After some two years in Melbourne, William Robertson decided to take up the land and in 1839 found a favourable spot, (known as Elderslie), near Mount Macedon, but discovered that this land had already been taken up by a Thomas Ferrier Hamilton and J Carr-Riddell. William then looked across the creek to a place the local aborigines called "Woolong", following which he returned to Melbourne and made application for a grant of land from the New South Wales Government, which was subsequently granted.
The land Grant was later reduced to a
Pre-Emptive Right of 640 acres, at the foot of Mount Macedon.
in 1840 William Robertson established a permanent homestead which he named Wooling, (from the Aboriginal word "woolong", meaning "much water coming together/nestling of many waters"), making Wooling one of the very earliest settlements in the district, and the Robertson’s, one of the earliest pioneer families of the Port Phillip District of the Colony of New South Wales.
The homestead unfortunately was destroyed
by vandals during the 1940's and
no visible signs remain today.
With the arrival of the full family
(two of whom are pictured above in later years)
William Robertson established his estate which he called Wooling
by vandals during the 1940's and
no visible signs remain today.
With the arrival of the full family
(two of whom are pictured above in later years)
William Robertson established his estate which he called Wooling
following which a homestead and a substantial
farm was established making it one of the
very earliest settlements in the district.
The name Wooling is believed to originate from the Aboriginal word "woolong", meaning "much water coming together/nestling of many waters", which was indicative of the area at the time where aboriginal people are believed to have lived or around 26,000 years.
The Wurundjeri people occupied the lands in and around the Yarra River and Maribyrnong watershed, and north to the Macedon Ranges which included Mount William, north of Lancefield, which has been added to the National Heritage List in recognition of its national significance, is one of the most important cultural sites of the Wurundjeri people, who quarried the area's highly-prized greenstone for use as axe tools.
The Wurundjeri community remains active to this day, with the Wurundjeri Council and Wurundjeri Elders working throughout the community to manage and care for their land.
With the arrival of the full family in 1840, William Robertson established his estate which he called Wooling following which a homestead and a substantial farm was established, making it one of the very earliest settlements in the district. The name Wooling is believed to originate from the Aboriginal word "woolong", meaning "much water coming together/nestling of many waters", which was indicative of the area at the time where aboriginal people are believed to have lived or around 26,000 years.
The following extract from Balliere's Victorian Gazette of 1865, (Robert P. Whitworthy), states; Wooling Station (County Bourke); occupier Robertson W.; area 5700 acres ; grazing capability 342 head of cattle; is situated on the Kerri creek (the upper portion of Macedon River), four miles from Gisborne."
It is believed that most of this land at the time was held by squatting licence, because the Lands Title Office reveals that on June 2,1854, a Crown Grant of Portion One was made to William Robertson, with a further Crown Grant of Portions 2 and 2A, made to William Robertson on 18 March, 1859. Having selected the land he wished to settle, William set about building a home for his family.
The Centenary Gift Book published in 1934 says of Marion Robertson:
The following extract from Balliere's Victorian Gazette of 1865, (Robert P. Whitworthy), states; Wooling Station (County Bourke); occupier Robertson W.; area 5700 acres ; grazing capability 342 head of cattle; is situated on the Kerri creek (the upper portion of Macedon River), four miles from Gisborne."
It is believed that most of this land at the time was held by squatting licence, because the Lands Title Office reveals that on June 2,1854, a Crown Grant of Portion One was made to William Robertson, with a further Crown Grant of Portions 2 and 2A, made to William Robertson on 18 March, 1859. Having selected the land he wished to settle, William set about building a home for his family.
The Centenary Gift Book published in 1934 says of Marion Robertson:
In 1840 Mrs Robertson journeyed up the rough track from Melbourne by bullock dray and settled in the little house her husband had built on the edge of the dreaded Black Forest. She got on splendidly with the Macedon blacks, who are said to have been fierce and warlike, and particularly befriended two old gins who were always about the place. Of an intensely kind and generous nature, she thought nothing of riding miles to help a woman in time of trouble and many babies had their first bath at her gentle hands. Her house was always open to the sick and tired.
The Pioneer Women's Garden in Melbourne's Alexandra Gardens
was built as a tribute to the European pioneer women of the colony
in recognition of their role in the foundation of Victoria.
in recognition of their role in the foundation of Victoria.
