Talbingo, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids TalbingoNew South Wales |
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Overlooking the Talbingo golf course towards Jounama Dam (December 2005)
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 Talbingo
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 224 (2021 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 2720 |
| Elevation | 410 m (1,345 ft) |
| Location | 454 km (282 mi) SW of Sydney |
| LGA(s) | Snowy Valleys Council |
| County | Wallace |
| State electorate(s) | Wagga Wagga |
| Federal Division(s) | Eden-Monaro |
Talbingo is a small town in New South Wales, Australia. It sits at the edge of the beautiful Snowy Mountains along the Snowy Mountains Highway. The town is about 410 metres above sea level. It is located near the Tumut River, which is now covered by Jounama Pondage.
A local resident, Jack Bridle, whose family were some of the first European settlers there, shared a story about the town's name. He believes "Talbingo" is a mix of the English word "tall" and Aboriginal words like "Binji," "Binge," or "Bingo," which mean "belly." If you look at Mount Talbingo, it really does look like a big belly of a person lying down!
History of Talbingo
The area around Talbingo has a long history. A large farm, known as the Talbingo Run, was started in 1850 by William Bridle. This farm was huge, covering about 10,000 acres!
The first Talbingo Post Office opened in 1898 but closed in 1913. It reopened much later in 1965 in a new spot. The original town of Talbingo was actually flooded in 1968. This happened to make way for the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, a big project to create electricity.
Before the town moved, it was a small settlement. It had a hotel, the main farm (called a station in Australia) with its house, a service station, and some holiday cabins. Only five families had to move when the town was relocated.
Talbingo station was also the birthplace of a famous Australian author named Miles Franklin. Her relatives, the Lampes, owned the station until the 1940s.
Building the Snowy Mountains Scheme
The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme was a massive construction project. As part of this scheme, Jounama Pondage was finished in 1968. Jounama Dam is a large dam made of rock. It stands about 43.9 metres tall and is 518.2 metres long across the top.
The modern town of Talbingo is now located right on the shores of Jounama Pondage. Building this dam flooded the old valley and the original Talbingo town. This old town was where Miles Franklin was born and where the first Talbingo Hotel stood.
Talbingo Today
Talbingo grew quickly when the Tumut 3 power station was being built nearby. Today, it's a lively village with many facilities for both locals and visitors. You can find a service station, a golf course, a motel, a primary school, and a general store. There's also a country club, a ski hire shop, and a Tourist Park. The main lodge has been updated and now offers places to stay and a restaurant. The caravan park has cabins, camping spots, and useful facilities like a camp kitchen.
Tourism is very important to Talbingo. Many families visit in the summer for fun activities like water skiing on Talbingo or Blowering Dam. It's also a great place for bushwalking and exploring the amazing Kosciuszko National Park. In winter, Talbingo becomes a popular base for people visiting Selwyn Snowfields and other ski areas.
The Church of St Paul is a special building in Talbingo. It's located at 50 Lampe Street. The Snowy Mountains Authority built it as a church for different Christian faiths. It was opened and blessed by Catholic, Anglican, and Presbyterian leaders on April 23, 1967. The church is quite simple inside, but it has tall windows behind the altar that offer amazing views of the lake and mountains. It has traditional wooden pews and can seat about 400 people.
Gallery
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The outside of the Church of St Paul.
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A closer look at the memorial wall.
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Inside the Church of St Paul.
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A beautiful wall hanging inside the church.
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Kangaroos enjoying Miles Franklin Park.
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