port kembla steelworks tour

BlueScope in the Illawarra

BlueScope employs around 3,000 people directly in the Illawarra and supports about 10,000 jobs in the Illawarra - including contractors, suppliers and other service providers who are dependent on the Port Kembla Steelworks.

BlueScope accounts for more than $2 billion in sales of locally produced steel each year, and the Port Kembla Steelworks has a production capacity of just over 3 million tonnes of steel per annum.  The Steelworks covers 760 hectares.

BlueScope in the Illawarra is the home of COLORBOND® steel, which was developed at our own in-house – and Australia’s largest - manufacturing research facility.

All BlueScope people work hard to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, and we spend around $50 million each year on the operation and maintenance of pollution control equipment. 

The Story of Steel: Port Kembla Steelworks

BlueScope has a long and proud history as an efficient, trusted and innovative steelmaker in the Illawarra. In Australia, it evolved from the coming together of many companies that pioneered the Australian steel industry in the early 20th Century  including The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP), John Lysaght (Australia) Pty Ltd (Lysaght) and Australian Iron and Steel Limited (AIS) and have been many others since.

Book a tour

Want to take a tour of the Steelworks?

Public tours of the Port Kembla Steelworks are available most Friday and Saturday mornings, commencing at the Inside Industry Visitor Centre at 9:30am and returning around 12:00 midday.

BlueScope and the Illawarra environment

BlueScope is committed to the efficient use of resources, preventing pollution and reducing the environmental impact of its operations and products. View our environmental performance reporting .

Our communities are our homes

At BlueScope, our communities are our homes.  In the Illawarra, our Company has invested well over $5 million in community sponsorships and donations in the last 10 years. 

The BlueScopeWIN community partners program has donated over $1 million to around 150 community groups since 2012.

No.6 Blast Furnace Reline at Port Kembla

Our No.5 Blast Furnace is expected to reach the end of its life sometime between 2026-30, and the relining of the No.6 Blast Furnace is critical in ensuring the future of steelmaking in the Illawarra region.

Commodity Logistics and Import Project

The project will involve upgrade of the raw materials berths, and unloading and conveying infrastructure, which will allow BlueScope to continue to import raw materials operations including iron ore, scrap, coal and other materials for ongoing steelmaking operations.

Smart steel products

BlueScope has a strong heritage of innovation emanating from Port Kembla. COLORBOND® steel has remained a class leader for almost 50 years – an enviable and remarkable achievement in any industry.

• Visit our  BlueScopeWIN website  to learn about the partnership, complete an application for donation or sponsorship: 
• In an emergency call (02) 4275 6000
• To make a complaint call 1800 640 252
• All other enquiries email us

Illawarra news...

Bluescope berths upgrade announcement.

On Friday, 26 May 2023, the Hon. Paul Scully MP (NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces) visited our Port Kembla Steelworks in Australia to announce planning approval that triggers a $182m investment in material handling at our shipping berths.

Waste Classification Sampling

At BlueScope, maintaining responsible products and supply chains is one of our five sustainability outcomes.

Situational Awareness

We're proud to showcase digital technologies for situational awareness at our coke-making plant in Port Kembla, Australia.

Mixed Reality Training in Port Kembla

Every day, our people are transforming our global BlueScope business through various digital technologies, enhancing collaboration, sustainability, safety and efficiency at work.

Chris Minns's Visit to Port Kembla Steelworks

We were proud to welcome the newly-elected NSW Premier, Chris Minns, to our Port Kembla Steelworks.

50 Years of Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (BOS)

On 13 July 2022, our Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (BOS) facility at the Port Kembla Steelworks celebrated its 50th anniversary!

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Steelworks Tour

Enjoy guided tours of the spectacular Port Kembla Steelworks, offering an up close and personal sensory experience of the largest and most dynamic concentration of heavy industry in Australia.

After a quick safety briefing at the Visitor Centre, you will be kitted out in safety gear (PPE) before boarding the tour bus to begin a truly sensory ‘steelmaking’ experience. As the tour bus snakes around the Port Kembla Steelworks site, you will spot everything from monster machinery, giant buildings, locomotives and huge stockpiles of raw materials.