Designed by Hugh Linaker, the Memorial Garden's crucifix-shaped
sunken garden area was opened in 1935 during the
centenary year of the founding of Melbourne.
The Pioneer Women's Garden which is well worth a visit
remains a wonderful and everlasting tribute to the
pioneering women of Victoria, one of whom was Marion McGilchrist.
remains a wonderful and everlasting tribute to the
pioneering women of Victoria, one of whom was Marion McGilchrist.
Back: James 1823 - Jean 1826 - William Robertson 1795 - Lillias 1832
Front: William1825 - Elizabeth 1818 - Marion 1821
William Robertson's youngest son (William 1825-1892)
William to George Miller Robertson to Angus Robertson
to a present generation Robertson descendant
extensive garden, from Illustrated London News
(Special Australasian Supplement) 11th August 1888
Avenue of trees from Barringo Road (May 2011) leading to
the site of what was the original ROBERTSON homestead,
of which unfortunately, no visible signs remain
the site of what was the original ROBERTSON homestead,
of which unfortunately, no visible signs remain
Once the homestead at Wooling had been established, William built a saw pit and mill to take advantage of the abundancy of hardwood timber available nearby, turning his sawpit and saw mill into a commercial operation which would employ many local men, and eventually supply most of the timber for the Melbourne to Bendigo Railway Line, and the majority of buildings constructed within a 30 mile radius.
William Robertson's saw mill is known to have been
the first commercial waterwheel saw mill in Victoria.
Sketch of ruins of abandonded saw mill from Illustrated London News
(Special Australasian Supplement) 11th August 1888
the first commercial waterwheel saw mill in Victoria.
Sketch of ruins of abandonded saw mill from Illustrated London News
(Special Australasian Supplement) 11th August 1888
The saw pit and subsequent saw mill served the local area
well for around thirty years, following which William
discontinued it in favour of general and dairy
farming which he combined with grazing.
James McGilchrist Robertson by Wooling saw mill Circa 1900
Workmen at Wooling were mustered by the ringing of a bell
known as "The Robertson Bell". The bell which was later
given to the CFA to be used to warn of fires in the area
currently sits atop the bell tower at the Gisborne CFA.
known as "The Robertson Bell". The bell which was later
given to the CFA to be used to warn of fires in the area
currently sits atop the bell tower at the Gisborne CFA.
Seemingly another first for William Robertson was the construction of fish breeding ponds on his propertyand the successful introduction and breeding of brown trout. Proceedings of the Zoological Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, Volume III, published in 1874, states: - William Robertson was a member of the Council during the 1860’s and 1870’s.
An extract from the Australasian Sketcher of 1873,say's "The ponds are upon the private property of Mr. William Robertson at Wooling, about 40 miles from Melbourne. An area has been enclosed of about two acres of land, prettily situated upon a stream which takes its rise in the neighbouring spurs of Mount Macedon.
A water race supplied from this stream for Mr. Robertson’s sawmill takes in its course a bend away from the stream, approaching it again at a lower point , and an oval space is thus formed, which, after falling a few feet from the level of the race, continues almost a flat to the bank of the stream, which here runs a cold, clear, fern hidden brook, some fifteen or twenty feet below. This space which is above all danger from floods, has been cleared and planted with English grasses, and in its centre are the ponds.
An extract from the Australasian Sketcher of 1873,say's "The ponds are upon the private property of Mr. William Robertson at Wooling, about 40 miles from Melbourne. An area has been enclosed of about two acres of land, prettily situated upon a stream which takes its rise in the neighbouring spurs of Mount Macedon.
A water race supplied from this stream for Mr. Robertson’s sawmill takes in its course a bend away from the stream, approaching it again at a lower point , and an oval space is thus formed, which, after falling a few feet from the level of the race, continues almost a flat to the bank of the stream, which here runs a cold, clear, fern hidden brook, some fifteen or twenty feet below. This space which is above all danger from floods, has been cleared and planted with English grasses, and in its centre are the ponds.
Sketch of the first trout acclimatisation pond in Victoria
from Illustrated London News
(Special Australasian Supplement) 11th August 1888
There are two ponds, each being about seventy feet long, by forty feet in width,and shelving to a depth of about five feet in the deepest part; they are pitched with rough artificial cages or hides being made for the fish. Above each pond there is what is termed a rill, along which water flows before entering the respective ponds.
