Free Settler or Felon
Convict and Colonial History






William Dun - Coroner and Settler

Duninald - Map 2


William Dun was born to William Dun and Frances Renwick in 1789. He arrived in Australia on the Mariner in December 1821 with his wife Maria (nee Burnett) and daughters.

Land Grant

He brought with him recommendations from Lord Bathurst dated September 1820 to become a free settler and a directive to provide him with a land grant proportionate to his means of bringing the land to cultivation.
James Adair John Boughton Edward Collison Close - Green Hills George Cobb Edward Gostsyck Cory Gilbert Cory John Cory william cummings Andrew Dixon Robert Corum Dillon Leslie Duguid William Dun William Evans George Frankland William Hicks Beresford Hudson William Innes Richard Jones James Kelly Andrew Lang - Dunmore Robert Lethbridge Alexander Livingstone James McClymont Thomas McDougall George Muir Find out more about Maitland Timothy Nowlan Henry Dixon Owen - Aberglasslyn Richard Pritchett James Phillips James Read (Reid) George Shaw Rutherford Walter Scott Gentleman John Smith John Galt Smith Hugh Torrance John Tucker Susannah Matilda Ward Susannah Matilda Ward William Charles Wentworth John Wighton Gorge Williams Caleb and Felix Wilson John Thomas Maughan Early Settler Map 1

Land Selection

William Dun made his land selection by 1822.

His was the first major land grant on the Paterson river. The location can be seen centre as 'Dunn' on the map above. He was assigned four convicts and provided with supplies from the Stores at Newcastle for the convicts and his family.

Map showing location of Duninald
Map of the River Hunter, and its branches : shewing the Lands reserved thereon for Church purposes, the Locations made to Settlers, and the Settlement

Convicts Assigned

Patrick Good who arrived on the Prince Regent 1821 was assigned in March 1822 James and Michael Landers who arrived on the Hadlow in 1820 were assigned in March 1822 John Smith who arrived on the Eliza was assigned in 1823.

Select here to find out more about William Dun and convicts who were assigned to him at Duninald

Colonial Life

Unlike some other Hunter Valley land owners, William Dun remained on his estate and became involved in the community in various ways.

He performed church services near 'Duninald' at the request of the Commandant at Newcastle and received a further land grant for this duty.

In 1822 he was appointed correspondent member at Newcastle of the Committee of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, and in 1825 his appointment as Coroner was announced.

Duninald

On the Duninald estate, William Dun constructed his residence of sand stock bricks with two chimneys at either end of the shingled roof. A verandah in the front and three rooms faced east with three more facing the west.

Old Duninald, 1978
Old Duninald


One of William Dun's daughters, Maria married George Faircloth in 1847 and another, Frances, married Charles Reynolds of Tocal who later owned Duninald.

William Dun died at Denmark Hill, Ipswich Qld on 23 June 1876. His wife Maria Dun died at Denmark Hill, Ipswich Qld in June 1878.


Notes and Links

1). William Dun's brother was General Charles Denis Dun of the Madras Army who died in 1864