  Charles Rowand built a bluestone cottage on his 38 acre block on the corner of Williams and Feehans Roads, Mount Duneed  He also owned this 9 acre block in Lemins Road, Waurn Ponds across the road from the quarry. Most of the blocks in this area were used for grape growing  from the Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer 1 November 1855 — Each year a small number of the passengers of the Travancore who arrived at Point Henry on 1 November 1849 met for a celebratory dinner. | Charles Rowand came to Australia on the Travancore arriving in Geelong with his father, Dr Charles Rowand, brothers and sisters in 1849 after the death of his mother, Maria née Griffen. His father, who graduated at University of Glasgow in 1844, set up practice in Ashby (Geelong West). Charles practised privately until 1852 when he joined the Bridges Department as assistant engineer. He was the engineer of the first Barwon Bridge completed in 1848. He designed the Pollocksford Bridge which was completed in 1859. He became an engineer at the Central Road Board (the forerunner of Country Roads Board, then VicRoads) when the office in Geelong was established. He married Agnes Lees Robertson (daughter of Gilbert Robertson) in 1854. Their children were: Agnes Maude — born 4 June 1855 Gilbert Roberts (or Robertson) — born 3 April 1857 Margaret Elizabeth — born 1859 Frances Amy Stewart — born 1861 Charles Macdonald — born 5 October 1864 Maria Louise — 5 August 1866 Jean Reid — born 18 May 1871 Charles purchased land near the creek at Mount Duneed where he planted 4 acres of vines by 1858. He had a bluestone cottage built on his land on the south east corner of Feehans and Williams Roads. He served 1 term on the Barrabool Road Board in 1861. He became engineer of the Ballarat and Western District and was living at Connewarren, near Mortlake, when his son was born in 1864 and daughter in 1866. He later moved to Gippsland where he became the first engineer of the Shire of Buln Buln in 1878. He purchased crown land in the district. He died on 1 September 1908 at the age of 83 at Armadale and was buried in the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. He was said to have been the oldest road engineer in Victoria at the time. |
In 1858 Charles Rowand built a bluestone cottage on his 38 acres at Mount Duneed. A bottle in the foundations contained this letter together with a copy of the Ballarat Miner and Weekly Star dated Friday, October 22, 1858, a copy of the Geelong Daily News dated October 21, 1858 and a Maundy coin (4d value) dated 1854.
 | A broken column signifies a life cut short (perhaps grandson Gilbert Robertson Macdonald). Gilbert Robertson was 56 when he died on 5 September 1851. Buried with him are: Agnes Lees Robertson, his wife — died 28 January 1853 aged 51 years Charles Rowand, his son-in-law — died 1 September 1908 aged 83 years Agnes Lees Robertson Rowand, wife of Charles — died 10 August 1891, aged 61 Jean Reid Lucas, daughter of Charles Rowand — died 2 August 1947 Theodora Lucas, daughter of Jean Reid Lucas — died 23 August 1963 Gilbert Robertson Macdonald, son of Alexander C and Margaret Rainy (née Robertson) Macdonald, a grandson of Gilbert Robertson — died 2 January 1854 |
Alexander C Macdonald Alexander Cameron Macdonald was born on 9 August 1828 to Alexander Cameron and Sarah (née Warby) Macdonald at Campbelltown and was educated there. He loved the bush and learned the ways of the blacks. He made many explorations into the trackless country. He later opened the first post office in Wangaratta. He then became assistant to and later the partner of Charles Rowand at that time practising as a surveyor, architect and civil engineer at Geelong. Much of the laying out of Geelong was done by the pair. He was attracted by the gold rush and tried his luck in Ballarat but had little sucess. He returned to Geelong in 1852 to resume surveying and also ran an auctioneering business. In 1876 he moved to Melbourne where he suffered in the financial depression of the 1860s. In 1873 he was secretary of the Western District Railway League. He was a member of the Geelong Town Council for two terms. He stood for Parliament on three occasions but was unsuccessful. He established vineyards on the banks of the Barwon and Moorabool Rivers but suffered when phylloxera became an issue.
He went to Melbourne in 1876 where he went into business as an accountant and manager of companies, and spent much of his time collating his records of the aborigines and their language and ways. He soon became an authority and in 1883 he founded the Royal Geographical Society of Australiasia. He became its first hon secretary and hon treasurer. He also edited the society's journal until 1906. To mark his retirement the members presented him with a purse of sovereigns. He served as a councillor for the Shire of South Barwon from 1888 until 1914.
In 1852 he married the Margaret Rainy, third daughter of Gilbert Robertson. She died on 8 February 1901 and was buried at the St Kilda Cemetery. Her husband died at his residence in Punt Road, Prahran on 18 June 1917 and was buried beside her. He was looked after in his declining years by their adopted daughter Lily. Their one month old son, Gilbert Robertson Macdonald who died on 2 January 1854, was buried with his grandfather Gilbert Robertson in the Geelong Eastern Cemetery.
He went to Melbourne in 1876 where he went into business as an accountant and manager of companies, and spent much of his time collating his records of the aborigines and their language and ways. He soon became an authority and in 1883 he founded the Royal Geographical Society of Australiasia. He became its first hon secretary and hon treasurer. He also edited the society's journal until 1906. To mark his retirement the members presented him with a purse of sovereigns. He served as a councillor for the Shire of South Barwon from 1888 until 1914.
