itellya on Family Tree Circles

The website of the PORT PHILLIP PIONEERS GROUP includes articles from its newsletter. One of these articles is entitled "Port Phillip Pioneers Register" and consists of extracts from the register.

Thomas Napier was an early resident of Melbourne, and his son, Theodore, whose biography can be found in Alexander Sutherland's "Victoria and its Metropolis: Past and Present" was born there. Thomas bought land at Strathmore and much detail about the Napiers is given in Bruce Barber's website about Strathmore's history.The Rosebank mansion was built close to the site of the original house by Thomas's son-in-law, Barbour. Theodore's Magdala was burnt down in 1927. Magdala was so named in relation to a family member famed for his military exploits in India. Theodore left Napier Park to be preserved in its natural woodland state and Strathmore was named after a valley near Thomas Napier's birthplace.

David Duncan and his wife, Alexina, came out on the "David Clark" in 1839 (as did, if my memory is correct, the McNabs of Oakbank and possibly John Grant of Seafield, who first settled at Campbellfield).The article describes David Duncan's role in the formation of what became the Royal Agricultural Society.The first show took place on La Rose in 1848. This farm, occupied briefly by Dr Farquhar McCrae, who had leased "Moreland" to Michael Loeman, became the property of Coiler Robertson, who built the grand bluestone mansion in Le Cateau St, Pascoe Vale South. Coiler was the father-in-law of Peter McCracken of Ardmillan and the father of James, who built Trinifour in Park St. THESE ROBERTSONS WERE NOT RELATED TO JAMES ROBERTSON OF ANOTHER GOWRIE PARK AT CAMPBELLFIELD AND JAMES ROBERTSON (FATHER AND SON) OF UPPER KEILOR AND ABERFELDIE.

Section 14 in the parish of Tullamarine was granted to William Thompson and David Duncan. The southern boundary of the 640 acres is indicated by a westernly extension of the line of the east-west part of Melrose Drive, which was Grants Rd, and the western boundary by McNabs Rd. The location of the airport terminal is on 80 acres of section 15 which was the Payne's pig farm "Scone" (with a long o)when purchased for the airport.

As the editor of Victorian Historical has mot yet returned my material, I have to rely on memory again in stating that David Duncan and the McNabs were original trustees of the Bulla Presbyterian Church on the corner of Uniting Lane (Melway 177 G9.) Also, because I do not have my DHOTAMA, that William Thompson was related to the wife of James Robertson of Upper Keilor, according to Deidre Farfor, a descendant of the Robertsons.

The following comes from "Early Landowners: Parish of Tullamarine" by Ray Gibb.
On 17-6-1854, David Duncan paid George Annand, David Duncan and James Robertson (obviously William Thompson's executors) 1500 pounds for the late William Thompson's half share of the 640 acres. On 18-9-1854, David mortgaged the 640 acres to George Annand for 1000 pounds and on 6-9-1855, he sold 80 acres (separated by Bulla Rd in 1847) at the north east corner of section 14 (Melway 5 A4)to Thomas Rogerson for 1200 pounds.
It was probably David Duncan who called the farm "Gowrie Park." A proposal to rename streets in Melbourne Airport in honour of aborigines, early settlers and aviation pioneers in 1989 was killed by
the powers that be after new names had been decided, but Anthony Rowhead, F.A.C. inspector, named the new street near the Liquor Locker as Gowrie Park Drive.
The property existed as one farm, and sometimes two. On 15-12-1857, Charles Duncan commenced a lease on 96 acres (block A, section 14)at a rent of 120 pounds per annum. This land which became known as "Gowrie Side" was acquired from the Donovans for the airport, with the remainder of Gowrie Park bought from Bill Ellis.Its frontage on the east side of McNabs Rd went south for 20 chains (400 metres) from the Mansfields Rd corner.

On 22-8-1859, David Duncan and his wife Alexina mortgaged 553 acres 2 roods and 35 perches to Peter Sharp for 2000 pounds.On 28-2-1863, they sold "Gowrie Side" to Francis Merson for 585 pounds one shilling.On the same day, they mortgaged the southern portion, "Gowrie Park Farm" to Francis Merson for
1200 pounds. On 26-8-1874, Merson reconveyed Gowrie Park Farm to John James and Malcolm Ritchie. They may have been David's heirs or executors, perhaps they married David and Alexina's daughters. The Ritchies of "Aucholzie", west across McNabs Rd, owned Gowrie Park for some time.Circa 1920 it was used as a landing field, and was one of the sites proposed for the state's major airport, during James Lane's tenure.

