Perhaps the most interesting fact about Murrindindi is that there has never been a Murrindindi town. This might sound strange given we are standing in Murrindindi. But let me explain the story.
Murrindindi is a locality in Victoria. It sits along the valley of the Murrindindi River. The name Murrindindi comes from the pastoral run of Peter Snodgrass. He started it in 1837.
Snodgrass originally spelled it Murrundindi. The Woiwurrung language translates it to “living in the mountains”. Some inaccurately translate it as “mist of the mountains”. Snodgrass’s station stretched from Yea. It went up the valleys of the Muddy Creek’s east and west branches, now the Yea River. His homestead stood near where these branches met.
Surveyors then named the east branch Murrindindi Creek. It is now the Murrindindi River. The gold rush town of Higinbotham was the closest thing to a town here. It began in 1868 but vanished after a few years. At its peak, it had 200 residents.
Modern maps show Murrindindi at the public reserve. This is where the War Memorial Hall once stood. It is also a little further south on Cummins Lane. The local volunteer fire station is there. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this area was Lower Murrindindi. Upper Murrindindi was Woodbourne and areas up Ault Beag Creek. Duncan McLeish, an early Scots settler, named Ault Beag. Ault Beag is Gaelic for “little creek.”
Farming and timber were the main industries. When the British settled here, they remain important today. The timber industry deforested much of the area. However, regrowth and sustainable logging restored the forests. Today they are managed as the Black Range State Forest.
Since the 1990s, many vineyards have grown in the valley. This is part of the Upper Goulburn wine region. They grow cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir, and chardonnay grapes. These grapes primarily go to wineries outside Murrindindi. These grapes are usually labeled “Yea Valley.” Cuthbertson’s Murrindindi and Sedona are two local vineyard and winery labels.
On February 7, 2009, a fire started at the old Murrindindi timber mill. It became one of the major fires known as Black Saturday. While there were no deaths at Murrindindi, many died further away. They died at Marysville and Narbethong.
Today, Murrindindi offers a blend of history and natural beauty. As you explore the area, remember the story of its name. Consider its past industries. And appreciate its regrowth. It’s a place where mountains meet living history.