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Fuller

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NameFullerDescriptionIn 1865, the southern division of the Peterborough Estate at Shellharbour, was advertised for sale. George Laurence Fuller bought 2560 acres on the Minnamurra River, adjoining the Terry’s Meadows Estate, and called his land Dunmore, after his family home in Ireland.

George was born in in 1832. In 1839, his parents William and Ann Fuller, and his six siblings, left Ireland for Australia. His father died of typhus on the voyage. His mother lost a baby boy, born on the voyage, and his sister Charlotte, died in quarantine in Sydney. Ann Fuller opened a store in Corrimal Street, Wollongong, and placed her six sons and daughters in orphanages in Sydney, while establishing the business. The children were later brought to Wollongong, and educated at a Church of England school. On leaving school, George helped his mother with her shop keeping business.

When he was about 22, George left for the goldfields, on a small sailing vessel with a cargo of goods, via Port Fairy Victoria. In 1859, George married Sarah Miller of Renfrew Park, Gerringong, and purchased the Victoria Stores at Kiama: a business his brother Thomas, and brother-in-law George Waldron, had established.

In the 1870’s, the family moved from Kiama to their new home 'Dunmore House', set on a few hundred acres, reserved for the family’s use. The remainder of the land was divided into small tenant farms. J&M Dinning of Kiama built 'Dunmore House' of local blue metal, covered inside and out with lime mortar made from shells. It took them five years to complete. The home was initially four main rooms downstairs, and attics upstairs. Stone walls were built from the basalt rubble found on the estate. A dining room and kitchen were later added, so the building became u-shape. When the servant's quarters were added the home, it formed an open square courtyard in the centre. A large well was built under the courtyard, cedar used inside the home was cut from the estate, and the roof was made of slate tiles.

By 1880, George owned some 9000 acres of the original Peterborough Estate extending from Lake Illawarra to the Minnamurra River, and west to Croom.

George and Sarah had 14 children, George Warburton, Robert Miller, Frederick William, Ada Annie, Florence Elizabeth, Alfred Ernest, Sarah Emily, Edith Mary, Charles Laurence (died just under five months old), Minnie Cunningham, Colin Dunmore, Archie Douglas, Bryan Cecil, and an unnamed baby, who died in 1889. George Warburton Fuller, born in 1861, became the Honorable Sir George Warburton Fuller, Premier of New South Wales. Lieutenant Colonel Colin Dunmore Fuller DSO, had a distinguished military career.

George Laurence Fuller is noted for his generosity to Shellharbour’s development. He gave two acres in 1883 for a new school called Minnamurra School, built of local basalt at Swamp Road Dunmore which still stands today as a private residence. He contributed largely to the municipality, providing tenant farmers to work the land. He expanded the blue metal trade in 1885, providing cottages (on Shellharbour Road), and work for the quarrymen. He donated land for a new Shellharbour General Cemetery, to replace the sand cemetery that was washing away at the foreshore, and in 1896, gave land and a cash donation, to build the Shellharbour School of Arts in Mary Street, Shellharbour. He also established a racecourse on cleared land at Albion Park Rail, between the railway line and Macquarie Rivulet.

George donated a pipe organ to the Kiama Presbyterian Church, and helped build a fully equipped, up to date operating theatre at Kiama Hospital. His last appearance in public was to open the Sarah Fuller Memorial Ward in January 1917, a gift fully built, and furnished by him.

George and Sarah celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at 'Dunmore House' in 1909, with their family. On this occasion, their tenants presented them with an Illuminated address, and a number of gifts. George, in return, gave each tenant a quarters rent. The Fuller's also built a new wing to their home, especially for the occasion.

Sarah died in 1913, and George died just four years later. Both are buried in the Presbyterian section of Bombo Cemetery, Kiama. George’s funeral cortege was one of the largest in the district, and extended for a mile and a half.

Today 'Dunmore House' is a private residence.

