When I was trying to find details of John (Peter) Shand's marriage to Mary (nee Hope, widow of John Huntley), I came across the Dromana Historical Society's PIONEER PATHWAY page. I thought it would be of benefit to write a few details about each family. In accord with my policy of not regurgitating history that has already been written, notes about these pioneers will be brief summaries, referring readers to sources that have extensive detail.

ADAMS Henry Everest and Eliza 1845.

Captain Henry Everest Adams was born in 1816 at Ramsgate in Kent to John Adams and Mary Susannah (nee Masterman.) The lad's second given name was the maiden name of his maternal grandmother. Young Henry was christened at Gravesend, Kent on 11-12-1818. The family legend had it that Captain Adams was the illegitimate son of Lord Vivian but it proved that the association between the Adams family and the aristocrat involved delivery of supplies to the Navy in Canada.

Henry went to sea at an early age. He proved to be a willing sailor and after several years was put in command of a ship which sailed all over the world, trading with eastern countries, England and eventually Australia. On one of Captain Adams' trips to England, he married Miss May of Kent (more likely eloped!) Some relatives knew her as Aunt Polly.

They set sail for Australia and on reaching Swan River, they anchored for a time while a son was born. The captain named him Robert Henry. This was about 1835 we think as he was 99 when he died in 1934. They proceeded after the birth to Port Phillip where the captain operated vessels to eastern countries for some time. He applied to the New South Government for a grant, and receiving it, transported his goods and chattels to the site in 1842.

The Huntley family believes that John Huntley Snr received a grant of 208 acres in 1848, but in the cases of John Huntley and Henry Everest the arrangement with the Crown was probably a depasturing (squatting) licence. It is possible that sight surveys had been done on the peninsula to settle the boundaries of Runs there. During such surveys certain land had probably been suggested as possible sites for future townships. The prospect of Dromana Township taking up much of their Arthurs Seat Run was probably the reason Andrew and Georgiana McCrae handed it over to the Burrells.

The Burrells bought the Arthurs Seat pre-emptive right in about 1851, most likely because their depasturing licence had been cancelled and selection of the surveyed land was to begin. On a map of Wannaeue showing early selections along the Bay coast between the Burrell land and Boneo Rd, only one Crown Allotment was blank. This was C.A. 20, bounded by The Avenue,Cape Schanck Rd and Parkmore Rd (Melway 158 J12.) In just one advertisement found on trove, this was later described as Wannaeue Village.

Adams descendants talk of a property of 750 acres. I believe that one of Henry's children had kept a document detailing the 750 acres for such certainty about its size to exist. Crown allotment 20 only consisted of about 100 acres. In the first available rate record, Henry Everest Adams was assessed on a 7 roomed house and 191 acres. The house was on land he did not own, at Adams' Corner (Wattle Place) but he did own 191 acres. This was Crown Allotment 19, between Parkmore Rd and Adams Avenue and granted to Isaac White. In Harvey Marshall's scrapbook in a copy of an indenture involving Henry, his wife and Isaac White concerning a property at Port Melbourne. I believe that Henry and Isaac White were very good friends and that Isaac selected C.A.19 to keep an eye on Eliza while Henry was making his trading voyages.

If the captain did indeed have 750 acres at one time, it probably consisted of the future Wannaeue Village, the owned 191 acres of C.A. 19 and Crown Allotment 32 (A, B,C etc) on the north side of Hove Rd, a total of 727 acres,the missing 23 acres probably accounted for by construction of The Avenue, Wattle Rd and portion of (the present) Bayview Rd. An indication of familiarity with allotment 32 is that an application by Robert Henry Adams (the lad born at Swan River) for a licence to occupy about 44 acres of allotment 32, subject to special road condition,was approved on 1-12-1881. This 44 acre block, 32D, became 41 acres 3 roods and 18 perches, the now-closed road taking 1.993 acres. Back Road Bob Cairns bought much of 32 Wannaeue and this may have caused the animosity of circa 1906 between the two families related to the flooding of Hobson's Flat Road and Robert Henry Adams' assault on Cairns and his son.

On 27-11-1863, the captain was granted crown allotments 5 and 6, section D, Dromana Township, consisting of 36 acres west of Towerhill Rd, whose north west corner was just south of the hairpin bend in Melway 159 E11, which ran south to Arthurs Seat Rd, including the present Nestle Crt. The ownership of this land passed to Nelson Rudduck when the Captain moved to Sth Melbourne at the urging of Robert and his "gentlewoman" wife.

On 6-12-1866, the Captain was also granted 56 acres in the parish of Nepean, being Crown Allotments 73 and 68, south of Melbourne Rd between William Buckley Way and Diamond Bay Rd (Melway 157 C12.) He didn't retain this land very long, selling sold it to Duffy.

The Captain established his Vivyan Vineyard on 19 Wannaeue and possibly near the summit of Arthurs Seat; his son obviously kept the vineyard in production. According to Rye pioneer William Rowley, Bob Adams' wine was a shilling a bottle and after two glasses you would be climbing a telegraph pole, but they couldn't get enough of it in Singapore. The advertisement for the 36 acres on the mountain(circa 1880) referred to Henry's period of residence (not indicating an 1842 arrival) but this may have meant since he had quit the sea or obtained the grant.

Captain Henry Everest Adams is supposed to have beached the Roseanne and built his house from its timbers. Was the 7 roomed house of 1864 the original cottage or the extension built by Henry and Robert? A fort was being built at Pt Nepean to repel feared invaders and the Governor made frequent trips there to inspect progress. Governor Hopetoun often stopped at the Adams' guest house so it became Hopetoun House. There were some aspects of hospitality offered that did not please the Adams women who later renamed it Merlyn Lodge.

Henry and Eliza Adams only had two children, Robert, and Emma who was born on 14-7-1842 in Adelaide. Emma was thought to have died in childhood but Len Williams discovered that she had married Charles Edward Tyler Barton in Melbourne in 1861. Their first child, Charles Henry Barton, born at Sandridge(Port Melbourne) in 1863, returned from New Zealand after his wife and child died and married Emily Mary Nash.

Robert Henry Adams married Mary Jane Hopcraft who, being a gentlewoman, could not tolerate the captain's seafaring ways (wine, women and song with the odd naughty word or two might be an accurate estimate) and when he offered his grandchildren a taste of his Vivyan Vintage that was the last straw. She refused to live in the same house as the Old Salt.Robert, 28, and Mary, 19, had married in 1873, but by 15-12-1877 he was at Robert Anderson's Barragunda having his application for a licence (for allotment 69 in section A of the Parish of Balnarring) witnessed. It was actually 69A Balnarring of 93 acres 1 rood and 22 perches (Melway 190 E9) which was sandwiched between the grants of William Hopcraft (190 F 9) and John Hopcraft (190 D7.)

When Henry moved to South Melbourne to stay with friends, the Mullens, Robert and Mary returned to Hopetoun House. Details of their offspring follows but beware of accepting the place of registration as the locale in which the birth took place. Henry Vivian (b. 1874 Dromana, married Sarah A.H.Morgan at Mornington 1897.); Mary Emma (b. and d.Dromana 1876.); Eva Helen Mary (b 1880 Dromana, married George Freeman 1903 Dromana.); Mary Jane (b.1882 Dromana, married Thomas Hall.); Mary Helen (b.1884*, married Ernest Lesley Harvey in 1907); Robert William (b.1886*, married a Pain girl, then a Hall girl.); Sarah Mabel (B.1889*, known as Mabel, married Keith McGregor.); Edith Rosa (b.1891*, married William Reeves 1914.) * = Tootgarook.

SHOVEL TROUBLE AT ROSEBUD: ADAMS V CAIRNS!
People cared for each other in the old days and if families were in trouble, such as the Connells near Red Hill or the Singletons of Dromana, there would be a benefit concert to help them.However tensions sometimes occurred, such as the feud between Robert Henry Adams and Back Road Bob Cairns which caused flooding of the Hobson's Flat Road near the corner of Hove and Bayview Rd. (The road to Cape Schanck, now called Bayview Rd, was known as the back road by locals but the council obviously called it Hobson's Flat Road.) These extracts from my SHOVEL TROUBLE AT ROSEBUD explain the reason for the road name and the feud.

Because Anthonys Nose jutted out into the bay, travel to places west of Arthurs Seat was mainly done on vessels. Even after a road was cut around The Rocks in the 1860s, much of the transport was by ships because the roads were poor but Jack Jones At Rosebud and the Rye school often waited for supplies such as food and fencing timber when sailing conditions were unsuitable.
The first European in the area was John Aitken, a pioneer west of Sunbury, who had to swim his sheep ashore when the ship was wrecked near Dromana soon after Melbourne had been settled. Not much later, Edward Hobson took up a run near Safety Beach but soon after moved to the west side of Arthurs Seat, Maurice Meyrick settled at Boneo for a short time and Jamieson at Cape Schanck, also briefly.
If the sea was calm, travelers could get around Anthonys Nose on the sand at low tide. On his way to Boneo, Meyrick had a snooze as he waited for low tide on one documented occasion. If the sea was rough, they would use the back road. Those headed to Cape Schanck would head inland on a track now followed by Latrobe Pde and follow the present freeway course across the Government Road (Jetty Rd) to another Government road (Browns Rd) and then head due south past George Smiths Wooloowoolooboolook homestead, which according to Georgiana McCrae, when writing about the lost Cain girl, was six miles from her homestead and thus near Patterson Rd. According to Spencer Jackson (Beautiful Dromana 1927), Smith was related to Captain Hobson by marriage so he was probably indirectly related to Edward Hobson. Those heading to Rye could take two other government roads (Browns Rd and Eastbourne Rd) to head west.
This road was known as the Back Road, thus giving Robert Cairns his nickname, Back Road Bob. It was not until I came across the articles that I found that the council referred to it as the Hobsons Flat road. My knowledge of the farms of Robert Cairns and the Adams Corner family (as detailed in two other side projects, Talking History with Ray Cairns and Adams Corner) enabled me to specify that Hobsons Flat Road was the Cape Schanck road and to identify the part of this road (etched on the cover map) where crossings 1 and 2 were located.

I will leave you to read much of the detail about the Cairns family in Peter Wilsons The Cairns Family of Boneo. In brief, Robert Cairns settled at the north east corner of Boneo Rd and Browns Rd in about 1852. He was joined two years later by his brothers, David and Alexander, their passage probably assisted by the income that Robert had made from his lime-burning. Roberts in-laws had settled on the other side of the bay, giving Drysdale its name, and Mary Campbell, who came out with Robert (possibly acting as a nanny during the voyage) found work with the Burrells at Arthurs Seat, where she met Edward Williams who arrived on a survey ship in 1855 (possibly with Sidney Smith Crispo) and they later married. Robert Cairns later moved in the 1870s to a farm called Maroolaba near Patterson Rd in the parish of Fingal, which was bounded on three sides by Patterson grants. This farm later passed to his son, Hill Harry who married Michael Cains daughter, Mary Agnes, and was the father of Ray and Charlie, both of whom were born at Grandma Nevilles in South Melbourne.
Alexander moved across Boneo Rd in 1870 to the grant he received with Amos, who according to the late Ray Cairns was a relative who never came to Australia. Two of his sons were Eleanora Davey and William who bought land on the west side of Boneo Rd near the beach and leased land near Chinamans Creek to the market gardening Wongs, who were so fleet of foot on the football field. Dalgleish Ave would have been named in honour of their Aunt Janet (below.)
David was paralysed when he fell from a vehicle and helped as much as he could with a guest house that Janet (Dalgleish) ran at Flinders. Three of his sons married daughters of old lime- burner, Edward Russell; they had probably attended school at the Boneo school at Blacks Camp near the Cape Schanck turn off. His son David (Blacks Camp Davey) farmed near this turn off and another son, Henry (Carrier or Rabbity Harry), who farmed in the same vicinity, carried passengers, fish and rabbits to the Mornington railhead. (James Campbell Williams, the son of Edward and Mary, known as Jimmy the Squid, performed the same function from Rosebud West.) Due to the Flinders connection, the family was linked by marriage to the Boyd, Symonds and Haddow families. The two sons most linked with Rosebud were Rosebud Ted and Back Road Bob. Edward married Elizabeth Bucher (from an early Rosebud Fishing Village family of which members farmed at Boneo) and in 1916 received a grant bounded by Jetty, Eastbourne and Hobsons Flat Rds. He had been involved on Woolcotts subdivision by 1910, and according to the aforementioned plan of early Rosebud, lived across McDowell St from the Safeway entry, next door to William Patterson, who married his daughter, Ruby, after his first wife, Roberts Margaret, died in 1920.
Back Road Bob(1848-1937), one our combatants in the shovel trouble, who married Annie Symonds, settled in 1877 on the Back Road. This was probably on 32b of 108 acres, for which he received the grant on 23-12-1887.He extended his grants to the east, purchasing 32 in 1901 and 32g in 1906, most likely having also held these two parcels on licence since 1877. Peter Wilson called his house Tornvilla but I believe this is a mistake caused by the illegible scribble produced by many shire secretaries. Both rate books and family notices call it Fern Villa. After an initial subdivision of Back Road Bobs land, the one acre block on which the house stood was again subdivided as the Marina Heights Estate. The spelling of Cairn Rd is probably due to the same brain-dead moron who decided that Edward Williams Eastbourne was to be now 17 William Cres., but that Browns Rd should retain the possessive s, the removal of which is what I believe was the purpose of the exercise. See Shire of Flinders Heritage Study, part 1, page 369 re Tornvilla (sic.)

