cobargo - the name

The town perhaps got its name from an aboriginal word meaning 'Grandfather', although there is little evidence to support this. The other possibility is the local Aboriginal word 'cubago' which some sources claim was used to describe Mount Dromedary. This also seems doubtful as the local Aboriginal community now insist that Dromedary is correctly named 'Gulaga' - about as far from 'Cubargo' as you could get.

white settlement

the first settlers

William Duggan Tarlinton was the first white squatter to set foot in the Cobargo district, in February 1829. Tarlinton was from Braidwood and arrived in the district looking for pastoral land. He liked what he saw and obtained a squatting licence for an extensive landholding just south of the present town. He took up full residence in about 1852 and commenced work on the 'Bredbatoura' homestead (which is still there today).
In 1840 Alexander Imlay also gained a squatting licence for the property 'Cobargo' and acquired substantial holdings.
In the 1860's many new settlers had started to arrive to exploit the lush growth of black wattle trees. Wattle bark was sent away to be used in the tanning of hides, generally to make leather goods.
Cobargo was first known as 'Wattletown' and as 'The Junction' because of its location at the junction of the Narira and Bredbatoura Creeks.

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1860 - 1900

In 1864 there was an act of murder and bastardry in the Tarlinton family. One of W.D. Tarlinton's unmarried daughters, Margaret, bore a child to an Aboriginal farmhand (either Dick Holloway or Briney), but within hours of the birth the other daughter, Elizabeth, was seen burying the baby's strangled body in a makeshift grave near the 'Bredbatoura' homestead. Margaret was subsequently charged with murder in 1869 but unfortunately in those days acts against 'blackfellas', even murder, by 'a most respectable resident in the district' were not treated seriously and the case was dismissed (even though the court transcripts of the case show that by today's standards she would have most likely been found guilty).
A local school began operating in February 1871 with a Mr John O'Reilly as teacher. The township then had a post office, General Store, Public School, Hotel, Church and several blacksmith shops. Dairying commenced in the 1870's with the main product being butter. This was shipped to Sydney from Bermagui in kegs and the remains of the original shipping jetty can still be seen at Bermagui.
It wasn't until the improvement of the coast road in the 1880's and the construction of a bridge over Narira Creek in 1882 that the village really started growing. On the 30th May 1885 the Cobargo Agricultural Society was formed (with Mr W. D. Tarlinton as chairman) and the first Cobargo Show was held in April 1889.
The construction of the 'Australian Joint Stock Bank' building and manager's residence was commenced in 1884 and the bank opened in 1887. (It was taken over by the Bank of New South Wales in 1903). The bank continued in these premises until 1917. The original building remains as the oldest house in town and is now the 'Colour Flash' opal jewellery. It is preserved in a beautiful condition and is a 'must see' for visitors - it is the first building on the left as you turn into Bermagui Road.

The first show in 1889 also coincided with a land auction of the allotments on the western side of the highway. A number of significant buildings were constructed on this subdivision in the early 1890's. Some buildings still remain in their original condition today.

The Cobargo Newsagency & General Store was constructed in 1892 and the building remains as probably the most original structure in Coabrgo with hardwood framing and a verandah over the footpath. The original construction can still be seen in what is now the 'Cobargo Trading Post'

In 1887 the School of Arts Hall was erected, again mainly from local hardwood. The hall had a good supply of books, magazines and newspapers. Even today it is still used by community groups an for larger town functions.
In the 1890's the town and surrounding district was large enough to sustain a local newspaper - the Cobargo Watch.
The present Post Office building was erected in 1890. The building also became a telephone exchange in 1910 when the postmaster was also responsible for telephone line repair work in the area. The Post Office was also very significant for many local people as from 1918 the postmaster's wife, Mrs Merrion, conducted a maternity home in the residence.

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1900 - 2000

The Butter Factory and Co-Operative were established in 1901 on the banks of Narira Creek but were gutted by fire in 1926. The factory was soon rebuilt and operations continued until 1975. In 1980 the factory closed because of decreased cream supply due to the new emphasis on bulk milk production.
Bushranger Ben Hall's wife Bridget was also a resident of Cobargo for some time. She died in 1923 aged 85 and was buried in the Catholic cemetery, however the grave is not marked. In 1862 she left Ben for a policeman Mr James Taylor and some believe this may be the real reason that Ben became a bushranger.
Many of the early families are still well represented in the district today. The Salways, Cullens, Motbeys, Allens, Gillespies and Tarlintons are all direct descendants of the original settlers.

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