Prior to European settlement, the Murrurundi district was home to the Wanaruah and possibly the KamilaroiAboriginal people. The name "Murrurundi" is often erroneously thought to come from an Aboriginal word meaning "nestling in the valley". It does in fact mean "five fingers", a representation of the rock formation visible at the northern end of the township. European settlement of the area began in the 1820s, and the town itself was established by the New South Wales government in 1840. In the same year, a local landholder, Thomas Haydon, established an adjacent private township called Haydonton. In the 1846 census, Murrurundi had a population of 52, while Haydonton had a total of 117. In 1913, the two neighbouring settlements were merged to create the modern-day town of Murrurundi. Benjamin Hall, father of bushrangerBen Hall had a small farm in a valley near Murrurundi in 1839. He opened a butcher's shop at Haydonton in 1842. Ben Hall lived at Murrurundi with his family until the age of 13. Oil shale was mined at Mount Temi, some to the north of Murrurundi from 1886, but lay dormant for many years. The mine was revived in 1910 and a railway was constructed from Temple Court, west of Murrurundi, to the terminal of an aerial ropeway bringing shale from the mine. Operations ceased during the First World War. Murrurundi is the nearest major town to the site of the Murulla rail accident, which occurred on 13 September 1926. 27 people were killed when runaway wagons smashed into a mail train. Annual events include the rodeo and the King of the Ranges stockman challenge. There are only a few sporting facilities due to the low population. These sports are senior rugby league, touch football, swimming club and cricket. Murrurundi was the main town of the former Murrurundi Shirelocal government area, which was abolished and its territory divided between two new, larger, shires. The town of Murrurundi is now part of Upper Hunter Shire. In January 2019, Murrurundi ran out of water making it necessary for trucks to begin daily delivery of potable water.
Heritage listings
Murrurundi has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
The New England Highway runs through the town, and it is served by a rail service. Murrurundi railway station is located on the Main North railway line, from Sydney. The station opened in 1872 and consists of a substantial brick station-house with a passing loop and goods yard. There was also a locomotive depot for bank engines which lasted until the end of steam. It continues to be served by a daily rail service operated by a NSW TrainLinkXplorer train to and from Sydney and Armidale/Moree, trains will only stop at this station on request.
