Wollongong City Libraries have announced the winners of the inaugural Illawarra Images Photography Prize.
Key points:
- Wollongong City Libraries announced the winners of the Illawarra Images Photography Prize.
- More than 450 photo entries from 200 people were submitted to capture what life in Wollongong looks like today.
- A selection of images, including the category winners and finalists, have been added to the online photographic collection Illawarra Images.
- Illawarra Images is Wollongong City Libraries’ collection of more than 50,000 images spanning the 1800s to today.
When people explore Wollongong’s image archives for the story of 2026, they’ll find scenes of sport, surf and play, along with everyday moments like Mr Risi smiling outside his home and Grandma in the city with Chicha.
They are some of the snapshots captured by the winners of the inaugural Illawarra Images Photography Prize .
Presented by Wollongong City Libraries, the competition invited residents to become community historians and submit images of what life in Wollongong looks like today.
Through their lens, they could shape local history and help record the diversity of our city’s people, places, moments and experiences for future generations.
More than 450 photo entries from 200 people were submitted across three age categories – 18+ years old, 13-17 years and 6-12 years – with a total of $2,000 in prize money on offer.
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said she appreciated everyone who helped document their everyday moments for people to reflect and connect with in many years to come.
“The prize had an amazing response from our community, making it a difficult task for our judges to select winners,” Cr Brown said.
“Photographs tell a story, yet the common theme from all entries was the pure love and pride people have for Wollongong. Together, it uncovered the array of connections, perspectives and experiences in the city we all call home.
“The winners and finalists had especially captured a strong sense of place and time, exploring significant cultural themes of today, like migration, development, sport and outdoor life.
“Our community plays a significant role in preserving Wollongong’s history. This prize competition is a beautiful example of how simple it can be to do this. It not only benefits future generations, but it also gives us the space to reflect on our story of today.”
A selection of images, including the category winners and finalists, have been added to ‘Illawarra Images’, Wollongong City Libraries’ collection of more than 50,000 images spanning the 1800s to today.
The Prize was judged by:
- Grant White, Manager of Archives University of Wollongong
- Jo Oliver, Local Studies Specialist of Wollongong City Libraries
- Kathy Sharpe, Editor of Illawarra Mercury
The Illawarra Images Photography Prize replaces the Local History Prize for a trial period, revisioning how local history is collected, with organisers encouraging people of all ages to become “citizen collectors” and contribute to Wollongong’s living history.
Check out the winners below. You can also view the exhibition online on the Illawarra Stories website .
The Illawarra Images Photography Prize is proudly supported by the Friends of the Library.
Image: Oliver Risi with his grandfather, the subject of his winning photo.
18+ Category winners
First prize: Mr Risi, Oliver Risi
Second Prize: Harry Climbing Wallyard Arete, Samuel Phillips
Third Prize: Building Boom Wollongong, Kay Caravan
13 to 17 years Category winners
First Prize: My Stadium, Khatiya McCulloch
Second Prize: The Shadow, Sinead O’Brien
Third Prize: Radiant Rowers, Millie Pearson
6 to 12 years Category winners
First Prize: Kid’s Eye View, Brydie Gardiner
Second Prize: Girl Walking, Cooper McCormack
Third Prize: Grandma in the City, Annabelle Causa
