See Do Hear Eat | Murrurundi

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S E E D O H E A R E AT M U R R U R U N D I

S E E D O H E A R E AT M U R R U R U N D I

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We acknowledge the traditional owners of Murrurundi land, the Kamilaroi and Wanaruah people.

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S E E D O H E A R E AT M U R R U R U N D I

CONTENTS

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Bobadil House (1841 – 1842)

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How and why to get there

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See and Do

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Shop and Stay

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Eat and Drink

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Around Murrurundi – North, South, East and West

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When to come

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Having established successful galleries in Sydney and Berlin, Germany, Michael Reid and his wife Nellie Dawes completed their axis of art, in a rural town with a population of less than 1000.

Michael Reid Murrurundi Boyd Street, Murrurundi, The Upper Hunter, NSW 2338 Open: Fri–Sun, 11–5pm 02 6545 6767

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WHY MURRURUNDI?

Firstly, per head of population there are more art and craft galleries and activities in Murrurundi than Paris. Paint stains are fashionable. Welding scars are a source of town pride.

Secondly, in Murrurundi you can pat a pony at the pub. In fact almost every vista includes horses, sheep and cattle, the occasional deer, kangaroo and wallaby. It’s important to stop looking at the magnificent views long enough to check you are not about to step in manure.

Lastly, Murrurundi offered an historic building and a family connection in Bobadil House.

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BOBADIL HOUSE (1841 – 1842) One of the oldest surviving buildings in town, Bobadil House (1841 -1842) was built of local sandstone as a Cobb and Co stage post in the early 1840s by the Colonial surveyor Henry Dangar. The residence, originally known as the Woolpack Inn, was then renamed the White Swan Inn before the building was purchased in the 1890s by the landholder John Sevil.

The White Swan Inn was then remodelled and converted to a private home, Bobadil House. Family tradition has it that the house was named after John Sevil’s original property, Bobadil (a property still in the Sevil Family). John Sevil’s great-great-granddaughter, Nellie Dawes is the current custodian of Bobadil house.

The former Convict prison block built adjacent to Bobadil House was converted into an art gallery

by Michael & Nellie in 2005. The building originally housed convict road gangs overnight, next door to the Cobb and Co stage post.

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Travellers on the New England Highway may catch glimpses of the twostorey, late Georgian residence on a 4.5 hectare garden. It shelters behind towering hedges and lines of London Plane trees. Dormant Agapanthus, Iris, Rosemary and Hibiscus were coaxed to grow and flower again. Plantings of Acanthus, Periwinkle, Hellebores, Hollyhocks, Violets and Japanese windflowers thrived. A thicket of self-seeded Robinia, Alder and Golden Elm trees increase the mystery, while a river red gum anchors the garden in place.

The restoration of the buildings and the garden has been a labour of love.

Of course it took more than love, it also took two years to remove 80 truckloads of privet and blackberry bushes revealing the sandstone ruins of the convict cell block.

Michael and Nellie saw potential in the remains of the convict cell block and established a gallery as an incubator for emerging artists and to complement their galleries in Sydney and Berlin. Over a decade later, the garden and the gallery are thriving. Leading Australian artists such as Adam Cullen, David Bromley, Noel McKenna, Robert Jacks, Chris Langlois, Paul Ryan, Lucy Vader and Sally Gabori have all mounted solo exhibitions.

The garden, as an extension of the gallery, is used for exhibition openings.

Beginning early 2017, adjacent to the sandstone former convict cellblockcum-art gallery, an entirely new architecturally designed art gallery will be built. This new stand-alone gallery will allow Michael & Nellie’s Murrurundi art vision to double in floor space.

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HOW AND WHY TO G E T T H E R E It is a picturesque journey by road or rail to

“… the plains over the range had seemed to

Murrurundi. Driving four hours north-west

her wild and uncivilised, almost a legendary

from Sydney, when you see horses galloping

place; bushrangers had ridden there, hiding

in the green paddocks of studs like Emirates

in the unexpected hills and valleys of the

Park, you are almost there.

range, so that her uncles, riding north to

Or if you travel an hour south from Tamworth, as the New England Highway winds down the Liverpool Range to a 60 km zone, slow down, wind down the window and catch your breath.

