View over the town

Tumbarumba
Delightful small country town which is largely untouched by the modern world.
Located 504 km south west of Sydney and 701 metres above sea level, Tumbarumba is situated on the southern slopes of the Snowy Mountains. By any measure it is a sleepy little town (having been by-passed by the major road and rail routes between Sydney and Melbourne) and consequently it has a kind of old-style charm, and a number of beautifully preserved old buildings, which make it an attractive destination.

This was part of the Wiradjuri country before European settlement. It is from Wiradjuri language that the word 'tumbarumba', probably meaning 'sounding ground', is derived. It has been suggested that there are places in the district where if you hit the ground it has a hollow sound.

The first Europeans into the area were Hume and Hovell who passed through (see Hume and Hovell track in Things To See) in 1824. They were followed by settlers who moved into the area in the 1830s. The first town settler arrived around the early 1840s. Settlement was sparse until the 1850s when gold was discovered.

Spring in the countryside south of Tumbarumba

Gold was discovered in the Tumbarumba district in 1855 and the Tumbarumba Gold Field was proclaimed in 1866. The township was surveyed in 1859 and lots were officially sold in 1860.

The Tumbarumba goldfields were still operating as recently as the 1930s. In the early days they attracted large numbers of Chinese who worked the goldfields and established elaborate sluices and water races to assist their labours.

A brief moment of infamy occurred on 24 July 1864 when the bushranger 'Mad Dog' Morgan shot Sergeant David Maginnity near the town. The incident occurred on the road between Tumbarumba and Coppabella. Morgan simply approached two policemen and shot one of them. The other, Trooper Churchley fled and was later dismissed for cowardice although he insisted his horse bolted when the shot rang out. The event was widely reported in Sydney and did much to establish Morgan as Public Enemy No. 1. After the killing the government put a reward of £1000 on Morgan's head.

The railway didn't arrive until 1919 and it was closed by the 1970s. Consequently it never really made an impact on the town's prosperity.

Today Tumbarumba is sustained by the agriculture which surrounds it. It is still central to an area where timber, apples, tobacco, sheep and cattle have proved to be profitable.

Tumbafest is an annual festival featuring country music and local foods and wines. It is held in February.

Things to see:  

The Union Hotel

Historic Buildings in the Town
The major attractions are the Court House and Police Residence which are located at 66 Winton Street these two single-storey buildings were constructed in the 1880s. There age is still evident in the VR (Victoria Regina) embossed into the cast iron lacework. There are gables in the outbuildings and the court room was a double height ceiling. Around the corner in Bridge Street is the current local Court House, a beautiful building with large trees in the street outside.

To enjoy a good overview of Tumbarumba's more interesting buildings continue up Bridge Street, turn right into Murray Street, pass the churches and turn right into Regent Street and head back towards the historic Union Hotel which stands on the hill above the Tumbarumba Creek and welcomes visitors arriving from Wagga and Jingellic.

Hume and Hovell Track
This total track from Gunning to Albury traces the route taken by Hume and Hovell on their epic exploration in 1824 which led to the establishment of an overland route between Sydney and the present-day site of Melbourne. The Henry Angel Trackhead to Tumbarumba Creek is a pleasant (easy to moderate grading) walk from the Henry Angel Campsite 7 km south of Tumbarumba on the Tumbarumba-Tooma road. It is a 12 km walk which should take about 5-6 hours. The walk is basically along the Burra Creek and includes a tunnel built during the goldmining days, a number of waterfalls, and the place where Hume and Hovell first saw the Snowy Mountains. The track is named after Henry Angel, one of the six assigned convicts to accompany Hume and Hovell. There is a brochure with a detailed map available from the Department of Lands in Sydney, Wagga Wagga or Goulburn.

The Court House in spring

Paddy's River Falls
Regarded as one of the major attractions in the local area, the Paddy's River Falls lie 15 km south of Tumbarumba on the Khancoban Road. There are barbecue and picnic facilities and a track to the base of the falls. The falls are 60 metres high.

Glenroy Pioneers Womens Hut
Located 8 km west of the town (on the road to Rosewood and the Hume Highway) is the Glenroy Pioneer Womens Hut which includes an excellent collection of domestic artefacts, agricultural machinery and local crafts. There is also a pleasant park where you can stop and have picnics. A bushwalk is also available.

	Tourist Information
	Tumbarumba Shire Council Tourist Information Winton St Tumbarumba NSW 2653 Telephone: (02) 6948 2805
	Motels
	Tumbarumba Motel Cnr Mate St & Albury Close Tumbarumba NSW 2653 Telephone: (02) 6948 2494 Facsimile: (02) 6948 2204 Rating: ****
	Hotels
	Tumbarumba Hotel The Parade Tumbarumba NSW 2653 Telephone: (02) 6948 2562 Facsimile: (02) 6948 3031
	Caravan Parks
	Tumbarumba Creek Caravan Park Lauder St Tumbarumba NSW 2653 Telephone: (02) 6948 3330
	Restaurants
	The Old Times Coffee Shop 38 The Parade Tumbarumba NSW 2653 Telephone: (02) 6948 3306