The Dunning family were an aristocratic family with landholdings throughout Devon and Devonshire with the village of Throwleigh being the area where they predominately lived.

The Dunning family as residents of Monaro began with the arrival of William Brock Dunning. William Brock was born in 1867 in Devonshire and was the 3rd child of 10 to William and Elizabeth Dunning nee Collins. William's parents owned 'Waye Farm' near Throwleigh.

In 1883, William Brock's father passed away at the age of 49 leaving 'Waye Farm' to William Brock. He was more interested in becoming a Solicitor and began his studies at University some years later. William decided to visit Australia after the second year of his studies and so set out in April, 1889 and arrived in Brisbane, via Thursday Island in June, 1889. He was 21 years old.

William brought many of his Law books with him to further his studies as he was travelling extensively throughout Queensland. He spent 12 months in Queensland and at the end of that time, booked passage on a ship home. After loading his trunks etc aboard ship, he visited and stayed with friends in Brisbane overnight before returning to the ship. When he arrived, the ship had left without him, so William was left with very few clothes and 2 Law books. The ship met a sad fate in the Torres Strait.

William then decided to visit more of the country and ended up in the Cooma district where he met Mary Smith, youngest daughter of John and Sarah Smith of Rock Flat, NSW. He married Mary in 1891. Once married, he sent a letter off to his mother informing her that he had married 'a native' of Australia. Without delay, his mother ordered him home, so after the birth of their first child, Florrie Louisa in Jan, 1892, William and Mary departed for England.

Prior to their departure, William had purchased a property named 'Kydra', 9 miles north of Nimmitabel. He instructed a local builder to build a home on the property during their absence and then he and Mary were off with their young daughter.

They spent two and half years in England, with William disposing of his inheritance, 'Waye Farm'. They purchased many pieces of furniture for their new home....a dining table, chairs, a four poster bed, chests of drawers and many other bits and pieces all suitable for the new house at Kydra. Many of these are still with the Dunning family.

Before leaving England, William presented to his mother a small painted sign with 'Kydra' on it, she subsequently hung it above her front door . There are photos of the home she lived in at Newton Abbott and the sign is just visible.

William and Mary and family returned to Australia to find that the builder had altered their house plans. The ceilings were much lower and all the rooms were about a 3 foot smaller. There has been much conjecture as to why the builder did this.

William Brock and Mary Dunning added to their family over the years and their family consisted of......

Florrie Louise born 1892; Agnes Brock born 1893; Nancy born 1895; Susan born 1897; Elizabeth Collins born 1899; William born 1901 and Ruby Marjorie born 1915.

First born Florrie went on to become a well known Show Rider at most of the Horse Shows on the Monaro and the Bega Valley. There are still many of her silver pieces she won over the years within her family.

Florrie retired after marrying Walter Platts of Ando, NSW where she took up the role of mother and housewife on their property 'Fairview' at Ando.

Their children were......... Nancy Marjorie......Mrs Roberson, Camden, NSW

Hilda Lavinia......... Mrs Parker, Kybeyan and Campbelltown, NSW

Neville Walter...... Mila and Bombala, NSW deceased

Ellwyn Keith...........Quaama via Bega, NSW

Elva Elaine........... Mrs Roberts, Cathcart, NSW

Ruby Virginia....... Mrs Fulton, Bathurst NSW and Canberra ACT

Don William......... Rocky Hall NSW, Canberra ACT and Broulee NSW

Vincent Lionel Geoffrey.....Ando, NSW deceased

Second born was Agnes Brock and she married a Church of England Minister, Harold Skuse. They lived in Sydney and had one daughter, Eve who is now deceased.

Agnes was hit and killed by a bus in 1925 and is buried in the Nimmitabel Cemetery next to her parents.

Third born was Nancy who married Frank Butler and they lived in Sydney and had one son, Kevin. of Dee Why, NSW