View source for Cooma

{{for|the town in Victoria|Cooma, Victoria}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2012}}
<!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template.
     Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article. -->
{{Infobox Australian place
| type      = town
| name      = Cooma
| state     = NSW
| image     = Cooma, NSW, Courthouse, jjron, 24.09.2008.jpg
| caption   = Cooma Court House
| coordinates = {{coord|36|14|06|S|149|07|33|E|display=inline,title}}
| lga       = Snowy Monaro Regional Council
| county    = [[Beresford County, New South Wales|Beresford]]
| postcode  = 2630
| pop       = <!--Leave blank as is to retrieve the latest data from WikiData-->
| pop_year  = <!--Leave blank as is to retrieve the latest data from WikiData-->
| pop_footnotes =<!--Leave blank as is to retrieve the latest data from WikiData-->
| est       = 1849
| elevation = 800
| maxtemp   = 19.4
| mintemp   = 4.1
| rainfall  = 541.6
| stategov  = [[Electoral district of Monaro|Monaro]]
| fedgov    = [[Division of Eden-Monaro|Eden-Monaro]]
| dist1     = 397
| dir1      = SW 
| location1 = [[Sydney]]
| dist2     = 116
| dir2      = S 
| location2 = [[Canberra]]
| dist3     = 61
| dir3      = ENE
| location3 = [[Jindabyne, New South Wales|Jindabyne]]
| dist4     = 112
| dir4      = NW 
| location4 = [[Bega, New South Wales|Bega]]
| near-s    = [[The Brothers, New South Wales|The Brothers]]
| near-nw   = [[Binjura]]
| near-n    = [[Bunyan, New South Wales|Bunyan]]
| near-sw   = [[Pine Valley, New South Wales|Pine Valley]]
| near-se   = [[Rock Flat, New South Wales|Rock Flat]]
| near-e    = [[Middle Flat, New South Wales|Middle Flat]]
| near-w    = [[Dairymans Plains, New South Wales|Dairymans Plains]]
| near-ne   = [[Middle Flat, New South Wales|Middle Flat]]
}}
<!-- End Infobox template table -->

'''Cooma''' is a town in the south of [[New South Wales]], Australia. It is located {{convert|114|km|mi}} south of the national capital, [[Canberra]], via the [[Monaro Highway]]. It is also on the [[Snowy Mountains Highway]], connecting [[Bega, New South Wales|Bega]] with the [[Riverina]].

At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Cooma had a population of {{formatnum:6715}}.<ref name="Census"/> Cooma is the main town of the [[Monaro, New South Wales|Monaro]] region. It is {{convert|800|m|ft|-1}} above sea level. The name could have derived from an [[Indigenous Australian|Aboriginal]] word ''Coombah'', meaning 'big lake' or 'open country'.<ref>{{NSW GNR|id=JPIOZxUlGH|title=Cooma|access-date=12 July 2009 }}</ref>

Cooma is {{convert|5|km|mi|0}} south of the banks of the [[Murrumbidgee River]], a main tributary of the [[Murray–Darling basin]]. Cooma sources its water from the river.

==History==
The area now known as Cooma lies on the traditional lands of the [[Ngarigo]] people.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Studies|first=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander|date=2021-01-10|title=Map of Indigenous Australia|url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia|access-date=2021-11-29|website=aiatsis.gov.au|language=en}}</ref>

Cooma was explored by Captain J. M. Currie in 1823. It was first surveyed in 1840, and was gazetted in 1849.<ref>{{cite web|date=2014|title=Centenary of Federation Monument|url=http://www.cooma.nsw.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=917:centenary-of-federation-monument&catid=202&Itemid=143|access-date=2 March 2015|publisher=Cooma-Monaro Shire Council}}</ref> Cooma was proclaimed a municipality in 1879.

