​​Francis Henry Stacey was born in Geelong in 1863 to unknown parents. On 23 February 1887 he married Catherine Mary Danger at the High Church, Geelong. He lived at Rock Hill Farm at Mount Duneed. He leased the 60 acre farm on the north east corner of Torquay and Lower Duneed Roads from Mrs Jane Lamond. They had the following children while living at Mount Duneed:
​Frances Ellen — born 1888 
Ida Victoria — born 1890, died 13 October 1916, buried in the Presbyterian section of Mount Duneed Cemetery
Herbert William Francis (Bert) — born 1891, married Gertrude Eliza Middleton in 1927, died 20 January 1977 at Buckley, buried at the Geelong Western Cemetery
Francis Samuel Edward — born 1893, married Mary Eadey, died 14 October 1951 at Barwon Heads (pictured at right), buried at Mount Duneed Cemetery
Jesse Lily Margaret — born 1895, married
​John Henry Herbert Lemaitre, died 1959 at Geelong
Malcolm Robert — born 1897, married Myrtle Thelma Gogoll, died 1952 
Frederick Henry — born 1899, died 12 November 1917 at Geelong, buried at Mount Duneed Cemetery
Alice Elizabeth — born 1904, died 1906 at Mount Duneed, buried at Mount Duneed Cemetery
Donald Clarence — born 26 February 1907, married Florrie Letitia Cameron, died 1970 at East Geelong, buried in the lawn section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Clifford Ross — born 1909, married Elizabeth Helen Cameron, died 1975 at South Geelong, buried in the lawn section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Samuel James — born 1913 at Geelong, died the same year, buried at Mount Duneed Cemetery
​Maxwell — born 1914 at Geelong, died 1981

Francis died on 9 September 1934 at Geelong. Catherine died on 30 May 1943 at a son's residence in South Geelong.​ They were buried together in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery 

Family photos contributed by Bryan Clissold

Private Francis Samuel Stacey 3989 served in France and returned to Australia in 1918. He drowned while fishing from rocks at Barwon Heads on 14 October 1951. He was one of six soldiers from Mount Duneed who sailed on the same day, 8 February 1916, on the HMAT Warilda.
Allan Ellis
Charles Harold Gogoll
​James Reginald Palmer (Reg) (brother of Arthur Stanley Palmer died 1917)
Leslie George Ellis
Herbert William Francis Stacey (brother)
​All are remembered on the Mount Duneed State School honour board.
​Also on the same ship were:
Clarence Edward James Batson
Victor Christopher Hanlon (Vic)​

Robert Ewing Blyth was the sixth child of Ewing and Agnes Blyth, born on 8 September 1872. In 1896 he married Elizabeth Ann Martin Cameron, daughter of John and Elizabeth Munro (née Gunn) Cameron. ​Their children were:
Elsie Ann Martin — born 1899 at Mount Duneed, married James Edward Clery in 1921, died 4 June 1987 aged 87, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Elizabeth Victoria — born 1901 at Connewarre, married Henry George McErvale on 16 March 1932 at Geelong, died 1975 aged 73 at Camperdown
Daisy — born 1904 at Geelong, married Allan Thomas Lawrence in 1936, died 1985 aged 80
Charlotte Amelia — born 3 July 1907 at Connewarre, died 3 December 1973 aged 66, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
​Isobel May — born 23 May 1910 at Mount Duneed
Robert John — born 23 November 1912 at Connewarre, married ​Hilda May Harrison in 1938, died 21 February 1992, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery 
​Raymond Douglas Haig — born 1919, died 21 February 1922 aged 2 years, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
​
​The children attended the bluestone school three miles away, travelling across paddocks with high grass in summer and mud in winter, the girls in starched white aprons and collars and black stockings.

In 1909 he purchased 126 acres, previously owned by William Underwood, on the south east corner of Barwon Heads and Black Rock Roads, Connewarre. He called the property Elsinore. He cleared the farm of sheoaks and planted fruit trees. He built dams and bought dairy cows and pigs.

He took an active interest in community life. For about 50 years he was secretary of the Connewarre Presbyterian Church and was on the hall and school committees. He became a South Barwon Shire councillor, serving for 25 years and served three terms as president — 1915-16, 1924-25 and 1935-36. He was appointed a justice of the peace for the Southern Bailiwick by the State Executive on 11 June 1918. He was a director of the Geelong and Cressy Trading Company for 32 years.

