Mendooran, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Mendooran is a small town adjacent to the Castlereagh River in the Warrumbungle Shire
of central western New South Wales
, Australia
. It is at an altitude of 271 metres above sea level, 348 kilometres west of Sydney
, 75 kilometres from Dubbo and 71 kilometres southeast of Coonabarabran. At the 2006 census
, Mendooran had a population of 319 people.
tribe before white settlement. The first European
to visit the area was Surveyor John Evans
who came as close as 10 kilometres from Mendooran in 1815. Two years later it was John Oxley
's group that passed through the area while conducting one of the first inland expeditions. 'Mendooran' station was established in 1834. It is believed that the name came from an Aboriginal
word meaning 'sand washes down from the hills in this place'. Lucerne, wheat and sheep were established on the station in later years.
The small village grew in the 1860s on the old station near the bridge which passed over the Castlereagh River. As at 1866 there were 24 residents recorded in the area. The village was called Mundooran until the 1920's when the name was changed to Mendooran.
The John Bull Inn was erected to serve the passing traffic of the 1860s. A bridge was erected over the Castlereagh River in 1869 which increased the road traffic and contributed to local development. The town was laid out in 1881 with a school, police station and courthouse being built.
The Robertson Land Act of 1893 broke up the larger squatting runs and closer settlement then came about.
The Mendooran show is held each year in February/March/April.
Along the Castlereagh River, nestled amongst large gum trees, there is located a public rest area that has free cold water showers and toilet facilities. Close by is a small Village called Merrygoen which was used to shoot some of a popular ABC Minnie series- "Leaving Of Liverpool" which starred Aussie Actor John hargreaves, Who actually was a school teacher at Mendooran Central School, in the late 50's.
The Town of Murals
Murals are the main attraction of Mendooran. Local artist Karin Thurston has painted most of these amazing features.
Prospects for bushwalking are excellent but there are not any facilities, so remember to take food and water and to notify someone of your movements.
Mendooran Golf Club
The Mendooran Golf Club is a 9 hole course situated within and surrounding the racecourse.
Coincidentally, Ron Quinton Famous Horse Trainer/ Jockey was born in Dunedoo, And raised in Mendooran, who also started his career out riding at the Mendooran Race Track. Ironically the pair met In 1999 and ventured a partnership between the two, they soon learnt they had this in common.
Warrumbungle Shire Council
The Warrumbungle Shire is a local government area in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia.It was created by the amalgamation of Coolah and Coonabarabran Shire Councils and incorporates the towns of Binnaway, Coolah, Coonabarabran, Dunedoo, Baradine and Mendooran...
of central western New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is at an altitude of 271 metres above sea level, 348 kilometres west of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, 75 kilometres from Dubbo and 71 kilometres southeast of Coonabarabran. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Mendooran had a population of 319 people.
History
The district was inhabited by the WiradjuriWiradjuri
The Wiradjuri are an Indigenous Australian group of central New South Wales.In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith...
tribe before white settlement. The first European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
to visit the area was Surveyor John Evans
John Evans
- Academics :*Sir John Evans , English archaeologist and geologist*John Davies Evans , English archaeologist specialising in the prehistory of the Mediterranean and Malta, former Director of the Institute of Archaeology, London...
who came as close as 10 kilometres from Mendooran in 1815. Two years later it was John Oxley
John Oxley
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of English colonisation.October 1802 he was engaged in coastal survey work including an expedition to Western Port in 1804-05...
's group that passed through the area while conducting one of the first inland expeditions. 'Mendooran' station was established in 1834. It is believed that the name came from an Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
word meaning 'sand washes down from the hills in this place'. Lucerne, wheat and sheep were established on the station in later years.
The small village grew in the 1860s on the old station near the bridge which passed over the Castlereagh River. As at 1866 there were 24 residents recorded in the area. The village was called Mundooran until the 1920's when the name was changed to Mendooran.
The John Bull Inn was erected to serve the passing traffic of the 1860s. A bridge was erected over the Castlereagh River in 1869 which increased the road traffic and contributed to local development. The town was laid out in 1881 with a school, police station and courthouse being built.
The Robertson Land Act of 1893 broke up the larger squatting runs and closer settlement then came about.
The Mendooran show is held each year in February/March/April.
Attractions
Mendooran Free Rest AreaAlong the Castlereagh River, nestled amongst large gum trees, there is located a public rest area that has free cold water showers and toilet facilities. Close by is a small Village called Merrygoen which was used to shoot some of a popular ABC Minnie series- "Leaving Of Liverpool" which starred Aussie Actor John hargreaves, Who actually was a school teacher at Mendooran Central School, in the late 50's.
The Town of Murals
Murals are the main attraction of Mendooran. Local artist Karin Thurston has painted most of these amazing features.
Prospects for bushwalking are excellent but there are not any facilities, so remember to take food and water and to notify someone of your movements.
Mendooran Golf Club
The Mendooran Golf Club is a 9 hole course situated within and surrounding the racecourse.
Well Known People
Mendooran is the home of top Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman, who honed his skills at Mendooran Race Course. Hugh has recently returned from racing in the UK.Coincidentally, Ron Quinton Famous Horse Trainer/ Jockey was born in Dunedoo, And raised in Mendooran, who also started his career out riding at the Mendooran Race Track. Ironically the pair met In 1999 and ventured a partnership between the two, they soon learnt they had this in common.