Explorers John Oxley (1818), Allan Cunningham (1823, 1825, 1827), Henry Dangar (1824, 1825) and Surveyor-General Thomas Mitchell (1831) all travelled to the Quirindi region, which was then home to the Kamilaroi people. The land was also opened up by men seeking pasture for their stock, and many of their names will never be known. Sometimes explorers were assisted by Aboriginal guides, and sometimes they were attacked, such as Henry Dangar’s party in 1824.

The area of Quirindi derives its name from the indigenous Kamilaroi Aboriginal language. The name has been given various translations, including ‘nest in the hills’, ‘place where fish breed’, ‘place of many possums’ and ‘dead tree on mountain top’. Early spelling of the name included ‘Cuerindi’ and ‘Kuwherindi’.

Quirindi Municipal Council Chambers, built 1912 (courtesy Quirindi & District Historical Society Inc)

George Loder’s ‘Quirindi Station’ was taken up about 1830. The first squatters took up runs illegally in the area, which was then beyond the prescribed limits of settlement, until leasehold gave some title after 1836.

The first townsite developed as a camping place for bullock teams and other travellers, due to the availability of surface water at the intersection of two creeks. An inn and some huts were established for the camp during the 1840s.

In 1856 a town plan was drawn up, although the town was not gazetted until 19 February 1884.

Quirindi Railway Station, opened 13 August 1877 (courtesy Quirindi & District Historical Society Inc)

Postal services began in the small settlement in 1858.

Closer settlement of the region began in the 1860s after the 1861 Land Acts were passed, allowing ‘free selection before survey’ [Crown Lands Alienation Act and Crown Lands Occupation Act].

When the railway line opened in 1877 Quirindi developed into a service centre for the transport of local produce, such as wool, sheep, fat lambs, cattle and later, wheat, to the major markets.

School of Arts, built 1888 and destroyed by fire in 1912. A new School of Arts was built on the same site in 1914 (courtesy Quirindi & District Historical Society Inc)

The positioning of the railway station drew the town northwards from its original location, and led to the later extension of the town boundaries in that direction.

The development of Quirindi resulted in a school being established (1877), church buildings, telegraph office, police services, and public buildings such as a courthouse (1883), post office (1884) and School of Arts (1888).

Commercial development resulted in more and larger stores, hotels, banks (first bank 1876), two flour mills, sawmills, blacksmiths and coachbuilders, and a newspaper (1883). Two newspapers functioned in the town from the 1890s until 1925, when they amalgamated.

Quirindi Courthouse, built 1930, replacing an earlier weatherboard courthouse (courtesy Quirindi & District Historical Society Inc)

A Municipality was gazetted on 29 December 1890, the council meeting in rented rooms until a Council Chambers was built in 1912.

Some major fires have occurred in Quirindi, such as the School of Arts (1912; re-built 1914) and the courthouse (1929; re-built 1930).

Popular leisure activities in Quirindi included racing and horse sports, footraces and picnics, rifle shooting, cricket, football and tennis. Polo started on district properties from 1888, with matches first being played in the Quirindi township in 1893 on a private paddock which later became the Quirindi polo ground. From 1893 a polo carnival in August each year became a highlight of the town’s sporting and social calendar. A silver cup was donated in 1899, known as The Northern Champion Challenge Cup of NSW, for competition in the annual carnival.

Quirindi, 354 kilometres north of Sydney, is today the major centre of the Liverpool Plains Shire.