To find the Michael Reid Murrurundi gallery, turn off the New England Highway, head a little way down Boyd Street, park your car on the grassy verge and follow the gravel path. You may be greeted by Stoker, Michael and Nellie’s chocolate Labrador and the name-muse of the Big Brown Dog coffeehouse.

Nestled amongst hills, the township of Murrurundi is packed with fascinating stories and scenes. It is a town whose character was forged in a history of bushrangers such as Ben Hall, and the frontier cycle of booms and busts.

Bukkulla, had always gone armed, and tales of Thunderbolt had haunted the valley with excitement and alarm.” (Judith Wright, The Generations of Men, 1959) Murrurundi was the last stop for the train in the late 1800s. The Cobb and Co. were based here, offering the only public transport north over the Liverpool Range. You can still experience the bumpy intimacy of a stage coach ride in Murrurundi - the Royal Hotel has a horse-drawn Cobb and Co. carriage which comes out for festivals like the King of the

It is a town whose character

Ranges Stockman’s Challenge.

was forged in a history of

The discovery of oil-shale rock, mined from

bushrangers such as Ben

the late 1800s until the end of World War I, provided the boom that firmly established Murrurundi on the map. Today, the town is sustained by quality sheep, beef and horse studs and by both crop and meat production.

Hall, and the frontier cycle of booms and busts.

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Many of Murrurundi’s historic structures have been preserved or restored. A generous army of volunteers maintain heritage and natural attractions like the Pioneer Cottage, Paradise Park and Memorial Rose Garden.

Murrurundi is rich in history and community.

Long-time residents and much loved ‘blowins’ have built on the frontier spirit and grown “Murra” into a thriving centre for arts and culture and a must-visit for anyone travelling through the beautiful Upper Hunter. Come for the landscape and stay for the hospitality and vibrant arts culture. Stay up late arguing art and architecture at the pub or just gazing at an open fire.

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Lucy Vader, The flexible perspective of perception, 2016

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S +

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E O Visitor Information Centre Visit: 113 Mayne Street Call: 02 6546 6446

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TA K E A S T R O L L , S W I M , P L A Y G O L F, P I C N I C O R H I K E Many of Murrurundi’s attractions are on

Murrurundi’s three old hotels - the Royal,

Mayne Street, which doubles as the New

the White Hart and the Railway - all offer

England Highway.

hearty pub meals and beer gardens. It is

Start a stroll from the southern end of town at the service station and Bacco’s Bakery, where you can pick up one of their

an easy tour around town to each of them (remember: one drink per pub is a ‘heritage hotel trail’, two drinks is a ‘pub crawl’).

famous crispbread leaves. It’s an easy

You can also get a drink, a Chinese meal and

walk to the northern-most business, The

a game of bowls at the Murrurundi Bowling

Old Roadhouse, which stocks bales of hay,

Club, the only venue to still house one-

horse products and other genuine cowgirl

armed bandits (poker machines).

accessories.

For self-improvement, there are beauty

There are many cafes with a good quality

salons and massage therapists, yoga classes,

brew for a pit-stop along the way. Exploring

horse-riding, and art and craft workshops.

the streets set back from the highway will reveal old sandstone churches, convents, gaols and court houses. Murrurundi may be small, but it has all the old-fashioned essential services that make for a selfreliant town; a train station, post office, newsagency, library, a hospital, doctor, pharmacy and even a payphone box.

Murrurundi may be small, but it has all the old-fashioned essential services that make for a self-reliant town.

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Be a sport and watch cricket and Rugby

A few minutes further down the road, have

League football (go the Mavericks!) played at

a picnic at Paradise Park. If you are wearing

Wilson Memorial Oval, in the centre of town

sensible shoes, try the steep walk through

opposite the Visitor Information Centre.

the rock formation, the Eye of the Needle,

Behind the oval are tennis courts, the public

finishing at a dramatic cliff top view of the

swimming pool and Rosedale – the centre of

town. Take parasols and pose for “Picnic at

equine activities on many weekends of the

Hanging Rock” photos.

year. Drop by to watch pony clubs, barrelracing or the town’s biggest event, the annual King of the Ranges Stockman’s Challenge.

