Prior to European settlement, the Murrurundi district was home to the Wanaruah and possibly the Kamilaroi Aboriginal people.

[2] In the same year, a local landholder, Thomas Haydon, established an adjacent private township called Haydonton.

[6] Murrurundi is the nearest major town to the site of the Murulla rail accident, which occurred on 13 September 1926.

[9] Murrurundi has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: The New England Highway runs through the town, and it is served by a rail service.

The station opened in 1872 and consists of a substantial brick station-house with a passing loop and goods yard.

The area has two weather stations: one in the town, and another high up on the Murrurundi Gap about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the WNW.

The latter has significantly cooler maximum temperatures (even when accounting for elevation) but also warmer minima, by virtue of being an exposed hilltop.