​Albert James, son of Henry and Mary Jane (née Brackstone) Batty was born on 11 September 1864 at Rokewood. He married Catherine Finlayson McKenzie, who was born in 1867 at Skipton, in 1890. They had the following children:
​Adeline Jessie — born in 1891 at Netherby, died at Netherby in 1892
Isabella Violet — born in 1893 at Geelong, married Leigh Harold Archibald in 1917, died in July 1982 at Bairnsdale
Hilda Rose — born in 1896 at Netherby, married George Victor Condie in 1918, died on 28 January 1936 aged 40 years as a result of a railway accident at Marshall, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Geelong Western Public Cemetery
Albert Henry "Bert" — born in 1898 at Launching Place, married Mavis Jean Ritchie in 1933, died on 25  March 1892 aged 83 years at Geelong, remains interred in the rose garden of the Geelong Western Public Cemetery
Donald McKenzie — born in 1900 at Launching Place, died on 1 April 1924 at Camperdown Hospital from injuries sustained in a motor bike accident, buried in a unknown location at the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Maggie Eileen — born in 1902 at Launching Place, died in 1963 at Northcote
John Alexander — born on 30 August 1904 at Mount Moriac, married Sheila Gertrude Paris in 1934, died on 22 November 1986 at Geelong
Catherine Jean — born in 1906 at Mount Moriac, married Hugh Rodger Taylor in 1931, died on 10 February 1970
Noel Hector — born on 8 December 1912 at Geelong, married Mary Ellen Coombe in 1935, died on 13 July 1972 aged 60 years at Geelong, buried in the lawn section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery

Constable Batty spent about a decade enforcing the law in the Mount Moriac district in the early twentieth century. After he retired he had been health inspector for the municipalities of South Barwon, Barrabool and Winchelsea. He was the last secretary of the racing club at Moriac when it fell through in the early 1920s. He was a grand master and a director of the Manchester Unity IOOF.

He died, aged 72, as a result of an accident at Marshall when the Western District Flier collided with the car he was  driving on 29 January 1936. His daughter, Hilda, who was a passenger also died. Only one witness was able to fully describe the accident. ​The engine driver and the fireman of the train which struck the car did not see the it because their view was obstructed by railway buildings. He was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery.

He married Annie Malthouse in 1926.

Catherine died on 6 October 1929 aged 55 years at the Mount Moriac Police Station and was buried in an unknown location at the Mount Moriac Cemetery.

Thomas, son of Henry Ashton and Celia (née Jeffrey) Larcombe, married Phoebe Jane Hunt in 1879. The couple had the following children:
Celia Jane — born in 1880 at Mount Moriac, married William Fletcher McIntyre on 15 Nov 1905 at St Saviour's Church Modewarre, died on 22 October 1945 aged 65 years at Newtown Geelong, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
​Richard Henry — born in 1881 at Modewarre, married Agnes Ellen Kilpatrick in 1925, died on 7 November 1959 aged 78 years at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
John Thomas — born in 1884 at Mount Moriac, married Hannah Lillian Larcombe in 1921, died on 4 May 1952 aged 59 years at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Phoebe Isabella — born on 19 July 1890 at Mount Moriac, died on 1 May 1972 at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery

​In 1899 he purchased 424 acres of the Clifford Estate.

​Thomas was a Barrabool Shire councillor serving from ​1889 until 1903. Two of his sons were also councillors — John Thomas (1939-1952) and Richard Henry (1950-1959).

Phoebe died on 30 July 1938 aged 83 years at Geelong and was buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. Thomas died on 9 August 1940 aged 91 years at Geelong and was buried with her.​

John Henry, third son of William and Jane (née Murphy) Todd, was born in 1851. He married Mary Gertrude Sweeney in 1875. They had no children.

John, in partnership with his brother Francis, ran a butcher's shop in Mount Moriac.

With William Thomas Bartrop he was brought before the court in October 1876 charged  with the murder of Thomas Lilley. Lilley had been badly injured when driving his waggon near the Waurn Ponds Tollgate and made a deposition while in hospital. The prisoners had been found with blood on their hands and clothes. Lilley's clothes and whip were found at Bartrop's house. Various witnesses, some who had spent the day drinking at hotels in Geelong gave conflicting accounts of the events that had taken place. Todd and Bartrop were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to ten years in gaol.

Mary Todd was declared insolvent in 1880. One of the reasons for her financial troubles was the falling off  of business. John was released on 19 November 1883. Francis had moved to Pyramid Hill by 1885 when his first child was born.

