German Migration to the Port Phillip District

The flow of German immigrants to Australia was advantageous both to them and to Australia, but only a small number came – 5,600 from 1847 to 1850. Many of the men were trained vinedressers and agriculturists. There was a depression in the Port Phillip District...

Michael Hogan and the Two Gum Trees

I located the following article written about my great-great-grandfather, Michael Hogan. It appeared in the “Farmer’s Journal and Gardener’s Chronicle” (Melbourne, Vic.: 1862-1864), Friday 29 July 1864, page 4...

Researching Thomas Halfpenny

For many years, I put aside my father’s papers after his death fearing that they would just resurrect his obsession about his great-grandfather Thomas Halfpenny. Until the mid 1970s dad believed Thomas was a good up-standing Melbourne Citizen but that changed...

James Bowie Kirk and his Horse Bazaar

KIRK’S HORSE BAZAAR( Source of Image: “The Australasian Sketcher” of 4 September 1875 ) The section of Bourke Street between Elizabeth and Queen Streets in Melbourne was the location of numerous horse related businesses in the...

Michael Cashmore and the Solomon Family

Samuel Moss Solomon (“Shlomo the Pencil Maker”); Trevor Cohen (centre); and Michael Cashmore Trevor Cohen’s family, incuding Jewish and Christian believers, is very complicated because over generations there have been continual duplications of given...

Duke of Portland

The “Duke of Portland” 533 tons As She Prepares to Leave for Australia( Source of Image: “Illustrated London News” of 13 April 1850 ) The “Duke of Portland” was one of the better ships that brought settlers to Port Phillip in the...