The less energetic should start at the Visitor Information Centre (VIC). In the middle of town at 113 Mayne St, open

Play a 9 hole round at Murrurundi Golf Course

almost every day and largely staffed by

only a few minutes out of town on Pages River

volunteers, the centre provides tourism

Road. The putting ‘greens’ may be sandy

information, local crafts and produce and

brown (you rake them) but there is a tee-off

the Community Technology Centre which

on a small cliff that offers the promise of a

offers WiFi and computer access. You can

record drive. When the only spectators are

call them on 02 6546 6446 to find out what

kangaroos and the greens fee is $5, there’s

is on around town.

not much to complain about. Remember to BYO refreshments as the club house is only open for functions.

A number of attractions are a very short walk from the VIC including the Murrurundi Museum, Pioneer Cottage, the RSL Memorial Hall and the sports arenas; Wilson Memorial Oval and Rosedale.

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The Murrurundi Museum is in the former

Check with the VIC for opening times

Literary Institute (1913). The stocks out

and if you are lucky book a free tour with

front are a reminder of the town’s first police

devoted caretaking twins, Carmel and Gwen.

station (1840) erected on this site, and a time

Donations towards the cottage’s upkeep are

when law-breakers could opt for a few hours

accepted at the nearby wishing well.

humiliation in the stocks to a avoid a fine. Run by the good people of the Murrurundi and District Historical Society, it is open weekends from 10am to 1pm, but an enquiry at the VIC in advance can get you a private tour.

Opposite the museum is the old Methodist Church (1890) built of locally-made bricks and the RSAILA Hall (1897) which became the RSL Memorial Hall after World War II with the memorial rose garden opened in 2012.

Volunteers run and maintain The Pioneer Heritage Cottage (1889), a time capsule of pioneer life, raising six children in an old slab cottage. Originally built on the Alston property at Timor, a descendant of one of those six children donated it in in 1996 and the building was restored and relocated to the current site.

Further north is The Royal Hotel (1863) on the corner of Mayne St and Murrulla St. It was another changing depot for Cobb & Co. until 1867 and to the rear of the building are the old sandstone stables (1860).

Continue up Murulla Street to view the old gaol and courthouse (1860) built on the site of the original 1842 courthouse. The sergeant’s residence (1890s) is at the southern end of the street.

Find your way south to Mount St to see St Paul’s Anglican Church (1870s) designed by noted colonial architect J. Horbury Hunt and built of local sandstone. The work was commissioned by the White family (the family of Nobel-prize winning novelist Patrick White).

Services are held in the church and you can find the times on their Facebook page.

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Adam Cullen (1965–2012), Bull, 2010

Bushrangers are part of Murrurundi’s history.

in Polding St is Murrurundi House (1880)

The first block of land to be purchased in

is a stately two-storey structure built as

Haydonton (the original name of the southern

a convent for the Sisters of Mercy and

part of Murrurundi) was purchased by ex-

next door is an old Catholic school. The

convict Benjamin Hall, the father of one of

buildings are now privately owned but can

Australia’s best-known bushrangers, Ben Hall.

be admired from the road.

The family’s original slab cottage (1842), where

Train spotters will want to visit Murrurundi

Ben Hall spent much of his early childhood,

railway station (1872) in Victoria St. There

was located near the corner of Mayne and

is a high pedestrian overpass to view the

Adelaide streets. Also on Hall’s original block

daily trains in and out of Murrurundi. The

is ‘Rosebank’ (1889) at the corner of Adelaide

train is also worth considering for a scenic

and Liverpool streets.

journey to and from Murrurundi.

