Cuppacumbalong

Cuppacumbalong means 'meeting of the waters' and lies at the junction of the Murrumbidgee and Gudgenby rivers.

The first impression gained from the Heritage listed Cuppacumbalong Homestead is that it is another of the stately 19th century homes built by wealthy pastoralists. In fact, the homestead was built in 1923. It is the third homestead built on the Cuppacumbalong land. The first was built in 1849 and the second in 1885. Both were located too close to the Murrumbidgee River and were flooded. The current homestead now stands on higher ground.

Walking down the stairs at the western side of the homestead toward the river, you join the De Salis Track which takes you upstream to the De Salis cemetery.

After being established by James Wright, it was bought by Leopold De Salis in 1855 and was noted for wool and magnificent draught horses. De Salis also had a political career spanning 24 years.

Frank Snow purchased the property in the early 1920s and it continued to produce merino sheep and Hereford cattle. Cuppacumbalong was one of the largest remaining freehold rural properties in the late 1960s.

From 2001 the property operated as a private farm stay, with annual openings to the public, usually during the Heritage Festival.

The long heritage of developing arts and craft at this site was revived when the Tharwa Valley Forge purchased Cuppacumbalong in 2017. A blade smithing school currently operates from the site, also providing a popular opportunity to weld metal artworks.