Exploring Moruya's Historic Past
As you enter Moruya from the north you will find, over the bridge, at the intersection with Queen St, the Court House (1879).West along Queen St, to the right, just before the first crossroad, is the Sacred Heart Catholic Church (1889) built of local granite. Turn left at that crossroad into Page St and to your immediate right is the Uniting Church, formerly the Wesleyan Church (1864), also built of local granite. At the next intersection, with Campbell St, the post office (1887, extended 1926 and 1984) is to your left before you cross the road and, to your right, is the Rectory (1874) and St John's Anglican Church (1891), designed by Arthur Blacket, the son of noted architect Edmund Blacket. The new post office replaced the service which operated at the corner of Queen and Vulcan Sts, diagonally opposite the courthouse.
Turn left into Campbell St and, on your right, just before the roundabout, is the Historical Museum (1875, restored externally in 1982). During Christmas and Easter school holidays it is open every day from 11-3; otherwise 11-3 on Fridays and 11-1 on Saturdays. Turn right at the roundabout into Vulcan St and at number 57 is the old Bank of NSW building (1907), unoccupied at the time of writing.
Continue down Vulcan St to its end and turn right into Murray St, with the golf course on your left. Take the first left into Evans St, follow it until it curves to the left into Bergalia St and then take the first right into Dwyer Creek Road. This leads to the cemetery wherein lies the grave of Constable Miles O'Grady, killed in a shoot-out with the bushrangers of the Clarke gang (see entry on Bodalla). Take the first gate on the Moruya side, go straight ahead and the tombstone is in the third-last row immediately on the left. The date of his death was 9 April 1866, not 7 April, as the inscription indicates. Further down Dwyer Creek Rd are some old gold and silver workings on what is now private property.
Francis Flanagan's family home
Francis Flanagan leased farms to Irish immigrants and acted as board member for the first Catholic school, established on his property in 1847. He was buried in the Moruya cemetery. His last, if not his first, family home was called 'Shannon View', after the Irish river. It still stands to the left off Larry's Mountain Road. If you wish to see it head north out of Moruya along the Princes Highway and turn left at the sign for Mogendoura.
Kiora House
The Kiora run was initially managed by John Hawdon's nephew Francis Hunt until Kiora House was built (1833-35). Hawdon lavishly entertained such guests as noted Australian poet Henry Kendall, who is said to have written 'The Shanty on the Rise' at the homestead, and author Thomas Alexander Browne who, as Rolf Boldrewood, published Robbery Under Arms in 1888, based upon his knowledge of the Araluen goldfields. Utilizing the first convict-made bricks in the area the mansion, facing on to the Deua River, is still privately owned by a descendant. Although not open to the public it can be viewed from Araluen Road.
Activities on the Moruya River
Canoeing, boating and waterskiing can all be pursued on the Moruya River while its mangroves, oyster leases, channels and mudbanks make it a fine spot for fishing. Near the rock wall at the river mouth tailor and salmon can be found and whiting at Aerodrome Beach. There are boat-launching ramps both in town and at the river's mouth.
Scenic Drives and Lookouts
A scenic drive heads for Kiora along the Araluen Road and then take the unsealed Wamban Road south. This route will take you through the Moruya State Forest via Little Sugarloaf Road. After 10 km the Western Boundary Road branches off to the south and loops back to the Princes Highway north of Bodalla (a further 10 km). The roads are gravel but navigable in a two-wheel drive if you proceed with caution.
Little Sugarloaf Road is also the route to Hanging Mountain Forest Reserve, where there is a good lookout, and Pinkwood Creek.
The scenery on the road to Araluen is also outstanding and full of beauty (and wildlife). Head north out of Moruya on the Princes Highway and then take the turnoff to Mogendoura 3 km out of town. The route links up with the track from Kiora and will take you past Larry's Mountain.
This road cuts through the northern end of Deua National Park which adjoins the Wadbilliga Park to the south. Together they cover 156 000 hectares, one of the largest areas of natural land left in the eastern part of the state. The Park consists of wet and dry sclerophyll forests and patches of sub-tropical rainforest lining spectacular mountain ranges dominated by Big Badja (1362 m) and Mother Woila Mountain (1104 m). The park is also notable for its steep valleys, scenic rivers and limestone caves. There are 90 bird species, as well as kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, possums, bandicoots and the rare tiger quoll. The Deua River Camping Area lies on the Moruya-Araluen Rd. It has toilets, fireplaces and river water. 4WD tracks and forest roads are the only access routes within the park.
The main attractions - Big Badja, The Big Hole, Marble Arch, Wyanbene Caves and Bendethera Cave, along with the Bendethera and Berlang Camping Sites are all found along the western boundary of the park and are best arrived at via the Krawaree Rd (see entry on Braidwood)).
The Big Hole is a steep, 96-m deep and 50-m wide pit, probably formed when sedimentary rocks caused underlying limestone caves to collapse. Access involves wading across the Shoalhaven which means the site is inaccessible when the river is high. Marble Arch is nearby and Wyanbene Caves, 9 km south, are popular with spelunkers because of their limestone formations and the extent of the passages. The park has some excellent bushcamping and bushwalking sites, especially along the Deua River and Oulla Creek to the north-east and Woils Creek in the south, but it has few facilities so come prepared.
Other Attractions in the Area
A recent addition to local attractions is Australia's Bush Orchestra, a site upon which two walks have been established, both about thirty minutes in duration, one through dense rainforest. Both walks take the visitor past a series of plaques and busts of significant figures of Christian spirituality in an environment intended to stimulate reflection. Head west out of town on the Araluen Road towards Kiora, then turn off on to the Yarragee Road and take the right into Ted Hunt Terrace. The cost is $5 for families and $3 for individuals, with bird seed an optional extra. An alternative way of getting to there is to pick up a bus in Moruya which will take you on a one-hour trek through the historic sites of Moruya. The journey is accompanied by a taped commentary and concludes at the doors of the Bush Orchestra. For details on the bus trip phone 02 4474 3554.
Scenic flights can be booked from, and other local enquries made at, Batemans Bay Visitors Centre (1800 - 802 528). The Mobil petrol station at 83 Princes Highway, near the roundabout in Moruya (02 4474 2763), also carries some pamphlets and maps.
The Moruya markets are held every Saturday morning from 9 am in Shore St, behind the Adelaide Hotel.
Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.