You can find the grave of Ben’s mother Eliza

Find out about the daily service at www.nswtrainlink.info

Hall (d.1869) at the cemetery behind St Joseph’s Church (1860) in Polding St. A small wooden chapel (1841) was replaced by the existing sandstone church where services are still held. The cemetery also contains the tombs of town founders Peter Haydon (d. 1842) and Thomas Haydon (d. 1855). Also

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Danielle Tooley, Little Hartley, 2015

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TA K E M E D O W N T O THE RIVER Another route to exploring Murrurundi is to follow the Pages River. Upstream it is the source of the town’s water. The Pages River has at times been a gushing torrent, flooding Mayne St and at others, it disappears under the riverbed, not visible but still flowing on to the Hunter River.

Determined trekkers can follow the Pages River, with public land on one side or the other, as it snakes through the town. Speaking of S-shaped slithers, do keep an eye on where you tread and wear sensible shoes, as there may be poisonous snakes around.

The best places to view the river are at the Swinging Bridge on Murulla Street and Arnolds Bridge on the New England Highway. From that bridge wander over for a closer look at the dozen colourful metal banners erected by the community to celebrate the riverbank with designs of local flora and fauna.

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S H O P + S T A Y Michael Reid Murrurundi Browse through a curated selection of local and sustainably sourced Australian products at our gallery shop.

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SHOPS

Throughout town, small

Dooley’s

shops offer handicrafts,

Murrurundi’s general store Dooley’s first

clothes, furnishings and

opened in 1872 and the current building

homewares with an eclectic range of pre-loved and upcycled goods and original

in 1905. It has a classic grocery range and bottle shop, assorted gift and homewares and a café, Top of the Ranges. Dooley’s now houses the Murrurundi Post Office. Open Monday to Saturday and Sunday mornings.

creations. They are not all open every day but most

Michael Reid Murrurundi

open weekends.

Artwork in the gallery there are, art supplies, books, homewares, a nursery and accessories from beard oil to baskets. Goods are also available through the online store.

Boyd Street Open: Fri – Sun, 11 – 5pm michaelreidmurrurundi.com.au/shop

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Adawn

King’s Collectables

Jewellery, clothes, and homeware

Quirky and extensive range of collectables

69 Mayne St Visit them on Facebook

Boho Banjo Wearable art created by textile artist Pearl Moon 69 Mayne St pearlmoon.com

Emporium on Mayne Situated in the old Post Office (60 Mayne Street Murrurundi). Selection of gems, fossils and patchwork quilt supplies.

from beer steins to novelty salt and pepper shakers (ask to see the adults-only cupboard).

107 Mayne St (the pink house) 6546 6539

Jute and Honey Upholstery Upcycled furniture, homewares and dĂŠcor with a retro country charm.

147 Mayne St (opposite the Royal Hotel) Visit them on Facebook

Chicken in the Window Jewellery, sculpture and other original, heavy metal and cutting edge artworks plus take

Mongrel Photography Mayne Street (Opposite the White Hart Hotel)

away coffee. chicken-in-the-window.com Follow them on Facebook to find out about pop-up live music events and other entertainment.

Michael Reid Murrurundi proudly produces a range of local and sustainably sourced Australian products.

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S TA Y

Graze Willow Tree Inn 15 minutes north of Murrurundi, Graze

Valley View Motel valleyviewmotel.com.au

Williow Tree Inn offers a range of excellent accommodation options.

Railway Hotel

grazewillowtree.com.au

railwayhotelmurrurundi.com.au

Murrurundi Motel www.murrurundimotel.com.au

Runnymeade Cottage B & B 81 Karalee Row Murrurundi 02 6546 6001

Pagers River B & B 149 Mayne Street Murrurundi 02 6546 6730

White Hart Hotel 02 6546 6242

isomorphic.com.au/murrurundi/

Montana Cottage 1880s cottage with three bedrooms, self catering and pets by arrangement.

18 Adelaide St 0427 676 782

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Denise Faulkner, One Lump or Two, 2016

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E A T + D R I N K The Cottage (Scone) Savour each bite at Upper Hunter’s newest restaurant, The Cottage

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Big Brown Dog coffeehouse

The Cottage (Scone)

You may be greeted by Stoker, our chocolate

With its grand proportions and old fashioned

Labrador and name-muse for the Big Brown Dog

character 196 Kelly Street has been home to many

coffeehouse. The Big Brown Dog coffeehouse in the

things over the years. Built in the 1860’s the quaint

scenic garden of the gallery offers a special blend of

cottage nestled in the main street of Scone we believe

Nicaragua, Ethiopia and Colombian coffees - combined

was originally a private hospital and the Kyeema

to form a well-rounded and full-brew. There is also a

Guest House and more recently the Pastoral Lands

range of coffee related products available.

