Bendemeer is a small village on the Macdonald River between Tamworth and Armidale with a population of only a few hundred people. It lies just off the New England Highway, 452 km north of Sydney.

When the postal service was extended to Walcha in 1851 the local office was initially known as McDonald River though it was changed to Bendemeer in 1853.

Bushranger 'Thunderbolt', alias Fred Ward, held up the northern mail at Bendemeer in 1864. In 1866 the population was recorded as being 150. St Andrew's Presbyterian (now Uniting) Church was built in 1867 and is still extant. A bridge was built over the river in 1874 though the present timber truss bridge dates from 1904.