About Mogo

Mogo was first established in the 1850s during the gold rush with reports of gold being found in the cabbage tree creek. At the height of the gold rush there was up to 10,000 people in Mogo. During the gold rush days there were 6 or 7 hotels and pubs (all closed by 1910), three churches, shops including a service station (built in 1951), a school and the first post office was opened in 1866 with George Veitch being the first postmaster.
Bimbimbie was the last gold mine in the Mogo area, which was closed in 1984 with the floating of the Australian dollar. Since 1850 Mogo being a quiet highway town has become home to a small group of artists and craftsmen and has continued to evolve as an attractive small town. Another major tourist attraction is the Mogo Zoo, now home to many exotic species such as the red panda and the snow leopard also well known for its breeding of white lions.
In the language of the Yuin people the word “Mogo” is said to mean ‘large camping ground’. The Aboriginal history of the area also includes locations such as Tomakin and Barlings beach where Aboriginal families tell of the significant spiritual and cultural associations of this area.

Story Submitted by Bree Moreton and Kizzy Nye published in 2015