Donald Ferguson of Victoria

Note: Some of the details on this page are based on research carried out by Ron Meehan on topics related to the history of Broadford.

This Donald Ferguson and his family should not be confused with another Donald Ferguson, the brother of John Ferguson of Geelong. Click the link to learn more about that family.

1839 to 1853 - Edward Dryden the owner of Mount Macedon Station

The Woodend Star of 7 January 1911 ran an article under the heading 'Early Settlement - Mt Macedon Range Station'. The article quotes '... information published in The Mercury about eary settlement in the Lancefield district from the oldest of official plans of the country of Bourke dated June 8 1839, together with particulars taken from records. The article includes a letter from Edward Dryden in 1853:

In 1839 I took possession of the Mount Macedon Station which I have occupied even until the present hour, depasturing sheep and cattle. It is situated to the North East of that mountain, and had not been previously by any other.

The Woodend Star of 10 January 1931 ran an article under the heading 'Memories of the Early Days - Mount Macedon Station'. The article noted that Edward Dryden, who came from Van Dieman's Land in 1837* and after two years possessing a sheep run at Killamaine, took possession in 1839 of the Mount Macedon Station, which had not previously been occupied. According to the article, 'Dryden stocked the run with sheep and cattle and remained there until 1853. Before Dryden settled there, however, few had penetrated beyond the Coliban River'. Of interest, the location now known as Hanging Rock was originally named Dryden's Rock.

*Notes in relation to the above:

See below from 1854 for a continuation of his story.

January 1841 - Donald Ferguson arrives in Victoria

Donald Ferguson was born in England in around 1821. According to his obituary in the Yea Chronicle of 20 September 1894 (see below), Donald Ferguson was born at Fort William, Argyleshire, Scotland, to Captain Ferguson of the 60th Rifles. According to his BDM death record, he was the son of Donald Ferguson and Jane Robins.

According to the Yea Chronicle obituary, Donald Ferguson departed England on board the Ariadne in 1840 and arrived in Port Phillip on 1 January 1841. According to the original unassisted passenger record, the Ariadne was an 'immigrant ship' that brought 42 bounty passengers: (a) 10 families consisting of 30 souls, (b) 10 unmarried males and (c) 2 unmarried females, including one Martha Ferguson, a 24 year old housemaid. Ron Meehan noted that Donald Ferguson 'was one of several passengers in the cabin', having paid his own passage at the age of 20-21. The cabin passengers and the steerage passengers both issued and published a thank you to Captain McLeod, and his response was printed below theirs.

Letter dated 8 January 1841 from the cabin and steerage passengers published in the Port Phillip Gazette of 9 January 1841

Donald's obituary noted that, after arrival:

He at once entered into pastoral pursuits, and after a time went to New South Wales where he took up several stations in the 1850s and 1860s*. During this period he took stock to Victoria for Messrs McFarland Bros, who then occupied Killingworth Station, and he afterwards took a flock of sheep from Killingworth to Mount Barker, near Adelaide, where McFarland Bros had then formed another station. In a few years he became manager of the Mount Macedon Station for Captain Kane**, the boundaries of the run embracing the present town of Lancefield, Springfield, Beveridge and other places.

Notes in relation to the above paragraph:

1847 - John or Donald Ferguson becomes the licencee for the Sunday Creek Inn?

The Melbourne Argus of 17 September 1847 carried a notice of the Mount Macedon Petty Sessions dated 15 September 1847 noting that 'John Ferguson applied for the transfer of the licence of Reay Clarke to the house known by the sign of the Sunday Creek Inn, Sunday Creek, Goulburn River'. It is not known if this may have been a typographical error as Donald Ferguson was reported as the licencee thereafter.

Before 1853 - Who was Jessie Mary McKenzie

Donald Ferguson married Jessie Mary Mckenzie in early 1853 - see below.

