Murrumbateman

Murrumbateman is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Barton Highway, approximately 30 kilometres north-west of Canberra, and is part of the Yass Valley Shire. At the 2016 census, Murrumbateman had a population of 3,219 people.[1]

Murrumbateman
New South Wales
Barton Highway in Murrumbateman
Murrumbateman
Coordinates34°57′0″S 149°01′0″E
Population3,219 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)2582
Elevation572.21[2] m (1,877 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Yass Valley Council
CountyMurray
ParishNamima, Murrumbateman
State electorate(s)Goulburn
Federal Division(s)Eden-Monaro
Localities around Murrumbateman:
Marchmont Yass River Yass River
Boambolo Murrumbateman Nanima
Cavan Jeir Springrange

History and economy

With the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century sheep farming, wheat growing and goldmining became major economic activities.[3][4] The first government school opened in 1869.[5]

Winemaking began in Murrumbateman in the 1970s with some of the surrounding rural properties being developed as grape growing areas or as boutique wineries.[6][7]

In recent years much of the land has been subdivided into small hobby farm blocks ranging from 2 to 40 acres (0.81 to 16.19 ha). Similar subdivisions have occurred in other regions around Canberra including Bungendore, Sutton, Gundaroo and Burra. Residents tend to commute to Canberra for work rather than make a living off the small parcels of land. Other nearby towns are Yass, Gunning and Dalton.

Murrumbateman has a pub and a handful of retail outlets.

The Murrumbateman Market is held fortnightly at the Recreation Ground. The market focus is on local produce and local arts and crafts but there is always a range of products from the wider Yass Valley and beyond including fruit and vegetables, breads, cakes, jams, olives, chillies, sauces, biodynamic beef and a range of wines from the local area plus woollen and alpaca products and handmade goods of all types.[8]

Annual events
  • The Murrumbateman Pony Club hold an annual show jumping festival in June. The event is open for Pony Club Members.
  • The Murrumbateman Field Day is held in October each year and draws large crowds from Canberra and Yass[9]
  • The Australian Cool Climate Wine Show is held annually in September[10]

Facilities and services

The trees around the grounds are heritage listed and parking underneath them is not recommended.

Murrumbateman has the following Sporting clubs:

  • Murrumbateman Pony Club
  • Murrumbateman Eagles AFL Club

Murrumbateman has the following facilities:

  • Market - Saturday morning on 2nd and 4th Saturday each month[8]
  • Park
  • Public toilets
  • Motel next to a takeaway store
  • Petrol station/supermarket
  • Garage
  • Accountant
  • Butcher
  • Rural supplies store
  • Pub
  • Guesthouses
  • Abode Hotel
  • Restaurants
  • Wineries
  • Australia Post agency
  • Hair & beauty salon
  • Dentist
  • Doctor
  • Pharmacy
  • Veterinary clinic
  • Dance school
  • Pre-school
  • Family day care
  • Library
  • Catholic Church
  • Uniting Church
  • I.T. specialist
  • Landcare group

New development

The Fairley Estate, a new 100 home subdivision at Murrumbateman, will add 60 per cent more housing to Murrumbateman and trigger other infrastructure and commercial developments. Consisting of an adjoining 19 hectares, the new subdivision is named Fairley after a Murrumbateman teacher of the early 1900s.[11] It will include a commercial and tourist precinct with an international hotel chain as a tenant, boutique brewery, bakery, childcare, visitors' centre and cafe and children's park, medical services and post office.[12][13]

Population

In the 2016 Census, there were 3,219 people in Murrumbateman. 82.8% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was England at 4.6%. 91.4% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 34.2%, Catholic 25.5% and Anglican 18.5%.[1]

Notable people
  • Sir Walter Merriman – sheep breeder, knighted in 1954 for his contributions to the fine wool industry, and founder of the Merryville stud, Murrumbateman[14][15]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Murrumbateman (state suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  2. "Altitude of Murrumbateman, New South Wales, Australia - Elevation". www.altitude-maps.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  3. "Murrumbateman". visitnsw.com. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  4. "History of Murrumbateman (NSW), 1824-1960". Australia For Visitors. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  5. Susan O'Leary, "School opens 150 years ago in Murrumbateman", Yass Tribune, 27 June 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  6. Ellery, David (28 February 2014). "A weekend in your suburb: 36 hours in Murrumbateman". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
  7. "Explore Murrumbateman's rich wine region". Visit Canberra. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  8. Murrumbateman Village Market. Access date: 18 August 2016.
  9. Murrumbateman Field Days. Access date: 18 August 2016.
  10. Australian Cool Climate Wine Show. Access date: 18 August 2016.
  11. Murrumbateman School (1869 - 1973), hall.act.au. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  12. Thistleton, John. "Murrumbateman housing surge". Canberra Times.
  13. Fairley Estate. Access date: 18 August 2016.
  14. G. P. Walsh, 'Merriman, Sir Walter Thomas (1882–1972)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. This article was first published in hardcopy in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 10, Melbourne University Press, 1986. Online access date: 18 August 2016.
  15. Merryville Stud - History. Access date: 18 August 2016.

Further reading
  • Dorothy Mulholland: Far away days: a history of the Murrumbateman, Jeir and Nanima districts. Murrumbateman Old School Grounds Committee, 1995.
  • David James Wagner, Jr.: Background notes on the district of Murrumbateman, 1824-1960. Murrumbateman, 1960. Republished online at: History of Murrumbateman (NSW), 1824-1960 Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  • Meryl Hunter: From the beginning: a history of the Murrumbateman Field Days to 2006. Murrumbateman Agricultural Bureau and Progress Association, 2009.
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