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. ​

​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

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

​​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.

The principles of total abstinence from all intoxicating drink were making great headway in the country districts around Geelong. New divisions of the Sons of Temperance and tents of Rechabites were in a fair way to being launched. Yorkshire evangelist Matthew Burnett, who had arrived in Australia in 1863 had toured the area advocating temperance. Hundreds of drunkards were redeemed. Thousands signed pledges during his campaigns. 

Members of the Order of Rechabites residing at Freshwater Creek, celebrated the new year with a grand tea meeting in the schoolhouse at which up to two hundred were present.​
​

​On 16 January, 1930, Margaret Elizabeth (née Mill) Quinlivan, aged 50, who married James (Jim) Leo Quinlivan in 1907, died suddenly at her home near Barwon Heads. The Quinlivans had come to live at Connewarre East about 1922 when Jim took a job collecting fees from the campers at Barwon Heads. 

Dr J E Piper, who made a  post mortem examination of the body, saw signs which indicated that death was due to poisoning. The stomach was forwarded to the government analyst, who reported that death was due to poisoning.

Margaret and James lived at Connewarre East with their three children, James Alexander (Jim), Mary and Jane. She had not told anyone she was feeling unwell. James was out for some time on the night of 15 January, and on his return home he saw that his wife had had a hot drink. He made a drink for himself, using the same cup. Early in the morning he heard his wife making a noise as if in her sleep. As this continued for some time he struck a match and saw that his wife was ill. She died before a doctor could be summoned.

Margaret had three brothers, George, William and Alexander Mill. She was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. James, who died on 28 July 1961 at the age of 83 was buried with her.

John Gardiner was born at Chappelgarry, Aberdeenshire Scotland about 1815. He arrived in Tasmania in the ship Augustine​ in 1843 and went as overseer to Samuel Martin of Exton. Later he worked as overseer for Blythe and De Little. In 1850 he was moved to Victoria to work at De Little's station at Hamilton. He was still at Hamilton on Black Thursday. He kept newspapers printed in Geelong in 1851 describing the suffering after the fire.

When gold was discovered at Ballarat he decided to try his luck and he was there at the time of the Eureka Stockade.

He selected land in Connewarre on the corner of Charlemont and Lower Duneed Roads about the mid 1850s.

​He enjoyed reading and was still doing this within a few days of his death. He liked reading about politics and once rode seven miles to record his vote after he was ninety. 
​
He married Isabella, daughter of Alex and Jaen Abernathy in Aberdeenshire in 1842. They had the following children:
Isabell ​— born about 1846. died 10 January 1919 at Strathbogie aged 73
​Jane — born 1848 in Tasmania, married William Spencer in 1869, died 13 March 1887 at Connewarre, buried in the Methodist section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
Susannah — born at Black Hill Tasmania, married James Theophilus Mallett on 22 April 1873 at Aberdeen Street Baptist Church, died 1927 at Canterbury
Flora Gilchrist — born 1855 at Ballarat, married John Green in 1882 died 10 December 1893 aged 38, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Duneed ​Cemetery
Helen — born 1852 at Geelong, married James Hill in 1876, died 1926 at Murtoa
John Arthur — born 1858 at Connewarre, married Emma Thomas Folks on 31 March 1885 at Dry Creek

​A number of John's family and friends selected land at Strathbogie after 1882 and many stayed for the rest of their lives.

​Isabella died on 17 April 1900 aged 85 at Strathbogie and was buried at Bonnie Doon. John died in October 1908 at the age of 93 years and 9 months and was buried with Isabella on 29 October 1908.

​At the time of John's death he had 5 children, 31 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
​

William, son of John and Eliza (née Tombs) Spencer was born in 1844 in Little Rissington in Gloucestershire. He arrived in the colony in December 1852 aboard the John T Foord with his parents (both aged 40) and brothers John (aged 16), William (aged 9) and Edwin (aged 4), according to shipping records. The Spencer family settled at Connewarre in 1855 when John Spencer purchased crown land. John who was born in 1811 in Little Rissington, Gloucestershire, England died intestate in 1858. 

