It sits at the confluence of two major creeks that flow along the rift valley between Young and Cowra, Murringo Creek and Wambanumba Creek. 

Wambanumba Creek rises in the ridges about six or seven kilometres east of Young. It crosses the Murringo Road and runs down the centre of the great valley. 

This “rift” valley was created not by this creek nor by erosion, but by ‘faulting.’ 

Over the course of millions of years, between two fault lines the section of ground that now forms the valley floor sank below the  surrounding countryside.  

The long continuous scarps on either side were lifted up by pressures from below the ground - that’s why they’re called ‘uplifts’. 

Where the hillsides are still covered by forest, the effect is quite dramatic. Where the scarps are not formed of shattered rocks, the slopes are gentler because the soils have been worn down by erosion. 

Now cleared for farmland, the slopes are harder to identify as part of the same system. 

As the valley sides rose up they trapped water-flows behind them. Some were powerful enough to burst through the ridge and breach the uplift. In this way ‘gaps’ were formed, such as the Murringo and Crowther Gaps. 

At Crowther Gap the residue of this erosive force has been dumped to form slopes above the valley floor. Other creeks failed to breach the uplifted ridges and were forced to flow back through the higher ground to create their own small valleys, as has happened behind Crowther Mountain (which faces Crowther Gap from across the rift valley); the smaller streams flow westwards to join Bulla Creek or Tyagong Creek, ending up in the Burrangong Creek towards Bimbi.

Murringo Creek has come from the rises towards Boorowa. After being joined by Calabash Creek and streams from Murringo Flats, it has breached the ridge through the Gap, creating a break large enough for the road to pass through beside the creek. 

It flows northward along the rift valley, drifting towards the centre where it meets Wambanumba Creek just past the present-day village of Bendick. 

The Olympic Highway suddenly twists and winds as it meets these creeks, creating a place for frequent accidents.

The name ‘Bendick Murrell’ seems to belong to quite a large area of the valley floor. 

The Aboriginal words are said to mean “a plain” and the name was originally given to a property in the area; it was adopted as the name for the station when the railway was opened in 1886.

The road into Bendick meets the attractive recreation grounds just at the edge of Wambanumba Creek. 

These are used by the Young Dressage Association for regular meetings and their name is on the gates. 

As I stood reading the notice about the arboretum created by BM Public School and Young Landcare, a family of stockmen rode up to the gate; it turned that they are mustering 900 cattle in the district and camping near the village.

Once over the creek, the road rises steadily through the village to reach the railway. Near the top is the Calare Hotel, favourite watering hole of the area and quite busy on this Saturday evening. 

On the way up the street are several attractive houses from early in the 20th century as well as some newer places, one with a large Aussie flag at the front. All the gardens are colourful and cared for.

Over to the right is the former public school and schoolmaster’s house, both now sold. The Anglican church has just closed after more than 100 years, while the handsome Catholic church over the road has been turned into a residence. 

Both are built of the local grey stone, a kind of slate used for a number of important buildings in Young.

The memorial hall has marble plaques to commemorate those who volunteered for the 1914-18 War, a witness to the importance of this event for the community. 

While there is a good chance that the railway will come back into use in a few years, it will not benefit Bendick, since the station (like Koorawatha’s) has been demolished in a spate of official vandalism. 

The silo may still be used for grain storage, which will bring some commercial activity back into the village.

Two reasons any local or visitor should call in at Bendick Murrell. 

First, to visit the local pub and enjoy the quiet friendliness. 

Second, to view the ranges across the valley - several good vistas as the village climbs the slope.

When you leave Bendick Murrell, take the road across the railway tracks and turn right towards Wirrimah. The road runs alongside the railway for two or three kilometres, then turns left to climb up the ridge. As you pass over the hill, stop and look back to where you have come from, and enjoy the sensational view across the valley towards Murringo Gap and the more distant Douglas Range; the silo at Bendick Murrell station pinpoints the village.