Coolringdon is notable as being one of the proposed sites for Australia's national capital, prior to the selection of Canberra.

[4] Called 'Coolerandong' by early colonial settlers,[5] it is likely that the name of Coolringdon is derived from an Aboriginal language word that has been anglicised.

The area lay outside the Nineteen Counties, and settlers had no legal right—even under colonial law—to occupy land there, until 1836, after which grazing rights could be obtained by payment of a licence fee.

[10] The well preserved Coolringdon Homestead is over 190 years old and is renowned for its heritage garden and school house.

It was commissioned by the Snowy River Shire Council to mark the gateway to the region and installed at Coolringdon beside the Kosciuszko Road in 2011.