Sullivan House established in 2017

The Mornington Peninsula has always been a very special place to us. We’ve spent many summers forging lifelong friendships and now our own family can enjoy this little piece of paradise.

The name Sullivan is a family name and also retains local historical significance. In 1803 the first British colony was established, 32 years before Melbourne was founded. The HMS Calcutta and Ocean brought 384 men and 38 women, 20 boys and 16 girls or 300 convicts to be guarded by 50 Marines who were accompanied by 11 servants and 55 free settlers.

Sullivan House is located on Murray Street, named after John Murray who discovered the area when he sailed in on the Lady Nelson on Valentine’s Day in 1802. On April 26 of that year Matthew Flinders anchored just off Sullivan Bay in The Investigator and explored for six days. The reports from Murray and Flinders were submitted to Governor Philip Gidley King in Sydney who thought that settlement at Sullivan Bay would have a number of advantages. However due to a lack of water and concerned about imminent attacks from the Aboriginals, Lieutenant Colonel Dvid Collins decided to move the settlement to Hobart in 1804.

The area is rich in historical heritage with great walks along Sullivan Bay, Tuckey’s track to the St Paul’s signal station, the Sisters and Cameron’s Bight, the site of the first landing and settlement site. For those that are really keen on history, head to the Sorrento historical society.

We hope you enjoy your own discovery of this culturally significant area.