1834 - Crown Land Grant – Greville’s Purchase

Although the area around the bay and its marine resources were almost certainly being exploited by the early settlers, permanent occupation of the area by white settlers was not initiated until 1834, following an application in February of that year by William Morricy to purchase the 20 acres surrounding the bay. The upset price was set at 10 shillings an acre. Following survey, the land was sold at a Crown auction on 13 June 1834. However, Morricy missed out; William Charles Greville, a Clerk in the Colonial Secretary’s Office, purchased the land for £44 or £2/4/0 per acre.

This was one of only three land grants made at Little Coogee until the 1850’s, the other two, also with frontage to the bay, were on its northern arm, to the east of Greville’s grant. In 1839 James Holmes purchased 5 acres adjoining the Greville grant and in 1841 John Roby Hatfield purchased 5 acres to the east of Holmes grant.

The surveyor’s sketch plan at right, made in 1848, shows the block as one of the only 3 “measured lands” around Little Coogee Bay at that time.

Further sales were postponed until the area was finally surveyed in 1854. The 15 lots surrounding these 3 grants at Little Coogee were then advertised, with the sale taking place in January the following year.

Prior to 1853, there were only 2 houses in the area, a hut on “Mr Greville’s farm” and a house on the adjoining 5 acres granted to James Holmes.