Robert died on 12 April 1949, aged 77 years, and is buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery. He is buried with Elizabeth who died in 1931 aged 55 years. ​

​Thomas Christian and Anna Elisabeth (née Teitz) Baum arrived in Melbourne on 5 October, 1854 on the Malvina Vidal. They leased 85 acres from Sir James Henty in Whites Road. Their first son John Gottfried Erdmann Baum was born in 1856 at Mount Duneed. Christian and son Gottfried ran a bluestone quarry until 1876. Gottfried married Anna Christina, the daughter of Karl Heinrich and Johanna Caroline (née Aumann) Finger, who was born on 5 September 1857 at Hawthorn, Victoria.  After the quarry closed the family moved to Gippsland where Christian selected land at Stratford where he established a fruit growing and dairy farm. Christian died at the Sale railway station on 25 May 1893. Anna died on 11 July 1888 as a result of diabetes from which she had suffered for 2½ years.
​
Gottfried and Anna's children were:
​Anna Christine Elizabeth Baum — born in 1880 at Doncaster, married Oscar Reinheld Rau on 28 May 1901 at the Lutheran Church at Germantown, died in 1972 aged 91 at East Geelong
Henrietta Bertha Baum — born in 1882 at Stratford, married Frank Paech, died in 1945 aged 62 at Geelong
Johann Gottfried Baum — born in 1884 at Stratford, married May Louisa Harrison in June 1909, died on 13 January 1951 aged 66 at Geelong
Minna Dora Baum — born on 7 September 1886 at Stratford, married Gottfried Heinrich Thiele on 12 October 1910 at Grovedale, died on 18 October 1948 aged 72 at Blackburn
Johann Joseph Benjamin Baum — born in 1888 at Stratford, married Dorothea Elizabeth Hartwich in 1914, died in 1947
Rubine Sophia Baum — born in 1890, married William Joshua Vanstone in 1916
Johann Alonzo Valentine Baum — born 1893 at Stratford, married Elsie Ethel Plier in 1918, died in 1971 at Waurn Ponds, buried on 17 February 1971 at Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Elvina Flora Ethel Baum — born in 1895 at Waurn Ponds, married Clarence Lugg in 1921, died in 1967 in Belmont, buried on 21 June 1967 at Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Johan Gottfred Erdmann — born in 1897 at Geelong, married Eva Hartwich in 1922, died on 21 December 1968 at Highton, buried at Highton Cemetery
Thomas Christian Rupert Baum — born 1899(1899-1992)
Flora Beatrice Baum — born in 1899 at Geelong, married Herman Alfred Schotz in 1924
Anna Allette Rosina Baum — born in1903, died on 12 June 1903 aged 5 weeks at Claremont in Waurn Ponds, Buried at Germantown Cemetery

​Christian died of heart disease at the Sale railway station on 25 May 1893 at the age of 72 years. He left an estate of £2653. The following year Gottfried and Anna came to live at Claremont in Waurn Ponds. Their descendants celebrated the 130th birthday of the farmhouse at Ghazeepore Road, Waurn Ponds with two open days — 3 and 4 October 1987. Four generations of the Baum family occupied Claremont until recent subdivision of the land. A park on the subdivided land, originally named The Vineyard Reserve was named Baum Park in April, 2019.

Gottfried died suddenly on 24 November 1914 while fishing on Corio Bay with a friend and was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. A finding of "fatty degeneration of the heart muscle" was found to be the cause of death. He left an estate valued at £9667/10/1. The couple were now living in Myers Street, Geelong although they still owned the Claremont farm of 336 acres. Anna died on 29 March 1927 and was buried with him.
​

Thomas Mallett was a native of Birmingham, Warwickshire England. He arrived on the Travancore​ on 1 November 1849 with his wife Mary Ann (née Ordige). In 1856 he selected a 47½ allotment at Marshall on the corner of Barwon Heads and Reserve Roads and 30 acres in Sparrovale Road in 1860. The railway line to the old Geelong Racecourse at Sparrovale was later to cross this land. Thomas was an officer of the Corio division of the Sons of Temperance which was held in the Sons of Temperance Hall in Ryrie Street, Geelong.

