History of Fenwick House

In 1886 Captain Tom Fenwick, a strong-willed Scottish tug master built a majestic two-story mansion at the mouth of the Richmond River, overlooking Shaws Bay. Captain Tom chose this spot to enable shipping movements to be easily viewed from the upstairs verandah. The house designed by James Fenwick (Tom’s nephew) was built with Scottish granite and a slate of roof costing approximately 9000 pounds, a large amount of money at the time. Other distinguished features of this Victorian mansion include the beautiful English mahogany staircase, chandeliers, stained glass windows, four metre high ceilings and a magnificent Italian tiled entrance hall.

Capital Tom was an outstanding sea captain, master mariner and an astute and ruthless businessman. A family man, married twice (his second wide was Sarah Shaw), he quickly came to dominate the steam tug business and was renowned for his acts of bravery in rescuing ships stranded on the river bar.

He died in 1896 as a result of injuries and pulmonary disease from being submerged in seawater for a long period of time. Captain Tom Fenwick is buried in a small cemetery opposite the Shaws Bay Hotel.

Fenwick House was eventually sold by the family, was a boy’s boarding school, Hotel and private residence.