​William married Jane, daughter of John and Isabella (née Abernathy) Gardiner in 1869. They had the following children:
William ​ — born 1870 at Connewarre, married Margaret Watson in 1897, died at Mitiamo in 1933
​​​John James — born 1872 at Mount Duneed, married Jessie Eliza in 1900,
George Arthur — born 1875 at Connewarre, died in 1876 at Connewarre
Emily Helen — born 1878 at Mount Duneed, married James White Curran in 1897, died in 1940
Arthur Edwin ​— born 1887 at Mount Duneed, died 1919 at Euroa
Erwin Mallette ​— born 1887 at Marshalltown, married Kate Sabina Archer in 1913, died 17 August 1917 at sea near Themistocles of meningitis aged 30
​Jane died on 13 March 1887 aged 38 at Connewarre and was buried in the Methodist section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery.

​William accumulated land in Connewarre over many years and in 1884 put his farm in Barwon Heads Road up for sale. In 1882 he had selected 240 acres at Strathbogie. A number of Jane's relatives and others from Connewarre also selected land in this area. By 1887 William was living at Strathbogie.

​In 1888 he married Frances Blyth, daughter of Ewing and Agnes (née Tait) Blyth. Their children were:
Alexander Ewing (Alex) ​— born 1889 at Strathbogie, died 2 April 1972 aged 83, buried in the Methodist section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
Ethel Agnes ​— born 1890 at Strathbogie, married Francis Scouler in 1917, died 1958 at Nagambie aged 69
​Robert Blyth ​— born 1891 at Strathbogie, married Ivy Myrtle Fuller in 1915, died 11 March 1972 at Camperdown
Herbert Samuel (Herb) ​— born 1892 at Strathbogie, married Emma Scouler (sister of Francis) in 1930, died 1959 at Nagambie
​Frank Wesley​ — born 1894 at Strathbogie, married Violet Janet Scouler (sister of Emma and Francis) in 1920, died 1935 at Richmond
Edgar Alfred (Alf) ​— born 1896 at Strathbogie, married Eva Florence Bell in 1919, died 1974 at Euroa
Charles Henry ​— ​born 1899 at Longwood, married Lesley Helen Ford, died 8 June 1950, buried in the Methodist section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
​Zachariah Barton (Zack) ​— born 1901 at Longwood, married Marion Frances Maskell in 1927, died 1970 at Numurkah

William died in 1903 at Avenel. Frances died on 19 March 1940 at the age of 78 years at Geelong and was buried in the Spencer plot in the Methodist section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery.

​James​ married Sarah Jane, daughter of James and Elizabeth (née Quinn) Caldwell, on 9 March 1844 at St Andrew's Church, Geelong. They had the following children:
James William — born 1845, married Anastasia Norman in 1878, died 1892
John Charles — born 1847, married Mary Ann Flack in 1873, died 1938
Robert — born 1850, died 1851
Jane Gray — born 1854, died 1938
George Cornelius — born 1857, married Fanny Ellen Macmullen
Lillian Amelia — born 1858, died 1938
Robert Washington — born 1860, married Susan Elizabeth MacMullen on 3 August 1899 at Clontymon in Geelong, died 1944
Frederick Leonard (Fred) — born 1862, died 1890
 
In 1868 James bought 325 acres of land in Swampy Creek (Anglesea). On March 1884 he auctioned part of his land as the Township of Gladstone on the Anglesea River. A street in Anglesea was named after him.
 
 James Noble became a Geelong town councillor in 1850. He was the chairman of the Connewarre Road Board. He was a South Barwon councillor serving from 1858 until 1859 and again from 1874 to 1885. He was president twice in 1877-78 and 1882-83. He became a Barrabool Shire councillor in 1875, serving until 1881. His son Robert Washington Noble was a South Barwon Shire councillor serving from 1890 until 1910. His grandson, Charles Albert Noble, son of John Charles Noble was a Barrabool Shire councillor, serving from 1909 until 1911.
 
James built his home, Charlemont, in Connewarre in 1855. The south end of Charlemont Road leads to the gate to the Charlemont property. The farm is directly north of Point Impossible. When he retired he lived at Claremont in Noble Street, Newtown, a street named after him.
 