THE ADAMS FAMILY.
That there is any history of Adams Corner is due to the lady that runs the Mens Hairdresser shop next to Hendersons Real Estate. Somehow the subject of local history came up and she showed me the plan of Early Rosebud. The next time I saw her, she had remembered who gave it to her, Harvey Marshall. What a wealth of material Harvey gave me to work with!
Although Adams Corner has been done for ages, three details have yet to be sorted out. Firstly when Henry Everest Adams arrived in Rosebud, secondly why crown allotment 20 Wannaeue was not open for selection and thirdly why family legend speaks of a 750 acres grant, when there were only about 290 acres in crown allotments 19 and 20. All three mysteries might be solved when Harvey obtains a document said to be in the possession of family members. Harvey calls it a grant and says that it was given for services rendered to the Government but I believe it was a special long term lease (licence).
The Dromana Historical Societys Pioneers garden near the old shire hall gives Captain Adams year of arrival as 1845 but its submission for the naming of a park in the area states that he arrived in 1839-40. He was said to have beached his vessel and used its timbers to build his cottage. I believe that Crown Allotment 19 was bought on his behalf by Isaac White, who was obviously a good friend. Part of crown allotment 20 was subdivided by the crown as Wannaeue Village in about 1877 and this (and perhaps a long-term lease) might be why the land was reserved from selection in the 1850s. The land that Back Road Bob selected might have been part of the land that Henry had been occupying and this could help to explain the ill-feeling that came to a head by 1904; it is interesting that Cairns settled on his land in the same year that Wannaeue Village was put up for sale.
It is likely that Henry combined trading with places such as Singapore with his agricultural pursuits and brick- making on the peninsula. One of his products was wine from his Vivyan Vineyard and he couldnt sell it in Melbourne but Singapore couldnt get enough of it. One of the pioneering Rowleys described it as a very potent brew. The Captain bought 36 acres (lots 5 and 6 of Section D, Dromana Township as shown on the following map) and 56 acres (crown allotments 73 and 68, parish of Nepean) on the south side of Melbourne Rd between Mission St and Diamond Bay Rd (Melway 157 D 12.) He sold the Nepean land to Duffy before long but held the Dromana land until the former Miss Hopcraft laid down the law to Robert Adams. Henrys son had married her in 1873 and she had refused to live in the same house as the captain. He had given up the sea but not his seafaring ways.
Wine, women and song! Perhaps we should also add swearing and violent temper. The wine we already know about, but Roberts wife was appalled when he insisted on giving his grandchildren a taste. The Hopcrafts hailed from the north end of Tucks Rd and were probably part of the strong Methodist presence in Red Hill and Main Ridge. By 1877, Robert was applying for a licence for land between that of William and John Hopcraft. That he did not get the grant is probably due to the fact that the captain finally got the message and moved to South Melbourne to live with his old friends, the Mullins. Women! One of the prominent guests was the Governor, Lord Hopetoun, and the guest house was named Hopetoun House in his honour. The same name graces Harveys front gate in Wattle Place but the women of the family hated it and renamed the house Merlyn Lodge. You see, some of the female employees were not there to clean, cook or serve at table; they satisfied the gentleman guests in other ways. I have no evidence that the captain sang but the connection between drink and karaoke is fairly strong! The Captains temper is part of the family legend and despite his sons upright character, the assault on Robert Cairns son, Godfrey, in 1905 shows that he was at least a splinter off the old block!

The other players in the drama.
William Henry Hobley seems to have grown up in the Mornington area, A Richard Hobley was badly injured there in 1872 as a 13 year old. He received his grant in Hove Rd in 1890 and a bridge (probably opposite the tennis club site) became known as Hobleys bridge. He was unjustly accused of causing the drainage problem as shown in the following articles. He obtained licences for 3 and 9 passenger stage coaches in 1895 and won the Dromana- Mornington mail contract in 1902. It is possible that he lost this contract after 1904 and by 1910 was farming near Leongatha. A John Lima Moraes, who might have been a son in law, farmed his land for some time. He committed suicide by drowning in a waterhole. His widows executor was sub inspector Frederick Hobley, who might have been his son. Frederick was in 1938 put in charge of the detectives training course. With personal expertise in photography and ballistics, he headed up the police scientific branch.
Robert Anderson of Barragunda at Cape Schanck was one of the early permanent settlers on the peninsula and had been a member of the Road Board in the 1860s. He seems to have been a well-informed councillor but was eventually rejected by ratepayers because he came across as a bit of a know-all. He attempted to regain a seat in three of the ridings but was defeated at each attempt. He still gave his advice whether it was wanted or not. As he lived near so many of the Cairns family, it is no surprise that he took Back Road Bob Cairns side in the dispute.
NOT ALWAYS ROSEY AT ROSEBUD! Strangely, a period of intense disharmony involved three families which were not only neighbours but were also involved in the conveyance of tourists, from the steamers that disgorged them at Dromana, to Rosebud and places such as Cape Schanck. Also involved were Robert Anderson of Barragunda at Cape Schanck and the shire engineer (who served in the same capacity at Mornington Shire.)
Peter Wilson said that Back Road Bob Cairns sons were engaged in conveying passengers. Bobby Adams was described by Isobel Moresby as one of those who waited at the Dromana pier for the steamers (with Lord Hopetoun the Governor, his most famous passenger) and Hobley had obviously been at it since 1897. It is likely that Robert Adams and William Hobley were mates and that both were annoyed by Robert Cairns water diversion, which flooded Adams land and brought unwarranted blame onto Hobley. Anderson had been a long serving councillor and criticized plans for the drainage of Hobsons Flat. As many of the Cairns family, such as Blacks Camp Davey, Hill Harry and Rabbitty Harry, lived near Anderson, and were probably his friends, he failed to mention that Back Road Bob had caused the problem but Hobley made sure that this fact became known and that he was not responsible.
In early days, the Rye directory referred to the Swamp Village 6 miles east of Rye. My measurements in Melway indicate that this was near the lighthouse. Many creeks arose on Arthurs Seat and flowed to Westernport or Port Phillip Bay and they still exist but those that flow through Hobsons Flat are now underground drains, some under roads. The Avenue was Adams Creek and to the west were Eeling Creek which passes under the car park east of Tom Salt Reserve, and Peateys Creek which runs under Mitch Laccos statue near Murray Anderson Rd. The Drum Drum Alloc Creek flows west through Rosebud West producing the famed Tootgarook Swamp before emptying into the sea. Due to poorly defined channels and the mouths often being blocked, the flats could become very soggy and unsuitable for farming.
The Hobsons Flat (Cape Schanck ) road had been formed in the early days with two crossings over Waterfall Creek, the eastern called crossing 1 and the western number 2. The road could be none other than Bayview Rd at about Melway 170 G2 and the creek the one that now goes underground at Hove Rd near the gazetted cemetery (tennis club.) The Hobsons Flat drainage issue was discussed at the council meeting reported on page 3 of the Mornington Standard of 13-5-1897. Adams had been offered permission to cut a drain from crossing 2 (which Cr Anderson said was the natural flow) to crossing 1 (obviously on his own land WNW of the road) but he had refused.
Crs Clark and Baldry moved that a drain be cut on the east side of the road at council expense to carry water to crossing 2 and despite Andersons claim that it would create a chasm on Robert Cairns frontage and probable litigation, the motion was carried 5 to 3. Anderson claimed that a notice of motion should have been required, but the President, John Cain, said it was not necessary. Anderson then lodged a written protest. It is presumed that the issue had come to a head because water had backed up at crossing 2, because of Robert Adams dam, and covered the road. A council report (M.S. 12-3-1896 p.3) showed that Adams obstruction was causing the road to be covered with water for 200 yards. Andersons motion, ordering him to remove the obstruction and fill in drains he had cut on that road and The Avenue, was passed. This was despite Cr Baldrys comment that Mr Muntzs report, suggesting exactly what Clark and Baldrys motion (above) stated, was the best solution.
Anderson, no longer a councillor, wrote a letter (M.S.8-10-1904 p.5) which opened old wounds and inflicted others, earning him a new enemy, the shire engineer, H.E.Moors. He quoted from the engineers report that Adams had built a dam at No. 2 crossing 10 years before, that as no action was taken by council or neighbours, the matter was condoned and the statute of limitations applied. Anderson stated that the statute applied after fifteen years and it was doubtful that it applied to crown land and roads anyway. He said that council did not condone the dam but had sought legal advice which was that since council had not prevented Mr Hobley cutting a drain across a road higher up on the south west side, thus diverting extra water into Mr Cairns paddock leading to crossing 2, Adams had a right to block that extra water. He then mentioned that council had cut a drain from 2 to 1 on the lower side of the road causing an enormous chasm and that the engineer now recommended a similar drain on the upper side (on Cairns land)which would probably result in litigation from Adams (loss of water) and Cairns (chasm on his frontage.) Anderson said that the only safe and legal solution was to stop Hobleys diversion of water on the higher road.
A week later ((15-10-1904 p.2), Willam Hobleys irate reply appeared. I will give it verbatim, including the line that was almost illegible because of a crease in the page.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, - Will you permit me to reply through your columns to Mr Andersons letter on the above subject. (William must have had a heading such as Hobsons Flat Drainage but the editor obviously deleted it, not realizing that the first sentence referred to it.) I would like to remind Mr Anderson that he was a very prominent member of the old Road Board in the early sixties, when the Hobsons Flat road was first formed. Now, Mr Anderson well knows that No. 1 crossing has not been allowed to do its duty for some time; the reason Mr Anderson well knows, viz., that Mr Cairns has blocked up the course to that crossing, by cutting a drain at an angle across the old water course, and turning the stream out at No. 2 crossing, also causing to be filled in the watercourse provided by the old Road Board (in the early sixties), thus preventing the water going to No. 1 crossing. Mr Anderson put the whole affair in a nutshell when he hints at the frontage to Mr Cairns house. This is the cause of the whole trouble. Mr Cairns is preventing the water taking its original course and as somebody must be blamed, Mr Anderson wants to make me the scape-goat for other peoples sins. Mr Anderson seems to forget that Mr Cairns had to admit, when asked by Mr Muntz, in the presence of ex- Councillor Bensilum and himself, that the water had always run in the creek known as Waterfall Gully through my land on to Mr Cairns land. Mr Anderson left, apparently fully convinced that I had not diverted the water. I only wish to add, in conclusion, that it is utterly impossible for me to divert water to No.1 or No.2 crossing as I do not own the land frontage to either crossing. Hoping this vexed question will be settled without fear or favour.- Yours, &c., WILLIAM HOBLEY. ROSEBUD, October 13, 1904.
Another week later (M.S. 22-10-1904 p.5.), there came a far more personal reply to Andersons letter from Henry E. Moors, the shire engineer. Before detailing his responses (including insults that he would not have dared to hurl at a sitting councillor), some background on the two shire engineers mentioned is necessary. Muntz was the Broadmeadows Shire Engineer at some time (which I can confirm when the publisher of Victorian Historical finally returns my material) and was criticized for performing the same function with several other municipalities at the same time as well as working as an architect. (Broadmeadows: A Forgotten History.) He was the engineer in the mid 1890s when the Hobsons Flat drainage matter first arose. Moors was also the engineer for Mornington Shire and apparently lived in Mornington. Some West Riding councillors wanted a resident engineer living in Sorrento but it was pointed out by East Riding councillors that Sorrento was more distant from their area than Mornington.
Moors wrote two letters, the second in reply to one on the 15th from Robert Cairns, (who denied that he had exaggerated, accused Adams of causing the damage and called Adams an excitable little man), which probably led (along with the drainage squabble) to the shovel incident. Moors implied that Cairns had breached Adams dam. The second letter stated that Muntzs report of 29-2-1896 had cleared Hobley of any water diversion, countered Andersons claims and remarked that Anderson was not a lawyer, doctor, chemist, or a councillor despite his inflated opinion of his competence and had been rejected by ratepayers in one riding and then another. (Actually three ridings!)
Having diverted from a Hobley focus, I have decided to produce a booklet about Hobsons Flat drainage called SHOVEL TROUBLE FROM ROSEBUDS PAST and get back on track. This will include the case of Robert Henry Adams assault with a shovel (M.S. 5-8-1905, p. 5) on Robert and Godfrey Cairns while they took a short cut across Adams land. William Hobley, in an obvious effort to support Adams, said that he had seen notices forbidding trespassers crossing but changed his mind during cross examination.


