Pambula is a town in Bega Valley Shire on the far south coast of New South Wales, Australia south of Sydney via the Princes Highway. At the , Pambula had a population of 970 people.
History
The area was populated by the Thaua Aboriginal people, with shell middens dating back 3000 years. In 1797, the European voyager George Bass explored the area.
The name Pambula is derived from its Dharwa name, pronounced "panboola", meaning 'twin waters'. although Pambula came to be used for postal purposes. Pambula had become the more commonly used name, by 1915. The official name, recorded by the Lands Department and Geographical Names Board, only changed, from Panbula to Pambula, in September 1967.
Pambula is a historic village with its first European settlers thought to have been the Imlay brothers who established cattle runs on the Pambula River flats in the 1830s. The village of Pambula situated on the flats near the river was planned in 1843 by surveyor Thomas Scott Townsend, and the first school and churches were built there, but frequent flooding led to the village being relocated to its present site on higher ground.
The main land uses were grazing and agriculture, and tented accommodation on stock routes was replaced by slab and bark huts, then by more permanent buildings providing homes, housing, smithies, and hotels. Pambula had five licensed hotels by 1856 and the foundation stone for the courthouse was laid in 1860. Pambula was proclaimed a town in 1885.
- Princes Highway: Roan Horse Inn
- Northview Drive: The Historic Grange
- 42 Toallo St: Pambula Courthouse & Police Station
Facilities
Pambula is situated approximately south of Merimbula and has a small supermarket, a community bank, and a primary school. The nearest secondary school is a private secondary school in nearby Pambula Beach. The nearest public secondary schools are in Bega and Eden.
Attractions
Panboola, the Pambula wetlands heritage project, is located between the south edge of town and the Pambula River. Panboola contains fresh water billabongs, saline areas around the former racecourse, saltmarsh and mangroves, plantings of thousands of trees, shrubs and ground covers, walking and cycle tracks and tables and seats.
Pambula is a significant producer of oysters.
Sport
Pambula has a local cricket team, the Pambula Bluedogs. Their home ground is located at the Pambula Recreation oval in the town's centre. The Pambula Sporting Complex is the home ground for the Pambula Panthers Australian Football Club founded in 1983. The ground is also the home ground for the newly created soccer club, Pambula United Football Club, also known as The Penguins. The Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs, though named Merimbula are based in Pambula, founded in 1924 they compete in the Group 16 Rugby League Premiership. Located in between Pambula and Merimbula is the 27 hole course Merimbula Golf Club.