He died on 9 May 1897 at Locksley, Fenwick Street, Geelong, and was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery with his son Robert who died in February 1851. Sarah died on 11 September 1874 and was buried in her father-in-law's family plot in the Church of England section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery with many members of the Noble family.

 ​William Henry, son of Jesse Holman and Sarah (née Carter) Middleton was born on 10 November 1850 in Adelaide. He farmed land in Connewarre. He inherited his father's farm after the death of his mother. In 1880  he married Louisa Harding, daughter of George Tilley and Ann (née Harding) Vagg, who was born ​on 15 September, 1857 at Connewarre. Their children, born at Mount Duneed, were:
Christine Frances Louisa ​born 1881, died 3 September 1885 aged 4 years and 3 months, buried at Mount Duneed Cemetery
​Albert Henry — born 1882, married Flora Amy Green on 12 August 1908, died 23 August 1970, buried at Colac Cemetery
Lillian — born 1884, died 28 May 1884 aged 6 weeks, buried at Mount Duneed Cemetery
Charlotte Matilda — born 1885, married Arthur Ernest Graham in 1917, died 18 August 1964 at Connewarre
Francis Louisa ​​ — born 1885, died 1885 at Geelong Hospital
John James  — born 4 August 1887, died 31 October 1969 at Timboon
George Holman — born 1889, married Agnes Emilie Missen in 1910 and had 2 sons, married Elizabeth Maud Walters in 1964, died 25 December 1976 at Colac, buried in the lawn section of the Geelong Western Cemetery
Edward Victor — born 1891, married Jean Hill in 1922, died 31 December 1984 at Colac, buried at Colac Cemetery
Elsie  Grace — born 1894, married Ernest Edward Cork, died 25 February 1988 at Connewarre, buried in the lawn section of the Geelong Western Cemetery
Emily Carter — born 1897, married Caleb Ernest Dans in 1920, died 23 October 1976 in Geelong, buried at Highton Cemetery
Gertrude Eliza — born 1900, married Herbert William Francis Stacey in 1927, died 3 September 1963, buried at the Geelong Western Cemetery
Ivy Lavinia ​— born 1902, died 19 Jun 1986 in Geelong, buried in the lawn section of the Geelong Western Cemetery

William died 3 September 1963 and was buried in the Methodist section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery. Louisa, who died on 25 June 1941, aged 84, was buried with him.

Jesse Holman, son of James and  Rose (née Holman) Middleton, was born in 1812 in Norfolk, England. He married Sarah née Carter. They had the following children:
John James — born 1848 in Yorkshire, married Marie Louisa Thomas in 1873, died 1927 at Lismore
William Henry — born 10 November 1850 at Adelaide, died 8 August 1934, married Louisa Harding née Vagg, buried in the Methodist section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
Charles Frederick — born 1855 at Williamstown, died 1855
Eliza Jane — born 1856 at Kororoit Creek, married Christopher Underwood in 1879, died 14 March 1927 at Port Campbell
Frances — born 1857 at Melbourne, died 1940, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
Ellen ​— born 20 July 1860, married William Lewis in 1883, died in 1908, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery on 30 August 1908.

​Before emigrating, Jesse was a surveyor with the British Army working in Ireland. He arrived in Adelaide in 1849 where he worked until at least 1854. He then came to Victoria, settling at Williamstown where he worked until about 1860. He then moved to 47 acres of land purchased originally by Anthony McEveret from the Crown in April 1855 at Taits Point on the edge of Lake Connewarre (on the east side of what is now Staceys Road). This is relatively high land which has picturesque views over the lake towards Baron Heads and Ocean Grove. He farmed this land for many years. He was an auditor for the Connewarre District Road Board in the 1860s.