Members of the family still live near Adams' Creek (The Avenue) a century and a half after Captain Adams' arrival.

ARKWELL John and Hannah 1862.
The Arkwells settled at Red Hill early and received grants for 12A and 12B Kangerong. Consisting of 143 acres this land is between Arkwell and Andrews Lanes (Melway 190 K 2-4.) The family pioneered the growing of strawberries at Red Hill. A photo of the Arkwell's packing shed is on page 73 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.
See my DICTIONARY HISTORY OF RED HILL journal.

BLAKELEY William and Martha 1865.
See BLAKELEY entry in DICTIONARY HISTORY OF RED HILL.

BUCHER Henry and Ann 1865.
Henry Bucher and his wife Ann ( nee White settled on the foreshore at Rosebud in 1863. Henry was from Boston, Massachusetts and Ann came from Scotland with her parents. (Rosalind Peatey said that Ann Bucher came from Clackmannon in Scotland as did the Cairns.) Henry built a cottage, probably wattle and lime daub) on his block on the west side of today's Bucher Place that he called Modesty Cottage. Their eldest daughter, Rose, was the first child born in Rosebud. Their second son, Sam, later bought lot 19, on the east side of Durham Place, from the grantee.(No Bucher was assessed in the 3-9-1864 rates.)

By 1919 Mrs Ann Bucher, who had apparently been a widow by 1900, was assessed on both blocks in the fishing village, Henry Bucher of Brighton on quite a few blocks on 17 Wannaeue (between Jetty Rd and Norm Clark Walk right through to Eastbourne Rd) and Samuel James Bucher of Mornington on 188 acres and buildings, crown allotment 1, section A, Wannaeue (Melway 170 F 12 south to Limestone Rd.) If I remember correctly, a member of the family ran the Mornington Sea Baths.

There is a photo of Henry and Ann Bucher on page 17 of Peter Wilson's ON THE ROAD TO ROSEBUD.

BURRELL Joseph, Charlotte and family 1851.
Visit the Burrell wing at the McCrae Homestead. There is a photo of the Burrell family on page 34 of Colin McLear's A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.

CAIRNS Robert and Mary 1852.
See extensive CAIRNS detail under SHOVEL TROUBLE in the ADAMS entry.
Robert was intending to farm but found limeburning more lucrative and soon persuaded his brothers, David and Alexander, to join him at what became known as Little Scotland (Melway 170 B-C 10-11.) He had come out with Mary's parents, the Drysdales, who settled on the other side of the bay, giving Drysdale its name. Another who came out with Robert and Mary, as a sort of a nanny, was Mary Campbell. On arrival she found work with the Burrells and when officers on a survey ship were invited to the Burrells, she met Edward Williams. They married and lived on Browns Rd just east of Truemans Rd before Edward bought Eastbourne from S.S.Crispo.

Robert later established Maroolaba near Pattersons Rd in Fingal, later carried on by his son, Hill Harry, and his son, Ray, who died recently after making his last century. Descendants of the three brothers spread all over the peninsula; Doug Cairns of Mornington, who bought "Seven Oaks" at Bitten North, knocked around with one of Australia's greatest artists, Arthur Boyd, who developed his skills while living with his grandfather at 62 Rosebud Pde, Rosebud from 1936-9.

The Cairns families were linked by marriage with such pioneering names as Russell, Symonds, Patterson, McLear, Boyd, Haddow, Bucher, Cain, McGregor and Purves. As discovered in an interview with Ray Cairns ten days after his 100th birthday, Ray and Charles Cairn's birthplace is recalled by the name of a street on Owen Cain's "Tyrone" between Rye and Canterbury Rd. They were born at the home of Grandma Neville in South Melbourne; she was Michael Cain's mother in law.

Nicknames are very much associated with the history of the Cairns family. Their selection at Boneo at the north east corner of Boneo and Browns Rds was known as Little Scotland and an amusing tale (on page 98 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA) about a visit by George McCrae who was helping hawker, Charles Graves,tells of one of the many blond tackers having trouble cracking his whip: "Ae cunnae crruck a whee whup yet."

I will leave you to read page 13 of THE CAIRNS FAMILY OF BONEO to find the nicknames used to distinguish members of the three families who bore the same names but I wish to comment on one in particular. Harry Cairns (son of David, born in 1861)ran a thrice weekly, two-horse coach service linking Fingal with the railhead at Mornington and Ray Cairns called him Carrier Harry. In describing the same details on page 52 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA, Colin McLear called him "Rabbity" Cairns. True, Harry carried fish and rabbits to the railhead, which would have made the trip smelly as well as bumpy and slow, but it would have added to the confusion if one man had two different nicknames. It is possible that Rabbity was a nickname associated with Carrier Harry's oldest brother, James T.Cairns (1840-1829), who was employed as a rabbit inspector by the Department of Lands,with responsibility for the whole of the Mornington Peninsula.

See THE CAIRNS FAMILY OF BONEO and the ADAMS entry for much more detail.


CHAPMAN George and Elisabeth 1859.
See A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA and the CHAPMAN entry in my DICTIONARY HISTORY OF RED HILL journal.

George Chapman (1829-1898) came to Australia in 1857 and arrived in Dromana five years later according to Colin McLear. Perhaps evidence has been found of an earlier arrival in the area. I believe that the founder of "Seawinds" might have been related to Nelson Rudduck's father-in-law, Fred Chapman, that he might have met Elisabeth Bain, whom he married, due to a connection with "Lochton" at Bulla, and that he or his descendants bought land in the triangle bounded by McCulloch St, Arthur St and Palmerston Ave in Dromana; George, Thomas and James Streets could have been named after George and two of his sons.

Fred Chapman's haystack at the Saltwater River was destroyed by fire in 1856 after the Kay, Chapman and Caye grant on Tullamarine Island had been sold to the Faithfulls. A flour mill was built on Lochton in 1856 by David Robie Bain if my memory serves me correctly. (Fire-A Deamtime of Dromana; Faithfulls-titles information; Bain-"Bulla Bulla" by I.W.Symonds.)

In Colin McLear's A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA there are photos of the family's Belmont guesthouse in Dromana on page 49 and James and Miss Janet Chapman on page 135.

CHAPMAN George and Isabel 1870.
I did a lot of assuming re the first George Chapman, but on a sound basis. Here I'm not so sure. Colin McLear seems to indicate, on page 83 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA, that Henry George Chapman, a Dromana blacksmith, and his wife Isabel (nee Gibson, born 1865), were known to friends as George and Bella. The index wrongly states that Henry George is mentioned on page 58 but on page 63 we discover that he was the brother of Jane Sophia Chapman who married Nelson Rudduck. It is possible that he suggested Nelson's move to Dromana.

I believe that Henry George was related to the first George Chapman, whose sixth child, George Henry, born in 1873 only saw one New Year. Isabel actually arrived in 1865! An indication that Henry George was actually known as George is provided in the 1900 rates when George Henry? Chapman was assessed on 204 acres, Kangerong; the question mark being the rate collector's. James George Chapman, son of the first George, was assessed on
320 acres, 26AB, 27 Wannaeue (Sea Winds.)

The present Dromana Football Ground was practically donated by Henry George Chapman in a deal organised by Spencer Jackson. (P.181 of Colin's book and similar articles found on trove.) His blackmith shop is shown on page 59 of Colin's book.

CLEINE Charles and Elizabeth 1867.
See the CLEINE entry in my DICTIONARY HISTORY OF RED HILL journal.

CLYDESDALE James and Julia 1860.
See the extensive CLYDESDALE entry in my DICTIONARY HISTORY OF RED HILL journal. There are photos of James and Julia on page 157, and Bob and Jack Clydesdale (in Dromana's 1931 footy premiership team of 1931) on page 164 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.

CRICHTON John and Jane circa 1860.
The Crichtons established Glen Lee on the west side of Boneo Rd (opposite the Boniyong pre-emptive right) between Browns and Limestone Rds (Melway 169 J-K 12 to 252 J-K3.). There is a fair amount of detail in LIME LAND LEISURE but not about the other two parcels of land, also in the parish of Wannaeue, owned by the family. The 344 acres, bush paddocks, consisted mainly of 10B and 9B, of 314 acres, granted to John Crichton in the 1870's were located at roughly Melway 254 G2-4, south and east to Main Creek and Barkers Rd. The 678 acres, farmed by Alex Crichton, and granted to John Lovie, fronted Hiscock and parts of Truemans and Browns Rd (roughly Melway 169 E-H 8-9 and H-J 10-11.)

John Crichton did not settle on Glen Lee immediately. On 3-9-1864, he was leasing a house, outbuildings and 340 acres, Fingal from John Barker who still had his his 6014 acre run but was probably living in the house on the Cape Schanck Run mentioned in the 1902 article "Around Flinders." On 5-9-1865, he was assessed on 640 acres and an 8 roomed house leased from John Barker; this was the Boniyong pre-emptive right across the road from GlenLee for which he obtained the grant in the 1870's.
Catherine Crichton was assessed on the bush paddocks for some time. She probably did not live there as her gravestone at the Dromana Cemetery calls her Catherine Crichton of Glen Lee.

Members of the family mentioned in the 1879 rates were John senior and junior on 453 acres ( Glen Lee), Hugh on 314 acres (bush paddocks) and Alex on Lovie's. Lovie had probably moved because James Ford had taken him to court for digging ditches on the road.

Catherine Crichton had the bush blocks in 1910 but (perhaps because of her death, year not recorded), Arthur Glover of Auburn was assessed on them in 1919, while John Crichton was still on Glen Lee and Hugh Crichton was occupying 16 acres and buildings, 25A, Wannaeue, granted to him on 21-4-1911, at the south west corner of Glen Lee (roughly the private access road in 252 H3.)

The Crichtons remain part of the community and one member was heavily involved in the formation of the Rosebud Country Club (Birdies and Bogies, the Club's history, available at the Rosebud Library.)

There may be a family connection between the Crichtons and the exotically named Dolphins, among whose descendants there seems to be a current day cricketing legend. While researching the Balnarring Gibsons, I noticed a James Crighton Dolphin and wondered if his second given name had suffered the same mis-spelling in rate books as the Glen Lee family's surname.Then I found the correction to James Crichton Dolphin at assessment number 48 in the 1904-5 rates.

DYSON John and Mary Anne 1863.
The transition from "carter" to buslines seems logical. Terrific information in A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA, including a 1927 photo of the Panoramic Estate showing the remains of the Dyson orchard on page 188, a photo of the Dyson bus fleet on page 51, Bill Dyson and wife on page 85,.

GIBSON Walter and Margaret circa 1855.
Walter was an early tenant of the Survey and Walter St (160 B4) is on lot 4 of the subdivision of Clarke's Estate (the survey except for Bruce's 1000 acres north of Martha Cove Waterway), purchased by the Gibsons. Walter washed his sheep in Sheepwash Creek and straightened the last mile of Dunns Creek which originally emptied into Sheepwash Creek. Walter later purchased William Cottier's grants west of Collins Rd(160 B-C 5-8) and established Glenholme. Much, much more in A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA. There are many photos of the Gibsons
and Glenholm(e)(P.82) in the book. It is possible that William Gibson of Red Hill was Walter's brother.