A newsletter article in the PORT PHILLIP PIONEERS GROUP'S website discusses Thomas Millar/Miller mentioning his property "Ringwood" and his involvement in the Port Phillip Farmer's' Society. Major Newsom, after whom Newsom St that leads to Fairbairn Park is named, received the grants for "Myross" (after which another street was named) and also 60 acres north of Maribyrnong Rd. The latter came into the possession of Thomas Miller and since it fronted the river, the author assumed that this property was "Ringwood". However the article mentioned that Ringwood consisted of 105 acres at one time, and I believe that Holmes (after whom Holmes Rd was named)might have bought at least some of the 60 acres.

Buckley St, west of the St John's Church corner, was originally known as Braybrook Road. This was because the nearest crossing place over the Saltwater River in early days was at Solomons Ford (at the west end of Canning St, Avondale Heights.) Braybrook township, straddling the river, was declared but never took off because Raleigh's Punt at Maribyrnong (1850) and Brees' bridge at Keilor (1854)diverted the traffic to other routes. Braybrook North Township became a backwater with Thomas Derham of the historic Braybrook Hotel( on the new road to Ballarat, thanks to Lynch's bridge) trying to force small landowners such as Clancy off their holdings by destroying their rock walls and denying them access to water.

Thomas Miller established his farm on Braybrook Road at a time when Solomon's Ford was the only reliable route for such as Austin of Barwon (who introduced rabbits), George Russell and Niel Black of the Western District and John Aitken of "Mount Aitken" west of Sunbury. Aitken had a grant where the Saltwater River curved north into a horseshoe bend, almost reaching Braybrook Road. Like Neil Black at Gladstone Park ("Stewarton" named after a syndicate member), Aitken probably used the land as a holding paddock where his stock could regain condition before being taken to market.

West of Waverley St was section 7 of the parish of Doutta Galla. James Robertson of "Upper Keilor received the grants for allotments 4 and 3, extending west to Victoria (Vida) St.Lot 4 did not have a river frontage but adjoined George Newsom's lot 5 of 60 acres, which Miller purchased as mentioned earlier.Robertson's land was called "Spring Hill" and was leased from 1849 by Dugald McPhail.Dugald had Rev. Hetherington conduct early services there that led to the establishment of St John's, Essendon and was probably still living there in 1853 when he bought Rose Hill from H.G,Ashurst. After the death of his mother in the late 1860's, James Robertson Jnr moved onto this property which was then called "Aberfeldie" (the name of his mansion.)
John Murphy and John Aitken were granted lots 2 and 1, with Rita St indicating the boundary between them.
John Aitken had also acquired the grant for section 8, Doutta Galla.This meant that his land extended from Rita St to Cannes Ave. When John McPhail and James Bell started their lease in 1855, it was referred to as MILLER'S FARM.Thomas Miller died in 1863 and his funeral commenced from Dugald McPhail's
place (probably Rose Hill,between Rosehill Rd and Buckley St.)Jane McCracken, wife of Alexander Earle McCracken wrote of the funeral. She was on Butzbach, William Hoffman's property between Hoffmans Rd and Hedderwick St house-blocks. The Thomas Miller in the article died in the district of Flemington on 20-7-1863 so there can be little doubt that he was the former neighbour of the McPhails and McCrackens.
WAS MILLER'S FARM CALLED "RINGWOOD"?
The only name I have seen for the Buckley St farm was on the title document which memorialises the lease of "Miller's Farm" by Bell and McPhail. The lease was obviously coming to an end when the following advertisement appeared on page 8 of The Argus of 18-10-1855. FARM TO LET. Mr Miller's Accommodation Paddock, now in the occupation of Messrs Bell and McPhail. Listan Shiells, Saltwater River.
It would appear that the answer to my question is NO!
jUST A REMINDER THAT THE CORRECT SPELLING OF THE SURNAME IS MILLAR.