Time to turn up the heat as you climb the stairs to visit the colossal Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (BOS) plant and the continuous slab caster to get the best vantage point of steel production – a truly unique and sensory experience.

In the tour’s final stage, visit the Hot Strip Mill, where steel slabs are reheated and rolled into coils in a noisy, action-packed process.

Accessibility

Disabled access available, contact operator for details.

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Port Kembla Steelworks Public Tour

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Port Kembla Steelworks Public Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Home » Things To Do » North Wollongong » Working Port Tour – Inside Industry

Working Port Tour - Inside Industry

• Springhill Rd North Wollongong New South Wales 2500 Australia

Description

Working port tour – inside industry.

Following a quick tour introduction at the Visitor Centre, you’ll board the tour bus to begin the tour of the Port of Port Kembla by a short visit to Greenhouse Park – where the full picture of the port is laid out beneath you.

Next, enter the Inner Harbour where you’ll see the Port’s key infrastructures – being Port Kembla Coal Terminal (the second largest coal terminal in NSW), the Grain Terminals, the state’s largest motor vehicle import hub and cruise ship berth – a key gateway supporting New South Wales’ motor vehicle, mining, agricultural, manufacturing and construction industries.

After visiting the Inner Harbour we travel along the outskirts of the Port Kembla Steelworks and discuss all things Steel whilst travelling toward the Outer Harbour precinct – A short stop at Christy Dr (offering spectacular views of the Inner Harbour berths), it’s now time to discover the additional infrastructure and industries that are in and around the Outer Harbour. Before heading back to the Visitor Centre, you finish the tour on a beautiful high at Hill 60 with amazing panoramic views of the Illawarra coastline, Lake Illawarra and industrial super centre we have just explored.

Tour departs 2nd Saturday of every month, 10:30am – 1pm.

Cost: Adult: $25 Senior/Concession/Student: $20 Children (5-12 years): $12 Family (2 x Adults & 2 x Children): $65 * Children under 5yrs free of charge

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PORT KEMBLA STEELWORKS PUBLIC TOUR (Wollongong) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

The Kid Bucket List

Travelling with Kids – Adventure isn't just about the plane trips!

Port Kembla Steelworks Tour

When the kids asked us how iron ore turns into steel we thought rather than explain the process we would show them, and that’s how we found ourselves exploring the Port Kembla Steelworks tour on a Friday morning, and adding to our places to visit in Wollongong with kids. 

Generating over $29 billion in annual revenue, the Australian steel industry is incredibly important, but what do you know about it? Port Kembla currently produces 2.6 million tonnes of raw steel each year. Incredible. We had to take the kids to see what this looks like.

Port Kembla Steelworks

Table of Contents

Spread over 760 hectares (that’s around 1878 acres!), the Port Kembla Steelworks was established in 1928 by the Hoskins family when they moved their Lithgow steel plant to the new site to take advantage of the deep port and proximity to Sydney.

Today, Port Kembla Steelworks directly employs around 3,000 individuals in the Illawarra and supports about 10,000 jobs. It has become the home of COLORBOND® steel, which was developed at the company’s own in-house – and Australia’s largest – manufacturing research facility.

Running on Friday and Saturday mornings, the public steelworks tours at Port Kembla is the only way you can see steel being made in person in Australia. 

On the Steelworks tour, you will visit the colossal Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (BOS) plant and the continuous slab caster where you will get the best vantage point of steel production. It’s hot like hell, and an overwhelming experience. 

You will then visit the Hot Strip Mill, where steel slabs are reheated and rolled into coils in a noisy, action-packed process.

Travelling in a small minibus, you will also have the chance to view the inner workings of the steelworks from monster machinery, giant buildings, locomotives and huge stockpiles of raw materials.

When do the Port Kembla Steelworks tours run?

The Port Kembla Steelworks tours run on most Fridays and Saturdays at 9.30 am. Additional tours are occasionally scheduled during the school holidays. 

What to wear

The tour takes you into the heart of the Port Kembla Steelworks so there’s no way to skirt around the WH&S requirements. 

Full-length pants with no rips or splits are a must, along with calf-length socks and fully enclosed, non-slip shoes (sneakers are okay).  

During the site safety briefing, you will be provided PPE safety gear including a full-length shirt, eye protection, hard hat, mask and earwear.

