Central Tilba is one of the most beautifully preserved historic villages in New South Wales. The entire village is classified by the National Trust of Australia as the Central Tilba Conservation Area, protecting a streetscape of late-19th-century timber buildings that has changed remarkably little since the 1890s. Perched on the lower slopes of Gulaga (Mount Dromedary) about 10 kilometres south-west of Narooma, it is a living piece of South Coast colonial history.
Gulaga — The Extinct Volcano That Shaped the Landscape
Rising steeply behind the village, Gulaga (Mount Dromedary) is an ancient extinct volcano whose geological legacy defines the entire Tilba district. The volcanic activity that built the mountain created the rich soils of the surrounding valleys, which would go on to support the dairy farming that became the area’s economic foundation. Gulaga is also a place of deep spiritual significance to the Yuin people, who have lived in relationship with this country for thousands of years. Today the mountain is protected as Gulaga National Park, with walking tracks leading through rainforest gullies and tall eucalypt forest to the summit.
Gold Mining on Mount Dromedary
Gold was discovered on Mount Dromedary in the 1870s, sparking a mining rush that would sustain a small community for several decades. By 1876, one creek alone had yielded over £10,000 in gold. Mining progressed from alluvial panning to deep tunnelling — at its peak, five tunnels had been driven into the mountain, the longest extending over 200 metres. A stamp battery processed ore from the rock face. The Dromedary mine operated until February 1911, producing small but consistent yields until the ore became uneconomical to extract.
The ABC Cheese Factory — A NSW First
Central Tilba is home to the ABC Cheese Factory, the first co-operative cheese factory established in New South Wales. Opened in September 1891, it was founded on 320 shares at 2s 6d each — a genuinely community-owned enterprise. At its peak the factory processed over 300,000 gallons of milk per year, producing award-winning cheese that topped the London market and supplied buyers in Sydney. The factory changed hands several times over its long history, closed briefly in 1981, and was reopened by local dairy farmers who revived the tradition of on-site cheesemaking. Today it operates as Tilba Real Dairy, producing cheese, yoghurt, and bottled milk from local jersey herds — and remains one of the village’s most popular attractions.
The Village and Its History
Central Tilba itself came into existence in 1891 as the result of a family disagreement. The brothers Sam and Henry Bate, who had farmed the Tilba area since the 1860s, argued over how to develop the township of Tilba Tilba. Sam, unwilling to compromise, simply moved three kilometres up the mountain and founded his own village — which became Central Tilba. The Dromedary Hotel, built in 1895 from timber reportedly salvaged from ships that had docked at Bermagui, still stands today and remains a local landmark. The village’s craft shops, galleries, and artisan producers draw visitors year-round, and the area has served as the filming location for the television series River Cottage Australia.
School Bus Services
Students travelling on these services may be eligible for a subsidised travel pass through the NSW Government’s School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS).