Murrumburrah was gazetted in 1857 to service the demand for land as miners abandoned the search for gold. It was located in the Lachlan Pastoral District in which pastoralists held on licence grazing establishments of thousands of acres. From 1862, these landholders and new selectors could gain freehold for a living area. The district became a major centre for grain production and fine wool. In 1877, the railway arrived and a new town, Harden, developed as a twin town. The district had been cared for by the Yass Mission since 1838. A stone church was founded in 1868 at Murrumburrah (St Mary’s) and a brick church at Harden (St Anthony’s) was built in 1934. The Sisters of Mercy came in 1882.
Fr Jerome Hennessy 1901-03
Fr John Gaffey 1903-07
Fr Patrick O’Shea 1907-18
Fr Daniel Griffin 1918-32
Fr Garrett Shannon 1933-35
Fr Austin O’Connor 1936-72
Fr Francis Keogh 1972-2000
Fr Joseph Tran 2000-2002
Fr Paul Bateman 2002-2003
Fr Joe Tran 2003-2006
Fr Simon Falk 2006-2008
Fr Greg Beath 2008-2009
Fr Kevin Barry-Cotter 2013-2014
Fr Joshy Kurien 2014-2019
Fr Lolesio Gisa 2019-