Board.

Michael Reid Murrurundi, Boyd Street

Lovingly restored by Sydney businessman and local

Graze Restaurant and Bistro (Willow Tree) They serve their own prized herd and in the middle of the restaurant is a viewing tank of hanging meat ageing. (Vegetarians are catered for but mention it when you book).

Willow Tree Inn New England Highway, Willow Tree grazewillowtree.com.au

land owner Michael Crouch and his wife Shanny, The Cottage is now home to the Upper Hunter’s newest restaurant.

196 Kelly Street, Scone 02 6545 1215 thecottagescone.com

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Bacco’s Bakeries

The Plains Pantry (Willow Tree)

muesli, pies and crispbread ‘leaves’.

6 Cadell St, Willow Tree NSW 2339 (02) 6747 1348 Facebook

13 Mayne St, Murrurundi baccos.com.au

Haydon Hall

Gourmet baked goods including cookies,

Aromas on Mayne Good spot to sit, inside or out, for breakfast and lunch, and handy to many attractions.

Gallery, shop and café (open Thursday to Sunday 11am to 5pm).

66 Mayne St, Murrurundi haydonhall.com.au

113 Mayne St, Murrurundi

The Pubs Nellibelle’s Cakes and Bakes Charming, a great selection of snacks and meals and open all day.

132 Mayne St, Murrurundi Facebook

The Royal Hotel, Railway Hotel and White Hart Hotel offer lunch and dinner most days.

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A R O U N D MURRURUNDI

North, South, East and West Hikes, views, fields of sunflowers, shops and restaurants around Murrurundi

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NORTH To the north: A short drive north from Murrurundi takes you to the Liverpool Plains where sunflowers, sorghum, corn and wheat grow colourful mosaics in the pastures.

Willow Tree is a pretty little village of arts and antique shops on the highway 18 km north of Murrurundi.

The Willow Tree Inn, restaurant Graze and on site accommodation are recommended.

Just after Willow Tree is the turn off to Quirindi, home to a number of rural heritage museums including the Australian Railway Monument and Rail Journeys Museum and a good view of the region from ‘Who’d A Thought It’ Lookout (the sign alone is a photo opportunity).

Liverpool Plains, Willow Tree, Quirindi and Wallabadah

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Return to the New England Highway via Wallabadah and visit the First and Second Fleet Memorial Gardens (the storyboards include not only the names of every person in the fleet but how many dogs, goats, sheep and cattle were transported).

Near Wallabadah is one of the largest undisturbed areas of White Box forest left in Australia, a reminder what the area looked like before European settlement. visitquirindi.com.au

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An easy 45-minute to an hour’s drive north on

gardening tools, natural brushwork, bulk

the New England and east on the Fossickers

leaf tea and soap cut from the slab.

Way you will find the charming village of Nundle. With a population of just 300 people, it is a small town that offers much for its size.

Other village favourites are Mount Misery Gold Mine Cafe, Nundle Art Gallery, boutique Sacs on Jenkins Street, antiques

The Nundle Woollen Mill, opened in 2001,

stores Jenkins Street Antiques and Fine

attracts more than 30,000 visitors annually

China, Ratters Flat Antiques, Nundle

to see its vintage wool spinning machinery,

Country Traders and second hand store

buy pure wool yarn and browse its extensive

The Old Church Boutique.

selection of wool fashion.

Locally grown and cooked food is a

Kerry Swain of Cottage on the Hill patchwork

constant throughout the year with the

barn hosts regular quilting retreats, as well

weekend Nundle Craft a bustling hub of

as the Annual Outdoor Quilt Airing (May) and

seasonal vegetables, preserves, and plants.

