Two men with almost identical names, Alexander Clark (of Clunes, married to Catherine Aikman and Alexander Clarke (of Glengower, married to Elizabeth nee Muely) lived in close proximity to each other in Victoria from the mid to late 1800s. In order to minimise confusion, this page only relates to the story of Alexander Clarke of Glengower, not to Alexander Clark of Clunes who married Catherine Aikman.
The history of the Glengower estate, where Alexander Clarke lived, is documented in a Heritage Study of the Shire of Newstead commissioned by the Shire of Mount Alexander. In summary:
The property was described in Pastoral Homes of Australia after 1910 as follows:
The estate ... comprises some 18,000 acres of valuable pastoral land, a large portion being composed of fertile alluvial flats admirably suited to agriculture. About 3000 acres consist of open red gum flats, where creeks wind pleasantly through luxuriant pastures, and stock find ample natural shelter both from the cold of winter and the strong summer sun. ... As these creeks hold a good supply of water ... stock are well provided for. However, four windmills have been established to supplement the supply, and bores have been put down where necessary. The property usually carries more than a sheep to the acre. In a normal year about 18,000 sheep are shorn, and a number of Shorthorn cattle are also kept all the year round. ... The sheep are for the most part crossbreds ... The wool is well grown, ... of excellent quality, and sells on the Geelong market at high prices. ... The homestead at Glengower is a substantial blue-stone structure of the older type, and is very attractively situated. The house itself, which consists of twelve rooms, is one-storied, very roomy, and is surrounded with a garden and orchard. ... Water has been laid on throughout the homestead and grounds. The woolshed has also been built of bluestone. In one portion it is of two stories, and Wolseley machines have been fitted up, there being stands for fourteen shearers. Water is laid on throughout the building from iron tanks, which are filled by means of a windmill. A sheep dip is also adjacent to the shed. By this means dipping can be carried out, if desired, at the same time as shearing ... and thus escape with a minimum of knocking about. ...
An Alexander Clarke (1854 - 1927) married Elizabeth Darley Mealy (?, Tipperary, Ireland - 1915, see below) in 1885 (Victoria BDM Ref 1742). (Two of her brothers married soon after - John Henry Darley Mealy (recorded as Dailey) married Emma Smith in 1888 (Victoria BDM Ref 8253) while James Darley Mealy (reported as 'Darnay'), married Winifred McDonald Anderson of Bent House, North Fitzroy, on 30 October 1890 (Victoria BDM Ref 7438); a 'Mr and Mrs Clarke' attended the wedding according to the Fitzroy City Press of 7 November 1890. Another likely relative, Edward Henry Darley Mealy, married Emma May Padham in 1914 (Ref 7132).
When she died in 1915, the The Clunes Guardian and Gazette of 22 October 1915 noted that she was 'the relict of the late Alexander Clarke, of Park Hill and Glengower Estates' and 'was a native of Tipperary, Ireland, and came out to this colony 56 years ago, landing at Geelong, and thence after residing at Smeaton until about 30 years ago [around 1885], when her husband came into occupation of Glengower Estate, Campbelltown.'. The article further noted that '... three sons and two daughters survive her, viz., Messrs Richard (Glengower), Sam (Newstead), and Alex. (Campbelltown); and Mrs Hamilton (Sandon), and Mrs Warriner (Campbelltown), for whom the deepest sympathy is expressed.
Based on their names, the children of Alexander and Elizabeth Clarke (nee Mealy) were probably:
As noted in the history above, Glengower was leased by Bailey and Martin O'Loughlin to Alexander Clarke, of Middle Creek, from 10 January 1887. Alexander Clarke leased the property from Thomas O'Loughlin until the latter's death in 1910.
According to the report of his death in The Argus of 22 February 1927, Alexander Clark was unmarried. Could this be because his wife Elizabeth died in 1910? Curiously, there is a large grave at Glengower cemetary for Alexander Clarke who died on 29 March 1925 and his wife Margaret who died in 1948 aged 80.
An Alexander Clarke married Eliza Norris in 1863. According to Elizabeth's death notice in 1915, Alexander and Elizabeth had three sons and two daughters, stated to be 'Messrs Richard (Glengower), Sam (Newstead), and Alex. (Campbelltown); and Mrs Hamilton (Sandon), and Mrs Warriner (Campbelltown)'. These names appear to be the same recorded for Alexander and Eliza Norris.
A couple of newspaper articles refer to Alexander Clarke of Middle Creek, 'Glengower', a farming area now on the Glengower Road to the north east of Mount Beckworth and Clunes. This may refer to Alexander Clark junior born in 1854. For example, Alexander Clarke, of 'Glengower Estate' wrote a letter to The Ballarat Star, published on 18 October 1887, regarding the shearers' strike. The Ballarat Star of 24 March 1888 refers to 'Alexander Clark of Middle Creek, Glengower'.
According to the Geelong Advertiser of 9 November 1896, Samuel Clarke, the second eldest son of Alexander Clarke of Glengower Station, Campbelltown, married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Robert Warriner (and Jane Lee) of Hope Street, Geelong at the residence of the bride's parents on 9 October 1895.
