Wairanga, Yellow Rock

The first member of the Couch family to come to Shellharbour was James Couch. James was born c.1790 in Suffolk and was transported to Australia for life for sheep stealing in 1827. He arrived per the Phoenix in 1828 and was eventually assigned to work for Mr Jenkins at Berkeley. James and his wife Mary (Wheatley) had ten children; Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Edward, Louisa & George, Eliza, James, William, Susannah, and Emily.

The Couch family over many generations has made a large contribution to the dairying industry in Shellharbour.

George was a successful dairy farmer and race horse breeder. While living in Dunmore, George managed the Fuller estate for George Laurence Fuller and was second chairman of the Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Company.

James Jnr. became a dairy farmer at 'The Meadows' Albion Park. He won first prize at the Sydney Agricultural Show in 1916 with his prize bull 'Laddie'.

Edward Couch was also a prominent dairy farmer in the area. He was on the Board of Directors of the Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Company along with his brother George.

Edward Couch purchased a farm at Yellow Rock from Benjamin Clarke c1893. 'Wairanga' the homestead built on rubble foundations and completed in 1895. The corners were made of sandstone cut and transported by horse-drawn drays from Stockyard Mountain.

'Wairanga' still stands at Yellow Rock today.

Wairanga homestead and buggy shed at Yellow Rock c.2003

Wairanga homestead at Yellow Rock c.2003

Albion Park Show 1911. James Couch Jnr. is top right.

Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries

George Couch Chairman Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Factory 1901-1910

Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries