The oldest European grave in the Eurobodalla

Maria Thompson, wife of George, died aged 24 on March 19th, 1837.

George Thompson was a convict, transported to NSW aboard the 'Mellish' in 1828. His wife Maria (nee Durrant) died of complications in childbirth. George then married a woman named Jane Harper at Broulee in 1838 and they had 12 children.

Maria's grave is the oldest European grave in the Eurobodalla.

"Shannon View", Moruya

This house, visible from Larry's Mountain Road, off the Princes Highway to the north of Moruya, sits on the banks of Mullenderee Creek, part of the Moruya River system. It was the property of the first non-Aboriginal resident of Moruya, an Irish tailor named Patrick Flanagan, who settled there in 1829.  Flanagan leased farms to Irish migrants and established a Catholic school for their children.

History writes that Flanagan arrived in NSW in 1827, with enough capital to qualify for a land grant. Governor Darling, however, refused to grant land to a man of Flanagan's class. Flanagan travelled to Ulladulla by boat and then travelled overland with the help of Aboriginal guides.

The Pink Gates, Moruya

A bronze plaque at the site says: 

"The Moruya Show was first held on land at the corner of Murray and Evans Street, Moruya in 1877 and was later moved to a site now used for Moruya Bowling Club in River Street. The Moruya Jockey Club held its first meeting on the present show ground site on 26th & 27th January, 1887. 

"The Pink Gates" were first built as the entrance to the show ground in River Street, Moruya and moved to their present site in 1914. For many years they were an icon in our village and a meeting place for the young folk of Moruya. 

The gates fell into disrepair and were removed on (sic) the 1960s and the new gates were erected on 17th March 2010 using the old gate located in the Moruya Historical Society as a template. "

Interior, All Saints Anglican Church, Bodalla

All Saints Anglican Church, Bodalla - another view

For information about this church, see yesterday's post

All Saints Anglican Church, Bodalla

All Saints Church, commemorating Thomas Sutcliffe Mort and his wife Theresa Shepheard Mort, was designed by Edmund Blacket. Mort was an early landholder in the area. He established a dairy estate. 

Blacket arrived in NSW from his native England in November 1842. In 1847 he was appointed chief diocesan architect for the Church of England in Sydney. Notable churches we designed include St. Paul's, Redfern, St. Mark's, Darling Point and St. Philip's, Church Hill. He is largely responsible for St Andrews Cathedral in Sydney. He was appointed Colonial Architect for NSW in 1849. In 1854 he was appointed architect for the University of Sydney. (I did many university exams in its beautiful Great Hall.)

It is unlikely that Blacket ever saw the site of the church. Construction was overseen by his son, Cyril. 

For more about Blacket - click here.

The foundation stone for the church was was laid by Marianne Mort, Thomas' second wife, on 18 March 1880. It was completed in 1901. 

Old Post Office B&B, Moruya

The Moruya Post Office was built here in 1887. It was moved in 1966. The old PO and residence is now a B&B and for sale. There are 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, dining rooms and casual lounge areas.

Price: It can be yours for $1.2 million- the price of a modest cottage or new apartment in Sydney!

For a glimpse inside, click here. (it's beautiful)