Murringo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MurringoNew South Wales |
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Main street of Murringo
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 Murringo
Location in New South Wales
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| Postcode(s) | 2586 | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Hilltops Council | ||||||||||||||
| County | Monteagle | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Murringo | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Cootamundra | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hume | ||||||||||||||
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Murringo is a small village located in the beautiful southwestern slopes of New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the Hilltops Council area. This quiet place was once known by a different name: Marengo. The name Murringo also refers to the wider area around the village, used for things like mail and population counts.
Contents
A Glimpse into Murringo's Past
Who Lived Here First?
The land where Murringo stands today was originally home to the Wiradjuri people. Their traditional lands were near the areas of the Ngunawal and Gandangara peoples. These groups spoke languages that were very similar to each other.
When Did Settlers Arrive?
Even though this area was outside the official "Nineteen Counties" where settlers were allowed, people started moving here quite early. The first large farm, called Marengo Station, was set up in 1827. By 1840, there were 43 settlers living on three properties in the area. Many of them, 21 people, lived at Marengo Station.
How Did Murringo Get Its Name?
The village was first called Marengo, named after the nearby Marengo Station. This name might have come from the famous Battle of Marengo in Europe. However, it's more likely that "Marengo" was a word from an Aboriginal language. Settlers might have changed its spelling to sound like the European battle site. It seems unlikely they would name a place after a battle won by Napoleon, who was an enemy of Britain.
In 1849, a government surveyor named James Larmer mapped out the village. He seems to have used the name Murringo. The village was officially declared a village under the name Murringo in 1850. Murringo became an important stop for people transporting goods with bullock teams. It also had early flour mills.
For a long time, people still called the village Marengo, even though the official name was Murringo. The post office and the public school were both called Marengo until 1926, when they changed to Murringo.
Schools in Murringo
Murringo's public school opened in 1860. In 1917, a Catholic school was also started by the Sisters of Mercy. A new building for the Catholic school was built in 1929. When the Catholic school opened, many students left the public school to attend it. The Catholic school closed in 1961 and later became a private home.
The Gold Rush and Murringo's Growth
In 1860, gold was discovered nearby at Lambing Flat, which is now known as Young. This discovery changed things for Murringo. Young grew much faster because it was on the route of the Blayney-Demondrille railway line from 1885. Young became the main town in the region.
Bushrangers in the Area
During the 1860s, the area around Murringo was known for outlaws called bushrangers. Famous bushrangers like Frank Gardiner, Ben Hall, John Gilbert, and others were active here. John Gilbert had even worked on a property near Murringo before becoming a bushranger, so he knew the area well. The rough land near Murringo Gap and the Weddin Mountains were good hiding spots for them.
A Famous Cricketer's Childhood Home
From 1908 to 1917, Murringo was one of the childhood homes of Bill O'Reilly. His father was a teacher at the public school. Bill O'Reilly later became a famous Australian Test cricketer, known for his amazing leg spin bowling. Murringo was where he first played cricket, and he often said his time there was one of the happiest parts of his life.
Murringo Today
What's Murringo Like Now?
According to the 2021 census, Murringo and the surrounding area had 390 people living there. This was a small increase from 365 people in 2016.
Murringo still looks much like it did in its busiest times. People describe it as a small but perfectly formed village. It is the oldest village in this region. You can still see old buildings like former inns, the old convent, and the old police station. The school building is still used today.
The village has two churches: Christ Church Anglican, which opened in 1866, and Sacred Heart Catholic, which opened in 1877. There's also a village hall that remembers local soldiers from the First World War. Murringo also has a large cemetery for a village of its size.
