Shannon View – Moruya’s oldest residence restored
Shannon View Restoration
Over the past year, ‘Shannon View’ the 1829 residence of Francis Flanagan has been brought back to life with an extensive restoration.
The property stands proudly on a knoll above the flood plain on the corner of Larrys Mountain Road and the Princes Highway. Kelly Dunn purchased the 7.97ha property in mid 2024. A keen horsewoman, Kelly was drawn to the area for its rural ambience. The house and sheds were in a dilapidated condition and she soon set about plans to restore it.
Contacting Council early in her planning stage, Kelly was in praise of the help offered with the restoration.
Peeling back the layers of building Kelly has kept the original layout of the interior, laying polished concrete floors and newly rendered walls.
The copper roof tiles on the verandah were recast in gal to keep the same profile.
Kelly has reused as much of the original materials as possible in the restoration. Doors and window frames have been restored and rehung. The new iron bark verandah posts are repurposed telegraph poles.
Now with all the mod cons, Shannon View retains its heritage through the careful balance of old and new.
All of this has been documented from April 2025 to April 2026 by the ABC TV program ‘Restoration Australia’ and will be screened in the current series.
Or See on Iview https://iview.abc.net.au/video/DO2310H006S00
Early History of Shannon View
Francis Flanagan had arrived in NSW in 1827 with funds, but was not able to get a land grant, so he sailed to Ulladulla and travelled overland with the help of Aboriginal guides and became the first non aboriginal resident of the area.
According to Stuart Magee (mdhs.org.au) “Flanagan was Eurobodalla’s first farmer. In 1829 he selected 1,280 acres at Mullenderee and built his farm Shannon View, the site of which is still identifiable. Within a few years, and using convict labour, he cleared and fenced 400 acres and owned 800 cattle, 12 horses and 200 pigs.1 His dairy would produce butter and possibly cheese for the growing population of Broulee.”
“Nevertheless, he performed duty over a number of years as a local magistrate, census taker and distributor of government blankets to the Aboriginal people” says Magee.
Flanagan leased farms to Irish migrants and established a Catholic school for their children.
Selling Agent James Hamilton from LJ Hooker said “The echoes of the past resonate in every rustling leaf and babbling brook of the property, where the first St. Mary’s Catholic School found its roots in 1847. Though the original school building met a tragic fate in a fire, it was reborn and relocated to its current location, marking yet another chapter in the enduring history of this place.”
Magee said “The area was referred to by him variously as Nullandarie – today’s Mullenderee – or Pergoga – a name he spelled at least three ways and which appeared on the maps of the time but has since disappeared. …By 1838 he claimed to be running 800 cattle, 12 horses and 200 pigs.”
“His success was soon outstripped by that of John Hawdon at Kiora, whose land holdings from 1830 onwards, including squattings, covered much of the more arable land in the district” says Magee.
Magee said “The area was referred to by him variously as Nullandarie – today’s Mullenderee – or Pergoga – a name he spelled at least three ways and which appeared on the maps of the time but has since disappeared. …By 1838 he claimed to be running 800 cattle, 12 horses and 200 pigs.”
“His success was soon outstripped by that of John Hawdon at Kiora, whose land holdings from 1830 onwards, including squattings, covered much of the more arable land in the district” says Magee.