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 |
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
SponsorsLinksThe Bluestone Cottage at Marshall
Together They Served Torquay Museum Without Walls Barwon Blog Geelong and District Database Geelong Cemetery Index Australian War Memorial Trove Public Records Surf Coast Early Schools Victorian Places Barwon Heads History |