​John died on 17 July 1887 aged 37 years at St Huberts Post Office* where Mary was postmistress. He was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Lilydale Lawn Cemetery.

Mary married Pat Loughery in 1895. She died in 1925 aged 81 years at Donald.

*St Huberts Post Office opened 1 November 1874 and was renamed Yeringberg Post Office on 15 August 1890

John Connell was born in Drogheda, Ireland. It is unclear when he came to Geelong, but it was some time between 1840 and 1858. He then set up trade as a carpenter and joiner, a trade which he had learnt in Ireland. At some point he met John Murray. He  probably worked for John at his blacksmith and wheelwright shop at Clifford.

Sometime in 1873/74 a decision was made to take up land, which was up for selection in the Pyramid Hill area of Victoria. It is uncertain whose idea it was, but John Murray, his wife Mary Ann, John Connell, 2 brothers of Mary Ann along with John Murray's older sister Catherine, her husband William Shaw and their 3 sons James, Patrick and John, all shifted to the parish of Mincha West, where they staked claims to land.

It was part of the agreement of selection that a hut or dwelling be erected and lived in on at least 3 nights per week and, as John Connell lived with John Murray's family, and did for the rest of his life, William and Catherine Shaw operated the farm on John Connell's block of land. This was not a very successful venture as the farm didn't provide for them as well as they had hoped.

​


​The two Johns built a house and set up a forge. Some family stories suggest that the two Johns were partners but I can't find any evidence of this.

John Connell died of influenza on 3 December 1899 at the home of John Murray. His death certificate gives his age as 70 years. He had never married and had no family at the time of his death and left his estate which consisted of a 147 acre farm to John Murray. ​

Donald and Mary's daughter, Jessie, married William Saunders Beveridge on 9 June 1859 at Glenaldale, Mount Moriac. The couple had the following children:
Robert Ebenezer — born in 1860 at Duneed
William Saunders — born in 1860 at Flemington
Donald James — born in 1863 at Benalla
Mary Isabella Victoria — born in 1865
John Alexander — born in 1866
Alfred Allan — born in 1868
David — born in 1868, died in 1869
Jessie McLean — born in 1873, died in 1874, buried at Eaglehawk Cemetery
​James — born in 1873
Jessie died on 24 December 1874 at Eaglehawk and was buried at Eaglehawk Cemetery. William died at Hamilton on 6 June 1921 aged 91 years and was buried at Dunkeld Cemetery.

​*Sometimes spelt Glenaldel
​

I started this article two years ago and didn't finish it as I was very confused. I had been led to believe that the two Donald McLeans who lived in the Mount Moriac area were the same person. They both came from Argylshire in Scotland. This article is about a man who bought many crown allotments in the Mount Moriac area.

Donald, son of Allan and Hannah McLean, was born on 16 January 1814. He married Flora, daughter of Neil and Ann (née McLean) Campbell. The couple had a daughter, Julia Mary Campbell, born in 1859 at Mount Moriac. I don't know of any other children.

Donald McLean, in partnership with his brother Neil and Robert Glew, bought 677 acres on Waurn Ponds Creek in 1847 which they named "Glendarroch". A later owner of "Glendarroch" was Henry Ashton Larcombe. In 1854 he purchased 154 acres 1 rood and 24 perches on the south east corner of Willowite and Reservoir Roads. He also bought other allotments further south.

He lived in Victoria from 1837 until 1864 and in New Zealand where he kept Ayrshire cattle from 1864 until his death in 1895. He took a large tract of land south of Fairlie which he named Strathconan. He started building a concrete house in 1872 which was finished in 1877.
​

​The house has a Historic Places Trust category 2 listing on it. 

He emigrated from Scotland with his family on their own schooner the John Dunscombe ​arriving in Tasmania in 1832. All the passengers and crew except for the master were McLeans. They brought with them their agricultural implements, which included a thrashing machine, the first imported to the colonies. On 17 January 1837 McLean landed in Melbourne. He settled at Merri Creek, which became known as McLean's Creek. 

An auction of dairy stock, draught horses, agricultural and dairy implements and household furniture was held at Glendarroch on 27 September 1964 as McLean was leaving the colony. A mortgagees auction was held on 4 February 1865 to sell his land on the corner of Reservoir and Willowite Roads. A small portion of this land was let to Caleb Martin. The land sold at £3 per acre.

​​He died at Strathconan in the South Canterbury district of New Zealand on 16 July 1895.

