William MCGOWAN immigrated to Victoria 1852 as unassisted passage, age abt 12 although ship list states age 16. His parents, John & Isabella MARSHALL had both died in Belfast 1845 & 49 respectively.

I suspect he was sent to family (either MCGOWAN or MARSHALL) in Ballarat area by his grandmother Rose Anne MCGOWAN. His grandfather, William, who died in 1846 was the owner of "McGowan & Sons" of 12 Castle Place, Belfast saddlers. The business was sold following his death.
In 1861 William married Alice Elizabeth PARKER in Smythesdale. Alice immigrated to Victoria on assisted passage.
They later lived in Ballarat and then St Arnaud where William died in 1882 and Alice 1886.
They had 11 children, but only 3 survived beyond infancy - William Parker MCGOWAN immigrated to New Zealand in 1895, Margaret Edith Isabella MCGOWAN, Alice MCGOWAN.