Jessie's BDM death record in 1903 (Vic BDM Ref 1804) states that she was the daughter of:

According to her obituary in the Yea Chronicle of 12 March 1903, Jessie was born at Hartfield Station, near Bothwell, Tasmania and had multiple siblings. Based on BDM death records, these would appear to be the following, although there is a very long period between the first and the last, which casts some doubt on the listing (but may explain the death of the last child):

Roderick McKenzie is recorded in the 1842 census for Hartfield, Bothwell District living with 16 individuals of which 12 were 'free'. He appears again in the 1848 census in the same location as the householder, employer of servants and the person in charge. 17 individual were recorded, of which 12 were free.

Curiously, the only other person with that name in Tasmania, Roderick McKenzie (alias George Wilson), a 19 year old ploughman and farm labourer from Banffshire arrived as a convict at the Port Arthur Penal Station in Van Diemans Land in Tasmania in 1835 on board the Aurora. He was sentenced to 14 years for stealing sheep. This Roderick appears to have been related to or assigned to a William McKenzie, a farmer with five son and two daughters. He was appropriated to Mr A C Shaw of Waterloo Point. There is no reason to think they are connected, it is an interested coincidence of names.

Roderick McKenzie put his name, with several others of the Bothwell Literary Society in an advertisement in The Courier (Hobart) of 29 October 1841, regarding the expelling of Thomas Wigmore.

Roderick McKenzie advertised the lease on his property and livestock in The Hobert Town Advertiser of 23 May 1851. The advertisement included 'the unexpired term of the lease of the Hartfield Estate and land rented from the Crown'.

After Roderick sold the property in Tasmania, Roderick McKenzie and his family moved to Victoria settling first at Reedy Creek (close to Broadford) and then at Clonbinane. No passenger records have yet been found but Victorian coastal passenger records only commence from 1853.

1853 - Donald Ferguson marries Jessie McKenzie

It seems likely that Donald Ferguson met Jessie McKenzie somewhere near Broadford after the family moved there.

Donald Ferguson (1821 - 15 September 1894, Geelong) married Jessie Mary Mckenzie in early 1853 (Vic BDM Ref 110/1853), 'shortly after' her famiy moved from Tasmania to Victoria, according to her obituary noted above.

Donald and Jessie Ferguson had the following children. Curiously, no birth record has yet been found in the Victorian online BDM records for any of the children (including multiple search variations):

According to his obituary carried in The Broadford Courier and Reedy Creek Times and the Yea Chronicle on 20 September 1894, Ronald Ferguson purchased Flowerdale Station on the King Parrot Creek in the Broadford area from Captain McKenzie (a relative of his wife?). He settled in as a pastoralist 'for upwards of 40 years' where, it is assumed, his children grew up. For details about the current Flowerdale Estate, click this link

During the earlier part of his residence in the area, Ferguson was active in the establishment of Broadford and the district into a shire, which occured in 1869. He served as a shire councillor for almost 20 years, resigning from it only in 1889.

1854 - Sunday Creek becomes Broadford

According to a brief article in The Argus of 14 May 1938, the area that later became Broadford district (in 1869) and then shire (in 1874) was originally named Stewart's Station. Then a man by the name of Reay Clark opened the Sunday Creek Inn, it became known as Sunday Creek before being renamed in 1869.

1890s - Life of Norman Dugald Ferguson

Norman Dugald Ferguson (born around 1861) became a newspaper proprietor ('Stock and Land', 'Farmer's Advocate') and lived at Kooyong Road, Armadale. He was married, although it has not yet been possible to identify when he was married from Victorian BDM records (he may have married elsewhere) and whether they had any children. (Source: The Herald 6 August 1929).

September 1894 - Death of Donald Ferguson

Donald Ferguson, formerly of Flowerdale station in Broadford shire, died at Herne Hill in Geelong on Saturday 15 September 1894 (Vic BDM Ref 9631/1894). Various newspapers including the Yea Chronicle and The Broadford Courier and Reedy Creek Times, reported his death on Thursday 20 September 1894. According to The Broadford Courier and Reedy Creek Times, Ferguson had re-located to Geelong 'in the hope that the sea air would have an invigorating effect upon him'. His obituary in the same newspapers noted that he had been associated with municipal matters in the Broadford shire for many years and could even been regarded as the municipal father of the shire, as noted above.

