Bendemeer (New South Wales)

Bendemeer is a hamlet (population 492 in 2016) in the New England region of New South Wales in Australia.

Understand
The indigenous Kamilaroi people were the original inhabitants of the district. The first European settlement was a sheep farm established in 1834. By 1851 a settlment named MacDonald River had been founded around the farmhouse. In 1854 the settlement was renamed Bendemeer after a line in the poem 'Lallah-Rookh' by the Irish writer and poet Thomas Moore. In 1864 the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt (Fred Ward) committed one of his first robberies here, holding up the northern mail coach. Bendemeer is principally a hub for the local sheep and cattle farmers.

Bendemeer is in the Tamworth Regional Council Local Government Area.

By car
Bendemeer is at the junction of the New England Highway/A15 and the Oxley Highway/B56.

It is 41 km north-east of Tamworth via the New England Highway northbound, and it is 49 km south-west of Uralla via the New England Highway/A15 southbound.

Bendemeer is 51 km north-west of Walcha via the Oxley Highway/B56 westbound.

Tamworth-Bendemeer
Tamworth Buslines run Bus Route 444 M-Sa between Tamworth and Bendemeer. This is a regional bus service, not a coach service - pay the driver with cash as you would a city bus service, exact fare preferred. One-way fares between Bendemeer and Tamworth are $5.90 for adults and $2.90 for children (4-15) and concession holders.

To Bendemeer
The service departs from the bus stop at the Atrium Centre in Kabel Avenue M-F 9:50AM and arrives at the bus stop in Caroline Street 10:33AM; departs from the bus stop at the Atrium Centre in Kabel Avenue M-F 1:20PM and arrives at the bus stop in Caroline Street 2:03PM, and departs from the corner of Brisbane Street and Kabel Avenue M-F 3:50PM, the departs Tamworth Railway Station M-F 3:55PM, and arrives at the bus stop in Caroline Street 4:49PM.

The bus does stop in front of the petrol station/caravan park - don't forget to tell the driver.

To Tamworth
The service departs from the bus stop in Caroline Street M-F 7:20AM and arrives at the Tamworth Railway Station 8:13AM; departs the from the bus stop in Caroline Street M-F 10:35AM and arrives at the bus stop at the Atrium Centre in Kabel Avenue 11:18AM; and departs from the bus stop in Caroline Street M-F 2:03PM and arrives at the bus stop at the Atrium Centre in Kabel Avenue at 2:44PM.

The bus does stop opposite the petrol station/caravan park - hail the driver.





Brisbane-Bendemeer
Crisps Coaches run between Brisbane and Tamworth via Bendemeer. Bookings are required - phone or use the website to secure your seat.

Note that the times given are Australian Eastern Standard Time/Queensland Time (GMT+10). From the first Su in Oct to the first Su in Apr New South Wales is on Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time (GMT+11), so adjust arrival/departure times for stops in New South Wales by adding 1 hour.

Also note that services may be adjusted or cancelled at little or no notice due to Covid-19 lockdowns, natural disasters, or changes in operations, so please confirm with Crisp's before departure.



Outbound coaches depart Brisbane M and F 10:45AM from the long-distance bus station in Parkland Crescent (outside Platform 10 at Roma Street Railway Station) and arrive at Bendemeer at the caravan park/petrol station 8:40PM.

Inbound coaches depart Bendemeer from the caravan park/petrol station M and F 6:15AM and arrive at Brisbane at the long-distance bus station in Parkland Crescent (outside Platfrom 10 at Roma Street Railway Station) 2:30PM.

By plane
The nearest airport with regularly scheduled services is at Tamworth.

Get around
Private transport is essential, as there is no local taxi service nor a local bus service for Bendemeer.

The nearest car rental agencies are in Tamworth.

Buy
It is advisable to stock up with essentials and medications before departing for Bendemeer as there aren't much in Bendeemer.

Banks
There are no banks in Bendemeer. It is advisable to do any necessary banking and to obtain cash before departing for Bendemeer, and to use EFTPOS whenever possible while there.



Go next

 * Uralla - north-east of Bendemeer: 49 km via New England Highway/A15 northbound (33 min)
 * Armidale - north-east of Bendemeer: 71 km via New England Highway/A15 northbound, through Uralla (51 min)
 * Walcha - south-east of Bendemeer: 50 km via Oxley Highway/B56 eastbound, pass the Woolbrook Road turn-off on the right, pass the Wollun Road turn-off to Walcha Road on the left, continue ahead to Walcha (35 min)
 * Wauchope -south-east of Bendemeer: 213 km via Oxley Highway/B56 Eastbound, through Walcha, continue ahead (2 hr 41 min) Road may be closed due to landslides or poor weather. The Pacific Highway/A1 is 11.5 km east of Wauchope via the Oxley Highway.
 * Tamworth - south-west of Bendemeer - 41 km via New England Highway/A15 southbound, through Moonbi, through Kootingal, through Nemingha, continue ahead to Tamworth (33 min)