Our Illawarra branch was founded in 1952 and we have a membership which ranges up to 90. Members come from Falls Creek in the south, through to Wollongong, north to Camden, Silverdale, and South Sydney, extending to Bowral, Picton, Canberra and adjacent areas. Within this area can be found three affiliate clubs including Camellias Illawarra Inc.. Anyone who has an interest in Camellias can join the society; there is no restriction on membership and a small yearly subscription is payable for the membership.
This membership includes the receipt of the colourful and informative CAMELLIA NEWS.

Members meet at the Coniston Community Hall, Bridge Street, Coniston, (east of and next to the Coniston railway station) on the third Saturday in the months of February to October except for July and August. Due to the staging of two shows during these months (see below) no meetings will be held and all business will be dealt with by the Management Committee. A Christmas gathering occurs at on the same Saturday in November at selected venues. The regular benching of blooms associated with our monthly meetings commences at 1.00 pm during the months March to September, or as dictated by the availability of suitable blooms. In July benching is incorporated in the Annual Show, and in August benching of blooms is separate to, yet form an integral part of the Reticulata Show. Benching at the Coniston Hall must be completed by 1.45pm to allow the stewards to check the placement of blooms and the business section of the meeting is scheduled to begin at 2.00pm. Every endeavour is made to have a speaker from our own club, or other gardening societies / groups to inform our members of other gardening / leisure aspects or information. A chat over a cup of tea or coffee completes the afternoon’s meeting. Other relevant activities are arranged from time to time.

Our Annual Camellia Show is held on the third Saturday and the next day (Sunday) in July of each year. The venue is the Function Centre, Wollongong TAFE, off Foleys Road, Wollongong. This is said to be the largest Camellia Show in Australia. The Reticulata Show is held at the same location on the third Saturday of August and the following Sunday. This latter show is supplemented by that months benching of other cultivars and the Reticulata Show entry conditions apply. This is the only Reticulata Show in its own right in Australia. A map indicating the location of the TAFE Function Centre will be presented on this website at the appropriate time.