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_small.JPG)
 |