Moruya is a township of the Eurobodalla coast, situated upon the banks of the Moruya River. The first European recording of this stretch of coast was made by Captain James Cook in April 1770. The first Europeans to visit the Moruya region were seventeen survivors of the reefed "Sydney Cove", wrecked in Bass Strait in 1797. Only four of these remaining survivors were to reach the Sydney settlement. The early twentieth century anthropologist, H L Matthews, claimed "Moruya" to be a corruption of the Aboriginal "Mooree-u-ra", meaning "whale". However an alternative has been posited in "Mooruee", translating as "meeting and initiation site". Nonetheless, the local Aboriginal people are duly credited for the origin of the town's name.

European settlement in Moruya resulted from many surveys of the Eurobodalla coast. Thomas Hoddle of the Surveyor General's Department was one who navigated the coast in 1828. Subsequent to this, Boulter Gabriel Raye applied and received a land grant in 1828. Two more grants were similarly made to Dr George Thompson and Francis Moylan. However none of these were ever taken up.

It was the Irishman Francis Flanagan who became the "Father of Moruya", settling in the district in 1828. Soon after, the young John Hawdon began consolidating regional land, acquiring "Kiora" at the junction of the Moogandoora Creek and Moruya River in September 1831. These initial large farming establishments aroused much interest in the region.

Surveyor Samuel Parkinson journeyed from Bega in September 1850 to commence the survey of the village of Moruya. His submitted recommendations included a suggestion for the township to be named "Gundary". Fortunately the Surveyor General (Sir) Thomas Mitchell displayed a sympathetic advocacy of Aboriginal place names. The town was gazetted in August 1851, and the first sale of allotments transacted in February 1852.

Moruya enjoyed gradual and sure development. The 16 buildings inventoried in 1859 had augmented to 43 just two years later. A list of local town businesses of 1867 reveals this commercial consolidation. Trading were; 9 general stores, 5 hotels, 2 butchers, 2 blacksmiths, 2 bootmakers, a saddler, solicitor, chemist, tailor, watchmaker and flour miller. The town printer, emancipated convict William Clements, published the inaugural edition of the "Moruya Examiner" in 1864. This publication continues to be printed today.

Postal services arrived in the Moruya region during its infant isolation of 1839, when John Hawdon`s "Kiora" manager Mr Thomas Forster, was appointed Postmaster. A Post Office was duly established in the township, and a journalist from the "Freemans Journal" noted its decrepit condition at the corner of Vulcan and Queen Streets in 1880.

Reverend George McFie inaugurated education in the region, with the establishment of a Presbyterian school in 1841. By the close of the decade, enrolments had reached 37 pupils. Although Presbyterian, the teacher James McFarlane instructed many local children, regardless of denomination. The local Catholic community formed a Catholic school in 1847. By 1851, 52 pupils were recorded in attendance. This school met its end in a devastating fire. The new priest Father Birch conducted classes in the replacement school erected in 1860. A Methodist school commenced instruction in 1861, followed by a Church of England school in 1867. The first public school opened in Eurobodalla in 1864, complemented by another at Bodalla in 1866. A National School, which opened in Moruya in 1878, absorbed many pupils from the ailing denominational schools.

Many buildings of Moruya of historic interest have survived from the township's infancy. These include the Post Office of 1888, the Church of England Rectory of 1873, the granite Presbyterian Church of 1864 and the Court House of 1880. Along the airport road is the Moruya Granite Quarry. These granite deposits were exploited for the stone pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Moruya Historical Museum, housed in a building dating from 1875, offers information of other attractions in the region.

Overview

The first white settlement of the area occurred in 1828, when Francis Flanagan arrived from Ireland and journeyed from Ulladulla to the Mullenderee flats, north of Moruya. He was joined later by John Hawdon who settled at Kiora, 5 kms west of Moruya. The town soon grew as the importance of the estuary and river system became apparent.

Museums and Historic Sites

The area has many notable buildings of historic interest, including the Historical Museum (1875), Post Office (1888), Court House (1880) and the Wesleyan Church (1880). Visit the imposing Granite Quarry which was the source of stone for the pylons on Sydney Harbour Bridge. Kiora, the home and private cemetery of the Hawdon Family, may be visited by prior appointment. The Moruya and District Historical Society Museum has interesting displays of local historical items and records.

Natural Attractions

The Deua River is one of the main attractions in Moruya town, and meanders through the Deua National Park. Visitors can enjoy bushwalks through rainforest and coastal habitats, and marvel at the abundant native flora and fauna. Spectacular lookout points provide unforgettable views of the surrounding landscape, with excellent 360 degree views of Mt Dromedary and Montague Island from the Toragy Point Lookout. Beaches that stretch from Broulee to North Moruya are ideal for swimmers, fishermen, surfers and sunbathers alike.

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