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John Hensley Fletcher

28/5/2020

John Hensley, son of Robert Laidlaw and Mary Harriet (née Hensley) Fletcher was born on 25 February 1877 at Mount Moriac. He married Sarah Minnie Ragg at the Methodist church in Kew. They had the following children:
Alison Atkins — born on 21 December 1904 at Geelong, married Athol Stanley Mortimer Tymms in 1937 at Deniliquin, died on 30 July 1998 aged 93 years at South Yarra, her ashes were interred in the Tristania garden at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery
Robert Keith — born on 9 June 1908 at Geelong, married Gladys Myrtle Metcalf in 1934 at Deniliquin, died on 6 January at Sale, buried in the lawn section of the Sale Public Cemetery
Mabel Hensley — born on 1 July 1908 at Geelong, married Grantley Wendell Greenwood in 1938 at Deniliquin, died on 5 November 1996 at Stawell

In 1922 John became a Barrabool Shire councillor serving for two years.

He died on 6 May 1951 aged 74 years at Anglesea. His ashes were interred in the Dodonea garden of Springval Botanical Cemetery.

William Anderson

19/3/2020

William, son of James and Catherine (née Robertson) Anderson, was born at Ceres on 20 April 1852. He married Christina McKenzie in 1881. They had the following children:
Laurence Broderick Bruce — born in 1882 at Barrabool, died in 1957 aged 61 years at Barrabool
Alexander — born in 1882 at Lismore, died in 1954 aged 72 years at North Geelong
Donald James — born in 1884 at Ceres, died in 1944 aged 59 years at Portland
Gordon McKenzie — born in 1887 at Ceres, married Hetty Maud Mountjoy, died in 1958 aged 79 years in Ashburton
Annie — born in 1891
William Douglas — born in 1893
Charles Leslie — born in 1897 at Mount Moriac, died on 22 April 1917 on the Western Front
Donald McKenzie — born in 1898 at Barrabool, died in 1971 aged 72 years at Barrabool

William was a Barrabool Shire councillor, serving from 1987 until 1928.

His son, William Douglas, was a Barrabool Shire councillor from 1928 until1973, serving five terms as president.

William died on 8 June 1928 at Barrabool Hills and was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Highton Cemetery. Christina died in May 1938 and was buried with him.

William Douglas Anderson

Patrick Corbett

21/2/2020

Patrick, son of Thomas and Mary (née Gill) Corbett, was born about 1837. He married Annie Elizabeth Slattery in 1871. Annie was born in 1843 at Darebin Creek. They appeared to have no children.

Patrick ran the Gnarwarre Hotel on a corner of his farm 12 miles from town on the corner of Pollocksford and Barrabool Roads. Later a post office and store was added. He became a Barrabool Shire councillor serving from 1876 until 1895 when he retired due to ill health. He was shire president in 1881, 1886, 1887 and 1888. He became a justice of the peace, a position he resigned from in April 1898. Patrick's sheep farming partnership with his brother-in-law, John Slattery was dissolved on 1 May 1890.

In April 1905 Patrick was charged with Sunday trading. The license of the hotel was transferred to John Keenan on 3 March 1908 when Patrick retired to Geelong in 1908. He ran it until he died, when his widow, Mary, took over the running of it. The hotel closed in 1922 and was demolished in 1968.

Patrick died on 10 August 1916 aged 79 years at the home of his sister, Ellen Meehan, 40 Albert Street in East Melbourne. He was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery with Annie, who died in 1912 aged 69 years.

from Geelong Advertiser 5 April 1866

from Geelong Advertiser 2 March 1872

from Geelong Advertiser 19 July 1876

from Geelong Advertiser 8 April 1879

from Geelong Advertiser 29 May 1879

from Geelong Advertiser 4 March 1908

William Moreland

14/2/2020

William Moreland was a Barrabool Shire councillor from 1871 until 1875. He farmed 150 acres called Sheepwash Farm at Pollocksford for eleven years. He married Mary Elizabeth Clancy. They had the following children:
William Campbell — born on 22 February 1866 at Pollocksford, died in 1867 at Gnarwarre
Margaret Janet — born in 1867 at Mount Moriac, died on 23 October 1938 aged 71 at Healesville
Mary Elizabeth — born in 1870 at Ceres, died on 28 August 1947 at Healesville
Thomas Robert — born on 7 November 1871 at Sheepwash Farm at Gnarwarre
Ellen Theresa — born in 1874 at Ceres
Isabel — born on 9 August 1876 at Mary Park at Jerilderie NSW
Amy Ada — born about 1884, died in 1937 aged 53 at Healesville
Clare — married Neil Wilson

William judged sheep at local shows. He held a slaughtering license. Prior to leaving the district for the Riverina a dinner was held at the Gnarwarre Hotel. The family moved to a property, "Mary Park", on Yanko Creek in the Jerilderie district where they stayed until after William's death in 1897. The property was still in the possession of the executors when a fire destroyed the woolshed and its contents in 1902. The family moved to Melbourne and later to Healesville.

from Geelong Advertiser 5 August 1871

from Geelong Advertiser 29 March 1875

John Hollins

7/2/2020

John Hollins was born about 1826. He married Eliza Mann in 1863. Eliza was born at St Albans in Hertfordshire England. They had the following children:
William John — born in 1864 at Freshwater Creek, married Jean Stewart Hunter on 9 May 1900, died in 1929 aged 65 at Wonthaggi
George — born on 18 August at Duneed
Eliza Emma — born on 8 Dec 1866 at Freshwater Creek, died on 4 April 1952 at Wangaratta
Henry — born on 22 February 1870 at Freshwater Creek, married Lillian Teresa Mary Gardiner, died on 12 September 1954 at Dalyston
Helen Gertrude — born in 1872 at Freshwater Creek
Minnie Isabel — born in 1873 at Freshwater Creek
Annie Amelia — born in 1876 at Bellarine
Sarah Ethel — born in 1880 at Bellarine
Frederick James — born in 1881 at Bellarine

Eliza died on 12 October 1885 aged 40 years at Bellarine and was buried in the Methodist section of the Drysdale Cemetery

In 1890 John married Alice Mary, daughter of Edmund John Fox. Alice was the widow of Frederick Woolley. John and Alice had 5 children born at Mount Moriac:
Roy Digby — born in 1891
Allan Fox — born in 1892
Gladys Eileen — born in 1894
Alice Mary — born in 1895
Norman Gromer — born in 1897, died on 4 April 1898 aged 7 months at Geelong, buried in an unknown location at the Geelong Eastern Cemetery

John was a Barrabool Shire councillor serving from 1873 until 1875. He died on 31 May 1899 aged 73 years at his residence in McKillop Street Geelong and was buried in an unknown location in the Methodist section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery.

from Geelong Advertiser 4 July 1873

In 1904 Alice married James Stephenson McDermott. She died in 1936 at Williamstown. Her ashes were scattered at Springvale Cemetery.

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 Black

12/12/2019

John Black became a Barrabool Shire councillor in 1903, a position he held for 10½ years. In 1915 after he sold his property he was forced to resign. A luncheon was held at the Moriac Hotel where councillors expressed their regret at losing such a splendid worker whose position would be very hard to fill. It was not long before he joined the Winchelsea council.

In 1920 he was selected as the Farmers' Union candidate for Polwarth at the next State election. The same year he was welcomed as a new member of the Geelong Agricultural Society.

On 30 August the same year his wife, Jane, died after a lingering illness. There was a large attendance, including many representative citizens, at the funeral which took place two days later at Winchelsea.

In 1922 he attended a conference of public bodies opposed to the elimination of the Federal electorate of Corangamite which was held at Mortlake. by now he was shire president.

In 1923 he was elected as a South Barwon councillor for the Kardinia riding, serving until 1927.

He was a committee member for the Belmont Recreation Reserve. In 1928 he was appointed electoral registrar for the Barrabool division of the South Western Province.

He died on 29 November 1934 aged 69 years and was buried at the Winchelsea Cemetery.

He subsequently married Cath, née Rutledge, the widow on Alex Johnston.