No photography is permitted once you exit the Visitor Centre and you really don’t need a jacket (it’s super warm inside the steelworks) so I advise leaving your bags and outerwear in the car. 

Accessibility 

The tour takes you through a working steelworks. It was not built with tours or accessibility in mind. Participants are guided through the different levels to observe steel production. This includes climbing around 300-400 stairs and walking approximately 2-2.5kms.

Those with a pacemaker will be restricted to sections of the steelworks due to the impact particular areas can have the functioning of your device. Make sure you declare this prior to entry. 

To support all participants, headphones and a personal listening device is provided during the tour. This will ensure you can always hear the tour guide, even during the sections of the tour where the noise levels from the machinery is quite loud. We were very impressed by this addition. 

We currently do not have accessibility concerns so we’re able to access the tour in full. Please reach out to the Inside Industry directly to discuss any accessibility requirements that you need.

Booking your Port Kembla Steelworks Tour

Inside Industry currently manage tours of the Port Kembla Steelworks. All participants must be 10 years or over. 

A family ticket (2 x Adults & 2 x children/students) is currently $130.00. The site accepts Parents NSW vouchers. 

Head over to the Steelworks booking site for details. 

So How is Steel Made?

By the end of our tour, and with a little help from BlueScope’s tutorial video, we learned how Iron can be changed into steel. 

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Exploring Wollongong and the Illawarra

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Working Port Tour

Following a quick tour introduction at the Visitor Centre, you’ll board the tour bus to begin the tour of the Port of Port Kembla by a short visit to Greenhouse Park – where the full picture of the port is laid out beneath you.

Next, enter the Inner Harbour where you’ll see the Port’s key infrastructures – being Port Kembla Coal Terminal (the second largest coal terminal in NSW), the Grain Terminals, the state’s largest motor vehicle import hub and cruise ship berth – a key gateway supporting New South Wales’ motor vehicle, mining, agricultural, manufacturing and construction industries.

After visiting the Inner Harbour we travel along the outskirts of the Port Kembla Steelworks and discuss all things Steel whilst travelling toward the Outer Harbour precinct – A short stop at Christy Dr (offering spectacular views of the Inner Harbour berths), it’s now time to discover the additional infrastructure and industries that are in and around the Outer Harbour – Before heading back to the Visitor Centre, you finish the tour on a beautiful high at Hill 60 with amazing panoramic views of the Illawarra coastline, Lake Illawarra and industrial super centre we have just explored.

Tour departs 2nd Saturday of every month, 10:30am – 1pm.

Springhill Road, Coniston

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Guided tours of the Port Kembla Steelworks available over summer

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Why not book on a three-hour guided tour of the Port Kembla Steelworks with Inside Industry.

They operate six days a week for locals and visitors interested in an up close and personal experience at a major steel making plant.

A three-hour public tour in an air-conditioned bus is offered from 9.30am Friday and Saturday are a result of Inside Industy  working with Destination Wollongong’s Stuart Barnes.

Group Tours for 12 or more cane be arranged by appointment any day Monday to Saturday.

Read more:  21 summer school holiday activities you’ll want to know about

The chance for locals to explore their own back yard and those holidaying in Wollongong to see a working steel making plant is already proving popular. And many adults are bringing children aged 10 years and over.

On Friday Stephen Owen, of Bankstown, returned after more than 50 years.

He worked at Port Kembla between 1956 and 1962 when there were more than 21,000 employees. And he brought along grandsons Luke Hocraft, 10, and Aidan Hocraft, 11, for a look.

“We are camping at Corrimal. It is our yearly ritual and they kept telling me they want to come and see the steelworks. They have heard me tell them a few stories over the years, Mr Owen said.

The boys said they wanted to come because it was something different to do in the holidays and a chance to learn something new.

Inside Industry general manager Brent Hilbrink-Watson said BHP and then BlueScope had offered public steel tours since the 1950’s. In the mid 90’s Australia’s Industry World took them over.

“We rebranded early last year as Inside Industry. We have done public tours in the past by appointment only. Our motto here is connecting community and industry and we really want to show people the amazing Port Kembla Steelworks and what happens inside”.