GIBSON William and John Thomas (Red Hill) 1871
As I have only transcribed parish of Balnarring rates in 1919, I can only presume that a grantee in that parish was William Gibson. W.Gibson was granted crown allotment 78A of 190 acres 1 rood and 14 perches on 22-7-1874. It had a 1116 metre frontage to the east side of Red Hill Rd and a 1018 metre frontage to the north side of Stanleys Rd (Melway 191 G-H 3-4 roughly.) Across Red Hill Rd was John Huntley's Hillside where William Joseph McIlroy worked from about 27-9-1877 until 19-10-1890. His diary entry for 16-6-1890 said that Mrs Gibson had died so it can be assumed that she was the grantee's wife. (Extracts from W.J.McIlroy's diary in Sheila Skidmore's THE RED HILL.)
James William Gibson (1900, 1919) James Gibson (1910) and Thomas Henry Gibson (1900,1910)had land south of Arthurs Seat Rd near Main Creek Rd. They would seem to have been from William's family but I will not bother detailing the locations of their farms until the family connection is established.

There is no mention of Thomas Gibson in the East Riding assessments. I believe that he was William Gibson's younger brother or that like Henry George Chapman (known as George), John Thomas Gibson was known as Thomas.

William Gibson was at Red Hill before 1871.The Flinders Road Board was proclaimed in 1868 so the assessments of 8-6-1869 were probably the first. Interestingly they were recorded in geographical order rather than alphabetically. William Gibson (who supposedly owned the house and 190 acres he occupied), was followed by George Sherwood, house and 128 acres, Balnarring. The rate collector was heading north up Red Hill Rd.

The owner of 78A on the north corner of Stanleys Rd was William Gibson, and George Sherwood was the grantee of crown allotment 79B three years later and probably the owner condemned by Alfred Ernest Bennett for planting the fruit trees too close together in his 20 acre orchard. Bennett called his property Kent Orchard; The west end of Kentucky Rd starts near the north west corner of 79B but mainly bisects Sherwood's grant.

By 2-10-1875, William's house was described as having three rooms and it was wrongly recorded as still being leased from the Crown; it was granted on 22-7-1874. I guess William didn't tell the rate collector. Henry James Gibson, farmer, had 20 acres and a tannery in Balnarring (parish.) No connection with William has been found yet but could exist. The details for William remained unchanged on 31-7-1880 and 30-7-1881 but John Gibson was assessed on 187 acres leased from the Crown, in the parish of Bittern, east of Balnarring Rd. Occupations were now being recorded and William Gibson was a bootmaker, while John described himself as a farmer.

William's details remained unchanged in the 20-7-1885 assessments but there was no entry in the PERSON TO BE RATED column for the 187 acres, Bittern; however the rates were paid on 31-10-1885. What was going on?

On 17-7-1886, we see assessment number 41, Gibson William, owner W.Gibson, 190 acres and buildings, Balnarring but, above "William", John is written in small, faint script. This could mean that William had died(about four years before his widow, who as yet is nameless.) A year later, the assessment of 16-7- 1887 recorded John as the owner of the 190 acres. On the 30-9-1889 record the property had been split into two 95 acre halves on which John T.Gibson and William Gibson were assessed. I would presume that this William was of the next generation but I think that John T.Gibson could have been the same John who leased Crown land in Bittern.

This joint ownership continued but in 1909-10 John ThomasGibson, Red Hill, farmer, was assessed on only
55 acres and buildings,part crown allotment 78A, Balnarring, an entry for A.W.Farrell of Balnarring being squeezed in to indicate that 40 acres of 78A had been sold recently.William Gibson still had his half of 78A.
John Thomas Gibson must have been struggling. At the very beginning of the 1909-10 rates, and just discovered, is a letter to him from a solicitor saying the he'd been instructed to proceed against J.T. over 3 pounds 19 shillings and fivepence in unpaid rates.

There were no Gibsons in the last assessment on microfiche (1919-20)so I back-pedalled to 1917-8.
(A.N. 87),John T.Gibson, of Red Hill was assessed on 53 acres and buildings(obviously still 55 as (A.N.58) George C.Clark of Red Hill had 40 acres of that half)and (A.N. 213)Albert C.Ratcliffe of Red Hill had 75 acres of 78A. Having looked through the whole east riding record for any mention of 78A Balnarring, I believe that Albert had purchased the whole of William Gibson's 95 acre half of 78A.

John T. Gibson or William Gibson probably had a son called George. You will remember (I hope!) my rationale for assuming the Mrs Gibson who died in 1890 was the wife of the grantee of 8A Balnarring. W.J.McIlroy was working on the Huntleys' across Red Hill Rd. from the Gibson farm. Widow Huntley had married John (Peter) Shand and they had moved to Kentucky, 121 acres whose homestead still stands at 214 Dromana-Bittern Rd. The Huntleys' 105 acres 15B Kangerong was occupied by Carl Jaby Smith in 1919-20. See if you spot any familiar names in this notice from the Argus of 20-5-1930 (P.1, DEATHS.)

Deaths. SMITH. On 18th May at private hospital, Somerville, Annie Catherine, dearly loved wife of the late Carl C.Juby Smith,loving mother of Fred (deceased), Edgar (deceased), Charles (deceased),Caroline (Mrs George Clarke, Red Hill), Frances (Mrs Geo. Gibson , Red Hill), aged 76 years.( The funeral was to leave George Clarke's portion of the Gibson grant known as Rondebosch.)

George Gibson seems to have died in about November 1937, his wife and daughter expressing their thanks for the bereavement cards in the Argus of 20-11-1937. William Nicholas Gibson late of Red Hills, Dromana and Montrose died on the 23rd December, aged 81 at a private hospital at Hampton. (Argus 27-12-1919 p.1.) John Thomas Gibson had a daughter named Ruby Alice who died on 27-10-1890 at the age of 8. (Argus 29-10-1890, P.1.)
The GIBSON-ADAMSON marriage notice on page 17 of the 3-9-1927 Argus stated that Henry Gibson was the eldest son of the late J.T. and A.Gibson of Balnarring.

I am sure that I saw a newspaper article about Walter Gibson's brother,William finding a body on Glenholm while I was seeking other information but I have not managed to rediscover it. Walter's son, William, born in 1868, was probably named after him. Was the Red Hill pioneer Walter's brother?


GRIFFITH Abraham and Rebecca 1854.
Abraham Griffith, master of a whaler out of Philadelphia came to Victoria in 1854, supposedly bringing Watson and Bernard Eaton with him. Bernard, the gold mining brother mentioned by Colin, probably took off to the diggings fairly soon but Watson, Dromana's unofficial doctor until his death in 1877 (who did not have medical training as Colin suggested), farmed with the Griffith family on the Survey. In 1907 a local became very unpopular when he bid against the Griffith family for the old Griffith homestead block (lot 9 of Clarke's subdivision, Melway 160 H 3,4, part 5. bounded by the highway and Pickings Rd/Lane, with the non-historic Bluestone Cottage at its north west corner.) Watson Eaton selected 150 acres fronting Arthurs Seat Rd at the west corner of Eatons Cutting Rd and his executrix, Rebecca Griffith received the grant.
There is extensive detail about the Griffith family in A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA including photos of Jonah on page 35, John and Mary, Albert on page 71, Bert Griffith in the 1931 footy premiership team of 1931 on page 164, Ru Griffith in the Dromana Cricket Club premiership team on page 169.

HUNTLEY John and Catherine Evelyn (nee Hegarty)1851.
Bill Huntley insists that John Huntley Snr bought 208 acres in 1848 and even drove me into the northern end (just south of the Kangerong Nature Conservation Reserve) to point out where the original cottage was. It is likely that John had land on licence from the Crown but it was granted to market gardener John Holmes (the northern 104 acres with a partner.) One of John and Catherine's daughters married Sir Thomas Bent and two of John Jnr's daughters lived overseas, one, a talented pianist and artist marrying a Spanish Count and the other, a journalist in America, becoming a great friend of Eleanor Roosevelt, who did not need to change her surname when she married!

Alfred Downward who established "Glengala" (Melway 162 F-G8) also owned land in Kangerong west of Junction Rd. When Alfred died in 1930, he left his land near Tubbarubba to his son, Herbert who habitually burnt off his Tubbarubba land every year. Often Percy Huntley and his sons, Arthur(killed in the war) and Bill would have to interrupt their fruit picking on "Rosslyn" to fight Herbert's out of control fires. (P.31 THE GOLDEN PLAINS TUBBARUBBAREL by Mary Karney.)

See the HUNTLEY entry in my PENINSULA DICTIONARY HISTORY journal.

McLEAR Mary Anne and children 1851.
See A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.There are at least 15 photos of the McLears and Maryfield (P.100) in Colin's book.

McILROY William and Margaret 1862.
See A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA and my journal DICTIONARY HISTORY OF RED HILL. There is a photo of W.J.McIlroy, taken when he was 86, on page 160 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA. See the SIMPSON entry!

McKEOWN James and Catherine 1864
See A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA and my journal DICTIONARY HISTORY OF RED HILL. In A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA there are photos of Aringa, the family's gueat house in Dromana, on page 49, James and Catherine on page 86, the beautiful Eva and Gracefield, (where the family lived for a time after selling Glenbower at Red Hill) on page 87.

MOAT William and Esther 1864.
Colin Mclear must have seen a clearer Kangerong map than the one I possess as he gives the dates on which the 79 acres, bounded by Dunns Creek Rd, Harrisons Rd, the recreation reserve (one of Dromana's two racecourses) and White Hill Rd, was granted to William Moat. Colin also listed William's children and mentioned that Turnbull and Moat were building the Dromana Pier in 1874. However most of the references to the family in A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA concerned Bernard Eaton's gold mine. As there is not much information about the family, I'll see what I can do.

The first point to note is that descendants of pioneering families pronounce the surname as Mowatt. John Moat, with his brothers and the Clydesdale and Peatey boys, had gained valuable experience working at Bernard Eaton's gold mine on the Tubbarubba diggings not far east of Moat's corner and it is likely that he tried his luck at the Western Australian diggings during the depression of the 1890's. He died on 8-3-1904 at Dromana so there must have been some reason a death notice was placed in a Western Australian paper.(P.5, The Daily News, 25-3-1904.)

John's sister, Esther, died in 1941 at the age of 74. She had been the only (first generation) member of the pioneering family, after whom Moat's Corner was named, still alive. (P.4,Standard, 11-7-1941.)

Francis Edward Moat had died in 1939 and his death notice reveals that the family had arrived in the district of Dromana in 1855.(P.4, Standard, 16-6-1939.)Frank's death notice (P.8, Argus, 3-7-1939) shows that he was the youngest son of William and Esther Moat and the loved brother of Charles and Esther. (John was one of William's children, according to Colin McLear, but he had died in 1904.)

Esther Moat, former superintendent of St Mark's (C of E)Sunday School in Dromana, inserted a death notice for Roger Jones, killed in action, adopted son of Dr Weld and her former Sunday School student.(P.11, Argus, 2-10-1915.) The Moats had been involved with St Mark's from the beginning and helped in its construction.

In 1915 William Moat was awarded a contract to supply 50 yards of limestone near Rye for 14 pounds seven shillings and sixpence.

Extracts from the family connections entry in my Peninsula Dictionary History.
MOAT-TRUEMAN
Charles, son of William Moat, married Sarah, daughter of James Trueman. I suspect that the two families became acquainted through Ben Stenniken, Truemans northern neighbour on the west side of Truemans Rd. Stenniken often passed Moats Corner on the way to another property he farmed (151 A 12). Charles was farming at Moats Corner in 1900 but by 1910 was in Rye.
(See DREAMTIME OF DROMANA, and RYE PRIMARY SCHOOL 1667, Pages 27,35,47,52,54,55,61.)

MOAT-CAMPBELL
William, son of Charles, who had moved to Rye, married Ada Campbell.
It is likely that Ada was a descendant of John Campbell who built the original Rye Hotel on crown allotments 6 and / or 7 of section 1 in the township of Rye. These allotments lay between points 60 metres east of Napier St and 100 metres west of Lyons St. He was in partnership with William Cottier who contributed the hotel licence and name, transferred from the hotel that he had operated at Dromana in 1859 (LLL). Campbell was also responsible for an early portion of the Rye Pier. Details of this Campbell familys involvement in Rye can be found on pages 20-22, 28, 31-2, 34-5, 40, 51 and 120 of Patricia Applefords Rye Primary School 1667.