These rills four feet wide at the lower end, where they enter the pond, and about eight or nine inches deep, shoaling gradually to two or three inches at the upper end. They are in form, to give greater length, being about sixty-six yards long. Into the upper one water is admitted from the mill race, and this flows through the length of rills, and through the ponds. The ponds are also supplied directly from the race.
The upper race and ponds are tenanted at present by some two or three hundred trout, which were hatched in October last from ova obtained from Tasmania while the lower pond is occupied by English salmon trout, hatched at the same time from ova similarly obtained. It is intended to keep 25 or 30 parent fish in each of the ponds,leaving them to deposit their ova naturally in the rills, which are made for the purpose,means being taken to prevent the access of large fish from ponds after the ova have been deposited, ova and young fish will afterward be distributed throughout the colony to stock streams".
A year later Curzon Allport writes,
“The fish in the ponds have thriven well and are now five to six inches long, and gradually turned out to prevent overcrowding. The ponds, which are designed upon the system adopted at Stormfield with such improvements as have been suggested by experience in Tasmania, were made from plans prepared by Curzon Allport, and carried out under the superintendence of Mr. Blackburn, the Shire Engineer of Gisborne. After nearly twelve months’ trial, no fault has been found, nor improvement suggested. The expense of construction was met by a special vote by the Victorian Parliament.
The success which has so far attended the experiment, is, however, mostly due to Mr. Robertson, who not only granted the site, but has, at his own cost, undertaken the care and management of the ponds, under the control and superintendence of the Society. The ponds being situated near one of the main lines of railway, fish and ova may be easily and rapidly distributed to all parts of the Colony.
The second, or lower pond, at Wooling has been devoted to, and is at present occupied by some 200 salmon trout, hatched from ova presented by the Tasmanian Salmon Commissioners to the Society, and are the first salmon trout which have been introduced into the Colony. They differ from the salmon in that although they visit the sea when available, they will live and breed without doing so; thus a yearly supply of young fish may be obtained. For sport and the table the salmon trout are by many deemed equal to the true salmon".
William Robertson had brown trout placed in Jackson’s Creek and in Wooling Creek, Riddell’s Creek and other streams in the district in the sixties, the fish being obtained from the first importation of ova from Tasmania in April 1862, which were hatched at the Victoria Ice Company’s works in Melbourne. With Brown trout weighing up to nine pounds being caught in Jackson’s Creek well before 1870, and also at Wooling Bridge, local anglers resented a statement made at Ballarat reported in the Gisborne Gazette of Tuesday, (no date available - but later than 1890), to the effect that all English trout in Australian waters came from Ballarat trout, the ova of which were imported in 1870. However over the years, the fish became extinct.
Prior to 1932, the ponds were known as the Lily Ponds’ as they were covered with water lilies. The flowers were not like ordinary water lilies, as they had an erect stem with small flowers, white with black markings, known by the botanical name of ‘Aponogeton Distachyus’, originating from South Africa. It is thought that the Lily Ponds were submerged by the reservoir constructed by the late Mr. Oswald Syme after 1914.
Along with his substantial farming interests, timber and fish breeding, William also had commercial interests in and around Gisborne, either directly or in partnership with family members. Such enterprises included the Bush Inn and a brick kiln with his son-in-law, George Stokes, and a hay and corn store and later general store with his nephew James McGilchrist.
The following is an extract from the Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol. 5 1974
“Andrew Plummer (1812-1901)
son of William Plummer, butcher, and his wife Sarah, nee King
was a medical practitioner and agriculturist,
born on 25 November 1812 at Dalkeith, Midlothian,
Educated for the medical profession at University of Edinburgh (L.R.C.S., 1832; M.D. 1834) he practised in Edinburgh and probably London before he arrived in Victoria on 31 May 1853. In July, he settled at Sandridge and at once got into an extensive and lucrative practice. He also entered into public affairs and was elected chairman of the relief committee formed after the Sandridge fire in 1854; he was elected to the Melbourne City Council, and in 1862-64 served as mayor of Sandridge after it separated from the City of Melbourne.
