About Us

Driving change since 2004

Founded in 2004, the Merriwa District Progress Association Inc. (MDPA) was established by a group of local citizens interested in maintaining and improving the standard of living of those in both the Merriwa township and the surrounding district.

The MDPA formed in response to the amalgamation of the Merriwa Shire Council, the Scone Shire Council and half the Murrurundi Shire Council. These Councils merged and became the Upper Hunter Shire Council. Our goal is to represent the specific needs of the Merriwa district, provide a voice to Council, and work with other local groups with the aim of maintaining, encouraging, and promoting the social, economic, environmental, cultural and educational progress of Merriwa and district.

The MDPA is a not-for-profit organisation. We meet on the third Wednesday of every month (except January) at 6:00 PM in the Merriwa RSL Club at 122-126 Bettington Street, Merriwa.

Fun Facts

And just for a little trivia ...

Did you know?

Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the first telephone in Australia at "Brindley Park" Merriwa

Merriwa hosted the first bushmen's carnival (rodeo) at the Merriwa Showground in 1928

Racehorse 'OId Rowley' is now resting in Merriwa after winning the 1940 Melbourne Cup at 100 to 1

Merriwa is recognised as the birthplace of the Pony Club movement in 1946

Night-time cricket was played under lights in Merriwa (in 1983), years before the Melbourne Cricket Ground (Feb 1985)

In the early days, bullock teams hauled heavily laden wagons with huge loads of wool bales long distances over non-existent roads to Morpeth to be loaded onto ships for the trip to Sydney and then on to London

Merriwa's annual Festival of the Fleeces started in 1990, and was originally held at the "Brindley Park" wool shed. It is a tribute to the vital part sheep and wool have played in establishing Merriwa as a recognised premium agricultural district

Some of the early settlers to Merriwa included: Legislative Council AL Mackenzie, Charles Blaxland ("Cullingral"), WC Wentworth, JB Bettington ("Brindley Park" also a MLC and a director of the Bank of NSW 1828-1850), George Hall ("Gundibri"), Henry Dutton ("Terragong")