 19 Packs, 13 Rovers, 100 Leaders and 1062 Youth Members. The District became part of the Area of the same name in 1946.
The District was from Helensburgh to the Victorian border.
William Musgrave was appointed DCM mid-1943. C. Olsson was appointed DSM late 1943 and R. Crago appointed DCM Tablelands Section of the District. In late 1944 G. McDonald DRSL resigned, and W. Fisher appointed ADC. In early 1946 A. Jordan appointed DRSL.
South Coast Area /South Coast &Amp; Tablelands Area
The Area was formed 01 July 1946 from South Coast & Tablelands District.
Area boundary
All Shire, Municipalities and Cities within the area bordered by the following boundaries:
Commencing at Cape Howe on the common boundary of New South Wales and Victoria and thence generally north westerly by that boundary to the point where it meets the western boundary of the Shire of Snowy River thence generally northerly by that boundary and the easternmost boundary of the Shire of Cooma-Monaro to the north western corner of that Shire thence south easter1y along the north eastern boundary of the Shire of Cooma-Monaro to the most southerly point of the Australian Capital Territory thence northerly along the eastern boundary of that Territory which is coincident with the western boundary of the eastern section of the Shire of Yarrolumla to the southern boundary of the Shire of Yass thence easterly along that boundary of that Shire to the south western corner of the Shire of Gunning thence northerly by the western boundary of that Shire and the western boundary of the Shire of Crockwell to the southern boundary of the Shire of Cowra thence easterly by the northern boundaries of the Shires of Crookwell and Mulwaree to the western boundary of the Shire of Wollondilly thence southerly and easterly by the eastern boundary of the Shire of Mulwaree to the northern boundary of the City of Shoalhaven thence easterly by that boundary to the western boundary of the Municipality of Kiama thence generally northerly by that boundary and the western boundaries of the Municipality of Shellharbour and the City of Wollongong to the southern boundary of the Shire of Sutherland thence easterly along the common boundary of that Shire and the City of Wollongong to the South Pacific Ocean thence southerly by the shore line of that ocean to the common boundary of New South Wales and Victoria being the point of commencement.
The Badge shows the Superb Lyrebird.
The Area Scarf is bottle green, ¼ in khaki stripe ½ in off edge
In late 1946 the Area was divided into Districts (Keira, North Illawarra, Tablelands, Far South and Shoalhaven). On 1st March 1980 Black Range, Tablelands and Monaro Districts transferred from Canberra–Monaro Area to the South Coast Area. In 1980 the name changed to South Coast Area when Tablelands District transferred to Hume Area. In 1980 non-ACT groups from Canberra – Monaro Area transferred to the Area. In 1992 the Districts were North Illawarra, South Illawarra, Lake Illawarra, Kemira, Farmborough, Far South, Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven, Monaro, Tablelands and Black Range districts.
Area HQ in Port Kembla.
Newsletter “South Coast Scouting” was published 1947-2005.
South Coast and Tablelands Region
Formed circa 1996.
Badge lyrebird with hills behind. Given permission in 2002 to wear the Region badge.
The Region scarf is Bottle Green base with a 12mm khaki border.
Currently (2025) there are 5 Districts in the region - Illawarra South, Keirawarra, Shoalhaven, Southern Coast, and Southern Ranges.
The current Groups (as at beginning of 2025) are 1st Austinmer, 1st Balgownie, 1st Bulli, 1st Figtree, 1st Helensburgh, 1st Keiraville, 1st Mt St Thomas, 1st Russell Vale, 1st Thirroul, 1st West Wollongong, 1st Albion Park, Central Oak Flats, 1st Dapto, Dapto, 1st Kiama, 1st Shellharbour, Warilla, 1st Burra, Braidwood, 1st Bungendore, 1st Goulburn, 1st Gundaroo, Gunning, 1st Illaroo, 1st Jerrabomberra, 1st Kosciusko, 1st Burrill- Ulladulla, 1st Huskisson, 1st Nowra, 1st St Georges Basin, 1st Batemans Bay, 1st Cobargo, 1st Eden, 1st Merimbula, 1st Moruya, 1st Narooma.
Districts of the Area and Region
Berrima District — Start Date: 24/06/1932
Far South District — Start Date: 01/07/1946; End Date: 05/05/2014
Keira District — Start Date: 01/07/1946; End Date: 27/08/1986
Kori-Mul District — Start Date: 01/07/1946; End Date: 26/03/1980
North Illawarra District — Start Date: 01/07/1946; End Date: 18/03/1999
Shoalhaven District — Start Date: 01/07/1946
South Illawarra District — Start Date: 01/07/1946; End Date: 12/12/1994
Kori-Mul District — Start Date: 24/11/1955; End Date: 26/03/1980
Nebo District — Start Date: 01/04/1956; End Date: 27/08/1986
Monaro District — Start Date: 30/01/1958; End Date: 26/09/2011
Eurobodalla District — Start Date: 30/07/1959; End Date: 05/05/2014
Central Illawarra District — Start Date: 01/11/1950; End Date: 29/04/1987
Farmborough District — Start Date: 24/09/1964; End Date: 13/01/1997
Gibraltar District — Start Date: 28/04/1966; End Date: 31/08/1967
Wingecarribee District — Start Date: 28/04/1966
Warrigal District — Start Date: 08/05/1969; End Date: 29/04/1987
Tablelands District (Nth) — Start Date: 29/04/1975; End Date: 01/07/1978
Black Range District — Start Date: 26/05/1976; End Date: 26/09/2011
Tablelands District (Sth) — Start Date: 27/02/1980; End Date: 26/09/2011
Kemira District — Start Date: 27/08/1986; End Date: 13/01/1997
Lake Illawarra District — Start Date: 29/04/1987; End Date: 12/12/1994
Pigeonhouse District — Start Date: 14/06/1994; End Date: 13/01/1997
Southern Illawarra District — Start Date: 12/12/1994; End Date: 13/01/1997
Illawarra South District — Start Date: 18/03/1999
Keirawarra District — Start Date: 18/03/1999
Southern Ranges District — Start Date: 26/09/2011
Southern Coast District — Start Date: 05/05/2014
From the South Coast District Association of 1924 to the South Coast and Tablelands Region: key dates, badges, scarves and districts.