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Joseph Alexander Cochrane

24/12/2020

Joseph Alexander, son of John Cowan and Jane (née Thompson) Cochrane was born on 12 January 1865 at Essendon. He married May Isabel, daughter of John and Jane Ritchie on 12 April 1903 at the home of the bride's mother in Geelong. The couple had the following children:
John Dundonald (Don) — born in 1904 in Geelong, died 10 December 1961, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Highton Cemetery
Joseph Alexander (Bob) — born on 24 November 1905, married Beryl Mackay Greenfield in 1929, died on 9 April 1970 at Ballarat. cremated and ashes scattered in the grounds of the Ballarat New Cemetery
Georgina Jane Thompson (Jean) — born on 28 October 1907 at Geelong, died on 13 October 1995 aged 87 years at Melbourne
Charles Norman (Norm) — born on 9 May 1911 at Geelong, married Joan Berriman on 8 April 1944 at Christ Church Geelong, died on 8 January 1996 aged 84 years at Geelong, interred in the rose garden at the Highton Cemetery
Gavin McArthur (Mac) — born on 15 August 1912 at Geelong, married Patricia Athol Forbes in 1940, died on 12 December 1970 aged 58 years at Ceres. He was a Barrabool Shire councillor, serving from 1949 until 1970.
Margaret Isabel (Isabel) — born on 6 January 1918 at Geelong, married Claude Regiald Hose in 1940, died on 10 July 2010 at Mount Eliza

Both Joseph and his father John Cowan Cochrane became famous for the Border Leicester stud they developed at Aitkenside, the first of its kind in Australia. They won a number of prizes at agricultural shows in the district. Gavin McArthur Cochrane took over the stud and continued the breeding until his death in December 1970. The Edgar family purchased the farm in the early 1970s.

Joseph died on12 January 1865 aged 76 years at Essendon. Isabel died the following year at a private hospital in Geelong.

Joseph Alexander Cochrane

Gavin McArthur Cochrane

Aitkenside — JT Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria

John Cowan Cochrane took over "Aitkenside" from John Clinnick in 1876 when it was offered for lease for five years. The property, originally purchased by William Robertson in 1840, was bought by John Aitken in 1847 for £1850, almost twice the original cost. It remained in the Aitken family, but was leased until 1922 when it was purchased by John Alexander, son of John Cowan Cochrane, who died in 1903, for his sons, John D and Joseph A. When the latter went to Western Australia, another son, Gavin McA, shared the running of "Aitkenside". He served as a councillor from 1949 until the his death in 1970, including one term as president. The farm became famous for its Border Leicester flocks, two of which were registered in the Flock Book for British Breeds of Sheep in Australia". — from Barrabool Land of the Magpie, map hangs on the wall at Belmont library

Thomas Heard

3/9/2020

Thomas, son of John Cockram and Elizabeth Barbury (née Cory) Heard was born on 3 January 1825 at Kilkhampton in Devon. He emigrated with his older brothers, Samuel and John, sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law, John Crouch on the Lord William Bentick, arriving in Victoria on 22 August 1844.

On arriving in the colony he worked as a shepherd for one year for William McGill of the Burrumbeep Run at Maroona in the north-west of Victoria.

He married Elizabeth Susanah Jenkins (1822-1865) in 1848 at the Wesleyan church in Melbourne. They had the following children:
Jane — born on 28 May 1851 at Barrabool Hills, married William Henry Edney on 1 June 1871 at Holy Trinity Church of England in Barrabool Hills, died on 18 November 1912 aged 61 years of liver failure at her home in Francis Street Belmont, buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery
John — born in 1852 at Barrabool Hills, died in 1883 aged 31 years at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery
Emma — born on 13 August 1855 at Geelong, married Alfred Edney in 1877, died on 27 January 1920 at Geelong
George — born on 3 November 1857 at Geelong, died on 5 March 1907 at Numurkah
Charles — born on 6 November 1859 at Barrabool Hills, married Alice Edney on 15 March 1887 at Holy Trinity Church in Barrabool Hills, died on 26 July 1920 at Numurkah
Samuel Arscott — born in 1861 at Barrabool Hills, died on 7 September 1919 at Geelong
William — born on 7 August 1863 at Barrabool, married Jane Hill in 1892, died on 14 October 1914 at Riverdale in Ceres, buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery
Mary Elizabeth — born in 1865, died in 1866

Elizabeth died aged 36 years on 26 July 1865 and was buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery.

