Talbingo resident Jack Bridle, whose family were early European settlers of the area, suggests the name to be a corruption of the English word "tall" and the Aboriginal words "Binji", "Binge" or "Bingo" meaning belly.

[6] Talbingo grew rapidly while Tumut 3 power station was built, and now has a service station, golf course, motel, primary school, general store, country club, ski hire shop, Tourist Park and the lodge has been refurbished and now has accommodation and a restaurant.

Many families stop by every summer for water skiing on Talbingo or Blowering Dam, bushwalking and exploring Kosciuszko National Park.

The Church of St Paul, at 50 Lampe St, Talbingo, was built by the Snowy Mountains Authority as a multi-faith Christian church, and was opened and consecrated by representatives of the Catholic, Anglican, and Presbyterian faiths on 23 April 1967.

Apart from the tall windows behind the lectern and altar, which give a view to the lake and mountains, it is largely unadorned.