​A number of families from Marshall and Connewarre moved to the Strathbogie district when the land was opened up for selection. By the late 1880s Thomas and Mary were living at Strathbogie North. Thomas continued to buy and sell real estate in the Geelong district. 
​
Thomas and Mary had the following children:
​James Theophilus — born in 1848 in Birmingham, married Susannah Gardiner on 22 April 1873 at Aberdeen Street Baptist Church Geelong, died 16 October 1921 aged 73 years at the home of his son-in-law Phil Herbert Harold (Herb) Ibbott of Thurloo, 9 Stanhope Grove East Camberwell, buried in the Methodist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
​Lucy Emma — born about 1851, married John Adams in 1879, died 7 September 1926 aged 75 at 12 Foster Street, South Geelong
Mary Ann — born 1856 in Geelong, married George Strong in 1875, died 1932 aged 76 years at Newtown Victoria, buried on 15 April 1932 in the Methodist section of the Geelong Western Cemetery
William Arthur — born 1857 in Geelong, died 1911 aged 54 at Footscray, buried in the Baptist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery with his mother
​Robert — born 1858 at Connewarre, died 1933 aged 75 years at Bunyip
George Gittins — born 1861 at Geelong, died at 7 months the same year at Chilwell
Charles Thomas — born 1864 at Chilwell, died 1938 aged 73 at Ringwood
​Ruth — born 1866 at Connewarre, married Edwin Orchard in 1887, died 1938 aged 72, buried 14 November 1938 in the Baptist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Emma — born 1867 at Geelong, married George Congdon in 1890, died 1947 at Indented Head
Louisa — born 1871 at Geelong, married William James Thorne in 1891, died 3 June 1940, buried in the Methodist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
​
​Mary Ann died in 1901 aged 76 and was buried on 20 September in the Baptist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery with her son William Arthur. Thomas died on 3 November 1905 aged 82 at his residence Maud Street Geelong and was buried in the Baptist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. ​He left an estate of £1964.17.3. He left real estate to his children in Geelong, Barrabool, Marshall and Strathbogie.

​One of Thomas' sons developed a jersey cattle stud and was a successful Melbourne Show exhibitor.
​

​The land which Thomas left to Charles Thomas Mallett (blue) was between Barwon Heads and Sparrovale Roads. Only part of lot 17 was included. The land Thomas selected in 1856 and 1860 (orange). The railway line to the old Geelong Racecourse crossed this land. The first race meeting to use the new line was held on 1 February 1878.

​James, son of Thomas and Mary Ann (née Ordige) Mallett, was born in 1848 at Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He arrived on 1 November 1849 with his parents on the Travancore. He spent his early years at Geelong. He farmed land at Maindale Park, Strathbogie North. He married Susannah, daughter of John and Isabella (née Abernathy) Gardiner on 22 April 1873 at Aberdeen Street Baptist Church, Geelong. Their children were:
Mary Isabella May (May) — born 1875 at Geelong, married Phil Herbert Harold (Herb) Ibbott on 29 July 1903 at Maindale Park, Strathbogie North, died 4 May 1951 at Cootamundra, buried at Box Hill Cemetery​
Thomas Gardiner (Gard) ​— born 1876 at Horsham, died 1944 at Caulfield aged 67. He was manager of the Strathbogie North Butter Factory. He served in 2nd Battalion in South African War and WW1 NZ Expeditionary Force. He suffered severe gun shot wounds in the left thigh in France in 1918.
​Lucy Flora Elvina — born 1878 at Geelong, married William Irwin Thoms on 25 December 1902 at ​Strathbogie North, died in 1966 at Newtown aged 87, cremated remains interred at Altona Memorial Park
James Theophilus ​— born on 5 October 1879 at Murtoa, married Ada Emily Marshall on 11 April 1873 at Aberdeen Street Baptist Church at Geelong, died on 4 July 1954 at Geelong aged 74, buried in the Methodist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Emma Jane Adeline (Jean) — Born 17 June 1882, married Albert Charles Shields on 15 July 1908 at Strathbogie, died on 15 August 1960 at Ballarat, buried at Bungaree Cemetery at Pootilla
Muriel Grace (Grace) ​— born in 1884 at Geelong, died in 1964 at Camberwell aged 79
Florence Susannah — born on 8 August 1886 at Marshalltown, married Albert George Morley on 23 February 1910 at Maindale Park, Strathbogie North, died on 5 September 1952 at Camberwell aged 66
​William Arthur (Will)​ — born on 18 November 1889 at Strathbogie North, married Georgina Margaret Ellen Jupp on 10 March 1920 at Waitara Taranski in New Zealand, died on 27 October 1958 at Waitara Taranaki as a result of an accident, buried at Waitare Cemetery
Ruby Myrtle — born on 8 November 1889​, died one month later on 8 December at Strathbogie North as a result of an epidemic throughout the district (first burial at the Strathbogie Cemetery)

