Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922
Name: Henry William Walker McGowan
Father's Name: Samuel Walker McGowan
Mother's name: Annie Benson
Birth Place: St Kilda, Victoria
Registration Year: 1869
Registration Place: Victoria
Registration Number: 5381

Thank you for the information.
Would you have any information about Samuel Walker McGowan? I am confused as some people indicate he was born in Canada, others in Ireland, but I have not been able to verify either. Can you help me?

Vida

You might like to check this info out. (I am Not Related to this family)

Victoria Unassisted Passenger List
The McGowan Family Story has it that brothers George Alexander McGowan and Samuel Walker McGowan sailed into Australia on the ship ?GLANCE? May 1853. Samuel Walker McGowan married 1857 Annie Benson in Victoria George Alexander McGowan married 1871 Susan Skinner in Victoria

Samual McGowan: Born: 4 January 1829 Londonderry, Ireland. Died: 18 April 1887 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Samuel Walker McGowan was appointed general superintendent of the Electrical Telegraph Department of Victoria and appointed deputy postmaster-general 1885
At St James's Old Cathedral, Melbourne, on 30 June 1857 McGowan married Annie, eldest daughter of H. W. Benton of Kingston; they had two sons and two daughters, the younger of whom, Henrietta Celeste, became a journalist on the staff of the Age. The McGowan?s lived in Hotham Street, St Kilda, and visited the beach daily in summer.
Article sent to me from Bernadette Archer daughter of Ted Archer who is the son of John Archer and Anise McGowan
THE COLLIE MAIL (Thursday) APRIL, 29 1954
Stamp (A tribute to a Pioneer)
COLLIES INTEREST IN NEWISSUE
The new 3 and a Half d Stamp issued on April 7th to mark the Centenary of the first Electric Telegraph in Australia is really a tribute to the Pioneer responsible for the work Mr. Samuel Walker McGowan.
Collie has some interest in the tribute accorded Samuel McGowan for his brother, George Alexander McGowan another Starday pioneer settled in the town at the start of the first world war and died here in 1917.
George McGowan or "Mac" as he was known to his many friends is still well remembered by older Collie folk, his son George and daughtes Mrs. G Harris and Mrs. J Archer still live in Collie.
The McGowans brothers both made their mark on Australia's history after arriving in the country together in 1853 in the old Windyammer "Clancy". In the far off days migration was no easy affair and Melbourne there port of disembarkation, must have been far different from the present modern city.
Samuel McGowan was born in Kingstone Canada, in 1829. He studied law for a number of years but left this to become a telegraphic student, under Professor Morse (Morse Code). Under this brillant tutor, Samuel soon became an expert at his trade and subsequently was employed by "Montreal Telegraph Company" of Toronto and Buffalo and New York Albany.
A NEW HOME
Then Samuel and brother George decided to make Australia their new home. Upon their arrival in 1853, Samuel obtained a position in charge of construction for "Australia's first Electric Telegraph Line" between Melbourne and Williamstown.
It was the completion of this line in 1854 which is commerated by the New Stamp.
Samuels future was insured by their success of the Electric Telegraph. In the year of the first lines completion, he was appointed Superintendent General of Telegraph. In 1869 he was appointed "Deputy Post Master General.
Samuel McGowan died in April 1887.
While Samuel was achieving fame in the Telegraphic world, brother George was also making his mark. He engaged in various interprises in Victoria and New South Wales but is best known as the proprieter of a celebrated Cobb & Co's Mail Coaches.
This company ran coaches between Hay and Melbourne and Hay to Balranald, One Tree, Booligal, Gunbar, Hillstone, Boonoonban, Wanganella and Deleniquin.
MAN OF WEALTH
George was also actively interested in several Pastoral properities and was indeed a man of wealth and influence.
However he suffered very heavy losses in the Great Drought of the early 1890's and the Great Bank failures. Because of this he travelled to Western Australia and eventually settled in Collie. He died here in 1917 and so passed away a Veteran Coach Proprietor and erstwhile squatter who could boast of a record second to none in the Commonwealth.
His family still recall the stories he told them of the early days of Cobb & Co, his boyhood experiences in Canada and the U.S.A. and of a journey he enjoyed among the Maories of New Zealand.
His son George who retired from Collie Coal Mine Industry some years ago, was a driver on the Famous Cobb & Co Coaches on the West Australia Goldfields in the early days. He was the last dirver on the run between Sandstone and Boulder.

Thank you very much for all the information. I had no idea the family history was so interesting. I had found something out about the telegraph connection before but nothing about a commemerative stamp nor the 'Collie' side of the family.
Vida