The [[Main Southern railway line, New South Wales|railway from Sydney]] was [[Bombala railway line|extended]] from [[Royalla]] to Cooma in 1889 under the supervision of [[John Whitton]].<ref name="NSWHR">{{cite web |url=http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_04_2.cfm?itemid=4801260 |title=Cooma Railway Precinct |work=NSW Heritage Register |publisher=Office of Environment and Heritage: Government of New South Wales |date=11 November 2009 |access-date=5 April 2012}}</ref> The line was closed to rail passenger traffic in 1989.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=nswrail.net |title=Bombala Line |url=http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:bombala |access-date=21 January 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=nswrail.net |title=Cooma Railway Station |url=http://www.nswrail.net/locations/show.php?name=NSW:Cooma&line=NSW:bombala:0 |access-date=21 January 2007}}</ref> The estimated population of Cooma was 47 in 1851 and it grew to 2330 (1911), 1969 (1933), 2249 (1947), 9103 (1966), 7353 (1976) and 7978 (1981).<ref name="CoomaPop1911">{{cite web | url=http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/2DB1C328DD893466CA257839001412DE/$File/1911%20Census%20-%20Volume%20III%20-%20Part%20XIV%20Summary.pdf | title=CENSUS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 1911 – Part XIV Summary | publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics | work=Census of the Commonwealth of Australia 1911 | year=1911 | access-date=18 March 2013 | page=211}}</ref><ref name="CoomaPop1933">{{cite web | url=http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/2877B9A263A47F3FCA25784000102F18/$File/1933%20Census%20-%20Volume%20I%20-%20Part%20VIII%20Population%20and%20Occupied%20Dwellings%20in%20Localities.pdf | title=CENSUS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 30th June 1933 – PART VIII. POPULATION AND OCCUPIED DWELLINGS IN LOCALITIES | publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics | work=CENSUS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 30th June 1933 | access-date=18 March 2013 | page=23}}</ref><ref name="CoomaPop1947">{{cite web | url=http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/2F3A37515796B189CA25784100193B4B/$File/1947%20Census%20-%20Volume%20I%20-%20Part%20VIII%20Population%20and%20Occupied%20Dwellings%20in%20Localities.pdf | title=CENSUS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 30th June, 1947 – PART VIII. – POPULATION AND OCCUPIED DWELLINGS IN LOCALITIES | publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics | work=CENSUS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 30th June 1947 | access-date=18 March 2013 | page=17}}</ref><ref name="CoomaPop1966">{{cite web | url=http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/F007A27B8134D698CA2578800083C970/$File/1966%20Census%20-%20Volume%205%20Population%20and%20Dwellings%20in%20Localities%20-%20Part%201%20NSW.pdf | title=CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING, 30 JUNE 1966 – Vol.5, Part 1 – New South Wales | publisher=COMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS | work=CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING, 30 JUNE 1966 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA | date=December 1970 | access-date=18 March 2013 | page=9}}</ref><ref name="CoomaPop1981">{{cite web | url=http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/21168A9CEE54C9CECA257583001154AE/$File/24010_1981_PD_LGA_NSW.pdf | title=CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING, 30 JUNE 1981 PERSONS AND DWELLINGS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS AND URBAN CENTRES – NEW SOUTH WALES | publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics | work=CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING, 30 JUNE 1981 | year=1983 | access-date=18 March 2013 | page=37}}</ref>

In 1949, the town became the headquarters of the [[Snowy Mountains Scheme]] and grew rapidly. Between 1949 and 1974 the population expanded due to an influx of 65,000 workers from more than 30 countries.<ref name="s2bnw">{{cite news |last1=Tugwell |first1=James |last2=Fisher  |first2=Jack |date=12 October 2024 |title=Snowy 2.0 brings new wave of cultures to Cooma, centre helps migrant women thrive |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-12/snowy-hydro-2-in-cooma-brings-migrant-workers-women-nsw/104428290 |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> Those working on the Snowy Scheme depended on the railway and during construction of the scheme, the railways were one of the largest employers in the region.<ref name=NSWHR/> In 1959, the tenth anniversary of the scheme was celebrated with the erection of an avenue of flags representing the 27 nationalities of people working on the scheme.

Cooma has developed a growing tourism industry as it became the main rest stop for many travellers heading to the NSW snow fields during the winter months. As a result, the town nicknamed itself the 'Gateway to the Snowy Mountains'.

