Narooma and Montague Island Heritage

Wagonga Inlet was used as a port from 1860 to supply the Dromedary and Nerrigundah goldfields, with initial settlement in from the entrance. Sawmilling became the major industry with ships carrying timber to Sydney from several sawmills until the mid 1950's. Narooma was gazetted as a town in 1886. Tourists were attracted to Narooma from its early days by the area's beauty, ocean and inlet fishing and oysters. From the 1920's, Narooma's stylish guest houses attracted Sydney professionals and farmers and graziers from 'out west'. Camping along the foreshore was popular from the 1920's. Tourism is now Narooma's main industry. What to do: Visit the Visitor Centre to see the original lens from Montague Lighthouse and learn about the history of Montague Island and the lightstation, Aboriginal custodians, early settlement, maritime endeavours and fishing. Visit the historic Montague Island Lightstation Stroll along the shore to Narooma's Bar Rock Lookout, or along Mill Bay Boardwalk. Interpretive signs include some of Narooma's history. See the cluster of heritage-listed boatsheds. Cruise the Wagonga Princess and hear about life 'on the river' See a movie at the School of Arts Hall (1926 - the Kinema), one of the longest-running movie theatres in NSW