Thomas married Susanna Eldridge on 12 May 1866 in Melbourne. She had two children who were born in Cornwall, Samuel and Daniel. Thomas and Susanna had the following children:
Thomas Eldridge — born on 5 October 1867 at Ceres, died on 20 December 1867 at Ceres, buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery
Albert — born on 3 April 1871, died on 16 January 1942 at Geelong West
Maude Louise — born on 3 May 1875 at Ceres, married Walter Edney on 1894, died on 30 July 1939 at Wodonga aged 64 years
Elizabeth Jane — born on 3 May 1875 at Ceres, died on 23 August 1948 at Point Lonsdale

Thomas took up land on the south of the Barwon River, east of the Berramungah Vineyard (lot 49 of Section 22 in the Merrawarp Estate) which he named ‘Riverdale’. Over the years, he increased his landholdings.

Riverdale — part of McWilliams plan of the Barrabool parish in 1861

Double Furrow Plough — Thomas Heard was interested in new implements and farming methods

from Geelong Advertiser 19 September 1874

Thomas died on 18 September 1903 at Ceres aged 79 years and was buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery. He left real estate valued at £3735 and personal at £854 to his widow and children. Susanna died on 3 February 1917 aged 76 years at Geelong and was buried with him.

Frederick Ulysses Breguet

6/8/2020

When Frederick Ulysses Breguet died on 23 June 1913 at the age of 81 years, he had been in the colony for 62 years. He was born in Switzerland in 1833, to Justin Felicien and Justine (née L'Eplattenier) Breguet. He was not tall. His passport stated that he was 5 feet 5 inches and had chestnut hair and beard.

In 1861 his farmhouse coach house and stables, now known as Neuchatel, were built on the corner of Barrabool and Merrawarp Roads. He married Hannah (née Arnold) in 1860. Hannah was born in Kent England in 1834 and died in October 1863. She was buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery. They had two children:
Justine Laura — born and died aged 4 months in 1861
Gustave Adolphe — born on 22 October 1862, married Eleanor Anne Florence Charlton in October 1891 in Durham England, died on 24 July 1918 at Glasgow Scotland

In 1864 he married Catherine née Baglin. She was born about 1844. The had the following children:
Frederick William Baglin — born on 23 May 1864 in Geelong, died on 14 April 1884 at Caulfield Grammar School aged 19 years of heart disease, buried at the St Kilda Cemetery
Abram Louis — born on 5 March 1866 at Ceres, died on 21 January 1867 aged 11 months at Ceres
Fanny Elizabeth — born in 1867, married Samuel Whitehead in 1897, died on 17 June 1954 at the Alfred Hospital in Prahran
Justin Auguste — born on 23 March 1869 at Ceres, married Rose Hannah Neilson in 1892, died on 23 April 1951 at Geelong West aged 82 years
Mary Helen — born on 1 October 1870 at Ceres, married William James Haylock on 16 December 1902 in Western Australia, died on 11 April 1930 at Wooroloo in Western Australia
Laura Alice — born on 21 August 1872 at Ceres, married Joseph Mattinson, died on 17 April 1961 at Williamstown
Albert Augustin — born on 23 November 1874 at Ceres, married Marion Saddlier in 1899, died on 10 March 1917 at Ascot Vale
Cecile Lucie — born on 1 August 1875 at Ceres, died on 1 June 1936 at Ballarat
Charles Benjamin — born in 1878, died in 1959 at Werribee aged 82 years
Josephine — born in 1878 at Ceres, died on 28 April 1896 aged 17 years, buried at St Kilda Cemetery
David Ulysses — born in 1881 at Ceres, died in 1962 aged 81 at Geelong
Hannah Jane — born in 1883 at Ceres, died on 10 November 1968 at Hawthorn aged 86 years, buried in the lawn section of the Highton Cemetery
Frederick William — born in 1884 at Ceres, married Ida Phipps in 1929, died on 30 March 1976 aged 91 years at Geelong
Esther — born on 28 August 1885 at Ceres, died in October 1885 at Ceres

Frederick Ulysses' uncle, Frederick, was one of the first Swiss vignerons to settle in the Geelong district. He planted a vineyard in Partnership with David Pettavel at Pollocksford. This was taken over by Frederick in partnership with Louis Aeschlimann and Henry Louis Pernet, a firm which was dissolved on 22 Novmeber 1862, and also ran Suguar Loaf Vineyard. Frederick later moved to the "Suisse" vineyard on the corner of Barrabool and Merrawarp Roads. A house with the name "Newchatel" was built on the property.