From 1854 Plummer held such appointments as magistrate, deputy registrar of births and deaths, officer for celebrating marriages, electoral returning officer, public vaccinator and medical officer in charge of various prison and reformatory hulks and training ships in Hobson’s Bay. He also joined the naval brigade of the Victorian Volunteer Force.
In December 1857 Plummer began to buy land at Gisborne and by 1880 owned 1089 acres (441 ha) on the edge of the township. At Wyabun Park in the 1870’s he bred long wool sheep, particularly Lincolns, which he exhibited with success at local shows, but in the early 1880s disposed of his stud and concentrated on mixed farming. He was a member of the West Bourke and Kyneton Agricultural Societies, and the Gisborne Roads Board. In 1871 he was elected to the inaugural Council of the National Agricultural Society, and later became a trustee and was president in 1882 and 1884-90.
Plummer’s involvement with the National Agricultural Society in the 1880s, and his support for J.L. Dow led to further offices. In 1883-89 he was chairman of the Council of Agricultural Education, the Board of Agriculture and the board of inquiry on tuberculosis in cattle. He was a member of the royal commission on vegetable products and of five other commissions appointed to organize Victoria’s representation at various international exhibitions.
With a friendly disposition and later a large white beard, Plummer was very popular. His energy and organizing ability enabled him to take part in public affairs as well as maintaining a large medical practice (M.D. Melb. Ad eund. 1867). Wyabun Park, one of the fancy farms of the colony, was run by an overseer according to detailed written plans by Plummer.
In Edinburgh, he had married Mary Nairne Ker, they had a daughter and two sons, James Ker Beck who became mayor of Port Melbourne in 1885 and 1889, and William Andrew. When he migrated to Victoria Plummer left his wife and daughter behind.
On 3 October 1871 at St. James’s pro-Cathedral he married
Mary Jacques who came from Newton Barry, County Wexford.
He died at his elder son’s home in Port Melbourne on 22 July 1901
and was buried in the Anglican section of the Melbourne general cemetery.
“Andrew Plummer (1812-1901)
son of William Plummer, butcher, and his wife Sarah, nee King
was a medical practitioner and agriculturist,
born on 25 November 1812 at Dalkeith, Midlothian,
Educated for the medical profession at University of Edinburgh (L.R.C.S., 1832; M.D. 1834) he practised in Edinburgh and probably London before he arrived in Victoria on 31 May 1853. In July, he settled at Sandridge and at once got into an extensive and lucrative practice. He also entered into public affairs and was elected chairman of the relief committee formed after the Sandridge fire in 1854; he was elected to the Melbourne City Council, and in 1862-64 served as mayor of Sandridge after it separated from the City of Melbourne.
From 1854 Plummer held such appointments as magistrate, deputy registrar of births and deaths, officer for celebrating marriages, electoral returning officer, public vaccinator and medical officer in charge of various prison and reformatory hulks and training ships in Hobson’s Bay. He also joined the naval brigade of the Victorian Volunteer Force.
In December 1857 Plummer began to buy land at Gisborne and by 1880 owned 1089 acres (441 ha) on the edge of the township. At Wyabun Park in the 1870’s he bred long wool sheep, particularly Lincolns, which he exhibited with success at local shows, but in the early 1880s disposed of his stud and concentrated on mixed farming. He was a member of the West Bourke and Kyneton Agricultural Societies, and the Gisborne Roads Board. In 1871 he was elected to the inaugural Council of the National Agricultural Society, and later became a trustee and was president in 1882 and 1884-90.
Plummer’s involvement with the National Agricultural Society in the 1880s, and his support for J.L. Dow led to further offices. In 1883-89 he was chairman of the Council of Agricultural Education, the Board of Agriculture and the board of inquiry on tuberculosis in cattle. He was a member of the royal commission on vegetable products and of five other commissions appointed to organize Victoria’s representation at various international exhibitions.
With a friendly disposition and later a large white beard, Plummer was very popular. His energy and organizing ability enabled him to take part in public affairs as well as maintaining a large medical practice (M.D. Melb. Ad eund. 1867). Wyabun Park, one of the fancy farms of the colony, was run by an overseer according to detailed written plans by Plummer.
In Edinburgh, he had married Mary Nairne Ker, they had a daughter and two sons, James Ker Beck who became mayor of Port Melbourne in 1885 and 1889, and William Andrew. When he migrated to Victoria Plummer left his wife and daughter behind.
