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John Heard

15/11/2019

Land in the parish of Barrabool was surveyed in 1839, just two years after the survey of Geelong. The first land sales were held in February 1840. Several allotments were of 600-1000 acres, effectively excluding small farmers. Most were purchased by speculators.

Section 4, originally bought by Benjamin Baxter, was sold to Hon Richard Gilbert Talbot of Ballinclea in 1841. He established a farm close to Waurn Ponds Creek at Raven's Springs (where John Raven had first squatted).

Section 4 was subsequently subdivided and sold in small farms. John Heard purchased 262 acres in the late 1850s. It is assumed that the call for tenders for a sandstone dwelling in the Geelong Advertiser in 1860 was for the Ballinclea homestead. He sold a small area at the north west corner of his land (near the corner of Polleys and Ballanclea Roads) to the Bible Christian church for £5. The foundation stone for the church was laid on 17 November 1856. About 150 people attended and partook of the tea in Heard’s large barn. An evening service followed. The occasion raised £89-90. In 1858 the chapel was the scene of a meeting of the Barrabool Hills Temperance Society. The building was believed to be the site of the first school in the area.

John, son of Devon farmers John Cockram and Elizabeth Banbury (née Cory) Heard, was born in 1813. He emigrated with his brothers, Thomas and Samuel, sister Elizabeth Crouch and her husband John. They sailed on the William Bentick, arriving in Victoria in August 1844. John was a pioneer of efficient farming and improved tools. He married Elizabeth Heard on 18 April 1844. They had the following children:
John Thomas Cory — born in 1846 at Melbourne, married Sarah Ann Carpenter Bromell on 2 April 1874 at the home of her father, Hensley Park near Hamilton, died on 4 September 1895 aged 49 years at Horsham
Francis Richard — born in 1849 in Melbourne, married Margaret Anderson on 13 November 1878 at Merrawarp in Echuca, the home of her brother
Samuel Arscott — born in February 1854, married Regina Tryphena Grills on 14 November 1901 at the Wesleyan Church at Coghills Creek, died on 30 April 1905 aged 51 years at Barrabool Hills, buried in the Methodist section of the Highton Cemetery
Louisa Ann — born in 1857 in Geelong, died on 29 April 1873 aged 16 at Ballinclea
Emily Jane — born in 1858 at Barrabool Hills, died on 27 May 1873 aged 14 at Ballinclea
William Henry — born on 24 April 1860 at Barrabool Hills
Henrietta Catherine — born on 3 February 1862 at Barrabool Hills, married Joseph Grills in 1895, died 12 April 1936 aged 73 at Ballarat, buried at Coghills Creek Cemetery
Albert Nathaniel — born in 1865 at Barrabool Hills, married Emily McKim in 1897, died in 1927 at Geelong
Sarah Elizabeth — married John Sundercombe on 13 October 1874 at Ballinclea

In March 1870 a sale of stock and farming implements was held as John was intending to lease part of his farm and use the remainder for grazing purposes. In 1875 John sold 259 acres on the north east corner of Hendy Main and Colac Roads and stretching north to Waurn Ponds Creek. This farm had been leased by John Argus. In 1878 he bought Roslyn in Highton.

John and Elizabeth celebrated their golden wedding anniversary a few months before Elizabeth, aged 72, died on 13 October 1894. John died on 23 June 1899 at Ballinclea and was buried in the Methodist section of the Highton Cemetery with Elizabeth. After John died the farm was run by sons, Samuel Arscott and Albert Nathaniel, until Samuel's death in 1905 and 1911 when Albert retired. On 29 March 1911 Albert auctioned horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and farm plant as he had leased Ballinclea.