Florence Henrietta Johnston, step-daughter of Cr John Black of Roslyn Road Belmont who won the queen competition held on 20 July 1926 in aid of St Stephen's Parish Hall, Church of England Belmont
Train bearers: Joan Clemenger, Joan Smith and Jackie Clemenger — from Geelong Advertiser 22 September 1926

Children of John and Jane:
William John — born in 1890 at Bellarine East
Francis James — born in 1893 at Bellarine East
Edward Ernest — born in 1895 at Portarlington, died in 1954 aged 54 at Brighton Beach
Sydney Gilmore — born in 1897 at Modewarre, died in 1944 aged 46 at Winchelsea

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

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

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.

Roderick Impey Murchison

20/9/2019

Roderick Impey, son of John and Mary Ann (née Roberts) Murchison farmed at Jan Juc (Bellbrae) from 1878. He had leased his land from the estate of Joseph Gundry and it included the homestead "Llanberis".

He became a Barrabool Shire councillor for the Coast Riding in 1881 and served until 1884. In 1888 he left the district. In 1882 he was appointed as a magistrate for the southern bailiwick. In 1892 he was manager of the Bank of New South Wales.

He married Julia Rose Urquhart in 1860 and they had the following children:
John Henry — born 1861 in Kerrisdale
Philip Douglas — born 1871 at Kilmore
Edith Jane — died in 1874
Julia Mabel — married William Fenton McCulloch on 15 February 1915 at St Mary's Cathedral in Hobart

After Roderick's wife Julia died on 9 December 1875 aged 30, he married Alice Maud Whitton in 1878. They had the following children:
Kenneth John — born 1879 at Melbourne
Helen Elizabeth — born 1882 at Melbourne
In 1892 he was insolvent. This was caused by his inability to collect debts from India.

Roderick died on 16 October 1914 aged 82 at 17 The Crofts in Richmond. He left business assets of £160.

from Geelong Advertiser 11 August 1881

1236 acres 3 roods and 14 perches of land leased to Roderick Impey Murchison from Joseph Gundry from 1879 until 1881 stretched south from Hendy Main Road to the township of Bellbrae between Anglesea and Brushfields Roads and further south in the ironbark basin area

from The Argus 13 January 1893

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

Ephraim Mann

6/9/2019

Ephraim Mann, who was born in 1826, was the son of Abel and Mary Butterfield (née Jarvis) Mann. He came to Australia, arriving in January 1850 with his wife, Mary (née Minal) and daughter, Julia on the Lady Kennaway. They had the following children after arriving in Geelong:
Julia — born about 1849, married James Gundry in 1870, died in 1928 aged 80 years at Geelong
Henry — born about 1850, died in 1926 aged 77 years at Malvern
Alfred — born in 1855 at Ashby, died in 1950 at Trafalgar aged 94
Rhoda — born in 1857 at Geelong, died in 1939 at Geelong aged 81 years
Frederick — born in 1860 at Duneed, died in 1941 aged 81 at East Melbourne
Laura — born in 1863 at Duneed, married ? Webb
Walter — born in 1864 at Duneed, died 1945 at Trafalgar aged 71
Edwin — born in 1867 at Mount Duneed
Francis — born in 1871 at Duneed, died 1873 aged 1 year, buried in an unknown location at the Mount Duneed Cemetery on 26 January 1873
Emily — married ? Bland

Ephraim was elected a member of the Freshwater Creek School Board of Advice in 1872 together with Duncan McIntyre, Thomas Spowart, Joseph Angus and John L Dow.

