Two Birthday Parties for Saphire Coast

Merimbula

Two of the most popular holiday destinations on the NSW far south coast have very big birthdays to celebrate this month.

Merimbula, the demographic heart of the Sapphire Coast, is 100 years old and its smaller northern neighbour Tathra is 150. Both towns have a program of events planned to commemorate their founding, with Tathra celebrating next weekend (March 18) and Merimbula spreading the party over 10 days from March 27 to April 7.

Once inhabited by the Yuin people of the south coast, the first Europeans to set foot in the region now known as the Sapphire Coast were explorers Bass and Flinders who travelled up the Pambula River and Lake in 1797.

Tathra

By the 1830s, the Imlay brothers owned land from Broulee, near Batemans Bay, to south of Eden's Twofold Bay. That land later came under the control of the newly formed Twofold Bay Pastoral Association in 1852, and Merimbula began its existence as a private village belonging to the Association.

It was opened as a port in 1855, serving as a gateway to the surrounding agricultural district and was gazetted as a town in 1912. Today the town has a population of around 4000 - and many more in summer.

Tathra came into existence following an enquiry into transport facilities in the Bega district in 1851. As a result, the Illawarra and South Coast Steam Navigation Company was formed.

Merimbula

Initially the town was little more than the jetty serving local farmers who needed transport closer than the port of Merimbula 25 km away, but the jetty was replaced in 1861-2 by a wharf, the township was surveyed in 1861 and regular shipping commenced in 1862. Passengers travelled to and from Sydney with pigs and produce for company (hence its nickname the 'Pig and Whistle Line').

The last ship to take freight from Tathra was in 1954 and the wharf fell into disrepair. Demolition was planned in the Seventies until local residents joined forces to save it. Tathra Wharf - which actually celebrates its birthday over the June long weekend this year, is now the only coastal steamer wharf remaining on the NSW coast, and is a great attraction for tourists, fishermen and divers.

Both communities have a range of celebratory activities planned, including street parades and exhibitions, with Merimbula also staging a Country Music Muster, a Centenary Ball, a fly-over and 'open day' by 'Connie' the Super Constellation, the burial of a time capsule by local school children and a 100-voice choir singing the Merimbula Anthem. A full program of the Merimbula Centenary events is available on the Sapphire Coast Tourism website (www.sapphirecoast.com.au). Aside from next weekend's street parade and party, Tathra is also planning some celebrations for the Wharf's birthday over the long weekend in June.

Tathra

Located on the far south coast of NSW, the Sapphire Coast is three hours' drive from Canberra via Cooma or a six/seven-hour drive from either Melbourne or Sydney ( slightly longer at present due to closure of Brown Mountain/Snowy Mountains Highway after flooding). There are also regular daily flights from Melbourne or Sydney via REX Airlines into Merimbula, and regular inter-city bus services.

More information about the area, including accommodation bookings is available on the website (www.sapphirecoast.com.au) or by calling 1800 150 457.