The Aviation Pioneers' Memorial at Cooma contains artifacts recovered from the [[Avro 618 Ten]] aircraft [[Southern Cloud]], which [[1931 Avro Ten Southern Cloud disappearance|crashed on 21 March 1931]] in the Toolong range of the Australian Alps. The wreck was not found until 26 October 1958.<ref name="SouthernCloud1">{{cite web | url=http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:OLDASSET::svPath=/fsa/2006/aug/,svFileName=40-42.pdf | title=Into the Abyss & Back | publisher=FLIGHT SAFETY AUSTRALIA | work=Flight Safety Magazine | date=July–August 2006 | access-date=18 March 2013 | pages=40–42 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Heritage listings ==
Cooma has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* Bradley Street: [[Cooma railway station]]<ref name=nswshr-1116>{{cite NSW SHR|5011974|Cooma Railway Station and yard group|hr=01116|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>
* 59–61 Lambie Street: [[Royal Hotel, Cooma|Royal Hotel]]<ref name=nswshr-616>{{cite NSW SHR|5045289|Royal Hotel & Outbuildings|hr=00616|fn=S90/01017 & HC 33400|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>
* Sharp Street: [[Rock Bolting Development Site]]<ref name=nswshr-1984>{{cite NSW SHR|5060277|Rock Bolting Development Site|hr=01984|fn=H09/00070;13/03128; EF11/03128|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>

==Population==

{{Historical populations
|type= Australia
|1921|1834
|1933|1969
|1947|2249
|1954|6506
|1961|8716
|1966|9106
|1971|7788
|1976|7353
|1981|7978
|1986|7406
|1991|7385
|1996|7150
|2001|6914
|2006|6587
|2011|6664
|2016|6681
|2021|6715
|source=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] data.<ref name="ABS Census data">{{cite web |title=21. Historical Censuses (Pre 1996) |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ViewContent?readform&view=ProductsbyCatalogue&Action=Expand&Num=2.2 |archive-date=16 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816032919/https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ViewContent?readform&view=ProductsbyCatalogue&Action=Expand&Num=2.2 |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="Census">{{Census 2021 AUS |id=SAL11036 |name=Cooma (NSW) |access-date=16 August 2024 |quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2016 AUS |id=SSC11036 |name=Cooma (NSW) |access-date=16 August 2024 |quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2011 AUS |id=SSC10599 |name=Cooma (NSW) |quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2006 AUS |id=SSC16803 |name=Cooma |quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2001 AUS |id=UCL121200 |name=Cooma |quick=on}}</ref>
}}

According to the {{CensusAU|2021}}, there were {{formatnum:6715}} people in Cooma.
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 4.5% of the population. 
* 77.8% of people were born in Australia; the next most common countries of birth included [[England]] at 2.2%, New Zealand at 1.6%, [[Germany]] at 1.3%, [[India]] at 1.1%, and [[Italy]] at 0.9%.   
* 82.7% of people spoke only [[English language|English]] at home; the next most common languages spoken at home included [[Italian language|Italian]] at 0.8%, [[German language|German]] at 0.7%, [[Nepali language|Nepali]] at 0.5%, [[Spanish language|Spanish]] at 0.5%, and [[Urdu]] at 0.4%.
* The most common responses for religion included No Religion 36.3%, Catholic 23.6%, Anglican 18.7%, and Uniting Church 2.0%; a further 9.5% of respondents for this area elected not to disclose their religious status.<ref name="Census" />

==Education==
Government schools include Monaro High School, a high school that serves the town and seven of the neighbouring rural towns and villages including Peak View, {{NSWcity|Berridale}}, {{NSWcity|Jindabyne}}, {{NSWcity|Nimmitabel}}, [[Bredbo]] and {{NSWcity|Dalgety}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/?section=showRecord&code=8196 |title=Monaro High School |publisher=NSW Government: Education and Communities |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325075934/http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/?section=showRecord&code=8196 |archive-date=25 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The other two government schools support primary education and are Cooma Public School<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cooma-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/ |title=Cooma Public School |publisher=NSW Government: Education and Communities |access-date=5 April 2012}}</ref> and Cooma North Public School,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web1.coomanth-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/joomla/ |title=Cooma North Public School |publisher=NSW Government: Education and Communities |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318221840/http://web1.coomanth-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/joomla// |archive-date=18 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> both providing education for students in Kindergarten to Year 6.

