| HARDEN - MURRUMBURRAH - NEW SOUTH WALES - 2587 | ||||
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Population: 2,100, Height above sea level: 380, Latitude: 34.34.00, Longitude: 148.22.00 Location: 360 km south west of Sydney Highway: Burley Griffin Way Nearest Major Town: Harden Nearest Airport: Harden Touring Area: Capital Country & ACT |
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 Main street of Harden | |
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In 1897 Kenneth Mackay of Wallendbeen got permission to raise a troop of expert country horsemen
to be known as the 1st Australian (volunteer) Horse. In August the first call up muster took
place at Harden-Murrumburrah and of the 80 who showed up, 60 were picked as volunteers. This
local contingent formed half of the eventual troop and other recruitment was carried out from
Gundagai to Gunnedah. Equipment was issued in 1898 and before the end of the year many were sent
to the Boer War in South Africa where they acquitted themselves proudly. A permanent monument
to the now disbanded brigade now stands in Bathurst St. Harden was originally known as Murrumburrah North and was best known as a railway centre with workshops and refreshment rooms at the junction of the Blayney line. The rail reached Harden in 1877 and within 12 months there was a staff of 11 and in 1890 there were 10 engines and 3 fitters located here. At its peak, there were 40 engines and 24 fitters based in Harden and despatching up to 40 trains a day. A fire destroyed the original engine shed in 1895 and it was rebuilt. Local hotels employed day and night porters to meet trains and ferry luggage to and from the station and bedrooms were packed full with passengers waiting for train connections. The 14 point Federation Star is a feature of the town and celebrates the Spirit of Australia. It is a symbol of harmony and optimism for the future and reflects aboriginal and European culture. Coins were embedded in the mortar of the base as a gesture of good luck. THE HILLTOPS REGION The Hilltops Region is gaining an impressive reputation for its quality cool climate wines produced from grapes grown on rich red soil formed from eroded granites. The region includes Boorowa, Harden and Young shires where the climate is ideal for production of full bodied wines with long, dry summers and crisp air from an altitude of around 400 meters combining to create delicate flavours. The Hilltops Region's association with wine reaches as far back as the late 1800 when Dalmatian settlers produced fine wines in the area. In the latter half of last century the region increasingly turned to viticulture as farmers diversified their produce to keep up with the times. In 1996 the McWilliams Barwang Shiraz from 'Barwang' station won the 'Best Red' award at the New South Wales awards. There are several wineries in the Hilltops area open for sales and tastings. the Grove Estate will be found on the Boorowa Rd and is open at weekends.
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