Description

Extended Data

DAAO URL

https://www.daao.org.au/bio/john-william-buckle-bunn

Birth Place

NSW

Biography

sketcher, diarist and author, was born on 10 April 1830, the elder son of George and Anna Maria Bunn . As well as copying prints from Whittock’s Drawing Book and The Illustrated London News William (as he was called) studied drawing for two or three years in the 1840s. After completing his studies he 'could take likenesses fairly’, though no extant examples are known. At his home, Woden Station NSW (now ACT), he kept a journal from March 1845 to June 1848 illustrated with crude pencil sketches, including some of the homestead and district. They are among the earliest known views of Canberra, e.g. Canberry [sic] Church . An interior view of Woden showing The Parlour Window, 3 July , appears in his journal for 1846-7 (Mitchell Library). In 1862-63 William drew pencil views of local residences for Gertrude Clara Woodhouse’s album of poems, including one of the Woodhouse home Schuldam Hall dated July 1863. His Woollongowah, the Residence of the Late Commissioner of Crown Lands Henry Bingham – Murrumbidgee District Tumut appears in E.H. Woodhouse’s album (National Library of Australia). His autobiography entitled 'The Life of an Unsuccessful Man’ (c.1879) was never published. After his mother’s death in 1889 he contested her will and won, gaining St Omer which had been left to his niece. He died there twelve years later. Writers: Staff Writer Date written: 1992 Last updated: 1989

Born

b. 10 April 1830

Summary

Some crude pencil sketches of his homestead and the district of St. Omer are among the earliest known views of Canberra. Bunn contested his mother's will -which had bequeathed the family property to her niece -and won, remaining at St. Omer until his death.

Gender

Male

Died

1901

Age at death

71