The [[Catholic education in Australia|Roman Catholic school]] is called St Patrick's Parish School and provides education from Kindergarten to Year 10.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stpatscooma.nsw.edu.au/ |title=St Patrick's Parish School, Cooma |publisher=Catholic Education Office Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn |access-date=5 April 2012}}</ref> The Snowy Mountains Christian School, an independent [[Christian school#Australia|Christian school]] provides education from Kindergarten to Year 10.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smcs.nsw.edu.au/ |title=Snowy Mountains Christian School |publisher=Snowy Mountains Christian School |access-date=5 April 2012}}</ref>

Tertiary education is provided by [[TAFE NSW]] Illawarra Institute Cooma campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.illawarra.tafensw.edu.au/campuses-and-flexible-learning/campuses/cooma-campus |title=Cooma Campus |publisher=TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute |access-date=5 April 2012}}</ref>
Another Tertiary Education centre is the Cooma Universities Centre, which opened in 2014.

==Climate==
Cooma has a dry [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb''). Summer averages are warm, though tend to swing wildly between hot and cool; and winters are chilly with particularly cold night time temperatures due to its valley location, high elevation, and frequent clear skies, sometimes recording the lowest temperatures in the country. However, daytime maximum temperatures in winter are often unremarkable, on account of the [[Southeast Australian foehn|foehn effect]].

The area is exceptionally dry by southeast coastal Australian standards as it lies in a major [[rain shadow]]; the region is flanked by mountain ranges on all sides, most notably on the west. Despite its dryness, it has only 90.1 clear days annually, lower than the adjacent coastal areas of [[Wollongong]] and [[Sydney]] (106 and 107 clear days respectively).<ref name=BOM_Woll>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_068188_All.shtml|title=Bureau of Meteorology – Summary statistics WOLLONGONG UNIVERSITY|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Meteorology]]|access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="acn">{{cite web|title=Climate statistics for Australian locations|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066062_All.shtml|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=15 November 2013}}</ref> Strong cold fronts often push through the region in winter and snow is not uncommon in Cooma from June to September, though is generally light and rarely settles for more than 24 hours. Frost occurs in all months of the year and is frequent between April and October. Severe [[thunderstorm]]s are semi-frequent in summer, and owing to the elevation of the town can carry large quantities of [[hail]].<ref name="BOM"/>

Mean daily minimum temperatures range from {{convert|-2.7|C|F}} (July) to {{convert|10.8|C|F}} (January), with an annual mean daily minimum of {{convert|4.1|C|F}}. Mean daily maximum temperatures range from {{convert|11.4|C|F}} (July) to {{convert|27.3|C|F}} (January), with an annual mean daily maximum of {{convert|19.4|C|F}}.<ref name="BOM"/>

