MENDOORAN Mendooran is a small crossroads town equidistant from six other centres, some major and will be encounted by the Dunedoo/ Gilgandra traveller. The town has been negatively hit by the changing demographics in the country areas, most notably shorter travel times. Mendooran is still a service town to a wealthy region.   The first white person to visit the area was Surveyor John Evans who came as close as 10 kilometres from Mendooran in 1815. Two years later it was John Oxley that passed through the area while conducting one of the first inland expeditions. 'Mendooran' station was established in 1834. It is believed that the name came from an Aboriginal word meaning 'sand washes down from the hills in this place'. Lucerne, wheat and sheep were established on the station in later years. The village was called Mundooran until the 1920's when the name was changed to Mendooran. The John Bull Inn was erected to serve the passing traffic of the 1860s. A bridge was erected over the Castlereagh River in 1869 which increased the road traffic and contributed to local development. The town was laid out in 1881 with a school, police station and courthouse being built. Murals are the main attraction of Mendooran. Local artist Karin Thurston has painted most of these amazing features. Mendooran not long back had two pubs. The Royal has survived and the Hotel Mendooran awaits a buyer. The Mendooran War Memorial is in the centre of the township. There are two congregational churches. The Catholic Church the oldest and a standout. From a heritage perspective Mendooran has a story to tell. A diversion from main routes could be considered. Heritage diary