He was a Barrabool Shire councillor from 1873-1875. He left the district in 1874 settling in the Moe district. When he died, on 8 December 1912 at Coalville near Narracan, he owned 316 acres being crown allotment 88 in the parish of Moe in the county of Buln Buln with a dwelling and farm buildings, valued at £8 per acre.

from Geelong Advertiser 30 December 1872

from Geelong Advertiser 30 June 1874

from Geelong Advertiser 11 August 1873

Alexander Edward Butler

19/7/2019

Alexander Edward, eldest child of Alexander Bishop and Charlotte Selina (née Mortimer) Butler was born on 12 July 1828 in London. He arrived in Tasmania with his family in 1837. He arrived in Victoria in the early 1850s. He married Eliza, daughter of Elias Helyar on 8 April in1852 in Melbourne. They had the following children:
Selina Mortimer — born on 6 January 1854, died aged 8 months
Eliza Selina — born in 1854
Charles Edward — born in 1857, died the same year at Boroondara
Annie Mortimer — born on 27 June 1862 at Glenlee farm at Jan Juc (Bellbrae)
Edward William Alfred — born on 14 February 1864 at Glenlee farm, married Jessie Hilda Burke in 1886 in Melbourne, married Lilian Blanche McLean on 29 December 1897 at 65 Fitzroy Street, Surrey Hills, married Mary Elizabeth Gavin on 27 September 1911 at St Patrick's Catholic Church at Church Hill in Sydney, died on 8 August in 1928 of Myocarditis at St Vincent's Hospital aged 64 years
Charles Spilsbury — born on 18 August 1865 at Glenlee farm, died in 1876
Hubert Philip — born on 17 December 1866 at Glenlee farm
Frederick Alexander — born on 9 February 1870 at Belgrove Cottage in Hull street in Richmond
Charlotte — born on 20 April 1873 at Belgrove Cottage, died the same year
Percy Cedric — born on 27 September 1874 at Belgrove Cottage

By 1858 he had taken up a selection at Jan Juc (now Bellbrae). His brother-in-law, George Helyer, had acquired 125½ acres to the east the previous year. George married Charlotte Ann Hockey. Both Alex and George played cricket for Jan Juc. Both were appointed trustees of the Jan Juc Cemetery in 1864, together with Joseph Gundry, Andrew Edwards and John Woods. In 1866 Alex stood as a contestant against David Hill Dow to became a Barrabool Shire councillor. He served from 1866 until 1867. He had contested the election the previous year against Dr Richard Heath of Mount Duneed, William Bell of Jan Juc and John McKenzie of Freshwater Creek but was unsuccessful.

In 1868 Alexander started working for the City of Richmond. In 1892 he resigned as treasurer of the city.

He moved to Sydney in 1893 and established the firm of Butler & Sons which he carried on until his death.

Alex died aged 71 of liver cancer on 18 December 1899 at his home, 9 Glenmore Road, Paddington, He was buried at Waverley cemetery the following day. He was survived by his widow, four sons and two daughters.

from Geelong Advertiser 16 August 1861

from Geelong Advertiser 11 August 1866

Obituary from The Sydney Mail and New South Advertiser 25 November 1899

Alexander Butler purchased Glenlee Farm, which consisted of 323 acres south of the township of Bellbrae on 16 March 1858. His brother-in-law had purchased allotment 12 in 1857.

Charles Hoffman Milner

5/7/2019

Charles Hoffman, son of John and Elizabeth (née Murray) Milner was born at Matterdale in Yorkshire in 1838. He named his farm at Freshwater Creek after his native village.

He was a Barrabool Shire councillor, serving for 25 years from 1874. During this time he missed only three meetings.

He married Harriet Wilkin In 1858. They had the following children:
Emily Alice — born 1859 at Duneed
Charles Henry — born about 1861 at Geelong, died 12 August 1940 aged 79, buried at Brighton General Cemetery
Ada Harriet — born in 1864 at Duneed, married Thomas William Whitehead in 1896, died in 1937 at Corryong
Albert — born 1866 at Geelong, died 1935 aged 70 at Surrey Hills
Zillah Gertrude — born 1868 at Freshwater Creek, died 8 August 1953 aged 84 at Sandringham, buried at the Brighton General Cemetery
Henrietta — born 1871 at Anglesea, married Percy Henry Blagdon on 28 April 1897 at St Paul's Church in Geelong, died 1958 aged 86 at Black Rock

Charles died on 10 February 1914 aged 76 at Banyule, Tennyson Street in Brighton Beach. He was buried with Harriet who passed away on 27 November 1908, Zillah Gertrude who died on 8 August 1953 and Charles Henry. He left real estate valued at £5270, and personal estate £992, to his children.

