Mendooran
History of Mendooran
It is acknowledged that the town of Mendooran is located on the lands of the Wiradjuri people. It is believed the name is derived from the Aboriginal word ‘mundowie’ meaning ‘footprint’.
With the rapid take up of runs on the Castlereagh River it was obvious that a settlement would eventually take place at Mendooran. Many squatters had drifted down the Castlereagh River looking for good pasture and among the early men who took up pasture licenses about Mendooran was Richard Rouse who was officially granted the Mundooran Run in 1837. Soon afterwards he was granted licenses for nearby Mangranby, Bourbeen and Breelong runs.
James Walker was granted licenses for Biamble, Yarragrin and others. Andrew Brown was issued with a license for Caigan Station in 1837. This Station is said to be stocked, like others, before licenses were issued. Prior to 1847, R. Hassall's head pastoral station was situated on the Castlereagh River adjacent to the present site of Mendooran. He also held Benewa up-river and Mongrambil and Bandalla down-river, all within a few kilometres radius of Mendooran.
At the request of the Governor, the Surveyor General T. L. Mitchell arranged for the setting out of the town of Mendooran. Surveyor G. B. White laid out sections 1, 2 and 3 comprising 20 allotments in each. The names adopted for the streets were those of existing pastoral stations in the district. Mendooran was gazetted as a town on 22nd May, 1852 and the first public auction of land took place on the 9th February, 1853.
The town slowly grew in the late 19th Century and in 1891 had a population of 185, by 1921 the population was 462. It remained about this size until well into the 20th century. A Post Office was established at Mendooran, then spelt 'Mundooran' on 1st January, 1852.
The spelling of the name to Mendooran was changed on 1st June, 1918 at the request of the Lands Department as they had already agreed for the spelling of the name of the railway station to be Mendooran.