The Dunster family have celebrated a 150-year connection to their Shellharbour farm - a legacy that lives on today.
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When Joseph and Jane Dunster moved into slab cottage Hope Villa in 1865, high above a fledgling Shellharbour, the views from their 90-acre property stretched from the mountains to the sea.
To the south Minnamurra River, to the north Wollongong, with dairy farming paddocks dominating the landscape in between.
Today the view is no less spectacular, although it is the sprawling housing estates of Flinders, Blackbutt and Shell Cove that take prominence.
One thing that hasn't changed - the property remains in the hands of the Dunster family.
The Dunsters have farmed at "The Hill" continuously for the past 150 years, making a considerable contribution to the history of the Shellharbour district.
Joseph died in 1877 at the age of 55 and four years later Jane died aged 45, leaving behind eight children aged between 8 and 24. The eldest son, William, was 21 when his mother died and took over the running of the farm.
In 1988 Barbara Dunster, who still lives on the farm, published a document titled Brief Impressions of the Early Days at 'The Hill' as part of a bicentenary project.
Barbara wrote that it was commonplace, but noteworthy, that this comparatively young woman at 41 struggled on for her family under what we would today regard as primitive conditions. Her untimely death at 45 was a reminder of the hardships women then endured.
The eldest son William would become "a man of great character", being a progressive and successful cattle breeder of Illawarra short horns as well as a prominent public figure, twice being mayor of Shellharbour.
The eight Dunster children managed to produce 52 offspring in the next generation.
In April more than 100 people gathered at "The Hill" homestead to celebrate 150 years since their ancestors began farming at the site. It was hosted by Barbara and Sue Dunster, with assistance of relatives, including cousin Andrew Wilson.
The hill farm complex, which has also been variously known as Signal Hill, Dunster's Hill, and Ball Tree Hill, is listed on the Shellharbour Heritage Inventory as having state significance. The cedar core of the homestead dates back to the 1830s, while the property includes several landmark trees.
People travelled from as far afield as Melbourne and Queensland for the reunion.
The large collection of memorabilia was admired, new acquaintances made and older ones remade in a re-creation of the old time picnics Dunster's Hill was once renowned for.
In the early days, when ships came into the harbour at Shellharbour Village, a signal would be given by the Dunster family who farmed Signal Hill, locally known as Dunster’s Hill.
The harbour was the only means of transport of goods to and from Sydney and early settlers and farmers relied on the shipping trade to make their living and survive. From as early as 1856 steamers called in.
High atop the hill, the Dunster family could keep watch for coastal ships calling in at the harbour.
When ships did arrive, a huge wicker ball was raised into one of the large fig trees on Dunster’s Hill.
Settlers in the low-lying areas of the Macquarie Valley would then set off to the harbour with their produce so it could be taken to the Sydney markets.
Courtesy of Tongarra Museum
- The Illawarra Mercury, December 8, 1871, Shellharbor - From our correspondent
Something unusual in the way of Sabbath School treats took place on Thursday last.
The unusual feature was the amalgamation of the Episcopalian and Wesleyan Sabbath Schools in a day’s enjoyment.
It appears the teachers of the respective schools had arranged for a picnic for the scholars, and the happy thought occurred to some of those concerned that it would be well for all parties if the schools were united in the proposed treat.
Accordingly the provisions were thrown into a common stock, and union was the order of the day.
A brief service was held in the forenoon in the Episcopalian Church, conducted by the Rev Mr. Bailey and the Rev Mr. Rowsell.
The latter rev gentleman preached a sermon from an appropriate text for the day.
Another unusual feature in the day’s proceedings was the forsaking the invariable place of resort – the beach – for such affairs, arrangements having been made to have the picnic on Mr. J. Dunster’s land, about two and a half miles west of the township.
About 12 o’clock Mr. J. Thomas started with a van load of juveniles for the picnic ground, and thitherward on horseback, in buggies, and spring-carts congregated most of the young people in and around Shellharbor.
The whole of the children of both Public Schools were invited.
A large number of parents were also present.
Such a gathering of children, parents, and friends was certainly never seen in Shellharbor before.
A more delightful spot than that chosen for the day’s pleasure it is impossible to conceive of; a charming prospect indeed is presented from Mr. Dunster’s hill.
This hill is some 400 feet above the level of the sea, and is the crowning height of many others which spread in beautiful undulations at N., S., E., and W., presenting a delightful view of hill and dale.
A commanding view of the district is obtained from this hill: on the south the Minnamurra is seen flowing oceanward, beyond it the heights south of Kiama; on the north is a splendid view of Lake Illawarra, its blue waters the very picture of calm repose; beyond it is seen Dapto and Wollongong, backed by the Illawarra Range, Keira and Kembla being prominent objects in the scene.
Looking eastward most of the buildings in Shellharbor township are in view, and stretching into the broad Pacific, Point Bass is seen on the S.E., and on the N.E. the Five Islands are full in view.
The lovers of beautiful scenery would indeed have to travel far to find scenery of greater beauty.
The hill top is crowned by the neat residence of Mr. J. Dunster, whose charming family and well regulated household harmonize well with nature’s surroundings.
Westward of Mr. Dunster’s is a fine view of the Illawarra Range, which forms the back ground of a succession of heights which own their origin to that Plutonic agency which up heaved the range, and caused it no longer to be the sea margin.
When this range was upheaved, the moltin trap pierced the ocean’s floor and raised the whole of the district coast, draining the waters therefrom, and leaving those numerous trap hills which diversify the prospect and give fertility to tho soil.
But I am drifting from the subject.
On the eastern slope of Dunster’s Hill (no doubt this name will be that by which the Hill will for the future be known) the happy juveniles were assembled for their sport.
Here, too, were many stalwart youths and fair maidens whose school days were over, and here, too, were proud parents and grandmothers and grandfathers reviewing with delight the happy party.
Prodigious piles of cake, dishes of sandwiches, trays of tarts, and relays of cups of tea disappeared with wonderful speed.
Nor did the zest for the eatables appear to any way impair tho zest for the sports which succeeded, That very favorite
game among the young ladies – kiss-in-the-ring – was carried on upon a gigantic scale, I really cannot say how long it would have taken to measure its circumference.
The game of cricket, too, had its votaries.
The clergy played without any fear that such a healthy exercise would in any way dim the gloss of the clerical enamel.
Mr. Toose, the photographer, was among the party, and succeeded in taking several groups. Some of the sage parents as they viewed the large gathering of youngsters, were heard commenting upon the past, present, and future of Shellharbor.
It is only a few years since the very spot on which the happy party assembled was covered with a dense bush, where the lovers of sport found no difficulty in shooting plenty of wallabies.
A beautiful bush it was, too, draped with parasites and vines in most fantastic forms.
Much as it may be regretted that the beautiful brushes of our district have all but disappeared before the settlers’ axe, yet when that disappearance has given place to the ‘‘fairer forms which cultivation glories in’’ and the site of the thicket becomes splendid pastures upon which cattle of the finest breeds, sleek and fat, produce wealth for their owners, and when the brush vine gives place to fruitful vine and young olive branches such as congregated on Thursday last, surely no person will regret the sacrifice of our Illawarra brushes for such results.
During the afternoon the children of the Episcopalian School were presented by the Rev. Mr. Bailey with some beautifully bound reward books.
The presentation took place at the residence of Mr. Dunster.
I understand that reward books have been purchased for the children of the Wesleyan School, and are to be presented shortly.
About 5 o’clock the company began to separate.
The van was again brought into requisition for the little children, who made the air resound with their cheerful songs as they came into the township.