He died on 15 August 1895 and was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery. Sarah died on 25 April 1906 and was buried with him. Their daughter, Frances, who died on 4 January 1940 was buried with them. His land was left to Sarah to use while she lived and after her death it was to be passed on to William. Frances was to have the house they lived in.
​

Robert Fuller, son of Jacob and Helen (née Gilchrist) Fuller, was born in 1854. He married Susanna McLeary in 1877. They had the following children:
​Margaret Miller — born 1878 at Mount Duneed, married Malcolm Cameron in 1902, died 1951 in Geelong West
George Henry Charles — born 1881 at Mount Duneed, married Flora Cameron on 28 May 1913
​Robert John — born at Mount Duneed in 1882, married Rose Adelaide Payne, died 11 February 1969
​Andrew Miller — born 1884 at Mount Duneed in 1884, killed in action on 26 September 1917 at Polygon Wood, Flanders. He was previously reported missing.
​Helen Sarah Jane — born 1886 at Mount Duneed, married John James Cameron in 1912, died 5 March 1950
​William Jacob — born 1890 at Mount Duneed, killed in action on 25 April 1915 at Gallipoli. He was previously reported missing.

Robert farmed land in East Connewarre near Barwon Heads. He was a South Barwon councillor for six years from 1886-1892. In April 1889 he was appointed a trustee for the public reserve at Barwon Heads. He was a member of the Connewarre Presbyterian Church. 

On 18 March 1920 his farm known as "Rosedale" in Barwon Heads Road, 2 miles from Barwon Heads and 12 miles from Geelong was auctioned. It was described as close to the post office and school, had a good 6 roomed weatherboard house with 1 acre of orchard; healthy and bearing. It also had a  good stone dairy and storeroom, machinery shed and buggy shed with good underground tank and a windmill  in the paddock. This land was described as suitable for dairying or hay growing.

Robert died on 8 June 1936 at the age of 83 years and was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery. He is buried with Susannah who died on 22 January 1901 at the age of 48 years. William and Andrew are remembered on the side of the monument.​​

William Bickers, son of Francis and Mary (née Peddan) Bickers, was born at Thirsk Yorkshire England in 1815. Information on the internet suggests he came to Australia on 28 April 1832 as a convict transported on the Lord William Bentinck.

​He married Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas and Jane (née Pickett) Beechey. Jane was reputed to be the daughter of Samuel Pickett who came with the First Fleet on the ​Charlotte  and Mary Ann Thompson who was transported on the First Fleet ship Lady Juliana.

​William and Mary Ann came to the Mount Duneed area in the late 1850s. They had 11 children:
​William — born 1845 in Hobart, died 1875 in Victoria
Jane — born 1846 in Hobart, married John Teodore Brown on 16 April 1870 in Fitzroy, died in 1884 in Melbourne
Alfred — born 1848 in Hobart, married Isabella Bryan, died in 1917 at Warracknabeal
Ellen — born 13 May 1850 in Hobart, married Thomas Ellis on 12 January 1870, died 19 August 1945 at Mount Duneed
George — born 1853 in Germantown, married Annie Garvie Tawse in 1882. Annie died on 21 July 1889 and is buried in an unknown location at Mount Duneed Cemetery
Maria — born 1865 in Geelong, married James Woodhead in 1876
Francis — born 1858 in Connewarre, married Eliza O'Hare in 1885
Rebecca — born 1861 in Connewarre, married John Teodore Brown in 1885 in Victoria
Elizabeth — born 1863 in Connewarre, married Samuel Henry Johnson in 1882
Martha — born 1866 in Connewrre, married Andrew Condie in 1884, died on 28 May 1958
Harriet​ — born 1869 in Mount Duneed, married Henry Frederick Neville in 1891

​William died on 19 June 1869 at Mount Duneed aged 54 and was buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery. Mary Ann died on 9 April 1914 at Rupanyup.

​On 27 January 1867 Harold Humphrey of Connewarre had a fatal accident. He fell from his wagon and was run over by the wheel. He left his widow, Hester, destitute. A tea meeting was held on 15 February at Mount Duneed Church School to raise funds to support the family.

​In March the Gazette named the following men to be trustees of land set aside for Wesleyan Church purposes at Mount Duneed:
John Parkes Hope
​James Daltan
William Trewen
Robert Preston
​Thomas Fiveash

​In August Sons of Temperance held a public meeting at Mount Duneed. A requisition was signed for the formation of a division at Mount Duneed. Among them were Messrs Hope, Landale, Abercrombie and Angus.

​In October a farmer named Thomas Caldwell, who lived at Mount Duneed, met his death through a tree which he was cutting, falling upon him, and striking him upon the head. He left a widow and two children.