{{Weather box
|location = Cooma Visitors Centre (1973–2020); 778 m AMSL; 36.23° S, 149.12° E
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan record high C = 40.0
|Feb record high C = 38.9
|Mar record high C = 35.2
|Apr record high C = 30.4
|May record high C = 24.2
|Jun record high C = 19.6
|Jul record high C = 20.9
|Aug record high C = 24.5
|Sep record high C = 29.4
|Oct record high C = 33.1
|Nov record high C = 36.5
|Dec record high C = 37.8
|year record high C = 
|Jan high C = 27.5
|Feb high C = 26.3
|Mar high C = 23.7
|Apr high C = 19.5
|May high C = 15.6
|Jun high C = 11.9
|Jul high C = 11.5
|Aug high C = 13.3
|Sep high C = 16.4
|Oct high C = 19.6
|Nov high C = 22.5
|Dec high C = 25.2
|year high C = 
|Jan low C = 10.9
|Feb low C = 10.6
|Mar low C = 8.2
|Apr low C = 4.1
|May low C = 0.7
|Jun low C = -1.3
|Jul low C = -2.7
|Aug low C = -1.9
|Sep low C = 1.2
|Oct low C = 3.8
|Nov low C = 7.1
|Dec low C = 9.2
|year low C =
|Jan record low C = -0.2
|Feb record low C = -1.0
|Mar record low C = -1.9
|Apr record low C = -6.5
|May record low C = -8.6
|Jun record low C = -11.5
|Jul record low C = -11.4
|Aug record low C = -10.5
|Sep record low C = -8.6
|Oct record low C = -6.8
|Nov record low C = -3.9
|Dec record low C = -3.0
|year record low C = 
|Jan precipitation mm = 56.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 60.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 57.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 38.7
|May precipitation mm = 29.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 39.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 27.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 27.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 33.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 44.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 62.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 55.1
|year precipitation mm = 536.9
|Jan precipitation days = 8.0
|Feb precipitation days = 7.8	
|Mar precipitation days = 8.4		
|Apr precipitation days = 8.3
|May precipitation days = 7.8
|Jun precipitation days = 9.7
|Jul precipitation days = 8.3
|Aug precipitation days = 8.6	
|Sep precipitation days = 9.6
|Oct precipitation days = 9.5
|Nov precipitation days = 10.8
|Dec precipitation days = 8.9
|year precipitation days = 
|humidity colour= green
|Jan afthumidity = 40
|Feb afthumidity = 44
|Mar afthumidity = 45
|Apr afthumidity = 49
|May afthumidity = 54
|Jun afthumidity = 59
|Jul afthumidity = 54
|Aug afthumidity = 48
|Sep afthumidity = 45
|Oct afthumidity = 44
|Nov afthumidity = 43
|Dec afthumidity = 41
|year humidity = 
|source =,<ref name="BOM">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070278_All.shtml | title = Climate statistics for Cooma Visitors Centre| access-date = 10 July 2018
| publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/wData/wdata?p_nccObsCode=40&p_display_type=dataFile&p_stn_num=070278 | title = Monthly highest temperature Cooma Visitors Centree| access-date = 27 November 2018
| publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]}}</ref> and<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/wData/wdata?p_nccObsCode=43&p_display_type=dataFile&p_stn_num=076031 | title = Monthly lowest temperature Cooma Visitors Centre| access-date = 27 November 2018
| publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]}}</ref>
|date=November 2018
}}

The airport is located at a higher elevation than the town, causing maximum temperatures to be notably cooler but minima somewhat milder.
{{Weather box
|location = Cooma Airport AWS (1991–2022); 930 m AMSL; 36.29° S, 148.97° E
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan record high C = 39.1
|Feb record high C = 38.0
|Mar record high C = 36.0
|Apr record high C = 30.0
|May record high C = 23.8
|Jun record high C = 21.9
|Jul record high C = 19.7
|Aug record high C = 25.4
|Sep record high C = 27.7
|Oct record high C = 29.3
|Nov record high C = 35.9
|Dec record high C = 37.7
|year record high C = 
|Jan high C = 26.6
|Feb high C = 24.9
|Mar high C = 22.2
|Apr high C = 18.2
|May high C = 14.1
|Jun high C = 10.7
|Jul high C = 10.2
|Aug high C = 11.9
|Sep high C = 15.1
|Oct high C = 18.2
|Nov high C = 21.2
|Dec high C = 24.1
|year high C = 
|Jan low C = 10.9
|Feb low C = 10.2
|Mar low C = 7.8
|Apr low C = 3.9
|May low C = 0.6
|Jun low C = -1.1
|Jul low C = -2.0
|Aug low C = -1.5
|Sep low C = 1.1
|Oct low C = 3.5
|Nov low C = 6.5
|Dec low C = 8.6
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = -2.2
|Feb record low C = -1.2
|Mar record low C = -2.7
|Apr record low C = -8.4
|May record low C = -9.7
|Jun record low C = -11.0
|Jul record low C = -10.8
|Aug record low C = -11.0
|Sep record low C = -9.4
|Oct record low C = -9.2
|Nov record low C = -5.6
|Dec record low C = -3.5
|year record low C = 
|Jan precipitation mm = 53.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 51.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 50.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 39.4
|May precipitation mm = 29.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 39.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 29.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 32.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 37.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 47.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 69.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 54.3
|year precipitation mm = 539.5
|Jan precipitation days = 8.9
|Feb precipitation days = 9.4
|Mar precipitation days = 10.5
|Apr precipitation days = 10.5
|May precipitation days = 11.2
|Jun precipitation days = 12.4
|Jul precipitation days = 12.1
|Aug precipitation days = 10.7
|Sep precipitation days = 11.0
|Oct precipitation days = 11.4
|Nov precipitation days = 11.8
|Dec precipitation days = 9.8
|year precipitation days =
|humidity colour= green
|Jan afthumidity = 39
|Feb afthumidity = 43
|Mar afthumidity = 43
|Apr afthumidity = 46
|May afthumidity = 54
|Jun afthumidity = 60
|Jul afthumidity = 57
|Aug afthumidity = 48
|Sep afthumidity = 46
|Oct afthumidity = 43
|Nov afthumidity = 43
|Dec afthumidity = 39
|Jan dew point C = 7.0
|Feb dew point C = 8.1
|Mar dew point C = 6.3
|Apr dew point C = 4.0
|May dew point C = 3.1
|Jun dew point C = 1.6
|Jul dew point C = 0.2
|Aug dew point C = -0.8
|Sep dew point C = 0.7
|Oct dew point C = 2.1
|Nov dew point C = 4.2
|Dec dew point C = 5.2
|source 1 = [http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070217_All.shtml Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Cooma Airport AWS]
}}