Donald Ferguson was buried at Herne Hill cemetery.

Roderick Ferguson then managed the property.

1896 - Life of Donald Ferguson (junior, born 1856)

Donald Ferguson was the eldest son of Donald Ferguson and Jessie McKenzie. According to his obituary carried in the Broadford Courier of 11 August 1916, Donald was '... well known to a large number of residents in the Strath and surrounding districts. Deceased had a taste for literary matters; and some 20 years ago acquired the Yea Chronicle, and a short while after organised and started the Bendigo Stock and Station Journal. He had a fair amount of experience in the fields of grazing and agriculture, and some excellent articles from his pen appeared in the latter journal.'

1903 - Death of Jessie McKenzie (nee Ferguson)

According to her obituary in the Yea Chronicle of 12 March 1903, Jessie Ferguson (nee McKenzie) was on a short visit to Geelong when she died. She was buried beside the body of her husband Donald.

1904 - Death of Jessie Mary Ferguson

Jessie Mary Ferguson (born c 1858), the daughter of Donald Ferguson and Jessie Mckenzie, died on 20 February 1904, at her residence 'Kilduskland', Liverpool Street, North Geelong. She was 46. (Vic BDM Ref 1543, also the Yea Chronicle 25 February 1904))

April 1904 - Roderick Ferguson marries

Roderick Ferguson (born c1858/1860 - 1917), the son of Donald Ferguson and Jessie Mckenzie, married Mabel Mary Dodgstram/Dodshun/Dodghsen/Dodgshun in 1904 (Vic BDM Ref 3586). The Ballarat Star of 30 April 1904 stated that Roderick was of 'Tarcomb', Longwood, while Miss May Dodgshun was of 'Tooronga', Egerton. The were married at the residence of the bride's father. Miss Florrie Dodgshun was the bridesmaid, and Mr W Cocks was the best man. After the wedding they left by train for Sydney.

Roderick and Mabel Ferguson had four children:

September 1904 - Flora Ferguson marries

Flora Ferguson, the second daughter of the late Donald Ferguson of Flowerdale Station, Broadford, married Robinson Frederick Thurston Cocks in Melbourne on 29th September 1904 (Vic BDM 5381, The Argus, 26 October 1904). According to The Argus, RFT Cocks was the eldest son of Robinson Cocks of Acheron, formerly of Langwooran, Heathcote. The Broadford Courier and Reedy Creek Times of 4 November 1904 stated the following:

The wedding of Mr. R. F. T. Cocks to Miss Flora Ferguson late of Flowerdale station has recently been celebrated at the Scots Church, Collins street, Melbourne, by the Rev Dr. Marshall, a large nuriber of guests and well wishers assembling for the occasion. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. Donald Ferguson, and looked exceedingly beautiful. Mr. Bert Cocks acted as best man, Mr. W. P. Woods as groomsman, Miss Mary Ferguson and Miss Ivy Cocks acting as bridesmaids. After the ceremony was over a reception was held at the Mia Mia tea rooms, where a large number of guests were entertained at a wedding tea, Mrs. "Roddy" Ferguson of Tarcombe, presided as hostess. The wedding presents were both numerous and costly, and were of a varied kind. A most valuable present was given by the Messrs Ferguson brothers, a handsome road cart and set of harness, and a handsome afternoon tea stand by Dr. and Mrs J. O. Morton.

