Cabramurra, New South Wales

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Cabramurra town, afternoon in summer, looking north from the lookout.

Population:

1,621 (2001 census which covers the surrounding region. The more representative population of the town itself is approximately 200)

Postcode:

2629

Elevation:

1475 m

Location:

503 km from Sydney
223 km from Canberra
109 km from Cooma
110 km from Tumut

LGA:

Snowy River Shire

State District:

Albury

Federal Division:

Eden-Monaro

Mean Max Temp	Mean Min Temp	Rainfall
11.5 °C ^{53 °F}	4.0 °C ^{39 °F}	1701.8 mm ^{67 in}

Cabramurra is the highest town on the Australian continent, situated at 1,488m AHD in the western Snowy Mountains of the Great Dividing Range, in the state of New South Wales. The name Cabramurra may be derived from Wiradjuri gambirra marra, meaning "crooked hand".^[1]

Cabramurra was established in 1954 using prefabricated houses, as part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme and associated Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. An earlier surveying camp had been established there in 1951. The town was moved some 500m and 20m vertically to a more sheltered position, its current site, in 1974, leaving the original site as the lookout.

Cabramurra is a 'company town', being the place of residence for workers in the nearby Tumut 2 hydro-electric power station and electrical switching yards, and Tumut Pondage dam.

The town has 48 houses, a general store and petrol station, primary school, pub (tavern), indoor swimming pool, downhill ski slope, and tennis courts. The nearest small towns for other shopping are Adaminaby, New South Wales and Tumut; the nearest large towns (that is, with a hospital) are Wagga Wagga and Cooma. Emergency evacuation can be conducted by helicopter.

In winter, the town can be covered by snow for 3-4 months. This has dictated the building design with a very highly pitched roof for the houses. The town had the first downhill ski run in Australia with lighting to allow for use at night.

The town is located within the boundaries of Kosciuszko National Park, on the road between Kiandra on the Snowy Mountains Highway to the north and Khancoban, another hydro-electric power site. The road is kept open to Kiandra by snow plough during winter, also serving the Selwyn snowfields resort. The road south of the dam is closed to traffic.