Murrumburrah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Murrumburrah New South Wales
Albury Street, the main street of Murrumburrah
Murrumburrah Location in New South Wales
Postcode(s)	2587
LGA(s)	Hilltops Council
State electorate(s)	Cootamundra
Federal Division(s)	Riverina

Murrumburrah is a town in New South Wales, Australia. It's often called a "twin town" because it's right next to Harden. Both towns are in the Hilltops Council area, located in the South West Slopes region of NSW.

Murrumburrah sits on the Burley Griffin Way. This is an important road that connects the Riverina area to the Hume Highway, which leads to big cities like Sydney and Canberra. The town's name probably comes from the Wiradhuri language word murrimboola, which means "two waterholes."

A Glimpse into Murrumburrah's Past

Early Days and Gold Rush

Before European settlers arrived, the land around Harden and Murrumburrah was home to the Wiradjuri people. Explorers Hume and Hovell passed through this area in 1824.

In the late 1820s, a large farm called 'Murrumburra' was set up. James Kennedy, who managed the farm, built an inn in the town area in the late 1840s. This inn would have been a popular stop for travellers.

Gold was discovered in the region during the 1850s, bringing many new people hoping to strike it rich. In 1858, the town was officially named Murrimboola. This name, like Murrumburrah, comes from the Wiradjuri word for "two water holes."

Growing as a Town

By 1872, Murrumburrah was a small but busy town. A traveller at the time noted that it had two churches, a school, three hotels, and three stores. There was also a large steam flour mill, showing that a lot of wheat was grown in the area. The Roman Catholic Church was a beautiful stone building on a hill, while the Wesleyan Chapel was a smaller wooden one.

The Railway's Impact

A railway station opened near Murrumburrah in 1877 on the Main Southern line. It was first called Murrumburrah station. However, a new station opened in Murrumburrah in 1879, and the first station's name was changed to Harden station.

Harden's station became the main one for the area. Because of this, Harden grew to be the larger and more central town of the twin towns.

Honouring Australian Heroes

The Light Horse Memorial

A special feature in Murrumburrah is a memorial dedicated to the Australian Light Horse regiment. This famous group of soldiers on horseback actually started in the Harden-Murrumburrah area!

On August 28, 1897, 34 local men formed the 1st Australian (Volunteer) Horse. The memorial features two large bronze statues created by Carl Valerius. One statue shows Trooper Bradford, who was one of the original volunteers. The other statue is of J. A. Kenneth Mackay, who was very important in helping the 1st Australian Horse grow and develop.

Historic Places to See

Murrumburrah has some places that are listed for their historical importance. These sites are protected because they tell us about the past. One such place is the Demondrille railway station, which is part of the Main Southern railway line.

Gallery

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  Murrumburrah Institute & Hall

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  Angrlican Church

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  Catholic Church

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  Uniting Church

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  Court House

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  Shire Offices

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  Council Chambers

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  Exchange Hotel

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  Commercial Hotel

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  Post Office

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  CBC Bank

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  Bill the Bastard

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  Kenneth Mackay

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  Trooper Bradford