Mr Hilbrink-Watson said most Wollongong and Shellharbour people are related to or know someone who has worked at the steelworks. But many people still drive past every day not really knowing what happens beyond the fence.

“There are a lot of misconceptions. We just want to show people around, be transparent and give them a once in a lifetime experience,” he said.

Mr Barnes said the steelworks is spectacular and the tours are conducted by former steelworkers Eric Bradley and Reiner Glaser. He expects they will also appeal to cruise ship visitors, groups, clubs and schools.

“Inside Industry will also be operating port tours and in the future we are looking at mines as well”.

Mariane Newhouse recently moved back to Wollongong from Sydney and decided to bring her daughter Alana, 14, along.

“I went on a steelworks school tour in the 70’s. Because I had been here before I wanted to see how things have changed. It has improved,” she said.

“We went onto the Destination Wollongong website and said “let’s be a tourist in our own city”.

Alana described the tour as “really fascinating” and recommended everyone do a tour because they will learn so much.

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Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.

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ABOUT THE MUSEUM

Member Event: Port Kembla Steelworks Tour

Saturday, 23rd of march, 2024.

Our first Member's Event for 2024 will feature a visit to the Port Kembla Steelworks, a BBQ lunch provided by Warrigal Charters, and a visit to a the depot of a well established local operator.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Sydney Bus Museum Members are invited to take part in one of Inside Industry's tours of the Port Kembla Steelworks.

This tour offers an up close and personal sensory experience of the largest and most dynamic concentration of heavy industry in Australia.

At the conclusion of the steelworks tour, Warrigal Charters will host SBM Members for a BBQ lunch, after which there will be the opportunity to tour one of Wollongong's largest bus operator's depots. An interesting day offering an side view of Wollongong's industries not to be missed!

Travel to and from the Museum site in Leichhardt will be provided by Warrigal Charters, and the times for which will be released shortly. 

A historic hint to which local operator we hope to pay a visit!

HOW TO BOOK

Registration of interest and bookings are handled through the Museum's membership system Memberjungle. 

All members will receive information regarding upcoming events to the email address nominated on their membership. 

If you haven't received any information about this event, please email [email protected] with you name and membership number. 

Working Port Tour

Following a quick tour introduction at the Visitor Centre, we board the tour bus to begin our tour of the Port of Port Kembla with a short visit to Greenhouse Park – where the full picture of the port is laid out beneath us.

Next, we enter the Inner Harbour where we see the Port’s key infrastructures – being Port Kembla Coal Terminal (the second largest coal terminal in NSW), the Grain Terminals, the state’s largest motor vehicle import hub and cruise ship berth – a key gateway supporting New South Wales’ motor vehicle, mining, agricultural, manufacturing and construction industries.

After visiting the Inner Harbour we travel along the outskirts of the Port Kembla Steelworks and discuss all things Steel whilst travelling toward the Outer Harbour precinct – A short stop at Christy Dr (offering us spectacular views of the Inner Harbour berths), it’s now time to discover the additional infrastructure and industries that are in and around the Outer Harbour –  Before heading back to the Visitor Centre, we finish our tour on a beautiful high at Hill 60 with amazing panoramic views of the Illawarra coastline, Lake Ilawarra and industrial super centre we have just explored.

Adult: $35 Senior/Concession/Student: $30 Children (5-12 years): $18 Family (2 x Adults & 2 x Children): $90 * Children under 5yrs free of charge

Important Tour Information: * Ages: All ages welcome * Tour Activity Level: Easy (Driving Tour – alighting the bus in public areas – weather permitting) * Tour Duration:  2-2.5hrs  * Tour Accessibility: Appropriate to wheelchairs/walkers (upon request)

When: Public Working Port Tours are scheduled on the second Saturday of every month (10:30am – 1pm)

Where: Meeting Point – Inside Industry Visitor Centre at 10:15am sharp  https://www.google.com/maps/place/Inside+Industry/@-34.4441934,150.8806652,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x3776a02d3661d7ae!8m2!3d-34.4441934!4d150.8806652

Group Working Port Tours:

(Education Sector, Corporate, Service/Community Clubs & Special Interest Groups)

Please contact Inside Industry for all group bookings 02 42757023 or [email protected]