This notice appeared directly between the following two notices.
Annie Clarke married Robert William Warriner, likely Elizabeth's brother, in 1895 (Victoria BDM Ref 4549). They had three children:
According to the Geelong Advertiser of 9 November 1896, Elizabeth Clarke, the wife of Samuel Clarke of Newstead, gave birth to a son on 30 October 1896 at Hope Street, Geelong West. Victorian BDM records show that this child was named Norman Francis Samuel Clarke (Ref 28047).
Very likely due to complications, Elizabeth Clarke died on 7 November 1896 at her parent's home at Hope Street, Geelong West. She was 31. This was also recorded on the same day as the previous two notices. (Victoria BDM Ref 13513)
Samuel then married Agnes Jane Warriner (probably Elizabeth's sister) in 1898 (Victoria BDM Ref 2289).
In 1896, a young man named William Begg drowned in the Green Gully Creek which, according to the report in the Mount Alexander Mail of 22 December 1896, 'runs through one of Mr Clarke's paddocks, distant to about one and a half miles from Newstead'. Begg had 'been in the employ of Mr Clarke' since October 1896. A person who was with Begg 'rode off to Mr Clarke's homestead at Glengower, a distance of 11 miles, to report the occurrence. One of Mr Clarke's sons returned with (that man) and informed Constable Myers of the fact.' It is not known if the 'sons' refers to the older sons or much younger sons of Alexander Clarke junior.
Alexander (Alec) Clarke married Margaret McVicar, the daughter of Duncan McVicar and Jane McNaughton, in 1899 (Victoria BDM Ref 7153).
The Argus of 23 October 1901 reported the death of a Mr Edward Cooper while driving through Samuel Clarke's property at Newstead.
Alexander Clarke also appears at that location in The Ballarat Star of 16 November 1904.
The Clunes Guardian and Gazette of 22 October 1915 reported the death of Eliza Clarke, the wife of Alexander Clarke, as follows:
Residents of the district, more particularly the older settlers, will learn with regret of the death of Mrs Eliza Clarke, relict of the late Alexander Clarke, of Park Hill and Glengower Estates, which sad event occurred on Tuesday morning at the residence of her daughter, Mrs R. Hamilton, of Sandon. The deceased lady had been a patient sufferer for many years, and an acute attack of pneumonia proved too severe for her impaired constitution to withstand. The late Mrs Clarke was a native of Tipperary, Ireland, and came out to this colony 56 years ago, landing at Geelong, and thence after residing at Smeaton until about 30 years ago, when her husband came into occupation of Glengower Estate, Campbelltown. She was of a sweet disposition, was devoted to her family, and enjoyed the friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances, who sincerely regret her demise and mourn the loss of a true friend. Three sons and two daughters survive her, viz., Messrs Richard (Glengower), Sam (Newstead), and Alex. (Campbelltown); and Mrs Hamilton (Sandon), and Mrs Warriner (Campbelltown), for whom the deepest sympathy is expressed.
Alexander Clarke, 'grazier of Glengower Station, near Newstead' was noted in The Ballarat Courier of 12 February 1916.
Richard Clarke of Havilah Estate, and treasurer of the local Glengower primary school committee, was noted in The Ballarat Star on 7 April 1922. Richard had previously arranged for an Australian flag to be sent to Amiens; a French flag was sent back to the school, the subject of the article.
The Argus of 26 February 1921 ran a notice regarding a decision by the Closer (soldier) Settlement Board to sell the Glengower Estate homestead, 'together with 3,096 acres for sale by public tender'. The notice states that 'the property is situated in the parishes of Rodborough and Sandon, is about 10 miles from Clunes and five miles from Newstead, and adjoins the township of Campbelltown'.
As noted earlier, Alexander Clarke purchased the 3,096 acres.
Alexander Clark drowned accidentally on Monday 21 February 1927 (Victoria BDM Ref 3491). According to The Argus of 22 February 1927, 'Alexander Clark, aged 74 years, a well-known retired farmer, was found drowned in the Government reservoir at St Arnaud. It is believed that he accidentally fell into the water. He was unmarried. At one time he was a very successful farmer at Coonooer Bridge, where he selected land 50 years ago'. Perhaps the reporter was not aware that Alexander's wife died in 1910?
Alexander Duncan Clarke married Jean Richardson Leishman in 1931. (Victoria BDM Ref 9216). They had two sons, John Clarke and Alistair Clarke. Alistair managed the Glengower property until before his death in 2016. (Source: Death notice in The Courier on 10 December 2016)
According to The Argus of 16 December 1948, Margaret, the loved wife of the late Alexander Clarke, and loved mother of Jane (Mrs H Maule), Alex, Elma, Alice (Mrs J Wright) and Mabel (Mrs J Fraser), died on 15 December 1948 aged 80. (Victorian BDM Records show only one Margaret Clarke dying in 1948, ref 22546, the daughter of Duncan McVicar and Jane McNaughton).
According to this site, the following are buried at the Glengower cemetery:
Page created 12 July 2014, updated 28 December 2018. Copyright 1985 - 2018, Andrew Warland. email: andrewwarland(at)gmail.com