​Bonfires were planned at Mounts Moriac and Duneed to celebrate the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh's to Victoria.

​A boy in the employ of Mr Trewin, farmer, of Mount Duneed, was drowned in a waterhole in that locality. 

​Arthur Streeton was born on 8 April at Clifford

Burials at Mount Duneed​
Jane Hill — 22 February
​Louisa Palmer — 15 March
Ellen Fuller — 25 March​
Ellen Brown — 26 March, aged 2 years
​Mary Eady — 20 April
Mary Humphrey — 3 May
​John Land — 14 May, aged 37 years
​Joseph Southall —  7 July
Stephen Cain — 29 July, aged 56 years
Charles Roulier — 9 December 1867

Burials at Germantown
Mary Kubial — 6 March, aged 6 years
​Amalie Schulz — 10 April, aged 2 years
Martha Betts — 23 April
Gottlieb Alwegge — 13 June, aged 36 years
Johann Hannasky — 21 June
​Anna Petzke — 20 October, aged 23 years
​

Burials at Freshwater Creek
Maria Louise Kubiel — died 6 March aged 6 years
​Johann Gottfried Robert Liebhard — 16 July aged 21
​Adolph Gustav Schmidt — 27 January aged 83, husband of Margaret

John Richards was born about 1823 in England. He married Louisa née Drayton, who was born about 1827. Two children, Elizabeth and Samuel James were probably born before coming to Australia about 1854. Their children born in Australia were:
Joseph — born 1854 in Geelong
John — born 1856
Mary Ann — born 1858
William — born 1859
Betsy — born 1862
Susan — born 1866, died twelve days later, buried on private property in Connewarre
​George Henry — born 1868, died aged 1 month

​John farmed land at Connewarre from the late 1850s until his death. He died on 2 August 1882 and was buried in the Church of England section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. He died intestate and was survived by his widow, Louisa, and four children — Joseph, John, ​William and Elizabeth.

August F Gradner died of wounds received in France while in action on 30 March, 1917. He was the brother of William (also on active service) and Ella Gradner of Grovedale. 
​Arthur Stanley Palmer, aged 25 years, died somewhere in France on 25 January 1917. He was the third son of James and Eva (née Withers) Palmer of Grovedale. He was the husband of Dot, father of Jean and brother of Henry Wallace, Elsie May, Minnie, Albert Roy, James Reginald, Horace Leslie and Ivy Myrtle.
​Private Edward Charles Ensby ​of Grovedale, son of  Charles and Anna Ensby, was reported as wounded and taken prisoner on 11 April, 1917. He was a prisoner of war for 20 months.
Private Sydney Gordon Challis, a farmer from Connewarre, enlisted on 17 April 1916. He was born at Mount Duneed in 1896 and was declared killed in action on 11 April 1917 by Court of Enquiry. He was the son of Harry and Sarah Jane (nee Porter) Challis.
​Andrew Miller Fuller, son of Robert Fuller and Susannah née McLeary, was killed at Polygon Wood on 26 September 1917. He was aged 33 years. He is remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium and on his parent's grave at Mount Duneed Cemetery.
​Private Francis Henry Challis a former farmer, born on 8 December 1883 at Barwon Heads, was a railway employee married to Elsie May and living at Sandringham prior to enlistment. He was declared killed in action of 12 May by Court of Enquiry in the vicinity of Bullecourt. He had one son. He was the son of Francis Henry and Jessie Elizabeth Challis.​
John Frederick William Rechenberg, born on 26 September 1884 at Geelong, was admitted to 12th General Hospital in Rouen suffering from a severe gunshot wound in the neck on 9 April. He was the son of Friedrich Wilhelm and Johanna Eleonore (née Herman) Rechenberg
Edwin George Bush, born in 1891 at Mount Duneed, died of wounds received in ​action on 4 November 1917. He was the son of Thomas and Madeline (née Humphry) Bush. 

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​Burials at Grovedale
​Dorothea Elizabeth Andressen — died 9 January,  aged 79 years. She was the relict of John Andressen, mother of Cr Andressen, Frank Albert of Melbourne and Charles Daniel of Grovedale. She had been a resident of Grovedale for 52 years. She was buried two days later in a private service.