Leonard Charles Anderson took over Ballinclea about 1920 after coming home from World War 1. He milked a small herd of Jersey and Ayrshire cows — from the Weekly Times 29 August 1931

Ballinclea, stables and outbuildings — JT Collins Collection SLV

John Heard's land — map on wall at Belmont Library

from Geelong Advertiser 21 July 1860

from Geelong Advertiser 1 May 1875

from Geelong Advertiser 11 January 1900

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William Honey

8/11/2019

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Merrawarp, 50 Honeys Road, Barrabool — from JT Collins Collection

William Honey who was born in 1814, arrived in the colony of 23 February 1842 with his wife Mary Ann (née Grigg). They had the following children:
Mary Elizabeth — born about 1842, died on 27 July 1873 aged 31 years at Stone Park Barrabool Hills, buried at Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Thomas Hooper — born about 1844, married Mary Alicia Hose in 1883, died on 21 February 1914 aged 70 years at his home 180 Upper Autumn Street Geelong West
William — born in 1851, married Ann Sophia McCann on 11 July 1872 at her home. Ann died on 3 May 1873 aged 20 at her home the day after giving birth to their daughter, In 1877 William married her younger sister Mary Ellen, died in 1927 aged 76 at Geelong
Richard — born in 1854, died aged 4 months

William came to the Barrabool Hills in the early 1840s on the recommendation of a shipboard friend, James Piper. He purchased land in 1851 and established "Stone Park Farm" in what is now Honeys Road. As this house was destroyed by fire, he built a second twelve roomed house out sandstone quarried from the site which became known as "Merrawarp". His brother, John, owned land south of "Stone Park Farm".

He was a Barrabool Shire councillor serving from 1868 until his death on 5 April 1869. After his death "Stone Park Farm" was divided between William and his brother Thomas, with William taking the "Merrawarp" section. On William's death in 1927 aged 72 his son, Garry, inherited the farm.

William's son, William, was also a Barrabool councillor. His term in office was from 1881 until 1886.

from Geelong Advertiser 7 April 1969

from Geelong Advertiser 22 February 1881

from Geelong Advertiser 7 December 1882

William Honey's land (yellow) purchased from Richard Gilbert Talbot (blue) as well as leasing 290 acres of the "Strathlaclan" estate. His brother, John, owned the land south of his land to the creek

from Geelong Advertiser 9 March 1872

from Geelong Advertiser 6 March 1883

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Henry Squire

25/10/2019

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18 Barrabool Road, Ceres — JT Collins collection

Henry, son of Henry and Rebecca (née Ashplant) Squire, came to Australia on the Oregon in 1853. His brothers, Richard, Francis and Robert and his sister Grace arrived the following year on the Champion of the Seas. He married Mary Elizabeth Carter in 1858. Henry and Richard were blacksmiths at Ceres in the 1870s and 1880s. Their forge was behind Henry's house at 18 Barrabool Road, Ceres. His cottage, made of Barrabool sandstone with a slate roof, was erected prior to 1856 for Edward Edwards. In 1862 it was sold to Joseph Townsend and Thomas Bathy.

1876 Henry Squire purchased the smithy and residence. He was a Barrabool Shire councillor, representing the Ceres riding, serving from 1876 until 1887, shire president in 1884-1885 and a justice of the peace. He involved himself in community affairs and was one of the vice presidents of the Barrabool Blue Ribbon Army in the 1880s, honorary secretary of the Barrabool Trinity church and a member of the IOR. When he retired he continued to live at Ceres. When he died in 1915 Henry Heal took over his smithy. The adjoining smithy operated until 1919, but was demolished in the 1960s. The street to the west of the cottage is now named Heal Street.

Mary Elizabeth died on 19 September 1900 at her home 45 Austin Street Newtown. Henry died on 14 February, aged 86 years, at the home of his nephew Charles Squire of Geelong West. They were buried together in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery.

On 22 July 1915 a sale was held to sell Henry's properties at Ceres. The 9½ acres with a stone dwelling of about 10 rooms, known as the old Wheatsheaf Hotel sold to H E Leigh for £280 and the weatherboard cottage sold to W Francis for £53.

from Geelong Advertiser 10 July 1915

Approximate location of Henry Squire's cottage situated on the south side of Barrabool Road. This land was part of section 12 in the parish of Barrabool originally bought by William Robertson in February 1940. Two days later he sold it to David Fisher who created the village of Ceres as a subdivision of 58 allotments in the north west part of section 12.

