Echoes of the Past Pioneering Families of the Whittlesea Shire An article from the Advertiser (Hurstbridge) published on Friday 23 March 1934. (Author Unknown) Amongst the many pioneering families whose descendants are still in residence in the shire are the McLoughlins and the Whittens. The famous old bluestone house known as Preston Hall, in Mernda is largely the work of Michael McLoughlin who...
William Batten was a Whittlesea pioneer from the well known Batten family of the Whittlesea district. One of twelve children born to Richard and Mary Jane Batten (nee Hazard), he was born at the “Cellar House” in Yan Yean on 7 November 1859, the fourth of their children. Siblings included Charlotte, Richard, Agnes, Albert, Mary, Maria, Robert, Leonard, Florence and...
The McCoy family of Thomastown and Woodstock Peter McCoy was one of the earliest Europeans in Thomastown, his family arriving there in the 1850s. Peter is remembered as the publican of the the Belmont, which was constructed in about 1855 by his father. He also served for many years on the local roads board and several terms as Shire President...