Cooma

Cooma is a town on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and serves as the service center for the Snowy Mountains region. The place offers shops, restaurants, and lodging for travelers heading to the alpine destinations nearby.

The town grew rapidly during the 1950s when it became the operational base for the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme. This major project brought workers from many countries to the region and permanently changed Australian society.

The Snowy Scheme Museum displays objects and records from the engineering project that changed Australian society through workers from many countries. The collection tells the story of people who came here and left their mark on the community.

The town is reached by regular bus services from Sydney and Canberra and sits on the way to mountain destinations higher up. Visitors should know that winters here are cold and alpine roads can become difficult in snow.

The Southern Cloud Memorial commemorates Australia's first major aviation disaster, when an aircraft disappeared in the Snowy Mountains in 1931. The memorial and its story often go unnoticed by visitors, even though they mark an important chapter in Australia's early aviation history.

Location: New South Wales

Location: Snowy Monaro Regional Council

Location: Cooma

Elevation above the sea: 796 m

Part of: Snowy Mountains

Shares border with: Coolringdon, Dairymans Plains, The Brothers, Bunyan, Middle Flat, Polo Flat, Binjura, Rock Flat, Pine Valley

GPS coordinates: -36.23167,149.11778

Latest update: December 19, 2025 23:38