Captain Ardlie is the subject of a newsletter article on the PORT PHILLIP PIONEERS GROUP'S website.The article discusses his attempts to introduce camels to Australia. He was the grantee of land (section 4 allotment 2) in the parish of Tullamarine. This land was to become part of E.E.Dunn's Viewpoint. At the time Ardlie was living there his neighbours would have been Peter McCracken on "Stewarton" (the northern 777 acres of Gladstone Park) and Eyre Evans Kenny on "Camp Hill" ( now Gowanbrae.)Streets in Broadmeadows Township (now Westmeadows) were named after Ardlie and Kenny.

The article points out that his address was given as Camelswold in 1847. There is reason to believe that this was the 225 acres at Tullamarine granted to J.M.Ardlie on 31-7-1843. His grant's location is roughly indicated by Melway 5 K12 to 6D12. Ardlie's financial difficulties are discussed in the article and also below.

The following comes from page 36 of Ray Gibb's "Early Landowners:Parish of Tullamarine".
Ardlie mortgaged his 225 acres at Tullamarine on 14-6-1844 for 291 pounds 14 shillings and sixpence and on 14-10-1847 for 300 pounds. He then conveyed it to Daniel Newman on 3-10-1848 for 560 pounds. On the next day, he bought the 65 3/4 acre allotment B of section 22, Doutta Galla from the grantee for 160 pounds. By 1-11-1848, he'd had to deposit the deeds to this new land as security for 157 pounds 10 shillings he owed C.H.Dight for flour. Then on 5-3-1949, Ardlie sold this land to Joseph Hall for 200 pounds and moved away, soon becoming a pioneer of Warrnambool. Page 600 of the Government Gazette of 23-6-1852 shows that J.M.Ardlie was a Clerk of Petty Sessions; he presented the decision of the Justices sitting at Kilmore.
22B Doutta Galla is bounded by Melrose Drive, Caravelle Cres., Vickers Ave and Tasman Ave in Strathmore Heights. (P.117, Early Landowners: Parish of Doutta Galla" by Ray Gibb.)

Ardlie's son's biography can be seen in Alexander Sutherland's "Victoria and Its Metropolis: Past and Present".
MY APOLOGIES FOR THE ATTACHMENT NAME; I TRIED TO CHANGE IT TO J.M.ARDLIE BUT YOU KNOW WHAT A COMPUTER DILL I AM!

A newsletter article on the Port Phillip Pioneers Group's website (Samuel Sherlock and William Higgins) gives much background about the Mornington Peninsula pioneer's parents. Samuel senior, a sailor, first saw Australia upon Gov. Bligh's arrival in 1808, and, after continuing as a sailor for a time, settled at Port Dalrymple, where he married a neighbour, Mary Ann French. Later moving to George Town, he farmed and ran a hotel and a House of Corrections but when Mary Ann died in 1840, he took most of his family across Bass Strait in 1841, taking up land in Yarraville. The article notes that young Sarah and Sam returned to Van Dieman's Land upon their father's death, to stay with Henry Sherlock.

Lime Land Leisure, the history of the Shire of Flinders, gives much detail of young Sam and his elder sister, Mary Ann, who married Benjamin Stenniken. The Stennikens were granted land near Rye Township and crown allotment 48 Wannaeue at the west corner of Truemans and Pt Nepean Rds. They supplied lime for Rye's first C of E/school and when the demand for lime declined the Stenniken turned their attention to supplying firewood. The Stennikens had their own craft and eventually moved to Port Melbourne, placing their Truemans Rd land on the market in 1924. The Stennikens were related to several peninsula families such as the Wilsons of Peninsula-wide butchering fame and the Clemengers of Parkmore in Rosebud.

Samuel Sherlock obviously moved back to Victoria to live with Mary Ann as he entered his teens and it was probably soon after that he worked at other properties and did a mail run on horseback between Rye and Cheltenham. Later he settled at Green Island between Schnapper Point and Osborne, and it was probably at that time that he was stripping wattle bark in Mt Martha Park for Byrne, one of the park trustees. Later, his son, Samuel, ran a store in Frankston where Samuel Sherlock Reserve recalls his pioneering contributions.

courtesy of steve74.