The forge

from Geelong Advertiser 16 September 1876

from Geelong Advertiser 2 March 1885

Trinity Church of England Barrabool Hills — JT Collins Collection State Library Victoria

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Richard Gilbert Talbot of Ballinclea

11/10/2019

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Ballinclea, Barrabool — named by Richard Gilbert Talbot

Land in the parish of Barrabool was surveyed in 1839, just two years after the survey of Geelong. The first land sales were held in February 1840. Several allotments were of 600 -1000 acres, effectively excluding small farmers. Most were purchased by speculators.

Section 4, originally bought by Benjamin Baxter, was sold to Hon Richard Gilbert Talbot of Ballinclea in 1841. He established a farm close to Waurn Ponds Creek, the site of Raven’s Springs (where John Raven had first squatted).

“When the first instalment of self-government was granted to the colony of New South Wales in 1842, the Act also provided for the introduction of District Councils to provide a measure of local government as well. In 1843 the District Council of Grant was created — a body of six men who were appointed in the first instance by the Government to control an area which extended from the Werribee River in the east to the Hopkins River in the west, and from Bass Strait to 37° south latitude (roughly modern Maryborough). The vast extent of this area and its small and scattered population doomed it to failure, despite the earnest initial efforts of the district councillors to make it work.”
from Ian Wynd: Barrabool Land of the Magpie

Richard was made the first Warden of the District Council of Grant in 1843 a post he held until May 1845 when he resigned.

He was the third son of James, 3rd Baron Talbot of Malahide who had extensive estates in Ireland and Staffordshire. His mother was Anne Sarah Rodbard. His family was one of the oldest in the peerage. They were descended from Richard Talbot, mentioned in the Domesday Book and the Malahide branch settled in Ireland in the time of Henry II.

Richard was born in 1810, educated at Eton College in Windsor, and Balliol College, Oxford University. He lived at Ballinclea in Barrabool in the 1840s. He inherited Malahide in Tasmania from his uncle.

He held the office of High Sheriff of County Dublin in 1847. He was a colonist of Port Nicholson, New Zealand. He held the office of Member of the Legislative Council (Tasmania) in 1851. He lived at Malahide in Fingal Tasmania and Ballinclea in County Dublin. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for County Dublin. He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant of County Dublin. He married Anne Cunliffe Lister-Kay on 12 October 1847. They had the following children:
Mary Anne Eliza — born on 22 November 1848, died on 4 October 1927
Richard Gilbert — born on 4 August 1856, married Hannah Maud Lovell, died on 12 July 1900 at Dandenong aged 44, inherited Malahide in Fingal Tasmania from his father
Edward Lister-Kay — born on 10 February 1858, died on 15 January 1917

Richard died on 19 August 1879. After his children died there were no descendants.

