Bundarra is named for the
Kamilaroi word for the
grey kangaroo. Kamilaroi and
Anaiwan people were the earliest inhabitants of the Bundarra area. A local hill nearby Bundarra called "Rumbling Mountain" is the subject of an Aboriginal myth that attempts to explain its periodic rumbling and shaking. Bundarra
Station was founded in 1836 by Edward G. Clerk and a hotel and store were established on the future townsite. A church was constructed on the site in 1857 around the same time as the town survey. The old buildings in Bundarra’s main street were constructed between 1860 and 1880. A school was established in 1869, becoming a central school in 1955. The
Roman Catholic convent was built in 1908 and a newspaper, the Bundarra Advocate was founded. At one stage the town included three
hotels. three stores, three butchers and a bank.
Copper and
gold were also found in the area. The
bushranger, Fred Ward, known as
Captain Thunderbolt, stole two horses belonging to a police inspector from Abington station, near Bundarra in 1868. The Bundarra bridge, a five-span iron lattice
truss bridge, was constructed in 1881. The bridge, crossing the Gwydir River, is 204 metres in length and 5.6 metres wide between kerbs. The bridge has been listed on the
Register of the National Estate, being of state significance due to its design, historical value and aesthetic appearance. The bridge was the focus of a large community celebration for its centenary and is still in use today. The historic townscape of Bundarra led to the town hosting some
on location filming for the
Fred Schepisi directed film,
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, based on the
Booker Prize shortlisted novel by
Thomas Keneally. The town was serviced by the
Bundarra & Tingha Advocate newspaper, published in Bundarra, from 1900 to 1932. == Heritage listings ==