Mungindi - town on the border of Queensland and NSW, Australia

Mungindi is a town (population 747 in 2016) on the Barwon River, straddling the New England region of New South Wales and the Darling Downs region of Queensland in Australia. Unusually, it is one of the few towns around in Australia where it's located in two jurisdictions, unlike other cities like Albury-Wodonga where they're considered as "twin-cities".

Understand

The name Mungindi means 'waterhole in the river' in the indigenous Kamilaroi language. The European explorer Major Thomas Mitchell passed through the district in the 1830s in search of areas for agricultural development. A ford just upstream from the present bridge became the location of a camp for drovers moving stock across the border, and a meeting place for the Kamilaroi people. A hotel was established in 1863, and the first blocks of land in the settlement were sold in 1888.

Mungindi is the only place in the Southern Hemisphere that keeps its name on both side of the border. The southern part of the district is in the Moree Plains Shire Council local government area (based in Moree), while the northern part of the district is shared between the Goondiwindi Region local government area (based in Goondiwindi) and the Balonne Shire Council local government area (based in St George). The state border runs through the middle of the Barwon River, but this is not marked on the bridge. For the sake of convenience, addresses will not give which state they are in, as Mungindi is small enough to navigate around and there is no restriction to crossing the state border.

Note that the New South Wales side observes Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time (UTC +11) from the first Sunday in October until the first Sunday in April, while the Queensland side observes Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC +10) all year round. Hours are New South Wales Time unless indicated otherwise.

Visitor Information Centres

In town

• Mungindi Rural Transaction Centre, 153 George Street (opposite Prosser Hutton Real Estate, next to public toilets), -28.97680°, 148.98937°, +61 2 6753 2389, mungindiprogress@gmail.com.

Local Government areas

• Moree Visitor Information Centre, 67 Alice Street, +61 2 6757 3350, info@moreetourism.com.au. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 9AM-1PM.
• Balonne Shire Visitor Information Centre, 114 St George's Terrace, St George, +61 7 4620 8877, vic@balonne.qld.gov.au. Queensland Time:M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM, Sa Su public holidays 9AM-1PM.
• Goondiwindi Visitor Information Centre, 45 Bowen Street, +61 7 4671 7474, information@goondiwindi.qld.au. Queensland Time: M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 9AM-1PM.

Get in

By car

Mungindi is on the Carnarvon Highway, 120 km north-west of Moree in New South Wales and 120 km south-east of St George in Queensland.

Mungindi is 92 km north-east of Collarenebri via Gundabloui Road/Collarenebri-Mungindi Road and is 78 km south-west from North Talwood on the Barwon Highway (State Route 85) which heads west to St George and east to Goondiwindi.

Get around

Private transport is essential, as there is no taxi service nor a local bus service in Mungindi.

The nearest car rental agencies are in Moree, St George, and Goondiwindi.

See

In and near town

• Barwon River weir, River Crossing Park (turn left just over the Barwon River bridge, follow dirt track on the right around to the weir), -28.9751°, 148.98089°. 2021-03-14
• History Park, Bucknell Street (off Carnarvon Highway south-westbound, dirt street on the left), -28.97989°, 148.99798°. Extensive collection of old farming equipment. Key is obtained from B&W Rural across the highway. 2021-03-14
• One Ton Post, Collarenebri-Mungindi Road (8.5 km via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway westbound, cross the Barwon River Bridge, turn left into Norton Road/Gunnindaddy Road/Collarenebri-Mungindi Road, turn off on the left), -28.99891°, 148.95768°. A heritage-listed border marker erected in 1882 where the state border leaves the Barwon River and continues due west along the 29th Parallel for 700 km to the state border with South Australia (Cameron's Corner). The Last Mile Post (measured from Cameron's Corner) is a short walk west. 2021-03-14
• Riverbend Picnic Area, Lot 7102 Carnarvon Highway (9.5 km via Carnarvon Highway (south-eastbound), cross the Barwon River bridge, turn-off just past the bridge on the left), -29.022891°, 149.06485°. A scenic day rest area on the bank of the Boomi River. 2021-03-14