==Mosaic Time Walk==
The Cooma–Monaro Time Walk in Centennial Park was a community project to mark the Bicentennial Year of 1988, from designs by Cooma College of TAFE and the Cooma–Monaro Historical Society.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/snowy-mountains/cooma-area/cooma/attractions/mosaic-time-walk |title=Mosaic Time Walk |publisher=Destination NSW |access-date=25 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Citation
  | title=The Cooma-Monaro Time Walk : a mosaic record of the history of the Monaro from 1788-1988
  | author1=Cooma-Monaro Historical Society
  | publisher=Cooma-Monaro Historical Society
  | language=English
}}</ref>
<Gallery>
Image:AS Cooma Mosaic Timewalk.jpg
Image:Cooma Wall Art-2 (8539380290).jpg
Image:Cooma wall Art-3 (8539384454).jpg
Image:Cooma Wall Art-1 (8539388692).jpg
Image:Cooma mosaic section.jpg
</Gallery>

==Media==

===Newspapers===
One newspaper operates in Cooma, ''The Monaro Post'', which began in 2006 and is independently owned by Gail Eastaway, Tracy Frazer and Louise Platts.

===Radio stations===
*[[2XL (AM)|XLFM]] 96.1 FM (commercial)
*[[Snow FM]] 97.7 FM (commercial)
*[[Triple J]] 100.1 FM
*[[ABC South East NSW|ABC South-East]] 810 AM/1602 AM
*[[Radio National]] 95.3 FM/100.9 FM
*[[ABC Classic|Classic FM]] 99.3
*Monaro FM 90.5 (community)
*[[Sky Sports Radio|Racing Radio]] 96.9 FM
*[[Vision Radio Network|Vision Radio]] 88.0 FM (narrowcast, relay)

Note: transmitters for XLFM and Snow FM, as well as some ABC services, are in place throughout the Snowy Mountains.

===Television===
Cooma receives five free-to-air television networks including all the digital free-to-air channels relayed from Canberra, broadcast from the [[Telstra]] site Radio Hill translator in Cooma Common, off Polo Flat Road.

The stations are:<ref name=tv>{{Cite news |title=Television |page=12 |date=15 June 2010| work=[[The Canberra Times]]}}</ref>
*[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]
*[[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]]
*[[Seven Network|Seven]]
*[[Nine Network|Nine]] ([[WIN Television|WIN]])
*[[10 (Southern Cross Austereo)|Southern Cross 10]]
Another transmitter for the Cooma and surrounding Monaro region is located at Mount Roberts approximately 30&nbsp;km NNE of the town, broadcasting The Three Commercial TV Networks and the ABC Television services, but not SBS Television Services.

== Sports ==
Cooma has several sports teams, the most popular sports played in town being [[Rugby league|Rugby League]], [[Rugby union|Rugby Union]], [[Cricket]], [[Soccer]] and [[Australian rules football]].

The Cooma Colts is the town's junior rugby league team, the Stallions (founded 1973)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://group16.com.au/clubs/cooma-stallions/ | title=Cooma Stallions }}</ref> is the senior rugby league team and the Rugby League Tag team known as the Fillies also plays during the rugby league season.