Antonio Albress was a pioneer of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia.He was a grantee of 90 acres, whose eastern boundary was over Browns Rd from Springs Lane (which is the western boundary of the Moonah Links Golf Course.) His grant is now part of the locality of Fingal but was not in the parish of Fingal, being crown allotments 37 A1 and 37B of the parish of Wannaeue. (The Wannaeue map is available online.)His name was recorded on the map as Albres, which was probably the original spelling.
(Les Albres is a region in France, which suggests that one of Antonio's ancestors may have been French. As there is no mention of the Cape Verde Islands being under French control, perhaps this Frenchman from Les Albres had been on a ship sunk by Sir Francis Drake who did a bit of hunting in those parts.)

The two grants between Antonio's grant and the 2011 site of the Truemans Rd tip were 37B1 (Nicholas De Mas, probably another Cape Verde Islander) and 38A (Edward Russell.) I will not repeat Albress information posted on Rootsweb by thommo99 and Emily Burkitt and the details about probate.On rootsweb, you will also find details from newspapers accessed on trove. One of these (Mornington and Dromana Standard, 14-8-1909, p.2) states that Antonio came from the Cape Verde Island of Bona Vista. This was the English version of the Portugese Boa Vista (and was used for places in Canada and Brazil.) English presence on the island is indicated by an 1819 book of sailing directions that called the main town "English Road". It was probably this presence and the fact that J.B.Were, who had land near Cape Schanck, acted as the Consul for Portugal that resulted in Cape Verde Islanders such as Emanuel de Santos of Rye and Joe Peters of Rosebud coming to the Peninsula.

Boa Vista has the native name of Bubista, and the nickname, Ihla das Dunas (Island of the Dunes.) It is the third largest of the Cape Verde Islands, is 455 km west of the the Africa mainland's westernmost point, is fairly flat with its highest point being at only 387 metres and has the smallest population of all the inhabited islands. Being fertile at the time Antonio (or his parents) left, the island was fertile and supported much agriculture but now it is called Cape Verde's desert island.Antonio's given name was probably very common on the island, given that one of the three "mountains" and Ponta (point)Antonio on its north coast bear the Saint's name.

Frederick Hobley was a prominent member of the Victorian Police Force. The Chief Commissioner,who had come from Scotland Yard where forensic science was well developed,reorganised the Criminal Investigation Branch in 1938.Detective training courses, run by Frederick Hobley, were organised at the headquarters in Russell St, Melbourne. Frederick was an expert in photography and ballistics. He spent much of his time in investigating baffling cases and giving expert testimony in courts.(Trove.)
Frederick's father was William Henry Hobley, who was born at Schnapper Point(Mornington)on the Mornington Peninsula,Victoria,Australia in 1857. William married Elizabeth James at Main Creek (possibly Red Hill) on the Peninsula on 11-6-1884.By 1885 William and Elizabeth were settled at Rosebud on land for which William received the grant in 1890. The International Genealogical Index-Southwest Pacific shows that their first child, William Henry Hobley, was born there on 31-8-1885. Then followed George (2-2-1887),Ethel May (2-5-1889), Joseph (1-5-1894), Charles (9-8-1896), Frederick (4-10-1898), Elizabeth Violet (26-1-1901),Harold (20-6-1904)and Samuel (17-5-1906), all born at Rosebud. Their next child, Ernest, was born at Leongatha in Gippsland on 24-8-1908.A BIT MORE PEACEFUL THERE PERHAPS!

