Welcome to
Harden Shire - Heart of the Hilltops
NSW Australia

Visit Harden Shire and explore the historic twin towns of Harden - Murrumburrah, the villages of Galong, Kingsvale,  Jugiong and Wombat, and the beautiful Hilltops region of New South Wales, Australia

Location

Harden Shire nestles amid the 'Hilltops' district - the softly rippling hills of the Southwest Slopes region of New South Wales. It is home to 3,800 people, half living in the twin towns of Harden and Murrumburrah, 340 km southwest of Sydney and 125 km northwest of Canberra by road.

Economy

The district excels in quality agricultural products - wheat, canola, wool, lamb, beef, pork, chicken, cherries and stone fruit, olive oil, mustard seed oil, vegetables, honey and premium red and white wines. Road and rail transport are other key industries

Tourism

Harden Shire is a convenient and tranquil base to relax, to explore the region or attend events in nearby towns  Binalong, Boorowa, Cootamundra, Temora, Gundagai, Yass and Young - all less than an hour away, and all with their own character. It's also a good place to break a long journey.

For visitors, Harden Shire offers scenic countryside, historic attractions, sporting activities, events and boutique outlets selling arts, crafts and fresh produce. Local Hilltops wines, fruit, lamb, beef, eggs, virgin olive oil, mustard seed oil and distinctively flavoured honeys are of exceptional quality and freshness. The historic village of Murrumburrah celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2008.

A new Gold Trail is being developed, highlighting the district's gold mining and bushranger heritage.

Towns and villages

The town of Harden-Murrumburrah, the villages of Galong, Jugiong and Wombat, and localities of Aurville, Barwang, Beggan Beggan, Benmore, Cooney's Creek, Cunningar, Currawong, Demondrille, Garangula, Kingsvale, McMahon's Reef, Prunevale and Nubba are interesting places to visit.

Galong was the home of the Irish-born squatter Ned Ryan, whose 1850s home was incorporated into St Clement's Redemptorist Monastery, built in 1918 and now a Roman Catholic retreat centre. Galong has many historic buildings and spectacular marble monuments in the walled cemetery, picturesquely sited in a wheat field. In the 1860s, bushrangers used to rob travellers on the roads and hide out at nearby Kalangan.
Jugiong is a small, thriving community just off the Hume Highway set amid hilly country on the northern bank of the Murrumbidgee River, with an excellent cafe and wine store specialising in red and white wines from the region.
Kingsvale was created after World War I as soldier settlement blocks, and continues to be an important source of quality stone fruit in summer, especially cherries. You can buy from stalls at the orchards, such as Petal Falls, or pick your own. Cherry picking is popular in late November-December.
Wombat lies on the Olympic Highway and is notable for the Wombat Hotel (1903), Wilkie's Cafe, the Geranium Nursery (open in summer with 500 varieties of geraniums), the Grog Shed, fresh 'Wombat eggs', the Chinese mine workings and other hidden treasures.

Facilities
Harden Shire has a hospital, two medical centres, pre-schools, two primary schools, a high school, churches, Olympic swimming pool, 18-hole golf course, squash courts, gymnasium, bowling club, tennis courts, racecourse, showground and playing fields, retirement villages, caravan park, cafes, restaurants, hotels, motels, a Roman Catholic retreat and the Murrumbidgee River at Jugiong. Community clubs cater to sports, hobbies and many activities.

History
Harden Shire was home to people of  the Wiradjuri nation. Following the explorer Hamilton Hume, squatters took up vast pastoral runs here from about 1828. The settlement of Murrimboola (Wiradjuri possibly meaning  'two waterholes' or 'two canoes') on Murrimboola Creek was gazetted in September 1858, and the name later changed to Murrumburrah to avoid confusion with Merimbula. The Great Southern Railway was extended to Galong, Harden (1877) and Murrumburrah (1879), leading to expansion of the towns. The second settlement at North Murrumburrah became the railway town and later retail centre of Harden, but the two towns are now physically continuous.

Visitor attractions - a relaxing place for a country break
Harden Shire is an ideal place for a relaxing break from the stress of city life. As well as its scenic countryside, historic buildings, sporting attractions and events, the district is fast developing as a centre for quality, fresh local produce sold direct at an increasing number of outlets. Fruit picking, especially cherries in November-December, is popular. Local fruit in season, eggs, olive oil, mustard seed oil, wine and honey are available.

The yellow canola crop is spectacular in spring, while Stocks Native Nursery has displays of hundreds of flowering plants, at their best in October but attractive all year round. The sunsets and the stars can be spectacular.

A place to live or a place to retire
With a hospital and new medical centre, pubs, bowling club, golf course, attractive lifestyle and affordable housing, Harden-Murrumburrah is an outstanding venue for those seeking a tree-change or a comfortable retirement.

How to get there

• Car: Driving south from Sydney or Wollongong, turn west off the Hume Highway onto the Burley Griffin Way 12 km south of Yass Service Centre, signposted to Harden (47 km) & Temora via  Binalong. Murrumburrah is 2 km past Harden.
  
  Coming north from Melbourne, turn left off the Hume Highway to Wagga for the scenic route via Junee, Cootamundra and Wallendbeen, or at Jugiong and follow the signs (38 km) to Harden.  From Canberra, take the Barton Highway to Yass, then the Hume Highway south until you turn right onto the Burley Griffin Way. From Wagga or Adelaide, take the Olympic Highway via Junee and Cootamundra to Wallendbeen, follow the signs to Harden. For a map, click here.
   

• Rail: XPT fast passenger train services operate twice daily to Sydney, Wagga Wagga and Melbourne to Harden Station, an 'on request' stop. Countrylink and Greyhound coaches link Canberra, Harden-Murrumburrah, and Wagga Wagga.
   

• Bus: Greyhound and Countrylink coaches operate services from Canberra via Harden-Murrumburrah (on request stop) to Wagga Wagga.
   

• Air: Commercial airports at Wagga Wagga (WGA/YSWG) & Canberra (CBR/YSCB), both 90 minutes drive. Light aircraft can land at Cootamundra (CMD/YCTM), Temora (YTEM), Young (NGA/YYNG) or possibly at Harden Racecourse

Local government: go to Harden Shire Council

Contact us  for more information