the town was settled in the 1850s, the post office opening on 1 september 1857. in 1852 german lutherans led by johann friedrich krummnow founded a community named herrnhut located near mount rouse about 8 km from penshurst – the group adhered to the principles of shared property and fervent prayer. krummnow died there in 1880 and the community had disbanded by 1890.