BOMBALA, DELEGATE, NIMMITABEL
Scroll beyond the links below for town information
The historic gems of Bombala, Delegate and Nimmitabel are south of Cooma on the southern half of the Monaro Plains (pronounced “Monairo”), which are mostly treeless High Country plains at around 1000 metres altitude. Heading south from Cooma, Nimmitabel is about 35kms away, followed by Bombala a further 50kms south and Delegate is around 35kms from Bombala and only 13kms from Victoria. They are also between 150 and 240kms south of Canberra and between 440 and 520kms from Sydney.
Bombala, the largest of these 3 towns, with a population of around 1300, was established in the 1840’s and has a magnificent streetscape of historic buildings. One of the grandest buildings in all of the High Country is the 1871 built, Commercial Banking Company of Sydney building. The façade of the 1930’s Olympia Theatre also remains and many other significant buildings make a stroll along these streets a real step back in time.
The Bombala River runs through the centre of the town and the CBD is on the south side of the river. Fishing is a popular activity throughout the district and riverside walks are picturesque, along with stands of deciduous trees showing off their colours in Autumn. Bombala also has an 18 hole, sand green, golf course, on the western side of town and is only around 80kms from the beaches of Merimbula, NSW.
On the north side of the river, near the Visitor Information Centre is the Bombala Historic Railway Precinct. Take a stroll back to 1921 on the self-guided walk to various locations of interest like the original weighbridge, turntable, platform and gantry crane. Interpretive signage provides historic information and images.
Bombala was once shortlisted to be the location of Canberra and has a range of accommodation, many food options, a large number of retail and services, and quality country pubs. There’s a superb view over the town, Monaro Plains and the Snowy Mountains beyond, from a lookout found via the eastern end of Caveat St, (turn right and follow the gravel road to the top).
This district is known as Platypus Country for its large population of platypus and the Bombala Platypus Reserve with a viewing platform and informative signage is well worth visiting with a picnic. It’s located around 1km down Racecourse Road (gravel), which is found about 4kms from the CBD, along the road to Delegate and is a beautiful, peaceful spot along the Bombala River. The best times to view platypus are early morning and late afternoon and a V shape cruising along just under the surface of the water is what to look out for.
Delegate is a small town only 13kms from the border of Victoria and NSW with a population of around 350. It features a historic streetscape, a small number of stores including fuel, general store, cafe and a country pub. A recreation reserve is located on a pretty bend along the Delegate River with ample space for caravans and has good facilities (fees apply). A couple of kilometres to the east of town is the 18 hole, Delegate Country Club (sand greens).
One of the most fascinating buildings in all of the High Country, is found about 1km south-west of Delegate, on Delegate Rd and is said to have been the first building constructed on the Monaro Plains. The first European settler to the area was Robert Campbell, who took up around 35,000 acres of land in 1827, that he named ‘Delegate Station’. This building was apparently on the station and has been restored for visitors to enjoy. Today we can enter this superb example of an early pioneer’s home (free entry) and view many artefacts on display and read detailed signage, along with an interesting letter written in 1894 from Delegate Station.
On January 6, 1916, 12 local men set off from Delegate as part of a recruitment drive for gathering men to volunteer to serve in World War 1. The men marched behind a large ‘Men From Snowy River’ banner, 220 miles to Goulburn, via Bombala, Nimmitabel, Cooma and Queanbeyan. Along the way speeches and recruitment meetings were held in each town they passed through and when they reached Goulburn, 144 men had volunteered. The Men From Snowy River War Memorial (monument) is located at the corner of Bombala St & Victoria Parade. The town’s museum (School of Arts) features a replica of this banner and many other interesting items.
Nimmitabel is one of the highest altitude towns in Australia, at 1070 metres and is surrounded by beautiful rolling plains and distant views to the Snowy Mountains. In Winter, snowfalls can occur and the mostly treeless landscape of the Monaro Plains transforms into a Winter wonderland where you might think you were high up in the alps. Nimmitabel was established in the 1830’s and is one of the oldest towns in the High Country and became a busy stopover en route to the Kiandra goldfields, north of Adaminaby.
Although a small town with a population of around 300, there’s a lot to discover, with many historic buildings preserved from the town’s early days. The Nimmitabel Heritage Trail is another example of a High Country town that is passionate about sharing its history, where informative signage provides detailed history on each landmark. A walking map can be picked up at most businesses in the town.
All the historic buildings in this town have an interesting history, with one being the Royal Arms Bed & Breakfast that was originally the Royal Hotel, built in the 1850’s. This building was a Cobb & Co (horse drawn coach) station, where the coach would park overnight in the purpose-built archway, undercover on the left side of the building. The hotel was also used in the 1960 movie, The Sundowners, which was partly filmed around Nimmitabel.
The Nimmitabel Police Station was opened in 1862 and today is a police museum. Another highlight on the heritage trail is The Old Mill that is generally open for visitors to walk inside. It was built by John Geldmacher, over a 7 year period and was completed in 1872, starting off as a flour mill and then was converted to a timber mill.
Geldmacher House is an 1860’s building that is now a museum displaying memorabilia from Nimmitabel’s early days. The original railway line that passed through the district can still be seen throughout this landscape, along with the old Nimmitabel Railway Station and trestle bridges providing unique photo opportunities.
The Monaro plains cover a huge area in each direction from Cooma, stretching over 100kms from north to south. They are a haven of High Country history and a photographer’s dream with old houses, rustic shearing sheds and relics of the High Country pioneers. When touring these undulating high plains, each time you reach the end of the stretch of the road you’re on, the landscape invites you to keep exploring what’s over the next hill or round the next bend. In Autumn, impressive stands of poplars attract visitors from afar, seeking a different sort of gold to that of the pioneers. The first and last rays of sun across this region, transform ancient trees and granite boulders into stunning scenes.