​​In 1911 James and Susannah shifted to Bullerook, near Ballarat. James died at the home of his son-in-law, Mr PHH Ibbott, "Thurloo", 29 Stanhope Road, East Camberwell on 16 October, 1921 at the age of 73. He was buried in the Methodist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. He left his estate of £3182 to his wife. Susannah died on 3 June 1937 at the home of her son-law Mr AG Morley, 10 Cross Street, Canterbury at the age of 87. She was buried with James at Geelong.

photos contributed by Sue Gommans

Sproul Brien, son of Henry and Deborah (née Brown) Brien was born in Northern Ireland about 1842. He sailed for Australia with his family as assisted immigrants on the Chandernagore arriving in Australia in July 1854. Shipping records give his age as 11 years.

​He married Sarah Ardil, who was also born in Northern Ireland, in 1857 in Victoria. Their children were:
Alfred Brien — born in 1868 at Duneed, died in 1924 at Birregurra, buried at Birregurra Cemetery
William Henry Brien — born 1871 at Duneed, died in 1949 at Colac
Mary Ann — born in 1873, died on 3 October 1876 at the age of 3½ years from scarlet fever
Sproul Brien — born in 1874 in Mount Duneed, married Sarah May Kinsella on 5 August 1908, died in 1941 at Birregurra, buried on 12 January 1941 at Birregurra Cemetery
Ardill James Brien — born in 1877 at Mount Duneed, died in 1954 at Colac aged 77, buried on 10 December 1954 at Birregurra Cemetery 
​John Brien — born about 1880 at Mount Duneed, died in 1956 aged 76 at Colac
Sarah Ann Brien — born in 1882 at Mount Duneed

​He grazed sheep on about 444 acres in Mount Duneed Road, Freshwater Creek for many years. The property was advertised for lease after his death. By December 1913 part of the property (allotments F, G and H) was advertised for sale.

​He died on 5 March 1913 at the age of 71 at Birregurra and was buried at the Birregurra Cemetery. Sarah died in June 1924 at Birregurra and was buried with him.
​

​John Stead, son of Richard Shaw and Jane (née Beattie) Hunt was born in 1864 at Geelong. He married Mary Ann Isabelle​ Mawson in 1894. They had the following children:
Olive Helena — born ​1895 at Geelong, married Alfred Frank Bird in 1934, died 1971 aged 72 at Geelong
Richard Frederick (Dick) — born on 28 October 1897 at Waurn Ponds, died on 29 October 1922 aged 25 at Koonwarra Private Hospital in Armadale, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Lorna Annie Em — born 1900 at Waurn Ponds, married Arthur Westlake Sleeman in 1934, died in 1985 at Geelong West
John Robert Samuel (Jack) — born in 1902 at Waurn Ponds, died in 1988 aged 85 at Geelong
Hubert Clive (Clive) — born in 1905 at Waurn Ponds, married Thelma Clarkson Dare in 1938, died on 5 February 1974 aged 68 at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery 
Murial Jean Isabelle — born in 1908 in Geelong, married John Frederick Sleeman in 1933​, died in 1976 aged 68 at Mooroopna

John was a Barrabool Shire councillor, serving from 1895 until 1903 and from 1895 until 1926. He served two terms as president. When he died in 1936 the council adjourned its meeting to attend his funeral. 

​He died on 20 July 1936 aged 72 at Newtown and was buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. Isabelle died on 2 July 1942 aged 70 and was buried with him.

John Bogan was born in Wexford in Ireland in 1831. He migrated from Ireland, probably about 1856. At first he was superintendent of the mounted police.

