Through the process of "squatting" on Crown land, squatters had occupied most of the Peel Valley and adjacent Moonbi Ranges by the late 1830s. By 1848 Henry Dangar had formed the "Moonbi" run of. Henry Dangar was company surveyor for the Australian Agricultural Company and was the influencing factor in convincing Edward Parry to exchange the coastal and mountainous lands at Port Stephens for the better pastoral lands of the Peel Valley. Pastoral runs were open range country, with a head station that was the heart of the enterprise. Moonby House was erected by the Gill family, which had made their money both from mail contracting and from pastoralism. This was the expression of that wealth at the end of the nineteenth century. Robert Alfred Orvill Gill built the house during 1895-96, of double brick made near the river, on the property Tangelwood. In 1970 Moonby House was restored by "Artificial Breeders Ltd." who made it the administrative headquarters of a cattle artificial insemination centre. In 1977 the Masonic Lodge conceived to change it to a retirement village. In 1978 the Freemasons Benevolent Institution of NSW purchased the property to establish the Northern Inland Masonic Retirement Centre - as a residential aged care facility. At the time of the study Moonbi House was still being utilised for that purpose.
Description
It is well-sited with views across the countryside to the Moonbi Ranges. Moonby House is now located within a retirement village. Moonby House has a long driveway leading onto Churchill Drive, included as part of its curtilage. Moonby House, constructed between 1895 and 1896, is representative of the development of the pastoral expansion of the Parry Shire, and is also an outstanding example of a pastoral manor house in the Federation Filigree style. It is important to the local community as a landmark item and is associated with the historical figures Henry Dangar and the Gill Family. It is also developing additional social and cultural importance associated with its current use as a retirement village. A substantial and well-detailed house featuring an interesting transitional architectural style.