Milner Avenue in Anglesea is named after him.

from Geelong Advertiser 13 August 1885

Charles Hoffman Milner farmed land at Freshwater Creek. He owned 210 acres 2 roods in section 35 and 421 acres 1 rood 34 perches in section 36. The blocks marked may be the blocks he owned

Nicholas Ervin

21/6/2019

Nicholas, son of John and Johanna (née Darcy) Ervin, was born in 1837 at Kilmoylar, Tipperary in Ireland. He married Ann Daffy (née Pardy) on 27 February 1862 at Duneed (#591). They had the following children:
John James — born about 1863, died 2 February 1895 aged 32, buried at Mount Moriac Cemetery
Nicholas — died 24 June 1895 at the Geelong Hospital of Phthisis aged 30, buried at Mount Moriac Cemetery
Thomas Joseph — born in 1868, married Elizabeth Margaret (Bessie) Buckley in 1904, two sons Nicholas and Clarence, died on 20 November 1947 at Mount Moriac, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery with Elizabeth who died in 1972 at Newtown (Geelong) aged 90
Mary Ann — born on 12 January 1866 at Pyramid Hill, married John Francis Considine in 1890, died on 24 November 1891 aged 26, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. GTC records show her as Mary Consedine and Mary Ervin
Daniel Edward — born in 1867, married Catherine Eliza Downes in 1895, died on 1 October 1918 at Mount Moriac aged 50, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. The cortege comprised the hearse, two landau carriages, 98 conveyances, 8 motor cars and 28 horsemen. The procession was a mile long.
Margaret Ellen — born in 1871, died in 1891 at Mount Moriac, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery

Nicholas died on 29 March 1883 aged 46 and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery.

Thomas Ervin was a Barrabool Shire councillor from 1914 for 25 years. Thomas and his brother Daniel bought the Mount Moriac Hotel and hall diagonally opposite.

Nicholas' sons, Daniel and Thomas, became proprietors of the Mount Moriac Hotel. They carried on farming at first. They also acquired the land diagonally across the junction of Colac and Hendy Main Roads, on which they built a hall, after enlarging and renovating the hotel. This hall was used for public purposes until it burned down in 1962, but remained part of the hotel property for many years. After many accidents caused by runaway vehicles it was decided to build a new hall at the Recreation Reserve.

After Daniel's death in 1918, his wife and son, Winter, who died 1964, conducted the hotel for a long period.

from Geelong Advertiser 3 October 1918

from Geelong Advertiser 1 November 1918

The grave of Nicholas Ervin and four of his children — John, Nicholas, Mary Ann and Margaret Ellen

from Geelong Advertiser 24 November 1891

Councillor Thomas Ervin — contributed by Leanne Fagg

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 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

John Stead Hunt

22/3/2019

John Stead, son of Richard Shaw and Jane (née Beattie) Hunt was born in 1864 at Geelong. He married Mary Ann Isabelle Mawson in 1894. They had the following children:
Olive Helena — born 1895 at Geelong, married Alfred Frank Bird in 1934, died 1971 aged 72 at Geelong
Richard Frederick (Dick) — born on 28 October 1897 at Waurn Ponds, died on 29 October 1922 aged 25 at Koonwarra Private Hospital in Armadale, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Lorna Annie Em — born 1900 at Waurn Ponds, married Arthur Westlake Sleeman in 1934, died in 1985 at Geelong West
John Robert Samuel (Jack) — born in 1902 at Waurn Ponds, died in 1988 aged 85 at Geelong
Hubert Clive (Clive) — born in 1905 at Waurn Ponds, married Thelma Clackson Dare in 1938, died on 5 February 1974 aged 68 at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery, South Barwon councillor 1960-69, president 1965-66
Murial Jean Isabelle — born in 1908 in Geelong, married John Frederick Sleeman in 1933, died in 1976 aged 68 at Mooroopna

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

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

from Geelong Advertiser 23 October 1895

from Geelong Advertiser 4 April 1925

John William Prowse

25/1/2019

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

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

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

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

from The Age 31 October 1951

from Geelong Advertiser 22 October 1918