John and Catherine Dunn - Pioneers at Gooramadda 1864 to 1908

(Research by Jack Dunn, Echuca, 1982)

John Dunn was born in Freshford District, County Kilkenny, Ireland in 1833. He was the son of Michael Dunn who was a farmer, and his wife Mary Morrissey. The date of John's arrival in Australia is not known exactly - there were many John Dunns who arrived at that time! There is a story that John and one of his brothers, Thomas, first went from Ireland to the Californian goldfields, and from there John went to Australia with the understanding that Thomas would follow later. Unfortunately, John never again heard from his brother and they presumed Thomas died in one of the mining camps, where outbreaks of disease were common.

After arriving in Australia  John teamed up with a fellow Irishman named Martin Grace and bought land together in Gooramadda. When Martin died in 1875, his death certificate shows that his mother was named Mary Morrissey also, so possibly a family relationship existed between them.

Martin Grace and his wife Bridget (Dalton) arrived in Australia on the ship Tornado in July 1855. They worked for Henry Kelly in Moonee Ponds for 6 months for sixty pounds and rations, before heading north to Gooramadda.

Jointly John Dunn and Martin Grace bought land at Gooramadda in 1860, when the original Gooramadda holding was broken up. The price of the land was about one pound per acre and they purchased about 173 acres between them. They started clearing the land for general farming and planted several acres with fruit trees and grape vines. Periodically they needed to work in the local gold mines to obtain ready cash to purchase farm machinery and live stock such as poultry, sheep, pigs, cattle and horses.

When John married in 1864 the land was evenly divided between John and Martin and they built homes witin several hundred yards of each other. The original homes were constructed from local materials readily available on their own properties, such as bush timber and mud bricks. Later John extended his home with the addition of a brick building. The bricks were hand made by his brother-in-law Thomas Farrell, who was a brickmaker.

John Dunn married Catherine Farrell in Chiltern Catholic Church on 27th July 1864 and their witnesses were William Shelley and Eva Kate McMullens. Catherine came from the village of Muckalee, County Kilkenny, and was born in 1843; she migrated to Australia around 1860 with her sister Margaret and brother Thomas. After arriving in Australia, the Farrells settled in Chiltern where Catherine was employed as a maidservant before she married John.

John and Catherine had seven sons and two daughters (born over 13 years) at Gooramadda. They were Michael (born 1865), John (1867), Edward (1869), Thomas (born 1871 and who married Hannah Butler), Mary (1873), Margaret (who died as an infant), Kyran (1876), James (1877) and William (1878)

John's son Michael once explained to Jack Dunn that John had a good knowledge of building and had built the stable, hay sheds, smithy, creamery, dairy, milking and shearing sheds, and livestock yards himself from timber and posts obtained from his own property. He also built a large shed used as a cellar for making wine from his own grapes.

Catherine died at Gooramadda in 21st May in 1897, aged 54, and John Dunn died there on 23rd January, 1908, aged 65 years - both are buried at the Chiltern new cemetery.

Research by Jack Dunn, Echuca, 1982.

Calling all Dunn Descendants - 'Time to Gather by the River'

Dear Dunn Tribe
You are warmly invited to gather with your fellow tribes people and celebrate life and each other. You can expect a few days of fun, silliness, entertainment and warmth as we stand proud of our Irish heritage and our Australian birth.  Save this weekend, 24-26 February 2012, in Rutherglen, Victoria.

John Dunn arrived from Ireland in 1865, married Catherine, a good sort apparently, and nestled in Gooramadda near the Murray River. It is fitting then that we gather at nearby Rutherglen, Victoria.

Quickly Dunn? Everyone is welcome (kids and all relatives/partners), you don’t have to be called Dunn. Specifically, all descendants of Thomas and Hannah Dunn including the offspring of Joan, Frank, Kevin and Pat Dunn. Please forward this blog address or email onto anyone you think may be interested. 

Stir up your mob (parents, siblings, cousins, second cousins, in-laws, grandchildren, etc) and register your interest in attending by sending an email to Pete Dunn (Canberra) and Steve Dunn (Melbourne) via dunnsbytheriver@gmail.com providing:

• Contact name
• Email
• Mobile/Telephone
• No. of persons attending
• Ages of those attending
• Special needs

Over Dunn? The Program is yet to be finalised but a draft appears below. It will focus on fun for all ages and include a bus ride visit to several Dunn family local sites. It will include optional Friday night dinner in Rutherglen, Saturday activities all day, bus tour, games and a sumptious 'Over Dunn' dinner at the Poachers Paradise Hotel, evening entertainment, and Sunday morning farewell brunch.


Reunion cost will be approximately $75 per adult and $35 for children under 10 years. This includes lunch and dinner on Saturday, breakfast Saturday and Sunday and bus hire. It excludes return travel to Rutherglen, accommodation, drinks and dinner on Friday evening.

Consider it Dunn? Start collecting photos, family trees and stories to bring along. Send any interesting scanned photo or story to dunnsbytheriver@gmail.com electronically and we will add them to the Blog page. 