In 1859 he married Mary Murnane. They had the following children:
Richard Patrick Bogan — born in 1860 in Geelong, married Catherine Mary Eadey in 1903, died on 4 August 1936 aged 75 at Connewarre, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Honoria — born about 1863, married John Joseph Stafford in 1903, died on 2 September 1932 aged 69 at her home at Marshall. She was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Michael — born in 1863 in Geelong, died one month later on 25 April, buried at the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Michael — born in 1864 at Connewarre, died on 25 June aged 5 months, buried at the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
John — born in 1865 at Connewarre, died in 1947 aged 81 at Geelong, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Michael James — born in 1867 at Geelong, married Hannah Margaret, died on 7 September 1917 aged 49

Mary died on 29 April 1868 aged 27 at Connewarre and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery.
​
In April 1862 he was granted the license for the Breakwater Hotel in Marshall. Before and after this short period his father-in-law, Michael Murnane held the license. 
​
John had bought up a good amount of real estate in Connewarre, Marshall and Mount Duneed on which he grew oats and had milk cows, pigs and poultry. With three his sons, the cows were milked by hand. They had a milk run, delivering this milk around Geelong. This land was rich in marl (calcium carbonate) which he dug up and spread over his land and ploughed in to improve it.

When he died he owned the following land:
67 acres of fenced land in the parish of Connewarre being allotment B of section 7, used partly for cultivation and partly for grazing.
83 acres being allotments N and M on which is erected a 5 roomed weatherboard house. This land was used for cultivation and grazing purposes.
40 acres being allotment P section ? This land was fenced and used for grazing purposes only.
Part of section 7 on which was erected a six roomed weatherboard house which was very old and delipidated which was occupied by the deceased up until the date of his death.
8 acres fenced land being part of allotment 6 section 6
The total value of this real estate was £2080. The land was divided between his sons as set out in his will. Daughter, Honoria, was to receive a regular allowance until she married.

John died on 16 September 1895 at Connewarre and was buried with Mary in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery.

The family plot  is marked with a monument by Charles Wilcox, together with railing costing £70. Six members of the Bogan family were buried there:
John and Mary Bogan
Richard and Catherine Bogan
​Honoria and John Joseph Stafford

​Headstones by Charles Wilcox:
​Bogan, John and Mary
​Johnston, John and Martha
​Middleton, Jesse Holman and Sarah
​Seiffert, Johan Gotlieb

After the death of Charles senior, his business was taken over by his three sons — Charles Robert, Edward John and William Henry.

​Children of Charles Robert and Annie Maria (née Spinks) Wilcox were:
Charles James — died 1887;
​Myra Fredda Elizabeth — born 1898, died 1899

​Charles acquired the business of Charles Emeny, at Gellibrand Street, Colac in 1914.

​His late wife, Annie Wilcox,  died in October 1913. Her remains were interred in the Church of England section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. Her remains were brought from Colac by the midday train and the cortège left her brother-in-law's (Mr H de Longville) residence, Latrobe Terrace, Geelong. The casket hearse and three mourning coaches were followed by a number of private vehicles. Charles who died in December 1942, aged 83, is buried with her. Also buried with them are their two children Myra Fredda, Charles James, two stillborn babies and Edward John, son of Charles and Elizabeth (died 1861).

In the early days both sides of the Barwon were called Breakwater. The first hotel in Marshall was named the Breakwater Hotel. Michael Murnane applied for and was granted a license in 1856. In March 1861 the hotel was advertised to be let together with 30 acres of land. Michael again applied for and was granted a license in April 1861. In April 1862 son-in-law John Bogan, was granted the license. In 1864-67 it was again held by Murnane.

​In March 1867 the license was transferred to Nathaniel Jones who ran the hotel until about 1875 or 76.

Michael married Honora Shelley. They had the following children:
Mary — born 1840 in Sydney, married John Bogan in 1859, died on 29 April 1868 aged 27 at Connewarre, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Thomas — born in 1845, died aged 6 years, buried at Geelong Eastern Cemetery on 28 February 1852
Michael — born about 1849, died in 1887 aged 38 years in Geelong, buried on 19 September 1887 in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Edward — born in 1850 at Geelong died on 8 February 1877 aged 25-27 years, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Thomas Patrick — born in 1853 at Breakwater died aged 60 years, buried on 2 April 1914 in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Honora — born in 1854 at Geelong, died 10 April 1875 aged 20 years at Geelong, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Catherine Agnes — born on 20 May 1857 at Geelong, died on 3 April 1896 aged 39 years, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
​
Michael died at his residence, the old Breakwater Hotel on 23 July 1878. Members of the St Mary's Total Abstinence Benefit Society were requested to meet at the St Mary's Schoolroom on 24 July at 1:30, in regalia, to follow the remains of their late brother member, Michael Murnane, to the Geelong Eastern Cemetery.