Frederick was a Barrabool Shire councillor serving from 1867 until 1873 including a term as president in 1872-73. He died on 23 June 1914 aged 81 years and was buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery with Catherine who died on 1 August 1904 aged 62 years, Hannah who died on 13 October 1863 aged 29 years at the Swiss Vineyard and their daughter Justine who died at the age of 4 months.

Neuchatel, Merrawarp Road, Barrabool — JT Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria

James Anderson

17/1/2020

James, son of William and Margaret (née Guthrie), was born at Perth in Scotland on 25 December 1822. He emigrated on the Tasman arriving in the colony in October 1848. He married Catherine Robertson, who migrated on the same ship, in 1850. Catherine was born in 1821 at Perth in Scotland. They had the following children:
William — born 20 April 1852, married Christina McKenzie in 1881, died on 8 June 1928, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Highton Cemetery
Alexander — born 12 July 1855 at Barrabool Hills, died 8 July 1881 at Ceres at the age of 25, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Highton Cemetery
Charles — born about 1856, married Margaret Elder Nelson in 1891, died in 1934 in Geelong aged 78 years, buried 10 February 1934 in the Presbyterian section of the Highton Cemetery
Lawrence — born 1857 in Geelong, died 1934 aged 77 at Dandenong
Ann — born 1850, married John Nelson, died 1931
Mary — born 12 March 1853 at Barrabool Hills, married David Munro MacKay, died 18 July6 1892
Catherine died on 4 March 1868 at Barrabool and was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Highton Cemetery.

In 1869 James married Caroline, daughter of John and Mary Jane (née Sefton) Edney. They had the following children:
Catherine Alice — born 1870 at Ceres, died in 1893 at Perth Cottage, Ceres
Margaret Jane — born 1872 at Ceres, married George McMeekin
James Alexander — born 21 May 1873 at Ceres, married Annabella McKenzie, died 2 February 1942 at Geelong aged 68
Isabella — born 1875 at Ceres
David — born 1877 at Ceres, married Jessie Jane Gerrand, died 1964 at Swan Hill
Winfred John — born 1881 at Geelong, married Emma White, died 1959 at Armadale in Victoria aged 77

On 20 May 1897 James' land was auctioned with a total receipts of £9907. The land was offered in four allotments with a total offered for sale being 398 acres 4 roods (sic) 10 perches:
Lot 1: Part of allotment 14, parish of Barrabool, containing 142 acres 1 rood 6 perches, together with the stone cottage known as "Tasman Cottage," with farm buildings. Bought by Charles Anderson for £25.10s per acre
Lot 2: Part of portion 14, parish of Barrabool, containing 3 acres and 2 roods, being lots 18 to 24 (inclusive) of the sub-division known as the Merrawarp Estate. Bought by C Marendaz at £102 per acre
Lot 3: Part of portion 14, parish of Barrabool, containing 130 acres, together with stabling known as "Westcott Farm." Bought by James Anderson at £19 per acre
Lot 4: Part of section 11, parish of Barrabool, containing 123 acres 1 rood 4 perches. Bought by Charles Anderson at £28 per acre

William Douglas, son of William Anderson — Barrabool Shire councillor from 1928 until 1973, serving five terms as president

John Nelson, son of Charles Anderson

James' son, William, was a Barrabool Shire councillor from 1897 until 1929. William's son, William Douglas was also a Barrabool Shire councillor, serving from 1928 until 1973.

James took an active part in the development of the Barrabool Church. He first worked for the squatter, AF Cunningham. By 1851, he had taken up 10 acres of freehold land near the junction of Barrabool and Honeys Roads. He had built his home, Tasman Cottage by 1861. He increased his wealth as a carter to the diggings during the gold rush of the 1850s. By the time of his death in 1883 he owned 1,000 acres.

James died on 10 September 1883 at the age of 60 years and was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Highton Cemetery. Caroline died on 16 August 1931 at Surrey Hills and was buried with him.

Tasman Cottage — J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria

John and Mary Jane Edney

10/1/2020

John, son of Samuel and Betty (née Webb) Edney, was born of 7 March 1814 at East Dean in Hampshire in England and was christened on the 3 April at the local St Winifred's church. John emigrated to Australia in 1840 on the Andromeche, arriving at Point Henry on 27 June. As he was an assisted immigrant he was assigned to John Marsden for three months at a station near Colac for £18.

