Kurrumbede Open Day
On Saturday 9 May Hundreds Celebrated Mother’s Day Weekend at the Historic Kurrumbede Homestead!
Hundreds of people celebrated Mother’s Day weekend at the historic Kurrumbede Homestead near Gunnedah for Whitehaven’s annual open day event.
Held in partnership with Whitehaven Coal, the 2026 Kurrumbede Open Day took place on Saturday, 9 May. Visitors enjoyed local entertainment, hands-on activities, and a rare chance to experience the historic homestead grounds.
The family of renowned Australian poet Dorothea Mackellar purchased the 6,600-acre Kurrumbede property in 1905 and operated it as a sheep, cattle, and mixed-cropping enterprise for almost 40 years.
As a significant landmark in the region’s history, the homestead has been opened to the public only a handful of times in the past century. Families and visitors enjoyed sulky and stagecoach rides, sheep shearing and working dog demonstrations, whip cracking, a petting zoo, historical displays, face painting, art activities, market stalls, and local food vendors.
Saturday also featured a special rendition of Dorothea Mackellar’s My Country in the Gomeroi language and a presentation by local historian Peter Crook.