Dromana's beach was less shallow than Rosebud's and as a result the bay steamers could berth there and would carry a few passengers as well as cargo throughout the year, but in summer there would be a flood of tourists who filled the many guest houses in Dromana. Robert Henry Adams had a guest house at Adams Corner(Wattle Place on the car wash site) named after the Governor, Lord Hopetoun,who often stayed there on his way to the fort at Point Nepean. Other traps that transported tourists to Rosebud etc were driven by "Back Road Bob" Cairns and his sons, and William Hobley.
William had been transporting passengers since at least 1895 when he gained licences for three passenger and nine passenger stage coaches in the Dromana Court.In 1902 he won the contract to transport the mail between Rosebud and Mornington and his advertisements regarding parcels, passenger fares and departure times continued until 1904.
In that year William was unjustly accused of causing the flooding of the Hobson's Flat Road (otherwise known as the Back Road or Cape Schanck Rd, and now called Bayview Rd.) The area affected was west of the present Armstrong Rd where the properties of Back Road Bob (between Hobley's land and the present freeway) and Robert Henry Adams (across the Hobson's Flat road between The Avenue and Adams Ave) adjoined. Ex Councillor Robert Anderson said that the problem was caused by Hobley. This claim was denied by William and refuted by the Shire Engineer, William naming Cairns as the culprit and Moors hinting the same thing fairly strongly. (See Hobson Bay Drainage on trove, 1904.)
The Cairns/ Adams animosity came to a head in 1905 when Adams was charged with assaulting Cairns and his son, Godfrey.From the body of the court, Wiiliam Hobley offered evidence and stated that Adams had signs forbidding tresspass on his land but changed his mind when cross examined.(Trove.)
Frederick Hobley, a famous ex student of Rosebud State School, died on 5-6-1996.

If you google LACCO and BOATS, you should get an idea of the Lacco family fame in this regard. In "On the Road to Rosebud", Peter Wilson said that Fortios Lakonis was born in Kranidion, Greece in about 1855,arrived in Melbourne in about 1865 aboard the "Wimmera" and was naturalised in 1901. The family's surname was anglicised to Lacco by the time that F.Lacco was granted crown allotment 20 in the Rosebud Fishing Village on 16-10-1872. Being one of the first purchasers in the village, it is likely that Lacco had been occupying the block for some time as a fisherman. Whether it was Fort Lacco or his father (with the same initial) is unclear; Fort would have been only about 17 in 1872.
The wooden boat builder website says that Fort's son, Mitchell, was descended from lighthouse-keepers but does not specify whether that was on the paternal side, the maternal or both. The death notices of Fort LACCO'S wife,Elizabeth, on page 1 of The Argus of 7-8-1934 (accessed through the TROVE website produced by the National Library of Australia)confirms information from both the Durham and Lacco families; the first that Elizabeth's maiden name was King and the second that there was a link between the Laccos and Durhams.Emily Durham was Forti's sister in law.
The Durham family occupied lot 20 (the Lacco grant) from 1900 till at least 1949, after A.C.Wheeler had apparently leased it from Lacco in 1898-9 and then from Mrs Durham of 1 Gipps St, Balaclava in 1899-1900.
The first death notice was obviously inserted by the Lacco family and lists all the children and grandchildren. The second was probably inserted by her sister Emily (Durham). Emily Durham(nee King) had married a Greek fisherman, whose name is not properly known yet. He was the father of Emily's son, Tony, whose death notice lists his descendants, including Judith Mavis Cock, who propelled an Australian singing group to international fame.
Back to the lighthouse-keeping link. I have googled Lighthouse and Lacco with no result. There was an article about lighthouse-Keeper, A.F.King, whose 8 year old son, Wilfred, drowned at Table Cape in Tasmania (The Argus 21-3-1902 page 5.) He could have been Elizabeth and Emily's uncle but Elizabeth's death notice mentions a brother,William, who was deceased, not Wilfred.
The wooden boat website says that Mitch or Mitchie Lacco was born at McCrae in 1883. This could have been because Forti Lacco or Elizabeth and Emily's father (Mr King) was/were stationed at what was called the Dromana lighthouse in those days. It could also be because the Head Lighthouse Keeper was acting as the postmaster and registrar and the birth was REGISTERED there.While examining rate records to find the name of Mrs Durham's first husband, I noticed that the Laccos were not assessed, which could indicate that they were at a lighthouse somewhere and leasing lot 20 to a fisherman OR THAT THE RATE COLLECTOR WAS SLACK.
The reference to a lighthouse keeper ancestry could have been a mistake. Forti's grand daughter and Mitchell's daughter, Edna, married a descendant of the famous Dunk family, a lighthouse keeping dynasty.(Google Dunk and Lighthouse and you'll see!)Dunk Island was named after Frank Dunk while Queensland's coast was being surveyed.
Forti Lacco was Judith Durham's great great uncle!

