Comberton Grange

This picture was sent to us by Dee. Her family has a long history in the Shoalhaven. The picture is of Simon Jennings of Comberton Grange.

Comberton Grange located at Falls Creek on the far western end on the northern banks of Currambene Creek was at one time regarded as the centre of dairy farming in the Shoalhaven.




The farm has been in use since the 1830s. The original farmhouse was constructed between 1843  and 1847 by John Terry Hughes using convict labour. The bricks used in the construction were also made onsite by convicts.

The property went through various non-occupying owners who employed overseers to run the farm until the  Jennings family purchased the property in the 1850s. 

Simon Jennings is listed as the first owner/occupier. The farm was eventually passed onto Bob Jennings, becoming the third generation to occupy the property until sold in 1963.


Ron Jennings and Tenants.

The old farmhouse was listed on the National Trust’s register in 1981, but in 1989 when the home was owned by Shoalhaven City Council, it was burnt to the ground, leaving only the chimney and a few walls standing. In 1996 the draft local environment plan identified the ruins as being a heritage item of local significance.

Despite the listing,  bricks from the site were steadily being removed between 1990 and 2006 and were sold by the Shoalhaven Council in a clearance sale. Two months later the Council listed the property for sale.

https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/102756/auction-the-final-indignity-for-the-historic-homestead/?cs=203

The property was owned by the people of the Shoalhaven, care of the Shoalhaven City Council until recently,  the Council has sold the property to an overseas group who intend to build a large Shoulin Temple and housing tourist facility on the historic site.

Comberton Grange has some interesting stories associated with the property.
Here are just a few.

1844 - George Faulks was born on the property at 8 pm on the 11 April 1844.

The Faulks family were farmers trying to grow tobacco on a property at Woollamia. The family homestead and all their belongings were destroyed by fire. With the help of neighbours and local Aboriginals, they were rowed across Currambene Creek to Comberton Grange. A few sheets of bark were stripped and a "gunyah" built, two days after the destruction of the home George Faulks was born in the "humblest of humble bark humpies." on the banks of Currambene Creek.

George died in Nowra on the 24th May 1936, one month after celebrating his 92nd birthday.

At that time a Mr Mackay carried on extensive dairying operation at Comberton Grange.

1884 - Flying Foxes a voracious Pest. "We hope that everyone who has an orchard will send a shooter."
A large Flying Fox colony was discovered on the property, word quickly spread through the local Shoalhaven Telegraph. A large party of shooters were to assemble at the gates of Comberton Grange and proceed to exterminate what was then regarded as noxious orchard destroyers.

1899 - Mr Fitzgerald operated a profitable sawmill on the property.

1990 - A proposal to turn the 380 hectare Comberton Grange into a Japanese agricultural college was treated with a great deal of suspicion by the local Council Alderman thinking the proposed Australian-Japanese cultural exchange school could become a "de facto tourist resort."  The proposed residential college would house up to 300 Japanese students aged between 16 and 18 years and give them a background in Australian agriculture. The proposal included recreation facilities, a swimming pool, tennis court, boating facilities, cycle paths and sporting fields.

Alderman Baker..
"It is not desirable to create deliberate enclaves of people from other countries without positive programmes to have them involved with people of the area."

Ironic considering present day proposals.

1950 - Impassable road - The ongoing problems with access to Comberton Grange dating back to the 1840s culminated with thousands of gallons of milk being wasted because of the road into
Comberton Grange was in such a bad condition it was impossible to get even a horse and cart through.

1990 - The government looked at Comberton Grange as a possible location to relocate their munitions depot from Sydney. Eventually regected.

1990 - Shoalhaven alderman Greg Watson proposed a 10000 people housing development which would include a marina, golf course and tourist facilities. A marina would require extensive dredging of Currambene Creek. Local residents and environmentalists, along with a qualified coastal geomorphologist were against the proposal. The proposal was eventually dropped.