In 1852 he married the Margaret Rainy, third daughter of Gilbert Robertson. She died on 8 February 1901 and was buried at the St Kilda Cemetery. Her husband died at his residence in Punt Road, Prahran on 18 June 1917 and was buried beside her. He was looked after in his declining years by their adopted daughter Lily. Their one month old son, Gilbert Robertson Macdonald who died on 2 January 1854, was buried with his grandfather Gilbert Robertson in the Geelong Eastern Cemetery.
Gilbert Robertson, father of Agnes Rowand, was born on 10 December 1794 in Trinidad to a Scottish father and a West Indian slave mother. At the time money and lineage were more important than race. Mixed race children were often sent back to Britain to get a good education and then found a profession, carrying with them their family name. This was common in the West Indies and also in India. Gilbert was brought up in Scotland where he served a four-year apprenticeship to a Lothian farmer, acquiring the skills and knowledge of agriculture which gave him a reputation of being one of the best agriculturists in the southern hemisphere. He arrived in Van Diemen's Land in 1822 with his wife and child. Five more children were born in Australia. He set up a farm and later served for some time as Superintendent of Agriculture. In 1832 he had an association with the Hobart Town Press. In 1834 he set up his own paper which was the first in Hobart to be produced daily. He occupied a very prominent position in public affairs in Van Diemen's Land where he suffered persecution from his position at the time of an unpopular government. Gilbert's life in Australia probably did not live up to his expectations. He had a number of setbacks and was revered more in death than in life.
During 1845 and 1846 Gilbert became Superintendent of Agriculture at Norfolk Island. His wife and young children joined him there. His married daughter Fanny stayed in Hobart. The family lived at Branka House at Longridge. The main purpose of Longridge was to maintain an agricultural settlement with convicts supplying the labour.
Early in 1847 Gilbert resigned his position at Norfolk Island and travelled to Hobart to secure employment and prepare for the family to follow him. He probably did not find a suitable job in Tasmania as he came to the Geelong area soon after. He convened a number of public meetings. He was nominated to stand for election on the Geelong council in 1850. In his role as editor of the Victorian Colonist and the Chronicle he often expressed unpopular but well meaning opinions.
On 5 September 1851 he died about a mile from the Barwon bridge while riding his horse to Colac. Although he received immediate assistance he could not be saved. A subsequent inquest was held where it was decided he had died of an apoplectic seizure. It was learned that two previous seizures had occured. He was aged 56 years. On Sunday 7 September his remains were conveyed to the Geelong Eastern Cemetery for burial. Although the public had not been formally notified his funeral was attended by the most numerous and most respectable assemblage that had been witnessed in Geelong.
Very soon after his death about 80 of his friends met at the Prince of Wales Hotel to show their respect for him by raising of a sum of money by public subscription to be invested for the benefit of his family who were left in scant circumstances. It was expected that about £500 (a considerable sum back then) would be collected. By December it was reported that £1400 had been collected. His wife, Agnes née Lees, who died on 28 January 1853 at the age of 51 was buried beside him.
During 1845 and 1846 Gilbert became Superintendent of Agriculture at Norfolk Island. His wife and young children joined him there. His married daughter Fanny stayed in Hobart. The family lived at Branka House at Longridge. The main purpose of Longridge was to maintain an agricultural settlement with convicts supplying the labour.
Early in 1847 Gilbert resigned his position at Norfolk Island and travelled to Hobart to secure employment and prepare for the family to follow him. He probably did not find a suitable job in Tasmania as he came to the Geelong area soon after. He convened a number of public meetings. He was nominated to stand for election on the Geelong council in 1850. In his role as editor of the Victorian Colonist and the Chronicle he often expressed unpopular but well meaning opinions.
On 5 September 1851 he died about a mile from the Barwon bridge while riding his horse to Colac. Although he received immediate assistance he could not be saved. A subsequent inquest was held where it was decided he had died of an apoplectic seizure. It was learned that two previous seizures had occured. He was aged 56 years. On Sunday 7 September his remains were conveyed to the Geelong Eastern Cemetery for burial. Although the public had not been formally notified his funeral was attended by the most numerous and most respectable assemblage that had been witnessed in Geelong.
Very soon after his death about 80 of his friends met at the Prince of Wales Hotel to show their respect for him by raising of a sum of money by public subscription to be invested for the benefit of his family who were left in scant circumstances. It was expected that about £500 (a considerable sum back then) would be collected. By December it was reported that £1400 had been collected. His wife, Agnes née Lees, who died on 28 January 1853 at the age of 51 was buried beside him.
 Grave of Elizabeth White Robertson in the Norfolk Island Cemetery | While Gilbert was Superintendant of Agriculture at Norfolk Island, his daughter Elizabeth White Robertson, wrote a series of letters to her married sister Fanny in Tasmania which were published in diary form. The book named "Elizabeth Robertson's Diary, Norfolk Island 1845" covers an early six week period of the life on the island soon after her arrival. She had contracted tuberculosis and feared she would never see her sister again. By 1847 Gilbert had resigned his post at Norfolk Island and headed to Hobart to gain employment and make arrangements for the family to follow. Sadly Elizabeth died on 14 January and is buried on the island. |
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