Welcome to Murrumbateman

About
Murrumbateman

Location

Murrumbateman is located 286 km south-west of Sydney via the Hume Motorway.
It is 20 km south of Yass via the Barton Highway and 39 km north of Canberra.

Welcome

Murrumbateman is no longer a village it is a town. The NSW State government and Yass Valley Council are progressing growth plans for a population of 10,000 (2021 census – population 3607)

Travvelling along the Barton Highway (the road between Canberra and Yass) you see the old post office now ‘The Meadery’, a service station/grocery store, the Murrumbateman Country Inn, the historic one room school and teachers residence, a double story new public primary school (started 2023), a travellers stop with small park, and a large multi-purpose recreation area with tennis courts, equestrian arenas, sports oval, an old weatherboard community hall and other facilities.

Turn off the Highway and you will see rural residential lifestyle estates with large blocks for owners to establish orchards and have horses, sheep,  goats, cattle or alpacas. A large water reservoir tank next to the historic Murrumbateman Bush Cemetery, features a magnificent art work not to be missed.

With close proximity to Canberra and Yass the area is famous for its boutique cellar doors and vineyards being the heart of the Canberra district’s cool climate wine region.  Other farm ventures and produce outlets include chocolatiers, alpaca experiences, wood-fired pizzas, mushrooms, mead and honey. A new winery trail traverses through parts of Murrumbateman for exercise, cycling or e-biking to get to many of these venues.

History

History

Prior to European occupation the local Aboriginal population was mainly the Ngunnawal people.
In 1821 the explorer Hamilton Hume and his party became the first Europeans to reach the Yass Plains. Hume returned with William Hovell in 1824 on his expedition to Port Phillip Bay. Hume later returned to Yass and his home ‘Cooma Cottage’ is a popular historic tourist attraction. Settlers followed the explorers.
They brought flocks of sheep and sought good grazing land. By 1825 a bush track joined the Goulburn and Yass Plains.
Gold was discovered in the area in the 1850s. It was found near Nanima, east of Murrumbateman. In 1861 gold was a very small operation and there were about 18 Europeans and 30 Chinese working the Nanima field.
In 1882 an important figure in Australia’s wool industry, Sir Walter Merriman, was born in the district. He was educated at Murrumbateman Public School and was instrumental in developing the wool industry in the region.

Tourist Attractions

Exploring the Local Wineries

Murrumbateman is renowned for its cool climate wines and there are over 20 wineries in close proximity to the town. Many of them are listed on the Makers of Murrumbateman website http://www.makersofmurrumbateman.org.au which also includes information about local chocolate makers, guest houses and a honey and mead maker. A new winery trail has been built linking some of the closer vineyards to the village (however access across Barton Highway near Macintosh Circuit and Euroka Ave is not complete). Visitors can walk or cycle along this trail.

Historic buildings

One of the town’s few historic buildings is the old school (1872) which has remained largely unaltered. The Murrumbateman Community Association had been working with Yass Valley Council to restore the building for community purposes, however, Council has not allowed a lease to be finalised since 2019. Unfortunately the buildings on this heritage site are currently neglected.

The nearest Visitor Information Centre is the Yass Valley Visitor Information Centre, 259 Comur Street, Yass, tel: (02) 6226 2557.

Origin of Name

No one is sure what the word meant in the language of the Ngunawal people. It is known that there was a property named Murrumbateman Station and the town takes its name from this. The local Ngunawal language has “murra” meaning “hand”, “murun” meaning “alive”, and “murrin” meaning “man”. However, there is no explanation for Bateman although one local wit insists that the town’s name comes from a regular customer ordering rum from a Mr Bateman at the local pub and calling out “More rum, Bateman.”

Murrumbateman Community Contacts

Emergency Services

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Murrumbateman Rural Fire Service

Murrumbateman Rural Fire Service:
Contact Duty Officer 0419 899 979.

General Inquiries – Yass Fire Control 02 62263100

For all emergencies call 000

Emergency Defibrillators – Located at the front of the Community Hall and the MenShed At the Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds.  Also at the Murrumbateman Country Inn.

Wildcare – Rescue raise, rehabilitate & release of native wildlife. Contact 6299 1966

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Sporting Clubs & Groups

Murrumbateman Tennis Club
Contact/Court Bookings: 0414597446 0r  https://play.tennis.com.au/murrumbatemantennisclub
Murrumbateman Little Athletics Club
www.murrumbatemanlittleathletics.com.au or Facebook
Murrumbateman Eagles Football Club
www.murrumbatemaneagles.com.au or Facebook

Murrumbateman Cricket Club (reformed 2023) via Facebook

Murrumbateman Adult Riding Club
Contact: Sally Jones 02 6227 5918
Murrumbateman Pony Club
Contact murrumbatemanpc@gmail.com
Murrumbateman Cycling Group
Contact: John Thorn 02 6226 8023
Social Darts
Contact: Rob 0448 484 028 or Alison 0423 132 485

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Churches

Murrumbateman Catholic Church
Sunday 10.30am Uniting Church Hall
Parish Priest: Fr Peter My 02 6226 1086
Murrumbateman Community Church
Contact Janise Wood 0455 558 130
All Saints Anglican Church
Sunday at 10am
Minister: Rev Judy Heggart 0400093716