Burials at Mount Duneed
​Susannah Danger died on 7 March aged 71. She was the wife of Samuel Danger and daughter of Robert and Mary (née Butler) Broughton.
​Baby Bubb — died May
Frederick Beard — died May aged 81
​Alexander Tait — died June aged 75
​Frederick Stacey — died November aged 18 of pneumonia. He was the son of Francis Henry and Catherine Mary (née Danger) Stacey

Henry Green was born in 1825. He arrived in Australia with his wife Jane (née Cox) on the Cambodia as assisted immigrants in March 1852. Shipping records give Henry's age as 27 and Jane's as 29. Their son John was born in 1855.
​The family moved to Connewarre in 1861 purchasing Crown land on the west side of Blackrock Road on the coastline, which he added to later.

The Connewarre Road Board elected him Dog and Thistle Inspector in 1865. He was one of three managers of the Connewarre Farmers' Common in 1869. (The common was proclaimed in 1860-61 mainly in the area of Sparrovale and the old racecourse. It was 4500 acres being all the unappropriated Crown lands in the Parish of Connewarre.) He was appointed to the School Board of Advice in the district of Connewarre in 1880. He was appointed a member of the Board of Advice for the Connewarre riding of the shire of South Barwon in 1886.
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​Henry died on 15 July, 1902 at the age of 77 and was buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery with his wife Jane who died in July 1897 aged 75 and the following:
​John Green — died 1925 aged 70 (son)
Flora Green — died 10 December 1893 aged 38 (daughter-in-law)
baby Green — died 1884 (probably son of John and Flora)
Victor Clarence Green — died March 1898 (son of John and his second wife Matilda (née Clery)
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​In his will Henry left a life interest in his 97 acre Connewarre farm on which was erected a 5 roomed house with outbuildings, to his only son, John, and on his death to his grandson, Henry Gardiner Green. This was on condition that Henry paid the sum of £50 to each of his three sisters, Mable Jane, Flora Amy and Elvina within two years of inheriting the farm.
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John Green, son of Henry, was born in 1855. His first wife, Flora Gilchrist née Gardiner was born in 1855 in Ballarat. They married in 1882 and had the following children born at Connewarre:
Mable Jane — born 1883
unnamed baby — born 1884, buried 7 May 1884 at Mount Duneed Cemetery
​Henry Gardiner — born 1885, married Edith Maud Clery, died 13 March 1947
Flora Amy — born 3 May 1888, married Albert Henry Middleton on 12 August 1908, died on 19 January 1975 and was buried at Colac Cemetery.
​Elvina Abernathy — born 1890, died 1976 at Belmont
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John married Matilda Clery on 20 May 1896 at her brother's house. They had the following children:
Victor Clarence — born 1897, buried at Mount Duneed Cemetery on 23 March 1898
Alice — born 14 March 1899, married Sidney Osborne Smith, died 9 February 1982
​Ralph — born 28 September 1908, died 12 October 1999 and was buried at Leopold Cemetery with his wife Ila

John died on 1 Jun 1925 and was buried at the Mount Duneed Cemetery with other members of the family.

Thomas, son of John and Sarah (née Turpin) Ellis, was born on 24 September 1843 at Elstead, Surrey, England. He arrived in Australia in January 1855 at the age of 11 with his mother, father, three brothers and two sisters.

He married Ellen, dauthter of William and Mary Ann (née Beechey) Bickers on 12 January 1870 at Connewarre. They had the following children born at Mount Duneed:
Mary ​— born 1870, married George Walker, died in 1945
Martha ​— born 1872, married G Brown
Minnie ​— born 1874, married Francis Renshaw
​Thomas — ​born 1875, served in France during WW1, died 13 October 1946, buried in the Church of England section of the Geelong Western Cemetery with his wife Mabel Beatrice.
George ​— born 1877, died 22 July 1903 at Mount Duneed, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery
Annie — born 1878, married Stephen William Aikman
Edith ​— born 1881, married Henry Nelson
Alice ​— born 1882, married George Grahman Craig
Rose — born 1885, married Arthur Brewer
William ​— born 1888, married Mabel Allen, died 1972 at Geelong
Francis — born 1890, married Alice Florence Spendlove in 1914, died 14 June 1865 in a car accident close to Barwon Heads, buried in the Methodist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Frank and Alice moved to Barwon Heads in 1929. Frank was involved in many activities in the town — football cricket and golf and also the local progress association. He owned a fruit shop with a billiard parlour at the back. He also ran a kiosk near the Barwon Heads bridge in summer where a cone ice cream could be purchased for a penny, threepence and sixpence. He was the first captain of the Barwon Heads Fire Brigade. He built and hired row boats which were moored at the Ozone Jetty. The Frank Ellis Reserve near the bridge was named in his honour.
​Alice died 5 April 1949 and was buried with him.
Allen ​— born 1892, served in France during WW1, married Alice Matilda Momm, died 2 November 1960 at Fitzroy, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery​

