NAROOMA Narooma is the next major town encounted when travelling the hgy from Bega to Batemans Bay. Narooma is coastal and growing fast, but also is a ‘new’ town and to that end fight for heritage factors is pretty much lost. Tourism, seasonal primarily is now the mainstay of Narooma. That said Narooma has a full and functioning port. The name is said to be derived from the Aboriginal word meaning ‘clear blue waters’. Gold was discovered nearby at Central Tilba in 1880 and a post office was opened at Corunna, but called Noorooma until 1882. There is still a street bearing this spelling in the town today A township was surveyed at Narooma in 1883 and it was declared a port in 1884. Narooma was regarded as a tourist destination from the early twentieth century. The local oyster industry was established around 1900.  The Uniting (formerly Methodist) Church on the Princes Highway dates from 1914 Together with the associated parsonage, it is regarded as an excellent example of the Australian Federation Carpenter Gothic architectural style and is one of the few old buildings in Narooma. The Anglican and Catholic are modern. The bridge was built between 1929 and 1931 and crosses the Wagonga Inlet. The bridge has three spans and is made of steel and concrete. It is one of two bascule span bridges of its type remaining in New South Wales. There is no museum in Narooma. The   Hotels  are post war period. The Narooma War Memorial is a mix of walls and buildings in the cbd. Because of the tourist effect the traveller will be tempted to stay and linger. Do not fight the urge. There is plenty to enjoy in Narooma.