AREA Covered:

Merriwa and surrounding districts.

Community Profile:

The small rural town of Merriwa is located at the western extremity of the upper Hunter district, alongside the Merriwa River, 327 km north-west of Sydney and 62 km west of Scone. It has a current population of about 1000.

Merriwa derives from an Aboriginal term thought to mean 'grass seeds'. Possibly the first European in the vicinity was Allan Cunningham who made a camp here by the river in the 1820s. The area was initially known as the Gummum Plains district, after the river, which was then known as Gummum Creek.

The townsite was surveyed in 1839 with the streets being named after early settlers who were attracted by the quality of the pasturage. Merriwa served a flourishing district which was located on a route through the Liverpool Range to the Liverpool Plains.

Today Merriwa is at the centre of a vast mixed farming area focusing principally on cattle, sheep, wheat and horse studs, although olive trees are becoming increasingly common in the area. The Festival of the Fleeces is held on the long weekend in June. This celebration of rural heritage includes shearing and shed hand competitions, games, a street parade, yard dog trials, a billy cart derby, spinning display and a woolshed dance. The rodeo is held in February, the Polocrosse carnival in July and the Agricultural Show in September.

Links:

Local / regional websites
www.travelmate.com.au/Places/Merriwa

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