Robinson and Flora Cocks had one daughter, Katherine Mary Cocks (1905, Broadford (Vic BDM Ref 16012) - 26 June 1940, country Queensland (QLD Ref 1940/C/2365, father recorded as Frederick Robinson Thruxton Cocks)). Katherine Mary Cocks married William Harris, the eldest son of W Harris of Godfrey Street, Toowoomba, at Toowoomba Queensland on 2 May 1932. (QLD BDM Ref 1932/C/2720). Her marriage to William was noted in The Brisbane Courier of 13 May 1932, which noted that she was 'the only daughter of Mr F Cocks of Arthur Street, Toowoomba and the late Mrs Cocks'. The two bridesmaids were Florence Ferguson (cousin of the bride) and William's sister Martha Harris.

It is not yet known if Robinson and Flora Cocks had other children. There are no other births yet found for Robinson and Flora in Queensland.

RFT Cocks was recorded as a grazier of Russell Street, Toowoomba, Queensland in the probate notice for Flora's brother Roderick Ferguson, 'late of Kilmore, Victoria' who died aged 58 in 1917 (see below, sources: The Age, 3 March 1917, Vic BDM Ref 2152).

Flora died on 17 January 1929. RFT Cocks re-married on 15 May 1934 in Brisbane to Hilda Winifred Kiorgaard. (QLD BDM Ref 1934/B/18451)

1916 - Death of Donald Ferguson (born 1856)

Donald Ferguson, the eldest son of Donald Ferguson and Jessie Mckenzie, died in August 1916 in Malvern. His obituary was carried in the Broadford Courier of 11 August 1916 (some of which is already included above).

1917 - Death of Roderick Ferguson

Roderick Ferguson (born 1860), the son of Donald and Jessie Ferguson, died in early February 1917. His obituary, carried in the Kilmore Free Press of 8 February 1917. The Broadford Courier of 9 February 1917 included the following details:

In the death of Mr Roderick Ferguson which occurred last week in a private hospital Melbourne, there has passed away a personage who for many years figured largely in the affairs of this district and of the Broadford Shire of which he was a councillor. Mr Ferguson was the son of the late Donald Ferguson, the pioneer squatter of this district and the owner of Flowerdale station; and when he retired from the active management of the station his son Roderick took charge and later when his father died he managed the station on behalf of the Ferguson family and in the strenuous times that succeeded the bursting of the land boom, Mr Ferguson displayed great grit and determination and tided the station safely into more auspicious times. About 14 years ago the property, was sold to Messrs. Tyson and Canningham and Mr Ferguson purchased the Tarcombe Station near Euroa. Owing to failing health he parted vith the property a few years ago and has since been living retired. The late Mr Ferguson took a keen interest in local sports, especially cricket, and travelled round with the Flowerdale team as umpire when the local club entered the Anglesey. competitions. Reserved in manner he was sometimes misjudged,but those who knew him best recognised and appreciated his many sterling qualities.

Roderick's children were still quite young when he died, aged from 6 (Florence) to 12 (Mary). It is not yet known what happened to his wife Mabel.

After 1917 - Events

As noted in Roderick's obituary, he bought a property in Euroa around 1903. All his children were born in Euroa. He sold the property likely in the early 1910s to retire. His two eldest children, Mary and Ian both died in Euroa.

It is not yet known what became of their daughter Jean.

Their daughter Florence May Ferguson, noted as a bridesmaid at the wedding of her cousin Katherine Cocks in Toowoomba in 1932, may have lived in Toowoomba. The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette of 5 September 1924 and again on 4 December 1925 record someone with that name passing music examinations. No other record has yet been found in Victoria or Queensland after that date.

1929 - Death of Norman Dugald Ferguson

Norman Dugald Ferguson (born c 1861) died on 1 June 1929 at Armadale. His obituary was carried in the Kilmore Free Press of 6 June 1929, which noted that death Norman died at his residence, 'Vernon' in Armadale. It added that 'The deceased gentleman was of a retiring disposition, a fine type of Australian native, and one who was deservedly trusted and highly esteemed by all who had opportunity of estimating his admirable qualities. His remains were interred in the Fawkner cemetery'.

Page created 19 July 2024 from an earlier 2012 page, last updated 17 October 2024. Copyright © Andrew Warland. (andrewwarland(at)gmail.com)