William, son of Robert and Jane Wilson (née Paterson) Preston was born on 22 November 1874 at Roseworth Farm, Mount Duneed.

He attended Mount Duneed State School with his sisters. After an incident where he was unfairly treated by the headmaster, he transferred to Freshwater Creek School. After leaving school he worked on his mother's farm "Roseworth".

In 1927 he bought a new Buick car and was able to travel to Geelong much quicker than by horse and cart. He used the car until his death.

In 1904 he married Annie Lamond. After this William took over Roseworth Farm. William and Annie  had a son, Charles Robert born on 30 May 1906. In 1929 he married Jessie Elizabeth Edney. He died on 16 March 1980 and was buried at Geelong Eastern Cemetery the following day. Jessie died on 6 October 1981 aged 76 and was buried with him.

​

Horace Frank, son of John and Annie Sarah (née Matthews) Richardson, was born on 8 November 1854 at Geelong. He went to Geelong College from 1866 to about 1870. He took an interest in sport, playing cricket with the Mercantile Club, Rowing with the Barwon Rowing Club and in later life playing bowls and croquet.

On ​16 February 1881 he married Edith Harriett Sommers (1860-1937) daughter of William and Annie Sommers. Their children were:
Stanley John  — born 1882, died 1961 at Camberwell aged 78
Elsie Dora — born 1884, died 1891 in Geelong aged 7 years
Alan William — born 1886, died 1970 at Preston aged 84 years
Francis Dudley — born 1889, died 1891 at Hawthorn
Norman Willis — born 1892, died 1893 at Geelong aged 1 year
Edith Annie Lynette — born 1893, married Gerald Rankin Lemon, died 1983
Frank Evan — born 1895, died 1963 at Anglesea

​After leaving school he worked for his father until 1873 when he commenced working for the Liverpool London and Globe Insurance Co in the Geelong branch. In 1876 he became secretary and treasurer of the Shire of South Barwon. He was a City of Geelong councillor for thirteen years, serving from 1884 until 1897 and from 1908 to 1912. He was mayor from 1894 to 1896. In 1897 he became a South Barwon shire councillor, serving until 1930. He was a president of the shire three times — 1900-01, 1908-09 and 1914-15. He won a seat on the Legislative Council in 1912 and became Minister of Forests from 1924 to 1927.

​He died on 28 October 1935 aged 80 years at his home "Kardinia" in Belmont and was buried in the Baptist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. Edith died on 21 June 1937 aged 76 and was buried with him.





​

​​

Our next meeting is at 7:30 on 14 February, 2019 at Mount Duneed Hall, 40 Mount Duneed Road, Mount Duneed.

Ted Stephens, writer of many books about Geelong history will tell the story of Francis Ormond. Ormond's later life, when he became a benefactor to many churches and educational institutions, is well documented but his story begins when his parents migrated to Australia in 1842.

Pictured at right is his statue which was erected outside the Working Men's College in Melbourne which later became RMIT. 
​


​

John William, son of John and Agnes (née Howe) Prowse, was born in 1878 at Weering. By 1890 his parents had taken up farming at Layard.

John became a Barrabool Shire councillor in 1916 and served until 1950 including six terms as president in 1923, 1926, 1929, 1932, 1937 and 1946.

He married Mary Hammond in 1902. They had the following children at Mount Moriac:
Margaret Agnes — born 1902
Dorothy Irene — born 1904
John William Garnard — born 1906, died 17 August 1985 aged 79, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery​
Alma Milford — born 1908

Mary died on 19 October 1918 and was buried in the Church of Engl​and section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. John died on 30 October 1951 at Geelong and was buried with Mary.

Thomas Wills, fourth son of Major Henry Colden and Elizabeth (née Wills) Antill was born on 24 November 1829 at "Jarvisfield" near Picton in New South Wales. 

He played cricket for Victoria in the Tasmania v Victoria match  at Launceston on 11-12 February in 1851. His cousin Thomas Wills was an outstanding cricketer.