Ballinclea, Barrabool

— from Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser — 13 January 1842

from NSW Government Gazette 5 September 1843

Malahide, Fingal, Tasmania

Malahide Castle — by William Murphy from Dublin

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Ambrose Willcox Walter

27/9/2019

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Ambrose Willcox Walter was born in Devonshire, England on 22 April 1833. He came to the colony on the Marchioness of Londonderry in 1853 with his uncle. His parents followed a few years later. At first he worked in the Barrabool Hills near Geelong. At the time of the gold rush he tried his luck, but not being successful he returned to Geelong. He started a butchering business with his youngest brother in the Barrabool Hills. This was very successful and in 1862 he sold his interest in the business to his brother and started farming, a farm he worked for eleven years. He married Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas Smale of the Barrabool Hills. They had the following children:
Albert William — born 2 January 1864 at Barrabool Hills, married Sarah Janet Lawson on 18 September 1888 at Noradjuha, married Marian Anna Neale on 22 April 1903 at Bullumwaal, died on 23 July 1940 aged 76 years at the Mercy Hospital in East Melbourne
Thomas Ernest — born on 18 February 1866 at Barrabool Hill, married Elizabeth Cook in 1887, died on 5 December 1940 at Church Street, Camperdown
Ellis Vincent — born on 13 May 1868 at Barrabool Hills, married Janet Hayes in 1896 at Ballarat, married Annie Ada Middleton in 1906 at Stawell, died on 14 January 1930 aged 61 at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne
Ambrose Edward — born on 15 June 1870 at Barrabool Hills, married Sarah Janet Lawson on 18 September 1888 at Noradjuha, died on 29 February 1948 near Goroke aged 77 years
Frederick Joseph — born on 1 August 1872 at Barrabool Hills, died on 26 February 1925 at Casterton Memorial Hospital aged 52
Bertha Alinda — born on 26 August 1874 at Noradjuha, married Rev Henry Michael Clarke Fowler in 1911 at Noradjuha, died on 17 August 1949 aged 74 at Geelong
Henrietta Evalina — born on 31 December 1876 at Noradjuha, died on 2 November 1944 aged 67 years at Noradjuha
Lily Gertrude — born on 15 December 1878 at Noradjuha, died on 7 February 1879 at Noradjuha
Sidney Arthur — born on 1 March 1881 at Noradjuha, died on 11 October 1949 aged 68 years at Wimmera Base Hospital at Horsham
Phenie Gertrude — born on 3 February 1883 at Natimuk, died on 23 February 1936 aged 53 years at Sturt Street in Ballarat
Norman Edgar — born on 26 May 1885 at Noradjuha, died on 25 August 1973 aged 88 years at Noradjuha

During the time he was farming in the Barrabool Hills he became a Barrabool Shire councillor. When the land in the Wimmera came up for selection he was keen to secure more land for his growing family. He selected land and shifted his wife and five sons to the Wimmera at the beginning of 1874. Not long after arriving he was elected to the Wimmera Shire as a councillor and later an Arapiles Shire as a councillor and president. He took an active part in community life. He was the president of the Natimuk Agricultural and Pastoral Society, and also a trustee of the Western Wimmera Irrigation and Water Supply Trust. He lived in the Casterton district, where he had purchased a property, for about four years, returning to the Wimmera. About seven years before he died he decided to retire from active life, and came back to Geelong. He had leased his property to two of his sons, but regularly visited Noradjuha.

He was an ardent supporter of the Methodist Church, and held the position of trustee of the Bible Christian Church at Horsham before the union of the churches took place. He was a trustee of the church at Noradjuha and at the annual conference often represented the Noradjuha circuit. Church services were held in his house until later when the school was used.

Ambrose died at his property "Oakleigh Park" at Noradjuha on 14 July 1915 and was buried at the Noradjuha Cemetery. Mary Ann died on 29 October 1918 at 44 Buckland Avenue, Newtown when she contracted pneumonia while visiting Geelong. She was buried with Ambrose of the Noradjuha Cemetery.

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Thomas Smale

13/9/2019

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Thomas, son of Thomas and Grace (née Sapling) Smale, was born in 1823
at North Tamerton in Devon. He married Eliza Samals on 29 February 1844 at North Tamerton. They had the following children:
Ann — born on 19 April 1844 at North Tamerton, died the next day
Mary Ann — born on 3 March 1845 at East Stonehouse in Devon, married Ambrose Willcock Walter on 6 March 1862 at Barrabool Hills, died on 29 October 1918 at 44 Buckland Avenue in Newtown, buried at Noradjuha Cemetery

Thomas and Eliza arrived on the Clara at Portland on 19 November 1854. After arriving at Barrabool Thomas became a member of the Bible Christian Church at Mount Moriac.

He was a member of the Barrabool District Road Board in 1860 and 1865 and a Barrabool Shire councillor from 1865 until 1871. He was the honorary secretary pro tem of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society. In 1869 he was appointed as a magistrate for the Geelong and Hamilton General Sessions district. In 1871 he unsuccessfully stood as the candidate for South Grant in the Legislative Assembly election.

He successfully farmed land in the Barrabool Hills, 22 acres of which he leased from John Heard in west side of section 4 and a larger portion which adjoined this land in section 3 (Devon Road) which he owned called Edgecombe Farm.

