Murrurundi



Murrurundi is a rural town in Upper Hunter Shire, located in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales. Murrurundi, which is 193 km by road from Newcastle and 309 km from Sydney, has a population of 2162 people (ABS 2006). The town is almost completely surrounded by mountains of the Liverpool Range, and is located on the Pages River, a tributary of the Hunter River.

Overview
Prior to European settlement, the Murrurundi district was home to the Wanaruah - and possibly the Kamilaroi - Aboriginal people. European settlement of the area began in the 1820s, and the town itself was established by the New South Wales government in 1840. In the same year, a local landholder - Thomas Haydon - established an adjacent private township called Haydonton. In 1913, the two neighbouring settlements were merged to create the modern-day town of Murrurundi.

The name "Murrurundi" is often erroneously thought to come from an Aboriginal word meaning "nestling in the valley". It does in fact mean "five fingers", a representation of the rock formation visible at the northern end of the township.

Benjamin Hall, father of bushranger Ben Hall had a small farm in a valley near Murrurundi in 1839. He opened a butcher's shop at Haydonton in 1842. Ben Hall lived at Murrurundi until the age of 13.

Kerosene shale was mined at Mount Temi, some 11.25 km to the north of Murrurundi from 1886, but laid dorment for many years. The mine was revived in 1910 and a railway was constructed from Temple Court, 1.2 km west of Murrurundi, to the terminal of an airial ropeway bringing shale from the mine. Operations ceased in during the First World War.

Annual events include the annual rodeo and the King of the Ranges stockman challenge.

There are only a few sporting facilities due to the low population. These sports are senior rugby league, touch football, swimming club and cricket.

The New England Highway runs through the town, and it is served by a rail service.

Railway station
Murrurundi railway station is located on the Main North railway line, 352 km from Sydney. The station opened in 1872 and consists of a substantial brick station-house with a passing loop and goods yard. There was also a locomotive depot for bank engines which lasted until the end of steam.

It continues to be served by a daily rail service operated by a Countrylink Xplorer train to and from Sydney and Armidale/Moree.

Accident
Murrurundi is the nearest major town to the site of the Murulla rail accident.