The gates and gardens of one of Wollongong's oldest homes were thrown open to the public on Sunday as part of the National Trust Heritage Festival.
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The timber cottage that is Unanderra's historic Nudjia House was built in 1874 by William Warren Jenkins and his son Bill.
Part of an original handmade clay-brick homestead, built in 1839, still stands at the rear of the building as a reminder of the home's pioneering past.
In 1816, Robert Jenkins received a grant of 1000 acres (405 hectares), known as Berkeley Estate, from Governor Macquarie.
This property grew to 3600 acres and included Unanderra and Berkeley townships.
Nudjia is an Aboriginal name meaning "safe and protected place".
Today, Nudjia House is owned by Annette Williams and, except for a brief period, the property has been in the hands of her family since the 1950s.
Making the trip to Unanderra from Tomakin on the South Coast were sisters Suzie Katz and Amanda Brooks, who are descendants of Robert Jenkins.
A "mad family historian", Ms Katz gave a presentation to visitors about her great-grandfather Cecil Jenkins, who was born in Nudjia and died in World War I and her great-uncle Roy King, who died in Gallipoli.
For Ms Brooks it was the first time she had visited the property, which has links to her family dating back seven generations.
She said the property was clearly well loved and Ms Williams was a wonderful custodian of Nudjia House.
Ms Williams said Nudjia House would next be opened to the public to mark the bicentenary of European settlement in the Illawarra in mid-2016.
Funds raised from Sunday's open day will help restoration of the Berkeley Pioneer Cemetery.