Information thanks to descendant Bryan Fuller - 'Against All The Odds', 2016.

External LinkObituary Mrs Anne Fuller 1868Mr GL Fuller's Dunmore Quarries 1898Dunmore Butter Factory Taken Over by GL Fuller 1902Weddings Morton - Fuller 1907To See The Fleet Mr Fuller's Generosity 1908Mr and Mrs Fuller Jubilee 1909Deaths Mrs GL Fuller 1913The Late Mrs GL Fuller 1913Death of Mrs GL Fuller 1913Mr AE Fuller 1913Death of Mr GL Fuller 1917Death of Acting Premier's Father 1917Late Mr GL Fuller 1917Hon GW Fuller 1917Mr WF Fuller 193421st Birthday Miss Hope Fuller 1943The Member for Illawarra Mr GW FullerBirthday Party at Dunmore 1942Archibald Alexander 93 YearsPresentation at Dunmore 1948Wedding Rutledge - Fuller 1945Obituary Colonel Col Fuller 1953Death of District's Most Decorated Soldier 1953Ways and Sprays of Kiama 1940

Object

Sarah Deans (Nee Fuller) Passport

Shellharbour School Of Arts Minute Book

English Scottish And Australian Bank Security Book

English Scottish And Australian Bank Register Of Fixed Deposits

Bible - Sarah Cunningham Fuller

Fuller Family Deed Box

Ratchet And Drill Bit

Mantle Clock

WWII Nurses Veil - Meiklejohn Family

The Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Society Limited Office Plaque

Shellharbour School Of Arts Minute Book

Shellharbour School Of Arts Subscription And Hall Rentals Journal

Shellharbour School Of Arts Subscription Book

Mouli Grater - Fuller Family

Map or Plan

Bassett Darley Estate Plan Lots 17, 18, 19

Plan Fitzgerald's Lot Shellharbour

Plan of Fuller's Estate Subdivision

Fullers Estate

Peterborough Estate - The Property of GL Fuller

Plan of Portion E Peterborough Estate

Fullers Estate Shellharbour

Plan Peterborough - Lake Entrance Road

Township of Illawarra Estate

Oak Flats Estate Subdivision

Person

Arnold Ellen

Fuller, George Warburton

Fuller, Colin Dunmore

Family

Aito

Condon

Rutledge

Locality

Minnamurra

Dunmore

Albion Park Rail

Document

Letter Between Department Of Education And William James

Gazette Notice Incorporation of Municipality June 4th 1859

Videos

The Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Factory

Event

Horse Racing

Industry

Mining - Basalt

Dunmore House, c.1984.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionFamiliesFamilyRutledgeLocalityDunmoreKiamaPersonFuller, Colin DunmoreFuller, George WarburtonPlaceDunmore HouseDunmore TerracesAllawah Place Dry Stone Wall and Fig TreesResthavenMinnamurra School and Teachers ResidenceAnglesboroGinndawarrabellGlengowrieGlanworthKillarney MayfieldRosemontSeaview - DunmoreRelated ItemFullers Estate Shellharbour Village - 1923The Fuller Family obelisk in the Presbyterian Section, Kiama CemeteryThe Fuller girls at Dunmore House 1909The Fuller boys at Dunmore House 1909Sarah Cunningham Fuller 1841-1913Real Estate brochure advertising the sale of the Fuller Estate in Shellharbour VillagePlan of GL FullerPipe organ donated by G L Fuller to Kiama Presbyterian ChurchKillarney', Archie Fuller's house, DunmoreGold watch presented by George L Fuller to his wife, SarahGeorge Laurence Fuller 1832-1917Fuller, BryanFuller ParkDeed box used by George Laurence Fuller and familyColonel Colin Dunmore Fuller (1882-1956) and his horse 'Illawarra'Bullock team clearing a paddock of George Laurence Fuller's estate at Dunmore

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Fuller