Thomas died on 24 May 1883 aged 60 years and was buried in the Methodist section of the Highton Cemetery. His wife, Eliza, died on 18 November 1898 aged 74 at her home, 27 Little Myers Street, Geelong and was also buried at Highton Cemetery. An interest in the farm was left to Thomas and Eliza's only daughter, Mary Ann, who married Ambrose Willcock Walter on 6 March 1862. On her death on 29 October 1919 her estate was divided among her children — Ellis Vincent Walter, Albert William Walter, Thomas Ernest Walter, Ambrose Edward Walter, Sidney Arthur Walter, Bertha Alinda Fowler, Hettie Evelina Nitschke, Phenie Gertrude Cranage, Frederick Joseph Walter and Norman Edgar Walter.

from Geelong Advertiser 25 May 1883

Approximate location of the land Thomas Smale farmed between Devon and Ballanclea Roads at Barrabool

from Geelong Advertiser 7 April 1870

from Geelong Advertiser 25 November 1873

from Geelong Advertiser 26 March 1872

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Benjamin Axford Allin

7/6/2019

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Benjamin Axford, son of Thomas and Jane (née Axford) Allin was born on 22 January 1827. He married Elizabeth Ann née Walter on 25 March 1850 at Bradworthy in Devon. He left Devon with his wife arriving in the colony on 28 October 1850
aboard the Gypsy Queen. Elizabeth died of Typhus on 28 May 1853 at "Hill Park" in the Barrabool Hills.

On 9 July 1857 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (née Cottle) Jewell. They had the following children:
Thomas — born on 11 April 1858 at Mount Moriac, married Elizabeth Ann Turnbull on 23 May 1887 at the home of her parents, died on 10 October 1946 at Geelong
William Richard — born on 28 April 1860 at Mount Moriac, married Alinda Jane Walter on 3 December 1890 at the bride's home, died in October 1941 aged 81 years at Drysdale
Mary Jane — born on 18 July 1862 at Barrabool, died in 1942 aged 79 years at Geelong
Benjamin Axford — born on 12 May 1865 at Ceres, married Regina Tryphena Heard (née Grills) on 15 September 1909, died on 8 August 1949 aged 84 years at 7 High Street, Ballarat, buried at Highton Cemetery
John Henry — born in 1867 at Mount Moriac, died in January 1938 aged 71 years at Mount Moriac
Louisa — born in 1870 at Mount Moriac, died in September 1940 aged 70 years at Geelong
Elizabeth Emma — born in 1871 at Melbourne, died in 1872 at Barrabool
Albert Edward — born in 1874 at Ceres, died in September 1956 at Geelong
Sophia Ann — born in 1876 at Ceres, married Robert John Rogers in 1902, died on 20 April 1964 aged 88 years at Geelong
Alfred Charles — born in 1878 at Ceres, died in December 1946 aged 68 years at Geelong

On 21 October 1885 when the "Strathlachlan" estate, in the Barrabool Hills, was for sale Benjamin Allin, who had been a tenant for many years bought a total of 368 acres.

He was named a justice of the peace in February 1891.

He was a farmer at Mount Moriac. His property "Waterland Farm" was in Mill (now Hendy Main) Road. He was a Barrabool Shire councillor from 1873 to 1881 and from 1885 to 1897 and was president in 1878, 1890 and 1891.

On 15 October 1915 it was reported in the Geelong Advertiser that Mr B A Allin was the oldest resident in the district of Moriac.

He died on 24 December 1920 at Mount Moriac at the age of 93 and was buried at the Highton Cemetery. Elizabeth died on 3 April 1920 at Barrabool Hills and was buried at the Highton Cemetery.

Their sons ran the farm until 1946.

This map has portion 2, 16 and 17 marked. When Benjamin Allin died he owned land in parts of these blocks:
160 acres — part of portion 17 with residence and various outbuildings
111 acres 34 perches — part of portions 2 and 16 fenced only
255 acres 1 rood and 14 perches — part of portions 2 and 16 with weatherboard house and various outbuildings
193 acres 1 rood and 10 perches — part of portion 17 fenced only

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John Heard

William Honey

Henry Squire

Richard Gilbert Talbot of Ballinclea

Ambrose Willcox Walter

Thomas Smale

Benjamin Axford Allin

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