Out of town

• Neeworra Historical Site. An abandoned settlement, first settled in 1890 after a flood including houses and a wine shanty. A railway station was built in 1913 but the line closed in 1974. The residents began to abandon the settlement when Mungindi got reticulated water and electric power in 1938, and the shanty burnt down in 1962. Information signs at the site explain the history and significance of Neeworra. 2021-03-14
• Thallon Grain Silos, Noondoo-Thallon Road, Thallon (41 km north of Mungundi on the Carnarvon Highway), -28.63171°, 148.865°. Part of the Australian Silo Art Trail. Painting is called 'The Watering Hole'. 2021-03-14

Do

• Mungindi Swimming Pool and Hot Pool, 46 Bucknell Street, -28.97969°, 148.99281°, +61 2 6753 2347. Winter: M-Sa 7:30AM-noon Su 2-5PM. Swimming pool with small artesian hot pool. Entry $3 2021-03-14

Events

• Mungindi Races (horse racing), Mungindi Racecouse (end of Mogul Street), -28.97974°, 148.97923°. held early Jul. Annual horse-racing. 2021-03-14
• Mungindi Show, Mungindi Racecourse (end of Mogul Street), +61 428 757 444. Held in Aug. Annual town fair. 2021-03-14

Sports

• Mungindi Golf Club, Caloona-Boomi Road, -28.97283°, 148.99941°, +61 2 67532148. 2021-03-14
• Mungindi Tennis Club, -28.98037°, 148.99153°, +61 2 6753 2202. Phone for court hire. 2021-03-14

Buy

Self catering

• Mungindi Community Store (RSL Hall), 116 St George Street (opposite Quinn's Motors), -28.97704°, 148.99065°, +61 2 6753 2865. Supermarket. 2021-03-14

• Mungindi Pharmacy, 174 St George Street (next to Prosser Hutton Real Estate), -28.97678°, 148.98905°, +61 2 6753 2770. Chemist. 2021-03-14

• Mungindi Newsagency (Newspower Mungindi), 176 St George Street (Next to Mungindi Pharmacy), -28.97677°, 148.98883°, +61 2 6753 2392. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9-noon. Newsagency. 2021-03-14

• Shafays Mungindi, 154 St George Street (corner of St George Street and Moree Street), -28.97686°, 148.98936°, +61 2 6753 2775. M-Su 9AM-2PM. Bakery and cafe. 2021-03-14

Eat

• Jolly Swagman Hotel Motel, 218 St George Street (corner of St George Street and Narrabri Street), -28.9766°, 148.98759°, +61 2 6753 2022. Pub fare. 2021-03-14
• The Daily Grind, St George Street (Carnarvon Highway westbound, on the left just before the Barwon River bridge), -28.9765°, 148.98663°. M-F 7AM-2PM Sa 8AM-1PM, Su 9AM-noon. Coffee Shop. 2021-03-14
• Two Mile Hotel, 355 Carnarvon Highway (4.2 km north-west on Carnarvon Highway), -28.94573°, 148.97433°, +61 2 6753 2051. Queensland Time:M-Sa 5AM-9AM 5PM-9PM. Pub fare. 2021-03-14

Drink

• Jolly Swagman Hotel Motel, 218 St George Street (corner of St George Street and Narrabri Street), +61 2 6753 2022. 2021-03-14
• Two Mile Hotel, 355 Carnarvon Highway (4.2 km north-west on Carnarvon Highway), +61 2 6753 2051. Queensland Time:M-Sa 5AM-9AM 5PM-9PM. 2021-03-14

Sleep

• Jolly Swagman Hotel Motel, 218 St George Street (corner of St George Street and Narrabri Street), +61 2 6753 2022. Phone for rates and availability 2021-03-14
• Mungindi Caravan Park, 41 St George Street (corner of St George Street and Yarouah Street, opposite Ampol/Caltex petrol station), -28.97776°, 148.99795°, +61 409 484 014. Phone for rates and availability 2021-03-14
• Two Mile Hotel, 355 Carnarvon Highway (4.2 km north-west on Carnarvon Highway), +61 2 6753 2051. Phone for rates and availability 2021-03-14

