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“Lovegrove, William, arrived at Shoalhaven in 1852 in a schooner, ‘Brd’s Legacy,’ 35 tons, and, although occupied as a civil servant, devoted considerable time in helping the advancement of the district in many ways. Because of the sand and mud flats in the Crookhaven, trade by steamer in opposition to the sailing craft that charged L2/15/- to L3 a ton freight on potatoes was deemed impossible. In a consultation with the American Consul and Mr. Edye Manning, as to providing steam communication, the latter suggested a plan with the aid of the William IV., a steamer broad as she was long, and steaming but four miles an hour. Mr. Lovegrove rejected the idea, and soon afterwards he and Messrs. W. and Edye Manning, T.S. Mort, Robert Tooth, Williams, and the Hon E. Lord, formed a company, towards which the Shoalhaven people contributed L4,000. Thus was formed, through Mr. Lovegrove’s instrumentality, the first Illawarra Steam Navigation Company. In a skiff that he had sailed from Wollongong he surveyed and charted the river entrance, assisted by Captain Noel. Great difficulties beset the company, for in spite of Mr. Lovegrove’s disapproval, the company purchased for the river service the S.S. Planet [60 tons, 30 h.p.], which was unsuitable because of her draught. The Nora Creina [180 tons, 80 h.p.] was the sea steamer. Mr. Lovegrove examined the navigable waters of the river and Broughton Creek, and worked the river service for some time. In 1857 he was appointed Government residential official, the service prior to then having been a monthly visit by Mr. Meares, from Kiama. The bench of magistrates comprised Dr. Kenneth Mackenzie and James Thomson, of Burrier. Mr. Lovegrove largely assisted the building of the Terara church - the first in Shoalhaven - on a site given by Mrs. Prosper De Mestre. At this time land settlement became difficult. The surveyors preferred to measure the clearer lands on which settlers could earn more money, and the more readily, and the scrub lands were marked inaccessible. Mr. Lovegrove aimed at securing amendment of the law, and in 1861 Mr. (afterwards Sir) John Robertson had enacted his famous measure providing for selection before survey. On occasions when he visited Ulladulla as Crown lands agent, Mr. Lovegrove had to swim his horse across swollen streams. When his home was at Terara he sustained heavy loss through his house being swept away by the great flood that year [1860]. He assisted in the incorporation of Central Shoalhaven municipality, and was its first Mayor [1879]. He worked hard at establishing a School of Arts at Terara [See also Sydney Morning Herald, 9th April 1874]. A building of brick was started, but its completion was prevented by the flood of ‘seventy, and the project was abandoned. The snagging and dredging of the Crookhaven Creek, which gave much relief in flood times, were supervised by him, and sevral thousand pounds voted by the Government were spent on this work [See also Sydney Morning Herald, 11th July 1872]. He built floodgates, and effected a scheme at his own cost for the drainage of an area known as Lovegrove’s Swamp. he was astrong advocate for the bridging of the Shoalhaven and the extension of the railway to Jervis Bay; a foundation member of the local Agricultural Association, and for many years president of it. The establishment of other utilities and institutions had his good support, and the claims of charity his generous response. he gave faithful public service for thirty-two years, and in 1887 relinquished his position under the Crown to contest an election for the representation of the district in Parliament, in which he was defeated by 55 votes. He was a gifted musician, many years organist at the original Terara Church, an artist of merit in oils and water-color, and assisted many entertainments for worthy objects. he retired in 1890 to Sydney, where he died. He left a family of four sons and five daughters.” (The Book of Shoalhaven as it was and as it is: illustrated, Sydney, 1926, Published in Conjunction with the Back to the Shoalhaven Week, p. 47)
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