The Kerrs – Scottish Immigrants

My sister and I did not have the interest of knowing grandparents, and even uncles, aunts and cousins were thin on the ground. Perhaps this stimulated us to find out something about our forebears, all of whom were Scottish. First we decided to write to as many of the...

Thomas Hastie

Pioneering Presbyterian Minister at Buninyong & Shelford Buninyong was surveyed in 1850, making it one of the earliest inland towns. It began as a sheep run, under brothers, Thomas and Somerville Learmonth, from Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). Like their...

David Sharp – my Favourite Ancestor

Jacki Mitchell talks about her ancestor, David Sharp ( 1816 – 1889 ), and her research experiences:- ( 1 ) Who is your favourite ancestor, or the one you would most like to have known, and why? David Sharp (10/11/1816-2/9/1889). Occupation: Carpenter. References...

Dr John McNaughton

I was born and raised in Melbourne, left in 1964 at the age of 23, travelled extensively in Europe and the United States, and made my first return visit to Melbourne in 1983, staying at my parents’ house at 16 Adrian Street, Burwood. In the twenty years away I...

Timothy Lane – My Favourite Ancestor

Jill Bant talks about her ancestor, Timothy Lane ( 1810 – 1860 ), and her research experiences:- ( 1 ) Who is your favourite ancestor, or the one you would most like to have known, and why? From reading articles about him in Garryowen’s “Chronicles...

William Buckley – a Skilful Survivor

At two o’clock on Sunday afternoon the 6th July 1835, William Buckley walked into the camp site set up by John Batman’s men on Indented Head at the mouth of Port Phillip Bay. Buckley was a large man, estimated to be about 6 feet 7 inches tall and was at...