The following genealogical notes come from Heather Spunner of New South Wales.
James Trueman, (grantee of land on the west side of Tuemans Rd subdivided by the Guest and Doig families, the Oceanaires and Almaray Estates) and Jane (nee Cook) had eight children, the fourth being Sarah, born in 1857. She married Charles Moat in 1891. She died in 1936 in Dromana.

Sarah and Charles had a daughter, Ethel Moat, who was born in 1892 and died in 1955 in Caulfield. She married Henry David Higginbotham Allison and they had five children (details available on request.)(Henry was almost certainly a relative of William Allison who ran the Arthur's Seat Hotel at Dromana in the late 1880's, after marrying widow, Catherine Wainwright, before returning to his trade as a blacksmith.This hotel, near the bottom of Foote St, was burnt down in 1897.)
William was born in 1895 in Rye and died in 1953 at Sorrento. William married Ada Elizabeth Myers in 1925 and they had three children , the third, Marjory becoming a champion athlete at school.

The third child of Sarah and Charles, Maud Myrtle, was born in 1896 and married William Benjamin Horwood in 1924. (I believe the Horwood family was mentioned in Jennifer Nixon's FAMILY CONNECTIONS: SORRENTO AND PORTSEA.)

Patricia Appleford states in RYE PRIMARY SCHOOL 1667 that there were four Moat children at the Rye school in 1905. Did Susan miss one of Sarah and Charles' children or was Frank there for work opportunities?

Now for the missing evidence in the Schnapper Point Murder; this case got its name because the preliminary trial was held at Mornington but the murder took place near Tubbarubba. The following is an extract from my THE FEMALE DROVER: A HISTORY OF MOOROODUC. The source was The Argus.

THE SCHNAPPER POINT MURDER.
21-9-1874. Several residents near Three Chain Road were witnesses in the case of the Schnapper Point Murder. James Firth and his brother had come to see John and Agnes Wilson, who were occupying the Tuerong Station following Ralph Ruddells insolvency, to borrow some arsenic. James helped the constable to find the body. John McCusker, who was a sheep farmer living north of the two vineyards that are now located on Foxeys Rd, and his cousin, Peter Donnelly, were also key witnesses. Patrick Shannon was acquitted of murdering John Moriarty (Argus 19-10-1874.) One mystery that remained was what had become of some items that Moriarty was known to be carrying at the time of his death. The Hobart Mercury reported on 22-7-1895 that Charles and Frank Moat had found Moriartys watch and scales, but stated that if these items had been available at the trial, the verdict would have been the same.
Charles and Frank Moat owned land between Moats Corner and the racecourse (which is now a Recreation Reserve (Melway 160 H-J6.) By 1895 Charles had married a Rye girl and had become a Rye resident. However the depression of the 1890s was at its worst and the Moats (and Clydesdale and Peatey lads) were probably working on the Tubbarubba diggings for Bernard Eaton (the mysterious Mr Eaton mentioned by Colin McLear and C.N.Hollinshed.)

Now just one more job to do for our pioneers, the Moats. The digitised version of Sarah Moat's death notice is a mess..... Having fixed the digitised text I can now paste it here.
MRS. S. MOAT The death occurred on Sunday of Mrs. Sarah Moat at her residence at Rye. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs True- man, were among the early settlers of the district. Mrs. Moat was an ard- dent supporter of the Church of Eng- land. She leaves a husband, a son and two daughters. The funeral took place on Monday. On its way to the Rye Cemetery the cortege stopped at the Church of England where a ser- vice was conducted by the Rev. ? Hughes who also officiated at the grave. There was a large attendance of mourners. The casket was carried by Messrs W. Horwood, W. Moat, D Allison, ? Allison, J. Allison and C. W. Myers. The pall-bearers were Messrs R.Allison, S. Townsend, R. J. Myers and ? Myers. Mr Hector Gamble conducted the funeral.
(P.4, Frankston and Somerville Standard, 7-2-1936.)

It was no wonder Sarah had been an ardent supporter of the Church of England. Just as the Moats were involved in the construction of St Marks at Dromana, Sarah's father, James Trueman, was involved with the construction of the Rye church. Ben Stenniken had supplied the limestone to build the Church of England building that served as school and church until it was ready to collapse. The historic front section of the church was built using James Trueman's lime to supplement the salvaged stone from the original building. The brass vases donated by the Trueman family, found unused in the back of a cupboard and likely to be tossed out by an unwitting spring cleaner, are safely in the hands of a Trueman descendant with whom I share this secret.

There are very clear photos of William and Frank Moat in A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA on pages 78 and 120.


OSWIN John and Georgina 1867
Mary Karney is a descendant of John and Georgina. Today, I tried to borrow her book, THE GOLDEN PLAINS:TUBBARUBBAREL and was reminded why I decided to provide my history on FAMILY TREE CIRCLES instead of supplying it to the Mornington Peninsula Library. They have four copies of the book and both copies at Rosebud are designated NOT FOR LOAN. It's not much good telling family historians that information is in a certain book if they can't borrow it! I had an appointment at Mornington so I got a copy there (for two days.)

Therefore, I rang Mary to ask if her books are available to be bought (which they are, from the Balnarring and Hastings Historical Societies) and to find the actual name of John and Georgina's daughter Zing ; it was Florence Mary. Having found these answers, I prepared to start the journal by pinpointing the location of "Newstead". The book stated that it was crown allotment 35A Balnarring, which I found on an almost illegible map I printed long ago from the internet; it's so bad I couldn't even read the grantee's name.

I rang Mary again and her description of Newstead's location was much further north, and referring to a clear map of part of the parish near Red Hill, I discovered that Newstead was actually crown allotments 55 A and B, Balnarring. Mary said that the homestead was north of (the present) Kentucky Rd and accessed from Merricks Rd along a driveway about 100 metres long. John Oswin had selected both blocks at about the same time.

Newstead fronted the Dromana-Bittern Rd from the bend in Melway 161 K 11 running eastwards about 1063 metres to Merricks Rd. From the corner, the frontage ran south for 1072 metres almost halfway to Stanleys Rd. Each allotment consisted of 139 acres 2 roods and 3 perches, the eastern half (55B) being granted on 25-8-1872 and 55A on 4-8-1874.

The information below comes from Mary Karney's "The Golden Plains Tubbarubbarel". Much more information about the Oswins is available in her transcriptions of Georgina Oswin's diaries and "No Rugged Landscape".

John Oswin, pictured on page 22, selected his first block in the parish of Balnarring in 1865. (As his homestead was on 55B, we can assume that this was it; certainly not 35A, which my clear map shows was granted to J.Caldwell.) Later, like most of the selectors, he took up other blocks scattered over both Balnarring and Bittern parishes.

John married Georgina Mills in 1871 and they had eight children, seven of whom survived. (Mary told me that Arthur died at, or soon after, birth.) Six of the surviving children are pictured with John and Georgina on page 24, namely Bill, Zing (Florence Mary), Dick, Olive (Mary Karney's mother), Sue and Ethel. Missing from the photo was Fanny who married William Lamble, blacksmith of Bittern and is pictured with husband and son on page 23. ( The 1899-1900 ratebook shows that John Lamble Snr had 100 acres and buildings in (the parish of) Bittern. Georgina's diary extracts discuss Ernie (said to be John and Georgina's son) and Willie Mairs spending much time at the Tubbarubba diggings in 1893. If Ernie was another son, that makes eight children who survived.

Georgina gave birth to a son at her father's place, Kingston in Brighton. (P.4, Argus, 9-7-1873.)
Georgina died on 1-6-1908 at "Newstead" aged 58.(P.1, Argus, 3-7-1908.)
Had John Oswin been a hero in the floods near Kew in 1863? (P.5, Argus, 21-12-1863.)I suspect that he was and that Fanny's marriage was not the first connection between the Oswin and Lamble families. (P.8, Argus, 8-6-1859.)
"Newstead" seems to have been sold to Mr Hunt of Melbourne in 1910 following John Oswin's death. (P.8, Argus, 5-8-1910.)

John Oswin and his son, William were both Flinders and Kangerong Shire councillors.

PATTERSON James and Sarah 1852.
In 1851, Henry Dunn's five year lease of Jamieson's Special Survey (Safety Beach area east to Bulldog Creek Rd) came to an end and many families who pioneered the peninsula leased small farms. On page 27 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA is a map showing the names and locations of these Survey pioneers. Colin McLear shows four families living on the north bank of Dunns Creek west of the Nepean Highway. They were Peatey, Paterson, Clydesdale and Griffith. Peatey and Paterson would have been near the north east corner of Melway 160 F4.

You might say that this name has only one T, but that is exactly how the name of James Patterson(pioneer of Fingal) was written on the shipping list when he came to Australia, according to Peter Wilson in THE CAIRNS FAMILY OF BONEO. James visited the Goldfields and his wife died there according to Peter and LIME LAND LEISURE, and Peter implies that James did not come to the Peninsula until about 1871; Charles Hollinshed does mention that the James Pattersons came to Victoria in 1852 and settled at Fingal in 1855 .

You would think that Colin McLear would have written something about James Patterson since he settled diagonally across Dunns Creek from Mary Ann McLear's "The Willow". That he uttered not one word shows that the family folklore had Paterson living nearby but did not stay there long . The parish of Fingal is south of Limestone Rd and extends west as far as Bass Meadows Bvd near St Andrews Beach. Peter Wilson's ON THE ROAD TO ROSEBUD has a chapter called The Petition from Tootgarook and Point Nepean 1859.

James Sandle Ford ( of Portsea which he named) and Peter Purves (of Tootgarook Run) had tricked their neighbours into signing a petition opposing the Government's plan to build a fence from White Cliff to the back beach to enclose the police paddock from that line to The Heads. Ford and Purves had about 800 bullocks enjoying free grazing in that area. James Patterson was a limeburner and he told Senior Constable O'Shannassy that he had signed the petition at the request of Ford and Purves, had not understood it fully, now realised that not having the fence would disadvantage him, and wished to have his name withdrawn.

The 1864 rates show that James Patterson, limeburner, had a lime station (nett annual value 25 pounds) in the Wannaeue Division (possibly just north of Limestone Rd. The assessments of 5-9-1865 show that he had a two roomed house in the parish of Wannaeue. In 1865 there was also another Patterson, Walter Patterson, who was assessed on 50 acres and a 2 roomed house; he was not known to be related to James and lived near Wallaces Rd (which used to be known as Pattersons Lane.)

There is a fair likelihood that the Survey pioneer, the limeburner and the Fingal farmer were one and the same. There is also a fair chance that the limeburner knew Edward Russell and the Cairns families well because of their involvement in the same industry; the Fingal Pattersons, the Russells and the Cairns had multiple marital connections. Another pioneer engaged in limeburning was Ben Stenniken; Ralph Patterson, who returned to the old "Paterson" stomping ground (the Survey) married Rachel Stenniken. His younger brother William, who became a west riding councillor, married a girl from one Cairns family, and after her death a girl from another Cairns family.

The Patterson family of Fingal later had a connection just north of where Paterson had settled on the Survey. In 1910, Ralph Godfrey Patterson was assessed on 287 acres, lots 18, 19 Clarke's. This land (actually 286 acres 3 roods and 11 perches) fronted the east side of the highway and the north side of Wallaces Rd (to the bend in Melway 161 B3)with a short northern boundary in 151 C12 north of Upsndown Rd.
See THE CAIRNS FAMILY OF BONEO re details of James Patterson's place of origin, emigration, and family connections.

There is a photo of Bill Patterson (in Dromana's premiership football team of 1931) on page 164 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA. To be a descendant of James and Sarah Patterson, Bill would have had to be about 42 years old. James Patterson's son, William, married twice, the second time to Ruby, a daughter of Rosebud Ted Cairns.They had one child, William, born in 1889. Why was he playing with Dromana? He might have been working on Ralph Godfrey Patterson's farm on the north side of Patterson's Lane (Wallaces Rd) and playing for Dromana (or Mornington) for years. W.Patterson kicked six goals for Mornington in 1921. R.Patterson (Ralph?) transferred from Mornington to Dromana (P.4,Frankston and Somerville Standard, 24-5-1929) and perhaps star forward Bill did the Simon Goosey transfer not much later. Rosebud played their first season in 1929.