Girls’ Day in the Country quilting weekend

Arc-En-Ciel Trout Farm at Hanging Rock is

(March).

open three days a week, or it is on the menu

Odgers and McClelland Exchange Stores, opened in 1891, is the oldest surviving retail premises in Nundle, and the timber and iron general merchants building is stocked with goods inspired by original handwritten ledgers; enamelware, cast iron cookware,

at The Peel Inn, and available at Nundle Friendly Grocer and Cafe Nundle. The annual Nundle Country Picnic is a showcase of local produce, with food prepared by Nundle and District Lions Club volunteers, and produce from Nundle Public School Kitchen Garden.

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Musicians Jeff Gibson, Toni Swain and John

The only just opened to the public, Goonoo

Krsulja have made live music a big part of the

Goonoo Station (gun-a-gun-oo) is one of

Nundle culture, bring their own and visiting

the New England region’s most prized and

friends’ music to The Peel Inn, DAG Sheep

historic pastoral properties. Established as

Station and the Supper Room. Nundle hosts

a sheep station in 1831, it is set on 4,000 plus

is own Nundle Rocks and Country at The DAG

hectors of land, approximately 25km south of

during the Tamworth Country Music Festival,

Tamworth, and forms part of the original land

free live music during the annual Nundle Go

grant by King George IV.

For Gold Easter Festival, and ticketed shows during the mid-year Hats Off to Country and Songwriters’ Retreat at The DAG.

Consisting of a number of heritage-listed and pastoral buildings, including its own Chapel and Schoolhouse, the Goonoo

The Great Nundle Dog Race on the first

Goonoo village was left idle too long. After

Sunday in May, Christmas in July at Hanging

extensive restoration and construction

Rock and The Peel Inn, and Nundle Art Show in

a new restaurant Glass house, Goonoo

November are other annual event highlights. In

Goonoo Station aims to provide superb

summer Sheba Dams at Hanging Rock, Chaffey

dining experiences, luxury self-contained

Dam on the Nundle Road, and the Peel River

accommodation, exclusive conference

are popular swimming, fishing, and boating

facilities, intimate event spaces, and

destinations.

picturesque wedding locations goonoogoonoostation.com Facebook

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SOUTH To the south: Approaching Murrurundi from the south, near Wingen, is the turn off to Burning Mountain Nature Reserve, site of an underground coal seam that has been on fire for thousands of years. The walk takes about two hours with amazing views (but not romantic, marriage proposal views, as it is hot and smells of sulphur). The Wingen Hotel is full of character and offers generous pub meals with expansive views from the veranda.

Between Murrurundi and Wingen, is Bickham which appears in the family history of one of Australia’s most famous poets Judith Wright: “She thought of the prosperous days, when at harvest the vineyard had swarmed with cheerful workers, cutting the grapes, loading them and bringing them in; all now seemed mean and cheerless in comparison with those shining harvest-times of her remembrance.” (The Generations of Men, 1959).

Wingen, Bickham and Burning Mountain

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EAST To the east: In Blandford admire the ivy covered St Luke’s Anglican Church (1880). From Blandford travel to Timor for fascinating rock formations and native plants like the ‘Black Boys’. Timor has an attractive little timber church (1883) built of pit-sawn timber. Nearby are the Timor Caves, a series of subterranean limestone caverns.

Three kilometres along Timor Rd from Blandford, take Scott’s Creek Road to the left and heading north a further 16 km along is Wallabadah Rock, the plug of an extinct volcano. The rock covers about 60 hectares and rises about 959 metres above sea-level.

Blandford, Timor and Wallabadah Rock

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WEST To the west: Merriwa West of Murrurundi is Merriwa (home of the Festival of the Fleeces held each year in June) which has a number of beautiful historic buildings and attractions making it worth considering the 100km drive via Scone, to have a few hours stroll around town. Nearby are Goulburn River National Park and the Battery Picnic Area with a rock formation made of cooled lava columns clustered along a cliff face. merriwa.nsw.au

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W H E N T O a C O M E Plenty to experience With events all year round, Murrurundi is a great holiday spot

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Sophie Gralton, Girl in Strident Pink (Imaginary Pony 4), 2015

Murrurundi and District Arts Council The active Murrurundi and District Arts Council encourages and nurtures artistic pursuits.

