History of Mount Dutton Bay Woolshed

The Mt Dutton Bay Woolshed was established and built by pioneer ‘Price Maurice’ in 1875.

He held a land lease that stretched from Elliston to Dutton Bay, covering over 100 miles of coastline. A jetty was also built adjoining the woolshed, which secured this as a valuable ‘land -sea link’. This land - sea link was unique, as it was located within the pastoral lease itself and not attached to a township.

All timber trusses within the Woolshed were transported from Oregon USA, which still bare the official markings today. The stone used for the building was found on site and around the district of Wangary.

At its peak , over 20,000 sheep were shorn within the woolshed. Up to 100,000 fleeces were baled and loaded onto ketches from the adjoining jetty, for overseas markets.

Pictured:- Cliff Morgan leading 'Speedo' his top lead horse down the Dutton jetty (c1940)

The Shearers Quarters was also established in 1875 and in its hey day the quarters housed up to 14 hand-blade shearers, four roustabouts and two cooks.

Price Maurice never lived at Mt Dutton Bay, nor did he live on any part of his pastoral lease, but chose to live at Campbelltown, South Australia. Due to illness, Price Maurice returned to England to his hometown of Wrexham and died in 1894.

Click on the photos for a close up then click "back" on your browser.
History photos on this page have been kindly supplied by Deane Morgan and the family of the late Lance Puckridge.

Pictured:- Shearing team about 1944
Left to Right Back:- Roy LeBrun, Mac LeBrun, Stan Morgan.
Front: - Mick Doudle, Tome Morgan, Maurice Morgan, Bill Doudle and Lew Morgan, Nance Derrington, Beth Morgan, Wally Saint, "Woolclasser" W G Morgan.

Early in the 1920’s the Mt Dutton Bay Woolshed was bought by the Morgan family. The Morgan family used the Woolshed for shearing right up to the mid 1970’s. After which, the store shed was used to store ‘broom grass’, local grass used for making brooms. Fisherman would also use the store shed to store nets and fishing gear.

Due to the bad state of the Woolshed and fear for public safety, the Woolshed was almost demolished at one time. But, due to public support, the Woolshed along with the adjoining jetty, was placed under State Heritage Listing in 1984.

Since 1992 the Woolshed has been lovingly restored now offering a working ‘Museum’ and Function facilities, Hostel Accommodation and ‘Cottage’ Accommodation.
Pictured right:- Pressing wool using the Robinson double-box Wool press

Above:- Ketches loading wheat stacks from the jetty 1895.

Above:- Original homestead from the jetty - 1920 c.

Above:- John Kihlberg & Tracy Morgan take a stroll along the jetty - 1920c.


Wangary Hotel and Hall - 1910c.	View over Dutton Bay from Marble Range


Left:- Arthur Puckridge and Tracy Morgan 1910c. Middle:- Tracy Morgan (second from left) with Cliff Morgan on top of wool bale. Others unknown. Note the trolley rails - 1920c. Right:- Family Picnic next to the jetty - 1920. Tracy Morgan - far right with young Cliff Morgan to his right.


Left:- The regular arrival of the ketch "Harold" 1910c was an integral part of the land-sea link for the whole district. Middle:- View from top of mast of the "Harold" 1910c. Right:- Baskets of snapper waiting to be taken into PL to be shipped to Pt Adelaide on the "Minnippa" 1936

Netting for snapper in the bay approx 1936 - Perc Mundy, Jack Morgan and Jim Mundy