Well Dunn! More details will be sent out over the next few months and check back to this site for more updates. Be sure to register as a 'follower' to get updates. See top right of Blog page for directions.

'Dunn for the Day?' - ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

The Weekend plans to cater for all budgets as we want all of you to attend and be comfortable.
Book early to avoid disappointment!

Preferred accommodation options include (see tariff rates and options at the end of this page) :

Rutherglen Caravan and Tourist Park located on the banks of Lake King centrally in the township. It has a range of cabins, powered sites and camping and will be the bus tour collection point.

Contact Gary & Sue on 02 60328577; Email: sgfrcp@bigpond.net.au; 

Website: www.rutherglentouristpark.com.

Poachers Paradise Hotel Motel located adjacent to the Caravan Park. Poachers will be the venue for our evening dinner and entertainment. Contact Wayne & Joanne on 02 60329502/60327373; 

Email: poachersparadise@bigpond.com; Website: www.poachersparadise.com.au.

Need further options?

Contact Rutherglen Visitors Centre on 1800 622871info@rutherglenvic.com; 

Website: http://www.rutherglenvic.com/accommodation/default.asp.

'Dunn to Death' - Draft PROGRAM

Friday 24 February 2012
Visitors commence arriving into Rutherglen. Victorian travellers have under 3 hours to travel.
After 4.00pm: 'It's a Dunn Deal reunion Registration - Function Room, Poachers Paradise Hotel
6.30pm: Drinks and Dinner at the Victoria Hotel, historic pub

Saturday 25 February 2012
7.30am-10.00am: lazy breakfast provided by the shores of Lake King
10.00am: Gathering and official welcome in Murray Street Park beside Bowling Club
11.00am: Kids Games and Fun beside Lake King
12.00 noon: Bus pick-up for tour of District (Gooramadda, Morris Winery, Chiltern, etc) and lunch at Howlong's Court House Hotel
4.00pm: Return to Rutherglen for 'free time' until dinner
6.00pm: Drinks followed by dinner in the upstairs Function Room, Poachers Paradise Hotel
9.30pm til late: Dancing and karaoke compered by Cashelle and Nicola Dunn

Sunday 26 February 2012
8.00am - 10.00am breakfast by the Lake
11.00 am departure home

__________________________________________________________
Accommodation Tariff and Options:

Rutherglen Caravan and Tourist Park (discounted for 'It's a Dunn Deal' - 2011 prices)

CARAVAN AND CAMPING (PER NIGHT 2 PEOPLE SHARING)	STANDARD RATE	PEAK RATE
Powered Facility	$26.00 1st night $23.50 Thereafter	$29.50
Non Powered Facility	$19.00	$24.50
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE	In Same Van or Tent as (2 People sharing)	In Same Van or Tent as (2 People sharing)
Adults (over 14 years)	$8.00	$10.00
Children (14 years or under)	$5.00	$5.00
Children (2 years or under)	No Charge	No Charge
NO MINIMUM STAY FOR NON POWERED SITES

CABINS	DESCRIPTION	Sleeps Up to	Per night FROM                              TO
1	Bedroom 1 = Queen bed Bedroom 2 = Double base/ single bunk above Cooktop /small oven/microwave	5	$88.00                                   $115.00
2	As above  Note: Bedroom 1 = Double bed	5	$88.00                                   $115.00
5 Lakeview	Bedroom 1 = Queen bed Bedroom 2 = 2 x single Cooktop / Microwave / Frypan (elec)	4	$99.00                                  $135.00
6	Bedroom 1 = Double bed 2 Sets of bunks walk through to En-suite Cooktop / Frypan (elec) / microwave	6	$72.00                                  $89.00
7 NO   EN-SUITE	Bedroom area with Double bed (curtained) 3 Bunks in 2nd bedroom area Free standing cooker /microwave	5	$51.00                                  $68.00
8	Bedroom 1 = Double bed 2  Sets of bunks walk through to En-suite Cooktop / Frypan (elec)/ microwave	6	$72.00                                  $89.00
9	Bedroom 1 = Queen bed Bedroom 2 = Double bed Cooktop /microwave / Frypan (elec)	4	$88.00                                 $115.00
EXTRA PERSON	PER NIGHT	EACH	$15.00                                 $20.00
CHILDREN	PER NIGHT (Over 3 and under 14yrs)	EACH	$10.00                             $10.00

Poachers Paradise Motel (discounted for 'It's a Dunn Deal')


Standard Room @ $110.00 per night (normally $125.00)

Family Room @ $ 145.00 per night (normally $165.00)

Spa Room @ $125.00 per night (normally $145.00)

__________________________________________________________________________________
July 2011 Melbourne

 Pete and Steve Dunn

Marie Dunn, Pete Dunn, Ellen Dunn, Colleen Hanrahan & Nicola Dunn 

Colleen Hanrahan & Nicola Dunn

Féadfaidh Dunn greim do thóin!