The Cooma Tigers (founded 1952)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coomafc.com.au/|title=Cooma Tigers &#124; Cooma Football Club &#124; Cooma|website=Cooma Fc}}</ref> soccer team plays in local competitions.

The Southern Cats (formerly Cooma Cats founded in 1975) Australian rules football club is based at the Snowy Oval and participates in the [[AFL Canberra]] Community Division 3.<ref>[https://www.southerncats.com.au/history Southern Cats history]</ref>

==Transport==
Cooma is served by [[Cooma–Snowy Mountains Airport]], which is 15 kilometres from the CBD. Cooma has a bus service connecting various areas of town three times a day run by Cooma Coaches. [[Snowliner Coaches]] also operate services. Cooma has a taxi service run by Cooma Radio Taxis.

[[NSW TrainLink]] operate road coach services from [[Canberra railway station|Canberra]] to [[Bombala]] and [[Eden, New South Wales|Eden]].<ref>{{Cite New South Wales transport timetables|Southern Region}}</ref> Cooma was served by the ''[[Cooma Mail]]'' until May 1986 and the ''[[Canberra Monaro Express]]'' until September 1988.<ref>The Railway Refreshment Rooms of New South Wales 1855–1995 ''[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]]'' issue 790 August 2003</ref>

The [[Cooma Monaro Railway]] is a [[heritage railway]] using [[CPH railmotor]]s built in the 1920s. Until operations were suspended in January 2014 the railway provided a weekend and public-holiday service on an 18-kilometre section of the [[Bombala railway line]] north to Bunyan and Chakola.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmrailway.org.au/ |title=Cooma Monaro Railway |publisher=[[Cooma Monaro Railway]] |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-date=17 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317055937/http://www.cmrailway.org.au/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Samantha Armytage]] – breakfast show host
* [[John Bērziņš]] – bishop of Caracas of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia; first Australian-born orthodox bishop
* [[Torah Bright]] – Olympic snowboarder
* [[Jamie Burns]] – NSW cricketer, 1927
* [[Nick Cotric]] – rugby league player in the [[National Rugby League]] and [[New South Wales rugby league team]] representative 
* [[Carmen Duncan]] – actress
* [[Paula Duncan]] – actress
* [[Michael Gordon (rugby league)|Michael Gordon]] – rugby league player in the [[National Rugby League]]
* [[A. D. Hope]] – poet and essayist
* [[Paterson Clarence Hughes|Pat Hughes]] DFC – [[Royal Australian Air Force]] pilot
* [[Keegan Joyce]] – actor and singer has a song called "Cooma" included in his album, ''Snow on Higher Ground'' 
* [[Horst Kwech]] – Austrian born, Cooma raised, motor racing driver in the early US based [[Trans-Am Series]]
* [[Steve Liebmann]] – journalist
* [[Laurie Nichols (rugby league)|Laurie Nichols]] – wood carter and rugby league fan
* [[Joan Richmond]] – racing driver
* [[Anneliese Seubert]] – German born, Cooma raised, model
* [[John Tierney (Australian politician)|John Tierney]] – Australian [[Australian Senate|Senator]]
* [[Imants Tillers]] – Sydney born, Cooma based artist and writer
* [[John Tranter]] – poet
* [[Lou Wall]] – comedian
* [[Wilton Welch]] – actor and playwright
* [[Brett White]] – rugby league player in the National Rugby League
* [[Jack Williams (rugby league)|Jack Williams]] – rugby league player in the National Rugby League
* [[Sam Williams (rugby league)|Sam Williams]] – rugby league player in the National Rugby League
* [[Charlotte Wood]] – writer

==See also==
* [[Cooma Correctional Centre]]
* [[Snowy Mountains Scheme]]
* [[Bombala railway line]] – Railway line through Cooma

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Cooma}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Cooma, New South Wales}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070278.shtml|title=Climate for Cooma|department=Bureau of Meteorology|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=24 February 2009}}

{{Snowy Monaro Regional Council}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Snowy Mountains Highway]]
[[Category:Snowy Mountains Scheme]]
[[Category:Towns in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Snowy Monaro Regional Council]]
[[Category:Cooma|*]]