​William Henry, son of Henry Ashton and Celia (née Jeffrey) Larcombe, was born on 17 November 1855 at Modewarre. He married Louisa Jane Worland in 1896. The couple had the following children:
Edgar William — born in 1897 at Mount Moriac, married Doris Susan Margaret Carmichael in 1920, died on 24 May 1970 at Mount Moriac Aged 72 years, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Joseph Henry Alick — born in 1899 at Mount Moriac
Emmaline Florence — born in 1901 at Mount Moriac, died on 3 December aged 5 weeks, buried with her parents at Mount Moriac Cemetery
Percy Gilbert Edwin — born in 1904 at Mount Moriac, married Elsie Gladys Victoria Bubb in 1931, died on 15 May 1979 at Pettavel, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Olive May Louisa Larcombe — born in 1907 at Mount Moriac, married Leslie Charles Armistead in 1933, died in 1972 at Prahran aged 64 years, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Stella Emalene Amelia — born in 1910 at Mount Moriac, married Norman Headley Arthur Ernest James Wills on 27 April 1935 at St John's Church of England in Highon, died in 1985 at Deniliquin NSW

William died on 17 February, 1911 aged 56 years and was buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. Louisa died on 1 July 1937 at a private hospital in Geelong and was buried with him.

The Larcombe family lived at Cromer Park which is now occupied by the fifth generation of Larcombes for over 116 years running a merino sheep farm. It will have 61 hectares of the 455 of land compulsorily acquired to make way for a $115 million Waurn Ponds Train Maintenance and Stabling Facility. This land acquisition will split the north side of the farm with the south much to the chagrin of the family who fought to save their livlihood and ambience.
​

William, son of Charles Todd, was born in Norfolk in England in 1816. He was transported for seven years for stealing wheat on 27 October 1835 on board the Moffatt to New South Wales. He was given his "Ticket of Leave" in Melbourne in August 1840. He married Jane Murphy of County Clare on 1 December 1842 at Geelong. The couple had the following children:
Isabella Elizabeth —born in 1845 at Geelong, married John Buckley in 1873, died in 1907 at Pyramid Hill aged 60 years
Marianne — twin sister of Isabella born in 1845 at Geelong
Mary Ann Todd — born in 1847, married John Murray on 27 December 1870 at Geelong, died on 22 May 1886 aged 39 years of an internal hemorrhage during confinement at Pyramid Hill, buried at Pyramid Hill
Charles — born in 1847 at Waterloo Plains
Susan — born in 1848 at Hillsborough
William James — born in 1849 at Mount Moriac, married Bridget Omeally in 1889, died on 12 August 1902 at Freemantle WA
Susan Bridget — born about 1850, died on 5 May 1900 at her mother's home at Mount Moriac aged 50 years, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. 
John Henry — born in 1851, married Mary Gertrude Sweeney in 1875,  died on 17 July 1887 aged 37 years at St Huberts Post Office
Teresa — born in 1852 at Mount Moriac
Francis Simeon  — married Mary Ann Leach in 1884, a butcher at Pyramid Hill mentioned in Susan's probate document together with William James Todd and Isabella Elizabeth  Buckley

William Todd senior sold his farm in 1890 and shifted to Modewarre. He died on  13 August 1896 at the age of 86 years at Mount Moriac and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. Susan Bridget and Jane who died 4 July 1900 were buried with him.

​John, son of James and Mary (née Moran) Murray was born in 1843 in Limerick in Ireland. He set sail from Liverpool on 23 June 1863 arriving in Victoria in September 1862 aboard the White Star. 

John had learned the trade of blacksmithing in Ireland and opened a blacksmith shop on the western corner of Colac and Cape Otway Roads at Clifford in the early 1870s. His advertisements appeared in the Geelong Advertiser from 1871 until 1874. It was here that he met and married Mary Ann, daughter of William and Jane (née Murphy) Todd on 27 December 1870 at St Mary's Geelong. 

Around the mid 1870s a decision was made to take up land, which was up for selection in the Pyramid Hill area of Victoria. John and his wife Mary Ann were joined by John Connell, who worked with him, John Murray's older sister Catherine, her husband William Shaw and their three sons James, Patrick and John. They staked their claim in the late 1870s. The two Johns built a house, set up a forge and operated a blacksmith shop again. John also farmed his land which he named Smithfield.

