Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

Morven, New South Wales, NSW

On the road between Holbrook (20 kms) and Culcairn (8 kms) lies the village of Morven.

Morven dates back to the 1850’s when it was settled before Culcairn, as a Cobb and Co stop for the changing and resting of the horses before the crossing of the Billabong, and the continuation of the journey Wagga Wagga to Albury and return.

It was once a much larger village than is seen today and as that shown on old maps of the village prepared in December 1860 by District Surveyor Francis Adams, with plans for further expansion. There were once over 60 pupils attending the local school.

When the town blocks of land were sold in 1861, the majority were purchased by the brother of the owner of Carabobala Station, Elliot Heriot. Others were ‘selected’ by George Matchett a former English policeman in 1865. Over the next 20 years the Matchett’s aquired more than 10,000 acres of land.

With the arrival of the Railway line to the west of the village, the town of Culcairn grew, and with the greater use of rail and the decline of Cobb & Co, Morven never saw the materialising of the original plans for the village.

Morven is one of the oldest licensed Cobb & Co. coach stations in NSW The remains of the old stables can still be seen, next to the Hotel built around the turn of the 20th Century after fire destroyed the original.

The original Bridge Hotel was built around 1868 and was purchased by John O’Donoghue in 1897, with the Hotel remaining in that familiy until 1959, when it was taken over by Octavius Chaffey. The name was changed to the ‘Round Hill Hotel’ about this time. The hotel is still licenced and fully operational.

The Morven Church was opened in 1874, and for 14 years was the only church in the district and was used for both Anglican and Presbyterian services. At one stage it was used on weekdays for a school, at which time the chimney was built to warm the building in winter.

St Peters as it is now known, has recently been restored by the Morven Community Committee. Services are still held on every fifth Sunday. Services and weddings are still being held in the Church, and the inside can be viewed by appointment.

The Morven Public School was built in 1906, and was progressively added to as the number of pupils expanded , with a new building being constructed in 1928 to accommodate 52 pupils.
It closed in 1967 at which time there were only 9 pupils at the school, and is now used as a private residence.

On the 27th June 1931 there were major floods in Morven when the Billabong Creek broke its banks. At the Morven School the creek was 1/4 mile (400m) wide, and the water was 3 feet (1 m) over the bridge decking.

Over the years many of the original buildings of the village have been destroyed by fire.

Nearest Airport: Albury

About Morven, New South Wales

Explore The Outback

Australia has a vast remote interior, much of it largely untouched. By night, the outback is deathly quiet, with the only light provided by the stars and the moon - a perfect oportunity for stargazing. Explore the isolated heart of the country, meet and connect with Aboriginal people and experience one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Go ‘walk-about’ and immerse yourself with Australia’s endless outback horizons.

Outback Experiences

Luxe Accommodation

Enjoy a distinctly Australian luxury experience, such as the unforgettable reefs, islands, beaches and coast; rugged mountain ranges, rainforests and vast national parks; and the many vibrant food and wine regions. Take a once in a lifetime adventure and discover the sheer indulgence of experiencing the wonders of Australia in style and stay in total luxury.

Australia has wide variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets and travelling preferences. Choose from luxury lodges, boutique hotels, serviced apartments, motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks as well as youth and backpacker hostels.

Accommodation

Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are actually the cores of 20 million year old volcanoes. The sides of the volcanoes have eroded away leaving only the hardened rock spiremountain cores we see today. Learn more about this awe-inspiring landscape.

Glasshouse Mountains