PEATEY George and Susan 1858.
Rosalind Peatey's PINE TREES AND BOX THORNS is in the local history room at Rosebud Library and is not available for loan. I have not yet written a full Peatey history but to save my left index finger, I will paste some of Rosalind's information that I have used elsewhere.

George Peatey's father, Edward was born at Cerne Abbas, 15 miles from Long Burton, in 1799. (I presume these are in the western half of Dorset where the name Peatey is almost as common as Smith.) He married Charlotte (nee Lane). Their children and christening dates were Maria 15-6-1830, George 19-2-1832, Robert 1834, Maria Elizabeth 17-6-1837 and Richard 1840.

George, who was the only member of his family to come to Australia, was 7 ft 1 inch (nearly 215 cm)and was a member of the Queen's Own regiment. He and his wife, Susan, left London on 31-7-1855 on the Royal George and arrived on 27-11-1855. By the end of the year, their son, Edward Norman had been born at Tarraville, Gippsland. By April 1857, they were in Melbourne where John Henry was born.

By 1858, George and Susan were on the Survey. (See Patterson re location.) George Peatey most likely engaged in subsistence farming (a cow, a vegetable garden, fruit trees, some chooks etc) but like most of the men in the area at that time, he would have been mainly supplying timber for piers around the bay. Susan found time to be a midwife for many children born on the Survey and nearby:Emma Clydesdale 17-4-1864; David Morgan 13-4-1864; David Peter Thompson 9-6-1864; Margaret Watson 3-2-1867; William Alexander Gibson 8-5-1868; George Watson 27-10-1869; Rose Ann Bucher 8-9-1867.(Details of parents available if requested.)

All the Peatey children learnt to read and write at the private school on the survey (see A Dreamtime of Dromana.)Alfred William Peatey was born in 1871 not long before George and Susan settled on the Dunns Rd land. He went to the Dromana school and later drove the passenger coach between Mornington and Melbourne (a thrice weekly service.

In July 1876 George bought 51 acres on the north east corner of Dunns Creek and Harrisons Rds, adding another 50 acres adjoining on the east in 1881. The southern boundary is indicated by the creek crossing in Harrisons Rd. George planted 7 acres of oats and potatoes but this did not supply a living and his occupation see-sawed between farmer and sawyer. Because of the water draining down from the slopes of Arthurs Seat, the land was too wet for farming.

Extract from EARLY ROSEBUD.
In 1878 George and Susan Peatey apparently purchased a 2 acre block at the corner of Jetty Rd and McDowell St. This dating is based on Rosalind Peateys statement that they took 10 years to repay Nelson Rudducks loan and gained title on 9-2-1888. They grew onions and potatoes from 1888 on this block, which is shown as Don Millers Caravan Park on the plan. George died in 1904 at 73 but Susan and her son, Alf, continued to farm on the 2 acre block. The cottage was destroyed by fire in 1912.
In 1894, their son, Jack and his wife, Mary, moved onto lot 5 in the foreshore village. This was on the east side of Peateys Creek, which is now an underground drain. However, anyone who drove in the area in August and the first half of September, 2010 will know exactly where Peateys Creek is now. That is where they had to divert into one lane amidst a sea of witches hats. The Peateys started Rosebuds first produce supply (dairy, poultry etc.)
Rosalind Peateys father, who received the Grant for the 200 acres across Elizabeth Dr. from the Rosebud Golf Club, lived in Mitch Laccos Pier Cottage (proposed apartment/caf site) and fished with a huge coutta boat, which was used for many rescues in foul weather.

Extract from DRAMA (Dromana, Rosebud and Miles Around) ON TROVE.
Jack Peatey had become almost an invalid and needed a walking stick, carved for him by Fred Vine, a longtime Rosebud fisherman. His wife Mary supported the family by selling poultry, milk and other produce from Seaside, their house on the east side of Peateys Creek (Murray Anderson Rd) where it entered the bay. Jack played music for the Rosebud dances in the Mechanics Institute in the first two decades of the 1900s, with Rosie Bucher on the piano and a fiddler (most likely Joe Peters from the Cape Verde Islands, who was known as the Black Fiddler.)
Jacks health improved and he used to take out fishing parties with Edward Campbell and his son Keith being regulars. The Campbells owned Willowbank and Springbank, north of Broadmeadows Township (now Westmeadows) and had the block on the east side of the jetty access road.
Whether during his ill-health or later is not made clear in my notes, but Jacks eyes turned. Mr Wong cured this affliction, probably using a centuries old Chinese remedy. He made a mask with slits where the eyes should focus. (Pine Trees and Box Thorns Rosalind Peatey.) P.S. I have been told since by Jim Dryden that this story was a bit of leg-pulling by doctor and patient.


RUDDUCK Nelson and Jane Sophia (nee Chapman) 1872.
See A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA. In this book are photos of Nelson's Jetty Store on the Dromana Hub site on page 61, Nelson and Jack on page 63, Jane Sophia and Nelson on page 64, Harry and Ern on page 135, Piawola on page 136, Nelson aged 81 on page 160.


SHAND Alexander and Charlotte 1872.
I have sent an email, providing my information about the Shands of Main Ridge and Welshpool, to Kathy Shand who is a descendant of Alexander Shand 3 of Welshpool. She posted the following about the Main Ridge pioneers on a genealogy message board.

Hi Jennifer (Jennifer's Shands were near Geelong)
It's nice to here from a fellow Australian Shand.
I'm not sure where my branch fits in, but what we have at the moment is as follows:
My great great grandfather (Alexander Shand) was born in Moray Scotland we think in 1825 and died in 1907*1 in Victoria. He immigrated from Scotland to Canada with a couple of brothers or cousins and ended up in Saskatchewan. There he married a Charlotte Elizebeth? Macklin around 1853.
From shipping records we think they immigrated to Victoria in 1853 with two daughters Charlotte and Ellen.
According to a copy of a New Zealand birth certificate, they must have immigrated to NZ, because my great grandfather was born in Mangapai NZ on the 22.6.1868. This is the only real piece of information I have.
My great grandfather (also Alexander) married an Isabel Mary Landlands on the 5 September 1899 in Hawthorn, Vic.*2
My grandfather (George Boyd Shand) was born on the 27 November 1905 at Welshpool Vic.*3
I'm wondering if you might have some information you would be will to share on the family from Scotland. This is where we are having problems. There seems to be plenty of Alexanders but not one that married a Macklin.
Thank you
Kathie Shand, Australia.

Kathy is certainly talking about our Shands as the following shows.
*1. Shire of Flinders and Kangerong. SATURDAY, JULY 27th, 1907. The usual monthly meeting of above was held at the Dromana Hotel, on Saturday last, the Councillors present being Shand (President), Shaw, Nowlan, Buckley, Davies, Stanley, Marsden, Cain and Clark.
BEREAVEMENTS. Cr. Stanley, before proceeding with further business, referred to the loss sustained by the President through the death of his father. He would move that a letter of sympathy be forwarded to the widow and family of the late Mr. Alexander Shand, Carried. (P.3, Mornington Standard, 10-8-1907.)

*2.Young Alexander lived to tie the knot. SHANDLANGLANDS.On the 5th September, at the Parsonage, Camberwell, by the Rev. R. Detterich (sic), brother-in-law of the bridegroom,Alexander, youngest son of Alexander Shand, of Dromana, to Isabel Mary, youngest daughter of G. B. Langlands, "Wilton," Welshpool, South
Gippsland. (P.1, Argus, 27-11-1899.)

*3. Alexander moved to Port Welshpool but within four months his sheep were being stolen. (P.3, Argus, 9-3-1900, FOSTER.)




Shands Rd, the boundary between the parish of Flinders and Wannaeue/Balnarring to the north, recalls this pioneering family. Keith Holmes told me that Alex Shand had his steam saw mill on Main Creek because it was the only one with a constant supply of water and that Roberts Rd follows the track formed when timber was being hauled to Red Hill.


John Shand married the widow of John Huntley Jnr in about 1902 according to Bill Huntley. John farmed the Huntleys' Hillside Orchard where Red Hill Rd turns to the north and later farmed Kent Orchard on Kentucky Rd and Kentucky in Bittern North. See the HUNTLEY entry in my DICTIONARY HISTORY OF RED HILL journal.

Bill Huntley also told me that most of the Shands moved to Gippsland in about 1920. ASK BILL FOR DETAILS.

WEDDING AT MAIN CREEK. Weddings are as a general rule interesting subjects, either to write or talk about, and the one at Main Creek on the 5th inst., was no exception to the rule. On that date, Miss Christiania Shand, (youngest daughter of Alexander and Charlotte Shand) of Main creek, was united in wedlock to Richard, (youngest son of Richard and Eliza Ditterich of Canterbury. The ceremony took place at noon, and was performed by the Rev R. Brown, of South Melbourne, assisted by the Rev E. Smith of Dromana. The marriage took place in a very picturesque part of the garden, underneath an arch of evergreens, nicely interwoven with flowers. The bride who was given away by her father, was most becomingly dressed in a cream fancy cashmere, trimmed with lace, white tulle veil, and wreath of orange blossoms. Mr J. Shand acted as best man, principal bridesmaid, Miss Ditterich dressed in white dress and blue sash. Miss A.Gunson in white dress and blue sash ; Miss A. Crichton white dress and pink ribbons ; Miss E. Barker, white dress and cream sash. At one o'clock about 50 guests sat down to the wedding breakfast. The tables fairly groaning beneath the weight of good things, which were provided. After the usual toasts had been proposed and responded to, and the Revs Brown and Smith had each made a short speech, the party adjourned to the lawn where the bride and bridegroom had their photographs taken by Mr Wright, of Flinders. Shortly after this the carriage was announced, which was to convey the newly wedded pair and a few of the friends to the railway station, and amid a shower of good wishes and rice the party drove off for Mornington. They will shortly proceed to St Arnaud, in which circuit Mr Ditterich is engaged. During the afternoon games were freely indulged in by the guests. The party breaking up shortly before 6 p.m., owing to the inclemency of the weather. Everybody thoroughly enjoying themselves. (P.3, Mornington Standard, 14-4-1892.)

They or their descendants obviously came back to Main Ridge. The Main Ridge Cricket Club, whose President, Jason Albress, is a descendant of a Rye pioneer, plays on the A.R. and F.Ditterich Reserve. Arthur Ralph Ditterich was a Flinders Shire councillor 1961-4. The Shand family was probably related to the Downward family of Mornington, Tubbarubba and Kangerong; Downward Shand 1915-17 and John Shand 1902-7 and 1916-23 were also councillors of the shire.

The scene of the above wedding may have been 19B Wanaaeue of 105 acres 2 roods and 13 perches, situated at Melway 171 K12, and granted to Alexander Shand on 4-10-1882. In 1879 he was assessed on 100 acres but that was probably an estimate of the size of his selection.It was bounded on the north west by Old Main Creek Rd, on the north east by Shands Rd, and on the east by Main Creek. In 1903-4, John and W.Shand added 210 acres bounded by Main Ck Rd and Roberts Rd on yhe other side of Shands Rd and A.Shand Jnr 21A of 142 acres fronting the Mornington-Flinders Rd from the Roberts Rd corner to a point opposite the Tucks Rd corner (actually 162 metres south of the present corner.) In 1900, John Shand was assessed on 428 acres in Wannaeue and Fingal.


SHAW Benjamin and Elizabeth 1875.
See A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.There is a photo of the family's Kangerong guest house on page 49, Shaw's bus on page 53, A.V.Shaw on page 88,and Maurie Shaw on page 171.


SIMPSON Joseph and Maryann 1873.
We have a problem Houston! There is not one mention of James and Maryann in Colin McLear's A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA. LIME LAND LEISURE mentions only Rosemary Simpson who was a Flinders Shire Councillor from 1978.
I knew I'd seen the name somewhere! Join me in my voyage of discovery.Sheila Skidmore's THE RED HILL shows that Mr and Mrs Simpson attended Joseph McIlroy's marriage in 1877 and that one of the Simpsons was a member of the rifle club circa 1900.