William John Ferrier was a hero. Apparently suffering with an injured arm and conditions so bad that he had to lash himself to his mast, he performed a heroic rescue when the La Bella was wrecked near Warrnambool in 1905. He was a fisherman at this stage and was awarded the Humane Society's gold medal for his bravery. Between 1905 and 1915, he was the lighthouse keeper of the South Pile Lighthouse in Port Phillip Bay. During his time there, he owned the historic house at 858 Pt Nepean Rd on crown allotment 7 of the Rosebud Fishing Village, which had been granted to Thomas Coppard, a member of the Queenscliff Fishing Co. It is probable that the Government had given him this job as a reward for his heroism. While at the lighthouse, he painted ships on the timber interior which are shown on the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum website. Both Warrnambool and Queenscliff have a continuing Ferrier presence. William and his wife seem to have retained an affection for Rosebud as they gave this name to their house in Beach St, Queenscliff. Lew Ferrier's fishing boat was also given this name and played a prominent role in the opening of the renewed harbour in recent years.
When William (having gone back to fishing) died in 1937, all the flags in Queenscliff flew at half-mast.
Ferrier, a great name in Victoria's maritime history!

As can be easily found in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, this Arthur was a member of an artistic family. His grandfather, also named Arthur Boyd, came to Australia via New Zealand. The family became established at Murrumbeena, with one of the properties being Open Country where young Arthur's father, Merric, became a famed potter. When Merric's mother died in late 1936, young Arthur went to live with his grand-father at what is now 62 ROSEBUD PARADE, ROSEBUD. Young Arthur's maternal grandmother, Evelyn Gough, an early advocate of equality for women, had owned a house on the foreshore (Rosebud Fishing Village)since 1905 or before. With tuition from his grandfather, the teenager painted many scenes in the Rosebud area (10 known so far)until 1939 when his grandfather's ill health forced a return to Murrumbeena. Merric and Bloomfield are two common given names in this Boyd family and I suspect that they were maiden names of women that married into the family. Two of young Arthur's paintings featured Charles and Walter Burnham's jetty at the bay end of Boneo Rd; the view from the east gracing the cover of Robin Boyd's book. The house at 64 Rosebud Ave has been demolished so the Mornington Peninsula Shire must immediately protect the house that the 1995 Australian of the Year occupied, as a teenager launching a fabulous career. Honour this noted family's connection with Rosebud!

As two of Arthur's paintings, HOUSE AT ROSEBUD and INTERIOR LIVING ROOM, ROSEBUD had been sequestered on gallery websites, finding the house was difficult. Ben Boyd, a descendant of Arthur's, answered a plea for help emailed to his sister and it was mainly due to his titles searches that the house was granted heritage protection.

The newspaper article might have helped a bit.
A LOCAL historian wants a Rosebud house where renowned artist Arthur Boyd once lived to receive heritage status.

It was when he began researching Rosebud?s history that he discovered the link between the Boyd family of painters, potters and writers and the house at 62 Rosebud Parade.

The retired primary school teacher had already written extensively about different aspects of peninsula history when he read that the Boyd presence in Rosebud started in 1905 through Arthur Boyd?s grandmother, Evelyn Gough.

EXTRACTS FROM EMAILS.
I have advised the owner of 62 Rosebud Parade that I intend to apply a heritage overlay to the property; this process takes some time, and in the meantime I am exploring what the future of the cottage could be in a practical sense, for example what could it be used for.

It may be that the owner is willing to sell the property to someone - or some organisation - interested to preserve it for its Arthur Boyd history.

Do you know of any persons, or organisations, that might have in interest in the cottage, to purchase or to use?

I would appreciate any leads you can give me.

The Bundanon Trust, The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, University Arts Departments, or some umbrella group for Art Societies (if such exists) might be able to get a Government grant to buy the property and employ a live-in manager. I envisage groups of artists, from interstate or country or even metropolitan areas, staying in the house for a reasonable fee for a week or so to follow an expanded Artists' trail and execute their own works of our Peninsula beauty spots. Failing lack of interest from the above organisations and success in obtaining grants, there are many artists living on the peninsula who would probably jump at the opportunity to buy a house with such bragging rights and conduct it as a B&B for clients as described above. They could pocket income from guests for accommodation and conducted tours (the trail, good locations to paint) as well as soaking up inspiration from the many different artists that Arthur Boyd's house would attract. Local traders (shopkeepers) would benefit from the extra tourists that this very different guest house would attract.