Originally published in the Dandenong Journal from 10 March to 22nd September, 1932.
This copy is taken from the original published then, not the book version now used by others.
From old papers and documents it has been settled that John Hawden was the first white man to settle in Dandenong. This was in 1834, but he did not remain long, as, leaving one of his men in charge of his stock, he returned to Howlong, in New South Wales for additions to his herds, and returned with them in 1837. Langhorne street keeps the memory of the first stockman green; but why was not Hawdons name perpetuated as well as that of his stockman? It is not yet too late, and a thoroughfare surely can be found to bear the name of the earliest pioneer of the district. Langhorne’s hut was situated on the creek bank about where now is the bend in Power road. William Gardiner was a partner of Hawdon, but they dissolved partnership after a few years, Gardiner taking up land at Gardiner’s Creek, which still bears his name, as also does the district through which it flows.
The Keys family arrived in 1841. But prior to that, in 1839, William (one of the sons) came from Ireland to the colony to look for land. He picked upon Carrum, and returned home. And then, in 1839, the family arrived. They were North of Ireland folk, and consisted of eight souls, the father (George Keys), and his sons, John, Robert, William, Isaac and Thomas, and the womenfolk, John became secretary and engineer of the Shire of Dandenong, Robert established himself in an hostelry at Cheltenham, in 1844; whilst William, Thomas and Isaac settled on land around Carrum, and created the village of “Keysborough.”
In the 50’s R. C. Walker acquired “The Grange” estate, and shortly afterwards Mr. J. Power settled at “Grassmere.” J. Wood Bealby was, before this time, on “The Bangholme.” These were the nearest to Dandenong. R. C. Walker did not long retain his holding, but disposed of it to Captain David Ross, who did not, however, at once come to reside in Dandenong, but leased the property to Dr. Bathe, who came from Panti-Gurn-Gurn station, Pakenham way. Dr. Bathe combined breeding thoroughbred horses and cattle raising, and had the imported horse, Stockwell, at the stud.
When Capt. Ross took up residence at “The Grange” he unfortunately soon afterwards contracted an illness, and from which he died. Two sons were born on the estate, James and Herbert. On the death of Captain Ross, the following paragraph was published in the “Argus” of the day:
“We regret to state that Capt. Ross, master of the ‘Maria Ross,’ died last, evening (6th November, 1869), at his station, “The Grange,” Dandenong. The deceased gentleman had been ill for some months, and after his last voyage went to his property at Dandenong for a rest, and hoped for recuperation of his health. He was but 46 years of age, and had general good health, but latterly, he was attacked by sickness.
Capt. Ross was one of the first ship masters to enter Port Phillip Bay, and he was highly respected by his seafaring brethren, and a large number of ship captains attended his funeral at the Melbourne General Cemetery. The various places of business, at Sandridge, and several ships in the Bay, had their flags at half-mast on Saturday, as a token of respect to the late Captain Ross.”
Capt. Ross, in the old days, opened a road through his estate for the convenience of travellers to and from the Ferntree Gully district and Dandenong.
The Wedge family can claim a large share of credit for settling the district, and were amongst the earliest arrivals. John Wedge, senr., had a large run at Snake Bank, near Launceston, Tasmania, in the early 30’s, and elected to try his fortune on the main land. He brought over 400 of the best, of his stock of stud sheep, and settled in the Werribee district. His sons, John Hilder Wedge, Charles Wedge, and Edward H. Wedge, settled later around Western Port, and on towards Frankston and Dandenong. Between them they had about 50 head of cattle and 2,600 sheep, and which formed the nucleus of their flecks and herds. Rather a more definite description of the properties of the Wedge Bros, would be to say that Charles, located at Lyndhurst, John behind which in recent years was known as “Quinlan’s” old place, and Edward, near Rossiter’s, down the Frankston road.
The “Wedge Run” extended from Mordialloc to Dandenong one way, and in the other direction to Cranbourne, or thereabouts, where it met Dr. Adam’s “Balla Balla” property, this will account for nearly all the land from Dandenong to the sea. It was on Edward Wedge’s run that Steve Payne met his death, he and his horse, sheltering under a tree, being struck by lightning, but this incident is dealt with fully in another place.
These were the men who opened the country for those who came with the breaking up of the squatting runs, and who were intimately associated with the progress of the towns of Dandenong and Cranbourne. Dandenong has streets named after certain of the old pioneers, and these memories, I hope, will serve as connecting links, between them and the generation now growing up in our midst.
J. G. Ware was another of the early settlers, his station being at Stoney Point.
Major Frazer, in 1844, settled near Mordialloc; and the Strattons had a run at Tanti.
Charles Beswick was one of the earliest settlers in the Carrum district, and he it was who constructed “Solomon’s Wells,” a watering place between the edge of the plain and (now) Carrum station.
Mr. Cantour had a run, out beyond Grassmere.
And Horsfall’s station also was beyond the Police Paddocks, which in those times embraced an area of almost ten miles.
Mr. MacDonald was located at Mt. Bullock, in the ranges.
Mr. Norris, owned Mt. Coles, in the vicinity of MacDonald’s.
Doctor Jamieson’s run was up to wards Gembrook.
These runs were all within a day’s ride of Dandenong, and the owners regarded each other as near neighbours.
Then followed the land selectors, who came into the district when the country was thrown open to them, and many took advantage of the right to select blocks; but most of them, after a brief sojourn, moved further into Gippsland, the larger holdings available around the Pakenham district being a greater attraction and more suitable to men who wished to make homes and fortunes in Australia, and who were not afraid of hard work or hardships.
The runs had been rapidly selected by 1850, and their final breaking up was near at hand. In fact very little land was available for selection in the district after 1860. And I know only of one block, that being 10 acres of the Cemetery Reserve, which was wrongfully selected, and under the eyes of the whole populace, without protest.
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