St Andrew's Uniting Church

Bendemeer
Small village on the Macdonald River between Tamworth and Armidale
Bendemeer is a small village of several hundred persons on the Macdonald River, between Tamworth and Armidale. The settlement lies just off the New England Highway, 452 km north of Sydney.

The first European to travel from Tamworth across the Moonbi Ranges was Edward Gostwyck Cory who took up a run at what is now Uralla around 1832 or 1833. Others followed in his wake and a run was taken up in the Bendemeer area in 1834 by a stockman named McDonald on behalf of Richard Wiseman. Those who climbed the Moonbis began to rest at the riverside where they watered their stock before crossing the river that came to bare McDonald's name. A village developed around this crossing point. When the postal service was extended to Walcha in 1851 the local office was initially known as McDonald River though it was changed to Bendemeer in 1853.

Bushranger 'Thunderbolt', alias Fred Ward, held up the northern mail at Bendemeer in 1864. In 1866 the population was recorded as being 150. St Andrew's Presbyterian (now Uniting) Church was built in 1867 and is still extant. A bridge was built over the river in 1874 though the present timber truss bridge dates from 1904.

Things to see:  

Macdonald River at Bendemeer

Town Walk
Take a promenade along the main street. The general store and adjoining stable date from around 1870. St Andrew's Uniting Church was built in 1867 for the Presbyterians of the community. Being situated on the Macdonald River Bendemeer is ideal for picnics, swimming, fossicking, trout fishing and camping. There is a tourist park on the highway.

	Hotels
	Bendemeer Hotel Caroline St Bendemeer NSW 2355 Telephone: (02) 6769 6550 Rating: *
	Caravan Parks
	Bendemeer Tourist Park New England Hwy Bendemeer NSW 2355 Telephone: (02) 6769 6604 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Bendemeer Hotel Caroline St Bendemeer NSW 2355 Telephone: (02) 6769 6550