I unrolled my Balnarring parish map and found that my hunch was right. When I first saw the name, I presumed it to be James Simpson, a prominent man in early Melbourne. He was the chairman of the District Licensing Court in 1849, a member, with William Lonsdale,four senior religious leaders and six other prominent officials and citizens, of a board of guardians to look after the interests of a large number of Irish orphans in 1848, with the Mayor was a joint chairman of the city and district court of petty sessions, the police magistrate for Melbourne in 1840 and was a director of almost every company that wanted prestige.

I therefore suspected that the purchase at Red Hill was speculation such as that of Andrew Russell of Essendon on the east side of Collins Rd, Dromana, or that of Thomas Monahan (on the next block east)and in Rye Township.

J.Simpson was granted crown allotment 89A of the parish of Balnarring on 8-3-1884. On a hunch that if J.Simpson was a pioneer of the area rather than a speculator, there might be descendants near Red Hill, I hit the local phone book. When I was about halfway through the 111 Simpsons listed my heart jumped. J.R.Simpson, Simpson St, Red Hill Sth. I looked up Simpson St and it was on 89A Balnarring! Bayne St nearby was named after a pioneer so Simpson St almost certainly was too.

I rang the number but my mobile said number not in use. As Homer Simpson (no relation I'm sure!) would say "Doh!" If this investigation had been in August, 2010, when I started my Peninsula research, that would have been the end of the line. However, I now have a list of contacts longer than your arm, including Keith Holmes. I explained my problem and he told me that J.R. was indeed a descendant of Joseph and Maryann but had died in about 2007. (I must get a new phone book!) Keith told me that JR's daughter, Margaret, lived next door to J.R. and had married Trevor Connell. (Connell is a name that has graced the Survey, the parish of Moorooduc and Red Hill during the past century and a half.)

J.Simpson's grant, 89A of 142 acres 1 rood and 21 perches was at the south corner of Shoreham and Point Leo Rds, with a frontage on the latter of 1170 metres. Baynes St, the original course of the start of Shoreham Rd until 1921, and Shoreham Rd formed the western boundary and Pine Ave the south. Between Pine Ave and Oceanview Ave was W.Bayne's grant 89B, also of 142.1.21. Almost 50 acres, right at the north west corner of 89A was granted to A.C.B.Noel on 16-1-1932, obviously having been resumed by the Crown under the Closer Settlement Act.

DROMANA. A very old resident named Mr Simpson died here last week. He was a colonist of over forty years and resided at Dromana for most of the time, much respected by the townspeople. (P.2, South Bourke and Mornington Journal, 2-1-1907.) This was Joseph Simpson who died on 23-12-1906.

An obituary for Joseph McIlroy shows that T.Simpson and F.Simpson were his nephews. (P.4, Frankston and Somerville Standard, 18-1-1935.) That is, Thomas John and Frederick Joseph-see below.

RED HILL. On Friday last the first meeting of the Red Hill Literary and Social Club was held in the school. The meeting exceeded expectations, and the interest was well maintained, considering there was no set programme. The members were well satisfied. Papers were read by Mr W. Simpson, on "'Neighbourliness and by Mr E. Bowring, on " How to make our club a success," Miss Wiseman contributed a reading. (Part of a report on page 2 of the Mornington Standard of 18-7-1903.) N.B. Mr W.Simpson was the teacher at the Red Hill school and he was a descendant of Joseph and Maryann.(P.2, M.S., 14-5-1904.)

DROMANA. (From Our Own Correspondent.)The.anniversary services of the Presbyterian Church were held last Sunday week by the Rev D. G. M'Crea. of Elsternwick. On the following Tuesday a very successful tea meeting was held. The tea meeting was followed by a concert. Mr Simpson, of Red Hill,made his debut in Dromana with 'The Englishman', and was well received. (P.2, Mornington Standard, 20-9-1900, snippets only.)
That was not Mr Simpson's last performance in Dromana; he sang in the concert to welcome Trooper McKeown home in 1902. (P.2, M.S. 10-5-1902.) This could have been the teacher who was not a member of Joseph's family.

FLINDERS. DROMANA V FLINDERS. These clubs had a field day on Saturday when Dromana visited Flinders for a tennis match. Mr Rogers (who has not recovered from an attack of influenza) though present,did not play,and the visitors were further weakened by the absence of Mr E. Rudduck. The majority of the sets were won easily, but some provided exciting finishes, notably the last of the day. which was anybody's game till the deciding point was gained, when Miss Sproule and Mr Riley beat Miss Rudduck and Mr Simpson 6-5. Dromana have a decided acquisition in Simpson. Flinders won by 13 games. (P.2, M.S., 18-10-1900.)
Ah, 'twas-
Gibson Simpson son of the Jetty Store
Archly made a noble team to pile up any score.
These two lines from an amusing poem about the Dromana tennis club suggest that one of the Gibson family and the son of the operator of the Jetty Store (Simpson) made a formidable duo. (P.3, M.S., 4-7-1901.)
The duo was even more powerful when Simpson paired with Rogers (either Hunter Rogers, the early peninsula historian or his father, the schoolteacher at Dromana.)P.2, M.S., 27-6-1901.
The tennis player was probably also the Red Hill teacher.

As mentioned previously, Sheila Skidmore listed Simpson as a member of the rifle club. Red Hill beat Hastings, whose members were from the battery, with W.McIlroy 50, Joseph McIlroy, David Mairs and Simpson on 49.
(P.3, M.S., 18-10-1900.)

W.S.Simpson was one of the two auditors of the Kangerong Agricultural and Horticultural Society in 1905. (P.6, M.S.,11-2-1905.) N.B. There were Simpsons at Somerville at this time!
(W.S. Simpson could have been a son of Thomas John Simpson, but not of Frederick Joseph. He was possibly the Red Hill teacher, W.Simpson.)

Not only did A.Simpson of Red Hill top E form at Frankston High School in History and Drawing- he is the first Simpson I've seen for two hours with an initial and a definite connection with Red Hill! (P.7, Frankston and Somerville Standard, 17-9-1926.) He was also a keen family historian.

Aha! As explained before, I only did extensive rate transcriptions for Kangerong and Wannaeue parishes. However for my Red Hill research, I transcribed 1919-20 Balnarring assessments near Red Hill Rd, meaning to do crown allotment 89 but forgetting to do so; it looks like another date with the microfiche on Monday. However, I did record that Thomas John Simpson had 20 acres and building, lot 8, 75 A and B. This did not mean that his 20 acre block was on both A and B, but that the entire subdivision was. The interesting thing is that 75AB was directly over Shoreham Rd from 89A. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the 20 acre block was between Baynes St and the new course of Shoreham Rd.

SIMPSON.On the 8th January, at Red Hill,
Dorothy Ellen, daughter of Fred and Emily Simpson, aged 11 months.(P.1, Argus, 11-1-1910.) See below.

SIMPSON-MILLER -On the 21th October at St John's Church of England, Flinders, by Rev Edwin Eldridge, George Frederick eldest son of Mr and Mr F. Simpson, Seaview, Red Hill, to Lorna Evelyn, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs John Miller, Kilara, Flinders. (Present address, Red Hill South, Vic. ) P.17, Argus, 8-12-1934.
The word was illegible on the newspaper page but information from Albert Simpson's book reveals that the word must be "eldest".

SIMPSON, RED HILL SOUTH.(P.10, The Argus, 9-7-1956.)
SIMPSON.-On July 7, at Red Hill South, Lorna Evelyn, dearly loved wife of George, and devoted mother of Robert and Shirley, aged 53 years. -Patient sufferer at rest.

SIMPSON_On July 7, at Red Hill South, Lorna Evelyn, dearly loved sister-in-law of Ann and Jack Holmes, loved auntie of Keith, Alan. Kevin, and Norma. -Loved by all.

SIMPSON_On July 7. at Red Hill South. Lorna Evelyn, dearly loved daughter-in-law of Emily and the late Frederick Simpson.

SIMPSON.-On July 7. at Red Hill South. Lorna Evelyn, dearly loved sister-in-law of Joe Russell Simpsonand Elma beloved auntie of Margaret and Russell. -Peace, perfect peace.

SIMPSON.-On July 7. at Red Hill South, Lorna Evelyn, dearly loved sister-in-law of Albert Edwin Simpson and Melva, loved auntie of Ellen, Andrea, David, and John.

SIMPSON. - On July 7. at Red Hill. Lorna, loved sister and sister in-law of Ted and Elsie Miller, loved aunt of John. Meril (deceased). Ken, and Ian.
Second given names and surnames in bold type have been added by me.

SILLY ME! Why didn't I think to look in the obvious place first? That is the article AROUND RED HILL on page 2 of the Mornington Standard of 30-8-1902.
Simpsons. 20 acres of orchard and 12 acres under crop. 7-8 acres of strawberries. Very neat. (My notes verbatim.)

NOW, WHAT CAN MARGARET CONNELL TELL US? Quite a lot actually, about the Simpsons, Holmes, Littlejohns, Connells etc. Every five minutes she'd emerge with another book such as Mary Karney's NO RUGGED LANDSCAPE.

Luckily, her uncle, Albert Edwin Simpson,a schoolteacher, had written a family history entitled SIMPSONS OF "SEAVIEW" RED HILL. While teaching at the Omeo Valley school, Albert met Elva, the South Australian girl he was to marry, when she visited her sister. He rose to a prominent position in the South Australian education system.

William McIlroy , a farmer and flax merchant of Littlebridge , County Londonderry, Ireland, sold his property in 1859 and emigrated in 1860. My journal about Sheila Skidmore's THE RED HILL tells of how William twice raised the money to bring his family out and also explains why his eldest son, William John, called his McIlroys Rd farm LITTLEBRIDGE. On 13-9-1861, Margaret Jane and the six McIlroy children sailed from Liverpool in the Donald McKay , arriving on 7-12-1861.

Robert and Margaret Simpson, also had a farm and flax mill in County Tyrone. (The boundary between the two counties is obviously a stream which ran the flax mill as the McIlroy and Simpson farms were two miles apart, as they later were at Red Hill.) Two of their sons, Thomas James and Joseph were born in Kingsmill, Joseph on 26-11-1837. During the gold rush to New Zealand in about 1868 they migrated there. After a while Joseph went to Melbourne and contacted the McIlroys who had been close neighbours in Ireland. On 8-10-1870, he married Mary Ann McIlroy, who was born in 1849, at the Presbyterian church in Richmond.

Joseph Simpson and his bride went to New Zealand and mining with Thomas James was resumed. Their only two children, Thomas John and Frederick Joseph were born at Hokatika on the South Island on 8-7-1871 and 5-10-1872 respectively. Soon after the latter birth, the family went to Red Hill and settled on Crown Allotment 89A Balnarring whose boundaries were exactly as I had specified, according to Margaret. Joseph named his property Bayview, his homestead being on the 50 acres later re-granted to Noel in 1922. The farm was later divided into two and the southern part was called Seaview. Bayview was probably not named until Joseph had done quite a bit of clearing because not even a glimpse of the sea was available at first. (As I drove home from Margaret's place I stopped at the Red Hill Reserve to soak up a bit of sun; Red Hill is still a very shady place!)

On 6-4-1891, Fred started work at Blakeley's, part of which 140 acres is now occupied by the Consolidated School. Henry Ault's 140 acre block (Joseph Pitcher's grant, Melway 190 E-F5) was south of Blakeley's and had been bought by George Hoskins whose nephew, George William Russ was working with him. Fred's father, Joseph, did a fruit and vegetable run, which included Ellerslie, the beachside retreat of Sargood, whose main residence was the famed Rippon Lea* at Elsternwick. On occassions, Fred would do this delivery run. And who should be a servant at Ellerslie but Emily Russ, who was highly regarded by Mrs Sargood, who supplied Fred's future wife with a glowing reference. Fred met his brother in law (as they worked on 72A and 72B) before he met his bride.) I bet Emily knew all about Fred before he arrived at Ellerslie!

(* Frederick James Sargood, Esq. of Croydon, co. Surrey, England, who was one of the members for Melbourne in the old Legislative Council, and in 1856, at the first election under the new constitution, was elected a member of the Legislative Assemblyfor St. Kilda; m. 30th October, 1830, Emma,daughter of Thomas Rippon, Esq. (who was for several years chief cashier in the Bank of England), the brother of Dr. John Rippon,and son of the Rev. John Rippon, Baptist minister of Up-Ottery, co. Devon, &ndd. 16th January, 1871. He had issue by her (who d.20th October, 1884)- Can you see how Rippon Lea got its name? His son Frederick Thomas would have been at Ellerslie.
Residences Rippon Lea, East St. Kilda,Melbourne ; and Ellerslie, Mornington, Victoria, Australia.
From ebook of Burke's genealogical and heraldic history of the colonial gentry.)