Cope

Emergency

• Police Station - NSW side, 250 St George Street (corner of St George Street and Mogul Street), -28.97650°, 148.98608°, +61 2 6753 2044. Not open 24 hours. 2019-10-27
• Police Station - Qld side, 49 Carnarvon Highway (Carnarvon Highway northbound, just over the Barwon River bridge on the right hand side), -28.97472°, 148.98369°, +61 2 6753 2006. Not open 24 hours - runs to Queensland Time. 2019-10-27
• Mungindi Multipurpose Health Service Hospital, 90 Barwon Street, -28.97650°, 148.98608°, +61 2 6705 6100. Emergency Department open 24 hours, otherwise hours are on Queensland Time. 2019-10-27
• Mungindi Vet, +61 429 635 091. M 9AM-6PM, Tu 9AM-2PM, Th-F 9AM-6PM. 2019-10-27

Fuel and mechanical

• Ampol/Caltex (Mungindi Servo), 30 St George Street (corner of St George Street and Yarouah Street, opposite the caravan park), -28.97772°, 148.99752°, +61 2 6753 2688. Petrol station 2019-10-27
• Quinn's Motors, 115 St George Street (next to Agri-Ware), -28.97690°, 148.99107°, +61 2 6753 2390. Mechanic 2019-10-27

Public telephones

• Public telephone, -28.97662°, 148.98875°.
• Public telephone, -28.97756°, 148.99689°.

Public toilets

• Public toilet, -28.97562°, 148.98380°. Open 24 hours. Disabled access. Sharps disposal.
• Public toilet.

Banks

Mungindi is not served by any of the major banks. It is advisable to do any necessary banking, and obtain necessary cash before departing for Mungindi, and to use EFTPOS whenever possible while there.

• Regional Australia Bank (Mungindi Rural Transaction Centre), +61 132 067. Tu Th 10AM-3PM.
• Bank@Post (Australia Post), +61 2 6753 2009. M-F 9AM-1PM 2PM-5PM. Agent for Commonwealth Bank, Westpac Bank, National Australia Bank

ATM

The nearest 24-hour ATMs are in St George, Goondiwindi, and Moree.

• Cashcard ATM, Mungindi Rural Transaction Centre. Business hours.

Services

• Australia Post LPO, 96 Walker Street (corner of Walker Street and Moree Street), -28.97814°, 148.98978°, +61 2 6753 2009. M-F 9AM-1PM 2PM-5PM.

Go next

• St George - north-west of Mungindi: 120 km via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway (NR46) westbound, cross the Barwon River bridge, through Thallon, pass Nindigully on the left and the Barwon Highway (SR85) intersection on the right, pass the Castlereagh Highway (A55) intersection on the left (1 hr 18 min)
• Dirranbandi - north-west of Mungindi: 105 km via via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway (NR46) westbound, cross the Barwon River bridge, at Thallon turn left into Noondoo-Thallon Road (last road on the left, past the showground), turn left onto the Castlereagh Highway then turn right onto the Castlereagh Highway (A55)/St George-Dirranbandi Road, continue ahead into Dirranbandi (1 hr 12 min)
• Goondiwindi - north-east of Mungindi: 168 km via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway (NR46) westbound, cross the Barwon River bridge, turn right into Barwon Street and continue past the hospital on the right, continue ahead as Talwood-Mungindi Road, at North Talwood turn right onto the Barwon Highway (SR85), pass the Meandarra-Talwood Road (SR74) intersection on the left, through Toobeah, pass the Callandoon Pioneer Cemetery on the left, at Goondiwindi continue ahead on Lagoon Street (2 hr 38 min)
• Moree - south-east of Mungindi: 120 km via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway south-eastbound, cross the Boomi River bridge, cross the Gil Gil Creek bridge, cross the Carole Creek bridge, through Garah, through Ashley, turn right onto Boggabilla Road (1 hr 20 min)
• Collarenebri - south-west of Mungindi: 95 km via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway (SR74) westbound, cross the Barwon River bridge, turn left onto Norton Road/Gunnindaddy Road/Collarenebri-Mungindi Road, continue ahead to Collarenebri (1 hr 17 min)