Dick Dunn

Who was Dick Dunn?

Richard "Dick" Dunn in the front room of 5 Clovelly St. Watsons Bay to Charles Ernest Dunn, who was the first postman on horseback in Watsons Bay and a well known fight trainer at the Sydney Stadium, and his wife Blanche née Dykes known as "Totty". She was the daughter of John Dykes, former Mayor of Vaucluse and Phoebe Solomon. Dick's ancestor had been the convict, Thomas Dunn who had arrived on the "Hillsborough" in 1799. Thomas served his 7 year sentence and later after marrying the daughter of Thomas Bean, a freeman in the colony, became Chief Constable of New South Wales. From convict to chief constable showed dedication and perseverance and a will to achieve, a family trait that would follow in the generations to come. Another of Dick's ancestors was Patrick Humphreys, who came to Australia on the "Boddington" as a convict, served his time and then became a member of the NSW Corps. For his service he was granted 100 acres at Brisbane Waters and lived with his wife Mary in Wicklow Cottage Watsons Bay which is known as 4-6Robertson Place Watsons Bay. They had many children and Theresa his granddaughter married Frederick Thomas Dunn, a master mariner. Dick's brother Billy Dunn was also a fighter of great repute. Dick married Margaret James in 1943 and his daughter, Carolyn became the first woman mayor of Waverley in 1986.