The Council run biennial and annual events such as the Murrurundi Art Prize (every May), Murrurundi Photographic Prize (every September), and Opera (every second November).

For those who want to get their hands dirty (or at least stained) they also run art workshops with visiting and local artists.

Follow their activities at murrurundi.nsw.au

Look out for annual events: Murrurundi Art Prize (May), Murrurundi Photographic Prize (September), and Opera (every second November)

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Tamworth Country Music Festival 20 to 29 January 2017

Working Dog Trials April 2017

One of the biggest Country Music festivals in

This fascinating battle of the wills between

the world.

sheep, sheepdogs and trainers has been

tcmf.com.au

played out in Murrurundi for over 100 years.

A surprisingly suspenseful spectator sport.

King of the Ranges Stockman’s Challenge 23 to 26 February 2017

Wilson Memorial Oval, Murrurundi nswsheepdogworkers.org.au

See champions ride bareback, cross country

Taste of Tamworth Festival 28 April to 7 May

and handle stock, change a horse shoe, boil a billy and pack a saddle in this prestigious competition of traditional bush skills.

Campdraft, bush poetry, markets food and camping available. The finals on Sunday include a wild horse catch.

Rosedale, Murrurundi kingoftheranges.com.au

The Taste Tamworth Festival is the premier annual food event on the region’s calendar, highlighting growers, makers, chefs and diners in 10 days of events that include Taste Pop-up Bar, Taste in the Park, The Long Lunch, and Farm Gate Trail. aroundyou.com.au/whats-on/events/taste-tamworthfestival-2017

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Scone and Upper Hunter Horse Festival 4 to 14 May 2016

Aberdeen Highland Games first weekend in July, 2017

Ten days of equine activities including the

See the parade of marching bands, highland

Horse Parade which closes the New England

dancing, strong man events with the Tartan

Highway.

Warriors, tug-of-war, egg tosses, three-

sconehorsefestival.com

legged races, and the Kilted Dash. Many stalls

Emirates Park Scone Cup 13 May 2017 Horse racing is a popular sport in the Upper Hunter with regular meets. A highlight is the

with a Scottish flavour. Wear your tartan with pride. aberdeenhighlandgames.com

Junior Stockman’s Challenge August 2017

Scone Cup, a local half holiday is held on the Friday and people come in busloads to the

Run by the Murrurundi Pony Club who have

picturesque race club.

monthly events at Rosedale, Murrurundi.

sconeraceclub.com.au

Merriwa Festival of the Fleeces June 2017 A flock of sheep in red socks leads the opening parade on the Saturday, in this weekend celebration of wool and country life. upperhuntercountry.com

Australia Day - 26 January, Anzac Day – 25 April, Beersheba Day – 31 October The Murrurundi Troop of the 12th Australian Light Horse mount up regularly for public events including the annual commemoration of the Battle of Beersheba on 31 October 1917, the greatest horse charge of WWI.

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Boyd Street, Murrurundi, The Upper Hunter, NSW 2338 +61 2 65 466 767 michaelreid.com.au

Open 11am till 5pm. Friday to Sunday

Useful Links upperhuntercountry.com murrurundi.nsw.au michaelreidmurrurundi.com.au

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S E E D O H E A R E AT M U R R U R U N D I

CREDITS

Written by Michael Reid Daele Healy Editor Emily Cloney Designer Daisy Aylott Images courtesy Jason Mowen Michael Reid Michelle Carpenter Kludas Mandy Archibald Sacha Fernandez Kate Ausburn Harry Rose James Carey visitnsw.com Aberdeen Highland Games Murrurundi Troop of the 12th Australian Light Horse Country Life Magazine

S E E D O H E A R E AT M U R R U R U N D I

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Published as a bespoke guide May 2016 Michael Reid Murrurundi © Contact Michael Reid Murrurundi Boyd Street, Murrurundi, Upper Hunter Valley, New South Wales P.O Box 72 Murrurundi NSW 2338 +61 2 65 466 767 infomurra@michaelreid.com.au michaelreidmurrurundi.com.au