He was manager of the Union Bank of Australia Ltd. He became a South Barwon councillor serving from 1861 until 1862. The family moved to New Zealand early in 1862 where he continued his work for the Union Bank. A bank was built at Nelson and branches were opened at Havelock and Picton in 1864. He became a trustee of the Nelson Savings Bank in New Zealand in 1863. During his time in New Zealand he was active in church affairs. He was a churchwarden at Christ Church in Nelson. He was a director of the Permanent Building Society at Nelson. He was the chairman of the committee which organised a full day of celebrations followed by a ball to commemorate the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra of Denmark on Tuesday 16 June 1863. 

He married Sarah Maria, daughter of Samuel  McKee on 7 May 1852 at St James' Church in Sydney. On 20 February 1853 they had a daughter, Maria Elizabeth, who married Murray Bennett McPherson in 1876. She died in Geelong in 1937.

Sarah died on 3 March in 1853 at Geelong and was buried the following day in the Church of England section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. 

The following year Thomas married Isabella Fisher on 15 June. They had the following children:
Henry Wills — born on 23 May 1855 at Willoughby in NSW, married Jane Gertrude McRae on 2 May 1885 , died on 4 January 1914 in New Zealand
Fanny Jessie — born ​in 1857 in New South Wales, died in 1910
Charlotte Maud — born in 1860 at Barrabool, died in May 1865 in Nelson in New Zealand
Mary Emily — born on 10 June 1863 in New Zealand, married Herbert Arthur Melhuish in 1891 in Queensland, died in 1947 aged 83 at St Kilda in Victoria

Thomas died on 11 May in 1865 aged 34 of scarlet fever at Nelson in New Zealand and was buried in the Church of England section of the Wakapuaka Cemetery. Isabella died on 28 October in 1875 aged 39.

​​Taits Point was named after an early settler in the area, James Tait, who arrived in Melbourne on the Palmyra on 25 November in 1839 with his wife Helen (née Easton), his son Alexander (aged 2) and daughter Agnes who was born as the Palmyra was coming into port. Agnes married Ewing Blyth on 26 October 1859 at Connewarre. An older daughter, Ann (aged 4), died during the voyage. James was the son of Alexander and Margaret (née Younger) Tait. On arrival they were employed by Charles Williamson. In 1840 James Tait was employed by John McVean on a run at Connewarre. On 5 November 1855 t​hey selected 126 acres at what is now Taits Point at the end of what is now Staceys Road. They called their land Connewarre from an aboriginal name meaning black swan. They cleared the land and planted a market garden. Their children born in the Geelong district were:
Alexander — born in 1842 in Geelong, died on 18 June 1917 aged 75 at Connewarre, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
George — born in 1844 in Geelong, married Jane Gill in 1872, married Mary Jane Blair in 1887, died on 3 June 1923 at Mount Duneed, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
Ann — born in 1846 in Geelong, died on 9 April 1940 aged 93½, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
James Easton — born in 1851, died 16 December 1894
Robert — born 1851, died 15 March 1933 aged 46 at Mount Duneed, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
Helen Younger — born 1854 at Geelong, married Robert Henry Blair in 1875, died in 1926 aged 72 at Port Campbell
Margaret Janet — born 1856, died 17 November 1935 aged 79 at Geelong, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
Elizabeth — born 1859, married William Scott, died 8 July 1926 aged 66, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery

​James was a member of the Connewarre Road Board for five years. 

Connewarre had been a tribal area for members of the Wathaurong tribe for hundreds of years. Convict William Buckley who had escaped from the first penal settlement at Port Phillip in 1803 lived with the tribe in this area for many years. 

Between Geelong and Barwon Heads the Barwon River flows through a series of shallow tide-affected lakes and swamps. These are Lake Connewarre, Reedy Lake, Hospital and Salt Swamps. Taits Point was formed by a basalt flow from Mount Duneed damming the river to form Reedy Lake. The lakes were subsequently connected when the river channel finally eroded through the basalt. Prior to European settlement the river was salty upstream of Geelong. Two breakwaters were built to provide fresh water for the early settlement and industry in Geelong.​

The number of Wathawurrung people who occupied this area had declined rapidly after 1830.

​James Tait died on 12 October 1883 and is buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery. His wife, Helen who died on 3 November 1899 is buried with him. Many of their descendants are still living in the Connewarre and Mount Duneed area today.