On 3 October 1871 at St. James’s pro-Cathedral he married
Mary Jacques who came from Newton Barry, County Wexford.
He died at his elder son’s home in Port Melbourne on 22 July 1901
and was buried in the Anglican section of the Melbourne general cemetery.
The following is from recorded in the
Church Minute Book (1858-1867).
Mount Macedon Room 2nd May 1858: At a meeting after divine service, it was unanimously agreed to apply to the Presbytery for Mr Meek to be continued at Gisborne for a further period of three months, and that steps be immediately taken to erect a building for public worship. W Robertson Chairman.
St Andrew's Presbyterian Church Gisborne, circa 1858,
for which William Robertson is credited
with having donated the timber.
Presbyterian Church Gisborne 29th August 1858. At the close of divine service, the adherent's expressed a wish to be formed into a congregation, and a sum of two hundred pounds was subscribed for the support of ordinaries for the coming year. W Robertson - Chairman
for which William Robertson is credited
with having donated the timber.
Presbyterian Church Gisborne 29th August 1858. At the close of divine service, the adherent's expressed a wish to be formed into a congregation, and a sum of two hundred pounds was subscribed for the support of ordinaries for the coming year. W Robertson - Chairman
Presbyterian Church Gisborne 3rd October 1858. The congregation held their first meeting when the following office bearers were unanimously appointed, viz, William Robertson Senior, Treasurer, John Whitelaw, Clerk, and Thomas Cunningham, John Dewar, Alexander Niven & Cuthbert Campbell Managers. John Meek, Chairman.
Presbyterian Church Gisborne 5th May 1859. After service by the Rev Mr McNicol, the congregation met. It was proposed by Mr Robertson, seconded by Mr Niven, that Mr John Meek be invited to become the Pastor which was unanimously agreed to. A call was accordingly adopted and signed by all present.
St Andrew's Presbyterian Church Circa 1871 in 2010
 |
| William Robertson is mentioned on pages 2-9 and 16 |
Gisborne Mechanics Institute, (pictured in 1920)
for which William Robertson is also credited
with having donated the timber.
John Power-Margaret (Maggie) Robertson's
husband front/centre
Gisborne Mechanics Institute, (pictured in 2010)
used for a gathering of Robertson descedndants on
Robertson Descendants day, Feb 12, 2012.
Robertson (presumably William) himself -Robertson Jnr
a man named Hodgson - George Jeffries Stokes
a man named Bertram (possibly William Bertram)
husband of William Robertson's daughter Lillias
Whatever his public face, things would seem to have been somewhat different at home. William's nephew James McGilchrist wrote in his memoirs that, “his uncle … made no effort to win the love of his children, who all feared him, and even his saintly wife lived in dread of him. He reputedly spent his evenings alone in the living room and at 9.00pm a bell was rung for all members of the household to come in for family prayers.
The mother of William Robertson's nephew
James McGilchrist
William Robertson's vanity case
Both the vanity case and ceramic church (shown earlier), are in the safe possesion of a Robertson descendant. Their history came from Sarah (Sadie) Stokes, who was very definite about their provenance.
In 1905, William and Marion's daughter Lillias, when interviewed by a newspaper reporter around that time, laid claim to being the oldest surviving settler when describing the family's arrival in Melbourne in 1837.
"We came up the Yarra, and the passengers were carried ashore by black fellows, who had to wade through a sea of mud. When we arrived in Melbourne there was nothing but tents and wattle and daub huts. Water was scarce and vegetables were a luxury only to be purchased by a few.
We were natives of Edinburgh and colonial life was a great change from what we had been accustomed to. The heat and mosquitoes were almost unbearable. I've never felt them so bad since. There were no sanitary laws; consequently fever was prevalent in the camps. When we got settled, I and some other members of the family were sent to school - the Scotch College. It was a mixed school in those days. After about two years in Melbourne we moved to Wooling". Stevenson McGilchrist claims that while there were some inaccuracies in her recollections, the report in general is interesting.
In later years when the children of William and Marion Robertson had families of their own, Wooling came to resemble a small village. In 1863, when William Robertson was 68 years of age he transferred his interest in Wooling to his second son. Sadly, with the the land being sold off and subdivided many times, the Wooling property created by William Robertson is long gone.
