With the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century sheep farming, wheat growing and goldmining became major economic activities.[3][4] The first government school opened in 1869.[5]
Winemaking began in Murrumbateman in the 1970s with some of the surrounding rural properties being developed as grape growing areas or as boutique wineries.[6][7]
In recent years much of the land has been subdivided into small hobby farm blocks ranging from 2 to 40 acres (0.81 to 16.19 ha). Similar subdivisions have occurred in other regions around Canberra including Bungendore, Sutton, Gundaroo and Burra. Residents tend to commute to Canberra for work rather than make a living off the small parcels of land. Other nearby towns are Yass, Gunning and Dalton.
Murrumbateman has a pub and a handful of retail outlets.
The Murrumbateman Market is held fortnightly at the Recreation Ground. The market focus is on local produce and local arts and crafts but there is always a range of products from the wider Yass Valley and beyond including fruit and vegetables, breads, cakes, jams, olives, chillies, sauces, biodynamic beef and a range of wines from the local area plus woollen and alpaca products and handmade goods of all types.[8]
Annual events
The Murrumbateman Pony Club hold an annual show jumping festival in June. The event is open for Pony Club Members.
The Murrumbateman Field Days is held in October each year and draws large crowds from Canberra and Yass[9]
The Australian Cool Climate Wine Show is held annually in September[10]
Facilities and services
The trees around the grounds are heritage listed and parking underneath them is not recommended.
Murrumbateman has the following Sporting and Social clubs:
The Fairley Square includes a commercial and tourist precinct and future plans include a boutique brewery, bakery, childcare, visitors' centre and cafe and children's park, medical services and post office.[11][12]
Population
In the 2021 Census, there were 3,607 people in Murrumbateman. 99 of Aboriginal and/or Torres Straight Islander origin 2,999 people were born in Australia. 616 of people in Murrumbateman conduct volunteer work.
The next most common country of birth was England at 89 people followed by New Zealand (31 people).
Notable people
Sir Walter Merriman – sheep breeder, knighted in 1954 for his contributions to the fine wool industry, and founder of the Merryville stud, Murrumbateman[13][14]
^G. P. Walsh, 'Merriman, Sir Walter Thomas (1882–1972)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. This article was first published in hardcopy in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 10, Melbourne University Press, 1986. Online access date: 18 August 2016.
Dorothy Mulholland: Far away days: a history of the Murrumbateman, Jeir and Nanima districts. Murrumbateman Old School Grounds Committee, 1995.
David James Wagner, Jr.: Background notes on the district of Murrumbateman, 1824-1960. Murrumbateman, 1960. Republished online at: History of Murrumbateman (NSW), 1824-1960 Retrieved 23 August 2016.
Meryl Hunter: From the beginning: a history of the Murrumbateman Field Days to 2006. Murrumbateman Agricultural Bureau and Progress Association, 2009.
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