🔍

Merriwa

NSW 2329 • Rest of NSW

1,825
Population (2021)
$62,816
Median Household Income
1900.64 km²
Area
$245/wk
Median Rent
RuralHistoricFamily-FriendlyAffordable

About Merriwa

Merriwa is a historic rural town in the Upper Hunter Shire, New South Wales, situated on the Golden Highway approximately 273 kilometres northwest of Sydney, roughly midway between Newcastle and Dubbo. With a population of around 1,825 residents, the town serves as a regional service centre for the surrounding agricultural district at an elevation of 403 metres above sea level. The Upper Hunter area is renowned for horse breeding, cattle and grain farming, and Merriwa reflects this heritage throughout its built fabric and community character.

Merriwa has a strong rural identity and hosts several popular annual events including the Festival of the Fleeces on the Queen's Birthday weekend in June, the Merriwa Morgans Cup Races, and the Merriwa Springtime Show in September. The town features a number of heritage-listed buildings, including the Colonial Cottage Museum (1857) and historic hotels. Residents and visitors enjoy a relaxed country lifestyle with access to local schools, a hospital, and the natural beauty of the Hunter Valley hinterland.

Merriwa falls under postcode 2329 and is governed by Upper Hunter Shire Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Upper Hunter electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2329
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Upper Hunter Shire
Federal Electorate
New England
State Electorate
Upper Hunter
Type
Rural
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-32.12°, 150.28°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
1900.64 km²
Elevation
403m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Merriwa for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$420K
44 sales · ▲ 5.7% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$245
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,235
Avg Household Size
2.4 people
Median Age
45 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
1.8%

9 state housing + 3 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Regional coach services — Maitland / Dubbo 2–3 hr

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
273 km
By Train
Not available — no direct rail service
By Car (Peak)
3 hr
By Car (Off-Peak)
2 hr 45 min

🛣️ Drive via Golden Highway and New England Highway; regional coaches serve Maitland and Dubbo

Walkability Car-Dependent

Town centre is compact and walkable; a car is needed for most trips beyond main street

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There is 1 heritage-listed place in or near Merriwa, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Cottage Museum
Bow Street, Merriwa • SHR #00259

🌳 Parks & Reserves

There are 5 parks and reserves in Merriwa.

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Upper Hunter Shire Local Government Area, which contains Merriwa. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
208.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr —
Motor vehicle theft
152.7 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr —
Non-DV assault
291.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
6.9 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
256.8 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
View all 62 offence types for Upper Hunter Shire →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
1,761
Census 2021
1,825
▲ 3.6% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$27,404
Personal Income 2021
$30,836
▲ 12.5% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$30,836 / yr
$593/wk
Household
$62,816 / yr
$1208/wk
Family
$76,492 / yr
$1471/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,515
Born Overseas 122

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 28
  • 2. New Zealand 22
  • 3. Nepal 10
  • 4. Philippines 8
  • 5. Vietnam 8
  • 6. India 5
  • 7. Scotland 5
  • 8. Bangladesh 4
  • 9. Ireland 4
  • 10. Italy 4

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 852
English 720
Irish 202
Scottish 186
Australian Aboriginal 117
German 65
Italian 30
Dutch 14
Filipino 11
Welsh 11

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,392
Both parents born in Australia
139
Both parents born overseas
112
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
68.6%
No Religion
19.9%
Hinduism
0.8%
Buddhism
0.3%
Islam
0.2%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
98 (5.4%)
5-14 years
262 (14.4%)
15-19 years
98 (5.4%)
20-24 years
80 (4.4%)
25-34 years
178 (9.8%)
35-44 years
192 (10.5%)
45-54 years
212 (11.6%)
55-64 years
248 (13.6%)
65-74 years
244 (13.4%)
75-84 years
131 (7.2%)
85+ years
69 (3.8%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Merriwa known for? +

Merriwa is known for its rural heritage, horse breeding, and annual events including the Festival of the Fleeces on the Queen's Birthday weekend and the Merriwa Morgans Cup horse races.

How far is Merriwa from Sydney? +

Merriwa is approximately 273 kilometres northwest of Sydney, about a 2 hour 45 minute to 3 hour drive via the Golden Highway.

What school is in Merriwa? +

Merriwa Central School is a government K-12 school serving students from kindergarten through Year 12 in the Merriwa area.

What LGA is Merriwa in? +

Merriwa is in the Upper Hunter Shire local government area in New South Wales.

What is the population of Merriwa? +

According to the 2021 Census, Merriwa has a population of approximately 1,825 people.

What is the average income in Merriwa? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Merriwa is about $593 per week (around $30,800 per year). The median household income is $1,208 per week and the median family income is $1,471 per week.

What is the median house price in Merriwa? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $420,000, up 5.7% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Merriwa? +

The median age in Merriwa is 45. The largest age group is 5–14 (262 residents, around 14%). Around 25% of residents are under 20 and about 24% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Merriwa a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Merriwa is part of the Upper Hunter Shire LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Merriwa? +

In Merriwa, the median weekly rent is $245, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,235 (2021 Census).