The council funded project included the demolition of the former Nowra Sailing Club building, removal of the substructure and construction of the new seating, interpretive signage and flood markers.

Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley was delighted to see the important site available for public use.

"The flood markers wrapped around the central shade sail pole are placed at approximately the height that floods have reached," said Clr Findley.

"The height is as close to real flood level and based on recorded data, however some variation in records has occurred in previous decades."

The sailing club was destroyed by fire in 2017.

The historic building survived two World Wars and many floods. The building was used by many locals as an indicator of flooding. The pylons that supported the original building for more than 100 years remain as they are heritage listed.

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Located alongside Nowra Public Wharf, the building was originally built for use by the Illawarra Steamship Navigation Company in the 1880s. It was used as a storehouse for goods that were being transported between Nowra and Sydney, including farm produce and food. In the 1940s the Nowra Fishing Coop took over the premises until the 1960s.

The Nowra Sailing Club is located on the southern side of the Shoalhaven River near the Nowra Bridge.