Cooma Catholic Convent

Cooma NSW 2630 (Pop 8 000)

Cooma is situated in the Southern Highlands 390 km s-w of Sydney and 114 km south of Canberra. It is the gateway to the Snowy Mts ski resorts and Kosciuszko NP and also the administrative centre for the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. The town was originally spelt ‘Coombah’ meaning ‘open country’ and the region was called Monaro meaning ‘treeless plains’. Europeans settlement began in 1823 followed by goldminers (1859) when discoveries were made near Kiandra. The railway arrived in 1889 and in 1949 Cooma became the headquarters for the huge Snowy Mts Scheme bringing workers from 27 nations whose flags can be seen in Centennial Park. Today Cooma is an important service centre for the surrounding area. Cooma markets 3rd Sun each month. Rodeo (Jan), Coomafest (Nov) celebrates the town’s multicultural society.

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Centennial Park, Sharp St built in 1890 from a swamp. In 1959 The International Avenue of Flags commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Snowy Scheme and erected 27 flags – one representing each nation of the workers involved in the scheme. The Time Walk depicts the area’s history in 40 mosaic murals and there is a sculpture of Banjo Patterson’s The Man From Snowy River. SMA Information Centre, Monaro Hwy excellent displays and films chronicling the history of the project and a memorial to the 121 killed while working on it. Cooma Courthouse and Cooma Gaol, Lambie St (1849). The Goal Museum offers tours at 11am and1pm (weekdays) and the museum is open (10am-4pm) Mon-Sat – well worth a visit. Southern Cloud Park, displays the remains of the Southern Cloud that crashed here in 1931. 

Nearby:
Christ Church of England, Myalla Rd (2 km south) (1845) oldest church and one of the oldest buildings in the area. Tuross Falls (30 km east) stunning 35m falls and part of the Wadbilliga NP. The Kosciuszko Memorial (2.5 km north) commemorating Tadeuz Kosciuszko, the Polish campaigner for the poor, for whom Australia’s highest mountain (2 228m) is named. 

Accommodation:
Cooma has a dozen motels, 6 hotels, 2 guesthouses and a caravan park. Visitor Information Centre: 119 Sharp St. Tel (02) 6450 1742 or 1800 636 525.

Airport:
Cooma Airport (OOM) Kosciuszko Rd, Cooma West. Tel (02) 6452 4455. 

Hospital:
Cooma District Hospital, Bent St. Tel (02) 6452 1333 or (02) 6455 3222.