Cobargo, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CobargoNew South Wales |
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View of Cobargo from the Princes Highway bridge
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 Cobargo
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 776 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2550 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 81 m (266 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Bega Valley Shire | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Bega | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Eden-Monaro | ||||||||||||||
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Cobargo is a charming village in the south-east of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Bega Valley Shire. In 2016, about 776 people lived here.
Cobargo is located about 386 kilometres south of Sydney. You can find it on the Princes Highway, between the towns of Narooma and Bega.
The town faced a very tough time during the big bushfires in 2019. Many buildings were lost, and some lives were sadly taken.
Cobargo's main street looks like it's from a long time ago. It used to be a quiet village. Now, it has become a popular place for tourists to visit. People enjoy its old-style shops, handmade leather goods, pottery, and art galleries. You can also find tea rooms and antique shops. The beautiful Wadbilliga National Park is just 20 kilometres west of Cobargo.
The name Cobargo might come from the local Indigenous Australian word 'cubago'. Some people say this word was used to describe nearby Mount Gulaga.
History of Cobargo
The land where Cobargo is today belongs to the Yuin people. They are the traditional owners of this area.
Settlers started arriving in the late 1820s. They brought their farm animals to graze here. William Duggan Tarlinton was one of the first European people to explore the area in 1829. He was looking for good land for his cattle. He came back in the 1830s and built simple huts. He became an important person in the community.
Around 1840, the Imlay brothers owned a lot of land here. One of them, Alexander Imlay, named his property Cobargo.
In the late 1860s, Cobargo was known as 'The Junction'. This was because it was located where the Narira and Bredbatoura Creeks met. A school opened in 1871. By then, the village had a post office, a shop, a hotel, a church, and blacksmiths.
The town grew faster after a bridge was built over the Narira Creek in 1882. Roads along the coast also got better in the 1880s. By the 1890s, Cobargo was big enough to have its own newspaper, called the Cobargo Watch.
A factory that made butter opened in 1901. It kept making butter until 1980. In 1903, a branch of the Bank of New South Wales opened. The bank building, built in 1917, was on the corner of Bermagui Road. It stayed open until 1997.
For much of the 1900s, the town became quieter. It was easier for people to travel to bigger towns. However, like other nearby villages, Cobargo has recently become popular again. It is now a great place for tourists to visit.
On December 31, 2019, the main street of Cobargo was badly damaged by bushfires. Many buildings were destroyed. Sadly, four people, including a father and son, lost their lives. The community worked hard to recover and rebuild after this difficult event.
Where is Cobargo?
Cobargo is on the Princes Highway. It is 42 kilometres north of Bega. Bega is the closest big town. Cobargo is also about 19.4 kilometres from the coast at Bermagui.
Cobargo is the main village for nearby areas. These include Coolagolite, Wandella, Yowrie, and Dignam's Creek. It is 386 kilometres south of Sydney.
People in Cobargo
In the 2016 Census, there were 776 people living in Cobargo. Most people, about 77.2%, were born in Australia. Also, 89.1% of people spoke only English at home.
When asked about their religion, the most common answers were:
- No Religion: 36.5%
- Anglican: 21.2%
Fun Events in Cobargo
Cobargo has some fun events throughout the year:
- Country Market: Every Saturday, Cobargo hosts a country market. You can find it on the main street.
- Annual Show: Since the late 1800s, there has been an annual show in early February. It features local farm animals, produce, and handmade crafts.
- Folk Music Festival: An annual folk music festival takes place here. It is held on the first weekend in March.
