William Moutry was engaged by Benjamin Boyd in April 1847 to act as superintendent on various works at twofold Bay. his included completion of the Seahorse Inn at Boydtown which had begun ealy in 1845 and continued over a period of more than five years. Moutry arrived in the area from Sydney the same year.

 

He quickly moved to have his own residence constructed, selecting a site that is considered to have been one of the finest around the bay. In addition to his house and two brick-lined wells, Moutry had a summer-house, two servant's buildings and a fowl house constructed on the site.

 

There is much conjecture surrounding the activities of Moutry and the building of his residence. The site was remote from Boydtown and distracted attention and funds from the task he was given by Boyd. Although his duties included looking out for his employer's interests, Moutry debited other local works in an attempt to cover up the expenditure incurred by works on his own residence.

 

Although his house is no long extant, archaeological evidence remains, including remnants of the underground foundation brickworks. 

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