MORUYA & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THE MUSEUM The Moruya Museum houses a collection of furniture, books, artefacts and memorabilia that is intended to show visitors something of the lives of the ordinary people of this community from the middle of the nineteenth century. Most items on display were donated by local families. The result is an eclectic mix of considerable charm and interest. Group Tours and school tours are most welcome. Tours are led by Museum Volunteers who have an intricate knowledge of the items in the collection. Contact the Museum to make a booking. Emmott House Abraham Emmott, a migrant from Yorkshire, reached Moruya in 1859 and set up a general store on the verandah of his first home. From there he moved to his new Beehive Store in Vulcan Street, and the name of "Emmotts" held good for over a century. In 1875, Abraham built a pair of semi-detached houses, using a standard North of England design. The bricks were made locally and now show their age and the lack of firing in their making. As a concession to the Australian climate, good roofed verandahs were added to the English design. Stepping out from his bedroom to the verandah, Abraham could see what was happening down the street at his Beehive Stores. Abraham's house is now home to the Moruya Museum. The other house of the pair was occupied by Abraham's son, John, who achieved some renown from an incident that occurred when he was returning to Moruya from the Gulph diggings at Nerrigundah. He was bailed up by the notorious Clarke gang who shot him as he tried to escape, and, as he lay wounded, robbed him of the money and gold he was carrying. Illustration is reproduced from original drawing by Broulee artist Kris Van den Berg.

The Stonemason's Lathe

Granite from Moruya quarries on both sides of the river was well known in Sydney from the second half of the nineteenth century, being used in GPO building, the Queen Victoria Building, many monuments and, most famously, the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The lathe was used to produce the beautifully turned and polished pillars used in several of the buildings.

The Abernethy & Co. Stonemason’s Twin Bed Lathe was made in Aberdeen Scotland in 1881. It was last used at Loveridge and Hudson’s yard in Sydney in the 1960s and then donated to the Lachlan Vintage Village Heritage Theme park in the late 1970s. In 1987, it was bought by the NSW Heritage Council, who handed it over to Eurobodalla Shire in 2010. The Moruya Antique Tractor and Machine Association helped restore the lathe.

T-shirts

T-Shirts - "Moruya Granite" featuring the Sydney Harbour Bridge are available for sale at the Museum. Shirts are available in white on black or burgundy on cream. Adult and Children's sizes. $20

Photographs

The Museum houses a large collection of photographs of the district and the pioneers who developed the area. Many are on display but many more are filed and indexed and stored in the Museum.

Arrangements can be made to purchase copies of any of our photographs, costs vary according to size required.

Orders can be made by contacting the Photograph Curator Julie Morgan at the Museum on a Wednesday 4474 3224.

Opening Hours