Murrumbateman

Murrumbateman sits on the Yass Plains just 30 minutes north of Canberra and 2.5 hours south of Sydney. Historically dependent on wool and beef, Murrumbateman has emerged as a first class tourism destination, with cool climate vineyards, wineries, cafes and restaurants, B&Bs, markets and other regular events.

The first inhabitants in the area were Aborigines from the Ngunnawal tribe and in 1821, the exploratory party of Hamilton Hume became the first known group of Europeans on the Yass Plains.  Ex-convict Mary Davis was the first to receive a land grant. She became a famous figure in the district and is buried in the Gounyan cemetery near her original land. Mary lived for over a hundred years and had many children; her descendants still live in the region.

One of Australia’s major figures in the wool industry, Sir Walter Merriman, was born in the area. Educated at Murrumbateman Public School and knighted for his services to the Australian Wool Industry in 1954, Sir Walter is buried in the Murrumbateman Cemetery.

The village features a number of historic buildings, including the old Public School (c1869), Scots Church (c1876) and Springers Rest (Travelers Rest Inn c1879).

Winemaking originally began in Yass in the 1850s before declining in favour of wool production by the early 1900s, and it was not until the late 1960s that vineyards were re-developed in the area.  Murrumbateman is now home to 13 wineries, with many vineyards producing internationally acclaimed wines from Riesling, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and other classic grape varieties.

Situated  on the cross roads to the South Coast, Canberra and Yass, Murrumbateman is an ideal place to stay and use as a home base from which to explore the entire district.