Joe Edwards worked with former librarian, the late Ken Donnellan, on the free tour which is available through the Kiama Library Tours app.

"There's always a story wherever you look," Mr Edwards said.

"It was super interesting to look at my own community's history and delve into something you usually wouldn't look at. Usually when you look at history you get caught up in the big things like you look at World War I itself on the national level between nations [rather than] at the ground level."

Using a smartphone people can take the 2.3 kilometre self-guided tour to 15 locations and learn about stories of soldiers, places relevant to the Anzacs and important sites in war history.

The tour's aim is to provide a glimpse into the Kiama of 1914 using interactive imaging technology and audio that allows users to see and hear more about places such as the Memorial Arch and the two army training camps that were established at Barroul and Showground - where a total of 20,000 soldiers were trained between 1914-1916.

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"It was a really good opportunity to put my skills I'd learnt from my degree to actual use," Mr Edwards said of his research for the app.

"It's all well and good to be writing essays at the uni but to actually apply it to something useful that people can enjoy was well worth the time."

The tour starts at the local library on Railway Parade, circles around the Showground, along the Coastal Walk, follows the Waratah March down Terralong Street and ends at Black Beach. It's expected to take between one and two hours to complete.

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"Kiama Library's First World War walk gives a fascinating window into the past," Kiama Mayor Mark Honey said.

"As well as discovering more about those who volunteered to be sent overseas, it shows how the Great War impacted people and places in our town."

The online tour can be accessed through the Kiama Library Tours app on Apple and Android devices.

Other tours available via the app include a digital tour of historic sites in Kiama, a Charmian Clift walk and a Lloyd Rees walk.

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