Lesson delivery
Lesson delivery
Student directed
Lesson description
Lesson description
The aesthetic, cultural, spiritual and economic value of the Illawarra coast and the escarpment are investigated.
Modern use of the mountain and escarpment are described, and proposals for the future of the mountain are analysed to understand conflicts between how different people ascribe different aesthetic, cultural, spiritual and economic values to the mountain and escarpment.
Estimated time
Estimated time
90 minutes
Supporting materials
Supporting materials
Aesthetic value
Aesthetic value
Aesthetic value is based on the beauty or attractiveness of a landscape.
Not all landscapes are equally appealing. Different people will interpret the landscape in different ways.
Click through the landscape images above and consider which you feel are the most attractive to you.
Cultural value
Cultural value
People form attachment to landscapes forming a long term connection to that place. This attachment is different to a simple aesthetic appreciation, as the place itself becomes part our cultural identity - it helps define who we are.
We all develop emotional attachment to the places we live, have lived or even places that we have visited.
Spiritual value
Spiritual value
Landscapes hold spiritual significance for people. Landforms and features of landscapes are incorporated into the stories and beliefs of Indigenous people.
Natural land forms and the ecosystems that live on them can be spiritual places for many people who pursue outdoor recreation activities that connect them to the landscape.
Economic value
Economic value
Landscapes are utilised to generate money. Landscapes can valued simply through their financial worth to people and industry.
The mining industry attaches an economic value to landscapes that contain coal or minerals.
The tourism industry values landscapes for the visitors that bring additional wealth to an area.
How do people value the Illawarra Escarpment?
Aesthetic value
Aesthetic value
Aesthetic value is based on the beauty or attractiveness of a landscape.
Many would find the rainforests that grow along the Illawarra Escarpment and Mount Keira / Djeera to be beautiful.
Cultural value
Cultural value
People form attachment to landscapes forming a long term connection to that place. The Illawarra Escarpment looms over the Wollongong landscape. As the postcard from the 1980s above demonstrates, the look out on Mount Keira / Djeera is a cultural icon.
Spiritual value
Spiritual value
Landscapes hold spiritual significance for people. The "Chapel" in the rainforest at the Mount Keira Scout Camp has been used for religious events, such as this Easter service in 1950, and is also popular for weddings.
Economic value
Economic value
Landscapes can utilised to generate money. For example they can generate wealth by attracting tourists.
Here are the double decker buses that ferried tourists to the look out on Mount Keira / Djeera in 1957.
Collect at least five images of different landscapes or landforms in the Illawarra region.
Try to identify the values (Aesthetic, cultural, spiritual and economic) that each landscape or landform has.
Some landscapes or landforms may have more than one value.
With each image explain your reasons for recognising each value.
One way to maximise the economic utility of the Illawarra Escarpment would be to build a cable car connection between the City of Wollongong and the top of Mount Keira / Djeera. There have been many cable car systems installed, or proposed, linking cities and nearby mountains around the world.
Would Wollongong benefit from a cable car?
Would such a construction enhance or destroy the other values of the Illawarra Escarpment landscape?
Assessment task Part One
You can now complete the mapping and elevation plot exercise for you assessment task.
