PAGE 118 | LAKES COAST VISITOR GUIDE BEGA/COBARGO Considered the historic 'country centre' of the NSW Sapphire Coast, the quaint town of Bega is located in a lush pastoral area known collectively as the Bega Valley. And while Bega is best known for being home of the internationally famous Bega Cheese brand (the original Bega Cheese factory opened in the town in 1900) there are plenty of other attractions in and around this iconic rural region. Historic Bega Dairying began in the verdant Bega Valley in the 1850s. At the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre – a reconstruction of one of the first buildings of the Bega Co-operative Creamery Company – you can learn about the history of the valley and the cheesemaking process (and also taste the delicious results). A historic walk around Bega is an intriguing way of stepping back into the past, and it's also worth checking out the local produce market, which runs from 8am to 1pm every Friday in Bega's Littleton Gardens. Country atmosphere South-west of Bega is Candelo, which still retains the rustic charm of yesteryear, and provides a colourful country market on the first Sunday of every month, from 8.30am to 12.30pm. There are some lovely old buildings in the town, including the Candelo General Store and Café . The original owner, Abraham Levy, operated a store in Candelo from at least 1879, and built a general store at the current location in 1882. After being destroyed by fire in 1903, Levy built a new store in 1904, which still proudly stands today. In late 2014, a local farming family purchased and sympathetically renovated the General Store, striking a balance between modern and original heritage features. Colourful Cobargo Located in Bega Valley Shire, 30-minutes' drive north of Bega, Cobargo is a small village with a permanent population of less than 800 people. The name Cobargo may have originated from the local First Nations word 'cubago', which some sources say was used to describe nearby Mount Gulaga. The town has become a popular tourist destination, thanks to its olden-style stores, arts and crafts galleries, tea rooms, antique shops and its colourful country market, held every Saturday. Rural charm abounds in the lush Bega Valley The quaint and quiet country town of Cobargo has a population of less than 800 people. Photo: David Rogers Candelo has some lovely historic buildings, including the Candelo General Store, built in 1904. Photo: Destination NSW At the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre, you can learn about the history of cheesemaking in the Bega Valley. A charming view of the lush dairy country around Bega. Photo: Destination NSW
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