John and Mary had the following children:
Mary Jane Gerte "Polly" — born on 18 October 1871 at Geelong, married Patrick Ambrose Herrick in 1902, died in 1932 at Rochester, buried at Rochester Cemetery 
Susan — born in 1872 at Clifford, married Martin Maher in 1900, died in 1943 at Carnegie aged 71 years, buried at Springvale Botanical Cemetery
John Thomas — born in 1874 at Mount Moriac, married Beatrice Clauscen in 1905, died in 1928 at Elsternwick
Katherine* — born in 1875 at Mount Moriac
William James — born in 1876 at Geelong
Charles Patrick— born in 1877 at Mount Moriac
Teresa — born in 1879 at Durham Ox, married Denis Murphy in 1908, died in 1951 aged 72 years at Toorak
Francis Augustin — born on 8 September 1880 at Durham Ox, married Margaret Matilda Morrison in 1905, died on 19 November 1918 at Elizabethville in Belgian Congo
Edward Henry -- born in 1882 at Pyramid Hill
George Mascotte — born in 1883 at Pyramid Hill, married Esther Minns in 1909, died in 1958 aged 74 years at Pearcedale buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Cranbourne Cemetery
Joseph — born in 1885 at Pyramid Hill
Anastasia — born in 1886 at Pyramid Hill, died on 11 July 1915 aged 29 years at the home of Mary Jane and Patrick Herrick in Rochester

Mary Ann died on 23 May 1886 at the age of thirty nine years as a result of Anastasia's birth. Elizabeth Buckley (wife of Michael) assisted at the birth. Mary's sister Isabella Buckley (wife of John) arrived an hour later and gave evidence at her inquest. 

John died in July 1913 aged 70 years at St Kilda Road, South Yarra and was buried at the Pyramid Hill Cemetery. He had suffered from Cystitis for three weeks.

* Could be Catherine. It is Katherine on the birth record and Catherine on John's death certificate.

Family of Henry and Celia Larcombe 
Back row: James, William, Edmond, Celia, Albert, Henry
Front row: Mary, John, Lydia, Thomas, Elizabeth
​Photo contributed by Lois Comeadow

Henry Ashton, son of William and Mary (née Ashton) Larcombe was born at South Perrott in Dorsett in April 1819. He emigrated from England in 1839. Initially he worked as a bootmaker in Melbourne. By the time he married Celia Jeffrey in 1845 he had taken up farming in the Heidelberg area. By 1849 he had taken up a selection of 640 acres south of Mount Moriac in the parish of Modewarre in partnership with Sydney Ricardo and Edmund Collins. During the gold rush he carted goods between Geelong and Ballarat. He added to his land by buying out the neighbours until he owned several hundred acres.
​
Henry and Celia's children were:
Charles Frederick — born on 14 May 1846, died on 19 March 1855 at Geelong, buried in an unknown location at the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
Lydia — born on 21 November 1847, married William Crutch on 26 April 1877 at Melbourne, died on 15 July 1925 at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Thomas — born in 1849 at Bulleen, married Phoebe Jane Hunt in 1879​, died on 9 August 1940 aged 91 years at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
William — born in 1850 at Bulleen, died on 28 August 1853 aged 2 years, buried in an unknown location in the old Church of England section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery
John — born in 1854 at Mount Moriac, married Harriet Haynes Wane in 1907, died on 25 August 1941 aged 87 at his residence "Hill View" Mount Moriac, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
William Henry — born on 17 November 1855 at Modewarre, married Louisa Jane Worland in 1896, died on 17 February 1911 buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery 
Mary — born in 1856 at Modewarre, died on 5 October 1923 at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Edmund — born on 29 Novmeber 1857 at Mount Moriac, married Eliza Ann Cooper on 22 April 1892 at Christ Church in Geelong, died on 28 August 1936 aged 79 years at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
James — born in 1859 at Mount Moriac, married Elizabeth Alice Hyndes in 1893, died on 11 February 1942 aged 82 years at Mount Moriac, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Isabella Eliza — born on 9 January 1862 at Mount Moriac, died on 20 February 1934 at Geelong​, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Celia Maria — born in 1865 at Modewarre, died on 1 August 1946 at Mount Moriac, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Henry — born in 1867 at Mount Moriac, married Ada Elizabeth Margaret Law in 1906, died on 14 June 1956 aged 89 at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery
Albert Charles — born in 1870 at Mount Moriac, married Charlotte Jennie Batten in 1898, died 11 Sep 1945 at Geelong, buried in the Church of England section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery

​By 1886 the family were living at Glendarroch.
Henry was a Barrabool Shire councillor, serving from 1870 until 1889 when he retired due to ill health. He was replaced by his son, Thomas, who served until 1903. His sons Henry (1920-1923) and Albert Charles (1933-1940) also served as councillors. Two of Thomas' sons became councillors, John Thomas (1939-1952) and Richard Henry (1950-1959.