​Thomas and Ellen lived in a weatherboard house on 27 acres near the corner of McCanns and Horseshoe Bend Roads. When Thomas died it was described as small and dilapidated.

​Thomas died on 26 July 1923 and was buried in the Church of England section at the Mount Duneed Cemetery. Ellen died on 19 August 1945 and was buried with him. Their son George, who died at the age of 26, was buried next to them.

William Batten, who was born on 13 December 1815 in Cornwall, England was the son of John and Mary (née Bone) Batten. His wife Ann, born on 7 December 1816 in Cornwall, was the daughter of Henry and Annie (née Roberts) Batten.

​William arrived in Geelong in 1850 farming in the Bellarine district soon after. Although successful he moved to Batesford becoming the licensee of a hotel. He started the first punt service on the Barwon River in partnership with a Mr Connor. On 30 August 1852 he was called before the Police Bench to account for the exorbitant charges he and his partner levied upon the public. It was claimed that he refused to let the police cross free of charge, a claim which he denied. He owned the first team of bullocks in the area and carried goods to Ballarat at a time when the trip took about six weeks. He then took a trip to Europe with his wife which took about eighteen months. After returning to Geelong he speculated in land, a venture which was very successful. He was elected to the South Barwon Council in 1862-1871, 1874-1877 and 1881. He was mayor of the municipality of South Barwon in 1867-68. In 1867 when the Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria, travelled from Geelong to Winchelsea he was met by Mayor William Batten and the councillors of South Barwon at the Waurn Ponds toll gate where a speech was given amid great excitement.

In 1866 he was elected a councillor of the Newtown and Chilwell borough council for many years. During this time, he was a trustee of the Queen's Park and was the oldest trustee when he died.

​On 21 September 1886 a banquet was held in his honour in recognition of his services during a period of upwards of 30 years' representation in the municipal council.

​He died on 13 May 1896 aged 80 years at his residence "Skene House" Newtown, Geelong. He had suffered from an acute attack of bronchitis. He was buried in the Church of England section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery.
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​Ann Batten was born on 7 December 1813 at St Stephens, Cornwall. She died on 19 August, 1905 aged 93 years and was buried beside her husband.
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​In a complicated will Batten left a lifetime interest in his property to his wife Ann. After she died certain properties were bequeathed to various nieces and nephews on condition that they gave a cash amount to other nieces and nephews. Both his brother Thomas and Ann's brother William Roberts Batten had brothers named William Henry Batten. The son of William Roberts Batten who moved to Sydney had an unfortunate accident and died in 1900. He was not found by the executors before his death and it took until 1905 before his widow could claim his share.

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William Roberts Batten, born in 1816 in Cornwall, was the son of Henry and Annie (née Roberts) Batten. He was married to Charlotte Lloyd (1825-1914). He was a sister of William Batten's wife Ann.

​He farmed land at Marshall which he purchased from the crown in July 23 1855. He later moved to Sydney where he died on 10 October 1884 at his residence, Victoria Terrace, Darlinghurst after a long and painful illness at the age of 69 years.

​He had three children, Carolyn Mary who died in 1859 aged 7 years, William Henry and Charlotte Catherine.

​His son, William Henry Batten, had an unfortunate accident on 10 August 1900 which resulted in his death. He left a widow, Emily Jean née Craigie and a daughter, Valerie, born on 20 November 1887.