Frederick Joseph Simpson married Emily Russ (b.19-10-1872 in Bristol) on 7-11-1900 at Brighton. Their children were Annie Lucilla b.28-8-1901, George Frederick b.28-11-1902, Joseph Russell b.8-9-1905, Dorothy Ellen b.6-2-1909 d. 15-6-1910, Albert Edwin 15-6-1911.

Annie married John Henry (Jack) HOLMES (b. 4-8-1901) on 27-9-1921. Their children were Nancy, Allen, Kevin, Norma and of course Keith Desmond who became a councillor. George Frederick married Lorna Miller (b.18-11-1903), whose marriage and death notices are shown above. Joseph Russell married Elma Lucy Jean Bonnie (b.1913) of Brunswick. The Littlejohn brothers had come to Red Hill from Brunswick, William marrying Elma's auntie, Kate. When Elma was holidaying at her uncle and auntie's place (lot 9 of Clarke's estate, detailed under Littlejohn in my DICTIONARY HISTORY OF RED HILL journal), she met Joseph. Joseph and Elma's children were Margaret Ann (my informant) and Russell Francis. The J.R.Simpson, Simpson St, Red Hill Sth I had found in my old local phone book was of course Joseph Russell Simpson.
See Dorothy's death notice and details of Albert's teaching career above.

RATE RECORDS. The rate collectors took a while to recall that a new pioneer had arrived. Joseph Simpson was not mentioned in the Flinders Road Board assessment of 14-6-1873. It would therefore be logical to assume that he arrived after June 1973, but perhaps he did. He was also not included in the assessment of 13-6-1874; the assessment was amended at the end to include some forgotten ratepayers, the third of whom was:
Simpson, the Crown, 142 acres, Balnarring, nett annual value 7 pounds.

The Flinders and Kangerong Road Boards amalgamated to form the Flinders and Kangerong Shire whose first assessment was signed on 2-10-1875. Being in alphabetical order, not geographical, as the Flinders Road Board's had been, it was no surprise that somebody was forgotten. Not entirely, because "Simpson" was written between assessments 71 and 72 with no other details and, apparently, no rates being paid.

The next year's assessment was presented and signed on 11-12-1876 and guess what. An amendment had to be signed later to include:
1. Joseph Simpson, the crown, 140 acres of land, Balnarring, nett annual value 7 pounds.

He wasn't forgotten again but the 142 acres was called 147 acres in 1877. The nett annual value became 16 pounds by 1890 and despite the depression, grew to 26 pounds by 1899 and 26 pounds by 1909 (when Thomas Simpson was assessed on the 143 acres.) By 26-11-1916, Thomas Simpson had 20 acres and Frederick Simpson 71 acres of 89A. (That's only 91 acres!) T.Reeves of Fitzroy Gardens had 52 acres of Bayview, most likely the north west corner that was resumed and re-granted under the Closer Settlement Act.

So there you have it, the Simpsons of Bayview/Seaview at Red Hill 1873 to 2013 (nearly). I think the family is well and truly entitled to a pioneer pathway plaque, don't you?


SINGLETON William and Christine 1864.
See A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.
Although Colin McLear did not mention William and Christine in A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA, he has plenty of information about John Singleton, presumably their son, and his descendants. John was first assessed, on one town lot (hence west of McCulloch St) and a hut in 1865. The 1879 rates described John as a shepherd. Although John did not seem to be prosperous, his family was well regarded, his daughter, married Charlie Dyson who had also arrived in 1864. John's children were Tom, Bill, Toby , James and Mrs Charlie Dyson, the last two remaining in Dromana, James and possibly his descendants living in Verdon St. Martha, who is mentioned below, could have been John's sister or daughter.

James Singleton's daughter Martha (Mrs Gault) might have been named after a sister or aunt, who remained a spinster. Miss Martha Singleton, 71, who was born in Dromana, and lived in the district all her life with the exception of a few years spent at Flinders, died at her residence in Ries? St, Dromana in 1937. (P.4, Frankston and Somerville Standard, 2-4-1937.) Colin mentioned that John had spent a few years at Flinders. Colin's information would have come from an oldtimer's memory rather than genealogical research.

Of John's sons only James remained in Dromana. His grandson, Frank, was an outstanding athlete at school and won the long jump (15 yrs) in 1944 (P.2, Standard, Frankston, 26-10-1944.). Frank's great grandfather John had been an outstanding runner and jockey. Frank's father, Tom, was often named as one of Dromana's best players in footy from the early 1920's.

Tom and Bill ( named after great grandfather William!) seem to have been the only sons of James Singleton to survive while there were five (or perhaps more) daughters. Perhaps one or both of the children who died from diptheria in 1892 were boys. (P.2, Mornington Standard, 30-6-1892.) The family must have suffered further hardship in 1898 (perhaps illness or injury preventing work) as a concert was held for their benefit ((P.2, Brevities, Mornington Standard, 24-2-1898.)

In about 1902 Miss Margaret Singleton of Dromana married heroic Cr William Morton from a Lilydale family, who after returning from Western Australia where he performed the perilous rescue, established an orchard at Baywater. He died while coal mining in 1917. (P.5, Reporter, Box Hill,27-7-1917.) She was probably Maggie, daughter of James. She was certainly the grand daughter of Walter Gibson and that is why her marriage to Willam Morton of Bongardie, W.A. on 3-12-1901 was held at Walter's residence Glenholm. Walter Gibson's wife's name was Margaret and Margaret Eliza Singleton was probably named after her. Was Walter's wife a Singleton or did John Singleton marry Walter's daughter?(P.1 Marriages, Argus, 16-12-1901.)P.S. William obviously established his orchard and became a councillor after the marriage.

Steve 74 is a descendant of Henry Cadby Wells and has posted a journal on family tree circles about the Henderson and Singleton families from which he is also descended. F.T.C. stalwart Janilye has added much information in comments. It appears that John Singleton, as described by Colin McLear was actually William John Singleton who married Christina Mitchell, hence the names on the pioneer pathway plaque. James Singleton's two children who died of diptheria in 1892 were William John 1883-1892 and Isabella 1895-1892.

One of Janilye's comments show that John Singleton (and probably spinster Martha) was at Flinders in 1902. Others tell of Robert Singleton's death at 18, an accidental shooting while brushing a fern with the butt of his shotgun, and James stealing a watch from the drunken George Barnaby (probably the ancestor of an acting moderator of the Presbyterian Church at one time!) James like so many was out of work and hoped to buy a gun with the watch so he could earn a living.

Jim Singleton is shown with John Mclear, Harry Copp and Jonah Griffith on page 103 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA. There are also photos of Tom Singleton on pages 135, 161 and 164.

Genealogy does my head in, so I'll leave it to others to unscramble the evidence about the Singletons who seem to have come to Dromana from Lyndhurst. And speaking of Janilye, see my new journal!


WHITE Robert and Mary Hannah 1875.
Robert and Mary Hannah were buried at the Dromana Cemetery. Robert died on 3-5-1941 at the age of 86, and Mary Hannah died on 15-8-57 aged 91.
Robert White owned Crown Allotment 18 Wannaeue from about 1875 having apparently purchased it from Charles Blakey and sold it in about 1891. Not long before 1891 two Robert Whites appeared at Red Hill, Bullocky Bob White on Main Creek Rd near Whites Rd and Blooming Bob White of Main Ridge who had 27 acres, Kangerong, possibly old Red Hill Township land near the corner of White Hill and McIlroys Rds. The Robert White of Rosebud may be a descendant of very early limeburners near Rye and Boneo, but I have not yet found proof of a link.

WILSON Henry William and Thamer (nee Burdett) 1860.
See my journal HENRY WILLIAM WILSON:BULLOCKY TO BUTCHER. In Colin McLear's A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA there are photos of Godfrey Burdett Wilson on page 45, Ralph and Ben outside the McCulloch St butcher shop on page 140. and the shop itself on page 46.

WILSON Sarah and family 1855
I suspect that Sarah Wilson was the widow of a brother of Henry William Wilson. Henry and Thamer Wilson gave the name of Sarah to their fourth child and first daughter, born in 1850. Colin McLear stated that Sarah and her sons, Robert and George, were settlers on Jamieson's Special Survey in 1855. As all three signed a petition on 9-3-1861, it can be assumed that the sons had reached the age of 21 by then.

I have spent two fruitless hours trying to find references to the right Sarah Wilson. She would not have been asked to sign a petition unless she was a widow by 1861. A Sarah Wilson, widow of Charles, died at the Moonee Ponds Hotel (later Dean's Hotel and now the Moonee Ponds Tavern at the south corner of Dean St) but as I have not yet found a death notice for Charles, no connection to the Kangerong pioneer can be suggested.

Sarah was not assessed by the Kangerong Road Board(1864, 1865) in the Dromana area so she may have moved or been living with somebody(perhaps Henry and Thamer.) There were several Wilson families in the early days (Mornington, Tuerong etc) so it would be foolish to suggest that George Wilson who had 216 acres in (the parish of) Flinders in 1900 was her son. However it is a possibility that a family historian could follow up. George Wilson Jnr had 96 acres, Flinders and 48 acres, Balnarring. The Balnarring land was occupied in the first Flinders Road Board assessment of 1869 by George Wilson and he could have been there years earlier. Was Sarah living with him? In 1869 George was assessed on 32 acres but by 11-5-1872 he had 48 acres.

This land was crown allotment 66A of the parish of Balnarring, between Stony Creek and Shoreham Rd at roughly Melway 254 H-J 1. This was granted to G.Wilson on 24-2-1882, by which time about 8 acres had been set aside as a gravel reserve.By 1887-8, George Wilson was assessed on 96 acres in Balnarring parish. In 1919, Robert Wilson of Shoreham had 88 acres and buildings and 67 acres and buildings in the parish. Was Robert a son of George or George Junior? It seems possible that at least one of Sarah's sons, George, might have stayed in the area and it is likely that his brother's name was used for one of his descendants. (See Comments.)


WISEMAN James and Christina 1862.
In the February of 1869 and 1870,according to Colin McLear and the Kangerong parish map, James Wiseman purchased his crown grants bounded by Sheehans Rd and Arkwells Lane. Sheila Skidmore said that he purchased land in 1862 but this was probably when he selected it.
Colin McLear's A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA gave much genealogical information about James and Christina who both died in their nineties. It is interesting that one of their sons had the second given name of Bain.George Chapman of Seawinds married a Bain girl so there may have been a link between the Wisemans and Chapmans, just as there was one between the McKeowns and William Hillis. The Wisemans were devote Presbyterians who attended church in Dromana.

I intend doing an extensive Wiseman entry in the Dictionary History of Red Hill journal, so here I will just quote some information from those who know.

Thelma Littlejohn: Sheehans Rd was the original south end of White Hill Rd and when a deviation was made (the present south end) through James Wiseman's land, it was known to all as Wiseman's Deviation.

Sheila Skidmore (The Red Hill): Non-vested school 77 was built on James Wiseman's land in the mid 1860's on the west side of Arkwells Lane where it met White Hill Rd; this proves that James was living on the land before he bought it. When it was to become a state school, James informed the Education Department in November 1873 that he would lease it for a nominal amount as long as meetings could still be held there.When the new school opened in 1920 James was paid the 10 years rent still owed.Sheila has even more extensive genealogical information, and guess what; James married Christina Bain.

Hec Hanson (Memoirs of a Larrikin.): Only about 50 yards from the old Red Hill school site, was Wiseman's property. I loved to watch Mr Wiseman in his blacksmith shop. He was a fine gentleman, with grey-white whiskers that were about a foot long. I enjoyed watching him work the bellows and anvil.He had a big hammer that he worked with his feet.It would come crashing down on the anvil when he was welding. I believe Mr Wiseman built an iron pushbike that is supposedly in the Melbourne Museum. One of his daughters, Jean Wiseman, sold apples for a ha'penny each; they were big Northern Sky apples, beautiful to eat when fresh. (AROUND RED HILL in the Mornington Standard of 30-8-1902 mentioned that a small portion of the Wiseman land was devoted to fruit growing.)