In 1894, William's son, William, sold the estate to Henry Hedderwick, of Hedderwick, Fookes and Alston, Solicitors. Owing to various mergers between Australian firms with foundations stretching back to the 1820s, Arthur Robinson & Co, Hedderwick Fookes & Alston, Allen Allen & Hemsley and Feez Ruthning, Hedderwick, Fookes and Alston is known today as Allens Arthur Robinson.
As shown in the above Probate papers
William Robertson's second son, William
was the sole benefactor of his estate which consisted of;
£6991.11.6, a tidy sum in itself in 1891
£55.11.6 in accrued interest
a silver watch (old) valued at £2.0.0
a gold ring valued at £4.0.0
of which the whereabouts of both are unknown.
While it was long thought that the Pioneeer Cemetery and surrounding Cypress trees had Victorian Heritage listed status, no reference to this being so can be found in the Victorian Heritage Register, http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/heritage/victorian-heritage-register
This did come as some surprise considering the fact that the cemetery does contain the graves of early Victorian pioneers, William and Marion Robertson and family members, who played such an important role in the history of the Gisborne area.
Victorian Heritage, (Ref # H7823-0043), does however consider the site to be one of archaelogical interest, which means that no interruption to the ground can take place without permission. Wooling Hill Cemetery, is recorded on the Victorian Heritage Inventory.
The Inventory description however had incorrectly recorded the name
of the original family of the property as ROBINSON.
This was brought to the attention of Victorian Heritage
who have updated their records to show the name of the
original family of the property as ROBERTSON.
Heritage Victoria did accept a nomination from Helen & Roger Smith (property owners) and Lyn (Power) & Alan Maher for "consideration to be given for the Robertson Family Pioneer Cemetery to be included on the Victorian Heritage Register". Heritage Victoria has subsequently conducted an assessment of the nomination and has recommended it be referred to the local planning authority the Macedon Ranges Shire Council for consideration to include the Robertson Family Pioneer Cemetery in the Heritage Overlay of the local planning scheme.
Macedon Ranges has advised that the recommendation has been accepted with confirmation of advice of this expected to be completed during 2018.
Macedon Ranges has advised that the recommendation has been accepted with confirmation of advice of this expected to be completed during 2018.
According to Stevenson McGilchrist's Book, William Robertson died in 1890 aged 95 years. However according to the Victorian Registrar of Birth's and Deaths, (#1506), William Robertson died at Essendon, Vic, in 1891, aged 96 years, which is in keeping with the plaque laid in his memory at Wooling Hill Estate, Memorial Park.
Roger Smith and Helen McRae, present day owners of Wooling Hill
constructed a Remembrance Wall at the Pioneer Cemetery
in readiness for Robertson Descendants Day on 12 Feb 2012
constructed a Remembrance Wall at the Pioneer Cemetery
in readiness for Robertson Descendants Day on 12 Feb 2012
The Remembrance Wall which is constructed of stones gathered
from the property area contains a blue stone block from Wooling
the original homestead of William Robertson and Marion McGilchrist
from the property area contains a blue stone block from Wooling
the original homestead of William Robertson and Marion McGilchrist
In earlier years plaque's commemorating the lives of;
Annie (Anne) Isobel Stokes (Tebble),1913-2000
Mary Halliday Stokes (Taylor), 1913-2004
Joan (Bunt) Stokes, 1916-2005,
descendants of William and Marion Robertson,
have been placed in the Robertson Family Cemetery.
of their property in this day and age.
One can only assume that William and Marion Robertson
would have been in full agreement of the end use
of their property in this day and age.
The Pioneer Robertson Family Cemetery can be seen to this
day at Wooling Hill Estate, a private property located at
372 Barringo Road, New Gisborne, Vic,
now known as Wooling Hill Memorial Park
where loved one's ashes can be scattered
or interred with a memorial plaque.
Hopefully all descendants of
William &
Marion (McGilchrist) Robertson
Peniuck
Scotland-Wooling NewGisborne
will one day have the opportunity to visit
and pay their respects to theirpioneer ancestors.
This "Work in Progress" web page will be
added to, amended and/or correctedas further historical information comes to hand.
Any assistance that you may be able to provide
in this regard would be greatly appreciated.