Prior to white settlement, South Durras was home to the Yuin people whose land covered much of the South Coast of New South Wales. Just north of South Durras in the Murramarang Aboriginal Area is what is believed to be the largest midden on the South Coast.[3] While there was some initial hostility between the Yuin and the white settlers, introduced diseases such as smallpox killed off around 95% of the tribe, leaving them in no state to fight for their land.[4][5]
The first land grant in the area was made to John Whitehead McNee in 1840 and the name Durras was in use at that time to describe the area. For the next ninety years or so, the area was primarily used for timber cutting with a mill in operation at Wasp Head but the mill's closure in 1929 caused a reappraisal of the area's potential. The land south of Durras Creek was subdivided in 1937 to form the village of Durras which didn't become known as South Durras until the establishment of another settlement north of Durras Lake. In the 1940s and 50s, a school, post office and store were established in the town with electricity introduced in 1960.[6]
The southern end of the wide bay is known as Beagle Bay, which includes two beaches (Mills Beach and Cookies Beach) and extends south to Wasp Head, a famous geological site, marking the southern boundary of the Sydney Basin sediments. On the southern side of Wasp Head is Wobbegong Bay.[7]
Triple J 98.9 FM (from the adjacent Illawarra region). A local service from Mount Wandera is planned, subject to the clearance of local analogue television stations.
The climate of South Durras is moderated by the sea, with warm summers and mild sunny winters. Nights can be cold in winter. Thunderstorms can occur between November and March, with rainfall maximums in summer.
^Short, Andrew D. (2007). Beaches of the New South Wales Coast: A Guide to Their Nature, Characteristics, Surf and Safety. Sydney University Press. p. 311https://books.google.com.au/books?id=eeopVw9kedgC.