John later moved to Heidelberg on the Plenty River where he opened a butcher's shop. It was here that he met Mary Jane, daughter of David and Mary (née Stewart) Sefton. She was born on 27 June 1827 at Ballynahinch, County Down in Ireland. As her mother died when she was an infant, she was brought up by her grand parents.

On 11 August 1841 Mary left Ireland with her father and his new wife, Rebecca, and his sons and daughters. They sailed on the Marquis of Bute, arriving at Port Phillip on 30 November.

John and Mary married on 8 April 1844 at St James Old Cathedral in Melbourne, when it was on the corner of William and Little Collins Streets. They had the following children:
William Henry — born on 19 January 1845 at Plenty River, married Jane Heard on 1 June 1871 at Holy Trinity Church of England at Barrabool Hills, died on 25 September 1924 aged 79 years, buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery
Caroline — born in 1847 at Plenty River, married James Anderson on 13 November 1869, died on 16 August 1931 aged 83 years at Surrey Hills in Victoria, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Highton Cemetery
Emily Jane— born in 1848 at Ceres, married Charles Meakin in 1873, died on 12 September 1924 at her home, 22 Windsor Street in Middle Footscray, buried in the Church of England section of the Footscray Cemetery
Emma — born on 10 January 1851 at Barrabool, married Alfred Edney on 1 January 1873 at Holy Trinity Church at Barrabool Hills, married John Samuel Camm on 4 October 1910 at the manse, 55 McIlwraith Street in Princes Hill, died on 27 January 1920 aged 64, buried at Rochester Cemetery
Alfred — born on 1 November 1852 at Barrabool Hills, married Emma Heard in 1877, died on 21 April 1946 at Echuca
Mary Elizabeth — born in 1855, died on 17 September 1914 aged 60 years at her home 1 Balliang Street in South Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery
Jane — born in 1857, married John Heal on 6 October 1892 at Holy Trinity Church Barrabool Hills
Phoebe Ann Stewart — born in 1859, married Francis Adolphus Patterson on 21 July 1888 at Holy Trinity Church Barrabool Hills,
John Charles — born in 1862 at Barrabool, married Sarah Jane Rankin on 20 May 1886 at Boxthorn Park the home of the bride's father, died on 7 January 1893 aged 30 at Bendigo Hospital, buried at Rochester Cemetery
Alice — born in 1864, married Charles Heard on 15 March 1887 at Holy Trinity Church in Barrabool Hills
Walter — born in 1867 at Ceres, married Maude Louise Heard in 1894, died in 1960 at Wodonga aged 93
Esther — born in 1869, married Robert Beck on 10 April 1889 at Holy Trinity Church in Barrabool Hills

from Geelong Advertiser 24 January 1913

Holy Trinity Church

Old Barrabool school — Photos from JT Collins Collection, state Library of Victoria

John and Mary purchased a property at Ceres in 1848 and named it Dean Farm, after East Dean where John was born. Originally the farm consisted of 78 acres which John divided into 6 paddocks, but later purchased the adjoining 52 acres. He also constructed a 5 room cottage, built from rock located nearby. He also built an underground water tank, which was still in use generations later. He was said to have been the first person in the district to acquire a dray. Before this they would either walk to Geelong or carry goods on horseback. They were lucky to escape the Black Thursday bushfires as many nearby farmhouses were destroyed.

John and Mary took an active part in community life. He was a member of the first Vestry of Holy Trinity Church of England. Mary commenced the church school at Holy Trinity and became its first superintendent. John was a member of the Total Abstinence Society. John sold part of Dean Farm to the Minister of Education and Ceres Primary School is now located on the site.

John and Mary lived at Dean Farm until their retirement, when they purchased a cottage in Highton (now 217 Mount Pleasant Road) which they named Sefton Cottage.

John died on 13 March 1902 aged 88 of influ-asthemia at Sefton Cottage and was buried in the Church of England section of the Highton Cemetery. Mary who also died at Sefton Cottage, on 18 January 1913 aged 85 of senility and gangrene of the left foot, was buried in the Church of England section of the same cemetery.

John Thomas Edney

2/1/2020

John Thomas, son of William Henry and Jane (née Heard) Edney was born on 18 August 1875 at Ceres. He married Caroline Tweeddale on 24 February 1904 at Leopold near Geelong. Caroline was born on 8 July 1880 at 7 Clarke Street, Newtown Geelong. She was the daughter of Henry Pythagoras and Annie (née Dawes) Tweeddale.