Henry died on 20 Jul 1891 aged 72 years and 4 months and was buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. Celia died in 1896 and was buried with him.
Henry died on 20 July 1891 aged 72 years and 4 months at Mount Moriac and was buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. Celia died on 11 July 1896 aged 72 years and was buried with him.​

​After Henry's death Glendrroch was run by his sons, Henry and Albert.

Children of Patrick and Ann Corrigan:
​James — Born in 1848 in Ireland, died on 18 November 1869 aged 21 years as a result of a waggon accident, lburied in the Roman Catholic section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery​
Ann — born in 1850 at Pentridge
Bridget — born in 1854 at Moorabbin, married James Pigdon on 8 November 1873 at St Leonards, died in October 1901 at Bellarine East, buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Portarlington Cemetery
Elizabeth — born in 1855 at Moorabbin, married Henry Kelly
Thomas — born in 1857 at Moorabbin
Catherine — born in 1860 at Duneed
Patrick — born in 1863 at Duneed, married Cora Jane Cox in 1884, died on 7 June 1917 at St Leonards
​

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, d​aughter 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.
​

​
​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. 

 ​​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 Al​inda 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.

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

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

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

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

Robert Laidlaw, son of William and Rachel (née Andison) Fletcher was born on 7 July 1844 at Morbattle, Roxburgh in Scotland. He arrived in Victoria aboard the Six Sisters in January 1853 with his mother, father, sisters and brother. Shipping records show their ages were: 
William — 33
Rachel — 31
Robert — 8
Margaret — 5
​Janet — 3
John — 1
​
He married Mary Harriet, daughter of John and Mary (née Hay) Hensley of Mount Moriac, on 5 June 1873. He became a Barrabool Shire councillor, serving from 1871 until 1886 and 1896 until 1916. He was appointed a justice of the peace for the Southern Bailiwick on 19 December 1881 and on 11 July 1885.

He died on 24 July 1918 at the age of 76 at Ewerby in Mount Moriac and was buried in the Church of England section of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. Mary died at the age of 85 and was buried on 17 November 1942 in an unknown location at the Mount Moriac Cemetery.

Andrew Thomas Moran was born in Wexford, Ireland about 1826. On 30 December 1858 he married Elizabeth Clarke (née Yates). Their children were:
Annie — born 1859 at Modewarre, married Edmond Joseph Brown in 1889, died 1900 at Essendon aged 41, children Malcolm, Roy and Veronica​
Margaret  — born 1861 at Modewarre, married Albert William Craven in 1886, died 1935 at Moonee Ponds
​William ​— born 1863 at Modewarre, died 1 October 1890 aged 27 years
​George ​— born 1863 at Modewarre, died 1948 at St Kilda East
Elizabeth — born 1866 at Modewarre, married Frederick John Boddy in 1885, died 1957 at Moonee Ponds
Mina — born 1868 at Mount Moriac, married Herbert Henry Washington in 1898, died 1934 at Newtown and Chilwell aged 66
Mary — born 1870 at Mount Moriac, married Cadwallader, died 1935 at Essendon aged 65 years
Jack Andrew Thomas — born 1872 at Mount Moriac, married Maud Amelia Lake in June 1898, died 1868 at Toorak aged 68 years 
​Peter ​— born 1872 at Mount Moriac, died 1872 at Modewarre aged 1 month
Mabel Mildred — born 1875 at Winchelsea, died 7 December 1915 at Shelton, Ardmillan Street, Moonee Ponds 
Henry Loftus — born 13 September 1878 at Prospect Villa, Winchelsea, married Sarah Margaret Dutton Beale on 16 February, 1904 at Moonee Ponds, died 26 May 1944 aged 65 years

He became a member of the Barrabool Road Board in 1863 and became one of the first councillors of the Shire of Barrabool serving from 1865 until 1872. In 1865 he was appointed a trustee of the Mount Moriac Cemetery. In 1882 he shifted to Winchelsea becoming the engineer at Winchelsea Shire. 

In 1882-83, important additions were made to Ingleby station, owned by George Armytage. A large woolshed and further buildings designed by A T Moran were added.