BUNDARRA
Bundarra is a small country town
midway between Inverell and Armidale. Unless traveling this route
the visitor will not encounter Bundarra. Like many of its rural
counterparts Bundarra is suffering negatively from an economic perspective. 
Bundarra is
named for the Kamilaroi Indigenous Australian word for the Grey
Kangaroo. The Kamilaroi and Anaiwan groups were the original
inhabitants of the Bundarra area. A local hill nearby Bundarra called
"Rumbling Mountain" is the subject of an Aboriginal myth that attempts
to explain its periodic rumbling and shaking.
Bundarra
Station was founded in 1836 by Edward G. Clerk and a hotel and store
were established on the future town site. A church was constructed on
the site in 1857 around the same time as the town survey. The old
buildings in Bundarra’s main street were constructed between 1860 and
1880. A school was established in 1869, becoming a central school in
1955. The Roman Catholic convent was built in 1908 and a newspaper,
the Bundarra Advocate was founded. At one stage the town included
three hotels. three stores, three butchers and a bank.

The bushranger,
Fred Ward, known as Captain Thunderbolt, stole two horses belonging to
a police inspector from Abington station, near Bundarra in 1868.
The historic
townscape of Bundarra lead to the town hosting some on location
filming for the Fred Schepisi directed film, The Chant of Jimmie
Blacksmith, based on the Booker Prize winning novel by Thomas
Keneally
Bundarra Police
Station and Courthouse (former) together with The Basin Nature
Reserve, Baldersleigh Road have been placed on the Register of the
National Estate. The Courthouse is now the museum.
The Bundarra
Anglican Church is a classic 100 year old (for that era) church.
 The
Catholic Church likewise old. 
The Bundarra War
Memorial is on the main road of the town. 
The Commercial
Hotel is still the central social centre of this small town.
For those
travelling the cross roads that intersect, enjoy what is on offer.
Bundarra is a long way from main centres and main roads. A deliberate
diversion is not necessary.
Heritage diary
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