John and Caroline initially purchased a property at Colac but only stayed for a year. They then moved to Mount Duneed to get a more suitable climate for John's health. They purchased a farm from William Preston. As the property was only 76 acres John took up share farming with Andrew White, an adjacent property owner, and grew grain until he developed a heart condition. In 1908 the family moved to Elcho Park in Lara where John leased land for mixed farming. When William retired from his farm "Clifton" in 1911, John and his family moved into the house and took over the running of the property. The property was sold in 1914 and the family moved to a 38 acre property at Mount Duneed.

In 1923 John was advised his that mountain air would be more suitable for his health, and so the property was sold and a clearing sale held on 18 March 1924. On the advice of his cousin, Walter Edney, the family moved to Yackandandah. Here they suffered two droughts, and the farm, which had a large orchard, became a failure. In 1937 John and Caroline went to live with their daughter Murial and son-in-law Walter at Ballantyre at Drysdale. John grew onions on the property until he retired. After the war they retired to Ocean Grove where they established a small market garden on a property he purchased consisting of 3 blocks on the corner of Orton Street and Barwon Heads Road.

The Edney house in Mount Duneed Road — contributed by Russ Preston

Obituary of John Edney, grandfather of John Thomas — from Geelong Advertiser 14 March 1902

John died on 18 October 1945 aged 70 years at his home in Highton and was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. Caroline died on 23 January 1965 at the Geelong Hospital and was buried with him.

Robert McDowall

6/12/2019

Robert McDowall, a native of Dumfries Scotland, was born in 1827. He came to Victoria in 1857 and settled at Ceres, where he established a carting business between Geelong and the goldfields. He owned a store where he became local postmaster until 1877. He was also a Wesleyan lay preacher, conducting services at Ceres, Freshwater Creek and Mount Duneed. His family made an important contribution to the life of the Wesleyan Church at Ceres until 1927 when his son Alfred Beaumont moved to Belmont. Robert moved to the Rochester district in 1877, where he took over the post office in 1882.

Robert married Mary Boyd. They had the following children:
Alexander — born in 1862 at Ceres
Ann — born in 1864 at Ceres, died in 1882 aged 18 years at Rochester
John Hugh — born in 1865 at Ceres, died in 1905 at Rochester
Alfred Beaumont (Mont) — born in 1871 at Barrabool, married Christiana Cox in 1894, died on 3 January 1942 aged 70 years at his home "Montreath" 90 Mount Pleasant Road in Belmont Geelong, buried in the Methodist section of the Highton Cemetery
Bessie Margaret — born in 1873 at Ceres, died in 1943 aged 68 at Rochester
Mary Elizabeth — born in 1877 at Ceres, died on 4 July 1951 aged 75 at Rochester
Alice Sarah — born in 1879 at Rochester, married John Robertson in 1904, died in 1904 aged 25 at Rochester

Robert was the postmaster at Ceres and Electoral Registrar for the Barrabool division of the electoral district of Grant and a deputy electoral registrar for the Barrabool division of the south western province in the1870s. After he resigned his son, John Hugh was appointed to the position.

Robert was a member of the Barrabool District Road Board and later a Barrabool Shire councillor serving from 1873 until 1876. His son, Alfred Beaumont (1871-1942) conducted a butter factory at South Geelong and farmed at Ceres where he also ran the post office.

Robert died in 1911 aged 84 at Rochester. He left an estate of £7542/12/9

from Geelong Advertiser 1 May 1911

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

William Honey

8/11/2019

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

Henry Squire

25/10/2019

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

Richard Gilbert Talbot of Ballinclea

11/10/2019

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

Ambrose Willcox Walter

27/9/2019

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.

Thomas Smale

13/9/2019

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

Benjamin Axford Allin

7/6/2019

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 and stepdaughter, Matilda, arriving in the colony on 28 October 1850 aboard the Gypsy Queen. Initially Benjamin went to work for Captain Webb as working manager at Drysdale, remaining there for six months. They then went to Ceres where Elizabeth and Matilda stayed while he went to the diggings. Although he had some success Elizabeth died of Typhus on 28 May 1853 at "Hill Park" in the Barrabool Hills while he was away.

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

Benjamin Axford Allin

Elizabeth Allin — photos from Victorian Centenary Yearbook

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