ROBERT McDOUGALL, PIONEER OF BROADMEADOWS, ESSENDON, KEILOR AND BULLA, VICTORIA. :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy
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ROBERT McDOUGALL, PIONEER OF BROADMEADOWS, ESSENDON, KEILOR AND BULLA, VICTORIA.

Journal by itellya

THE LATE MR. ROBERT
MCDOUGALL.
The remains of the late Mr. Robert
McDougall, who died at Ellora, Moonee
Ponds, on Saturday last, were buried at yester-
day in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The
funeral service was read by the Rev. H.
McKail of Bulla, the deceased being in-
terred in the Presbyterian division, imme-
diately in the rear of the grave of the late
James McPherson Grant. Amongst those
who attended the funeral were nearly all the
members of the council of the National Agric-
ultural Society of Victoria, of which body the
late Mr McDougall was a few years since an
active member. Many residents of the Keilor
district, where Mr. McDougall had lived for
some 15 years past, also took part in
the last rites. The pall bearers were all
relatives of the deceased, amongst them
being his only son, Mr. A McDougall; his
father-in-law, Mr. E.(*sic) Rankin, of Ascotvale;
and his sons-in-law, Messrs. A. Cameron and
A. Smith. The late Mr. McDougall was born
on the 16th April, 1813 on a cold sheep farm
at the foot of Shiechallion, in the parish of
Fortingall, Perthshire. The first 17 years of
his life were spent on the farm, and then he
removed to the western isles of Inverness
and Ross, where he remained for six years.
At that time the immense fishing capabilities
of the seas in which these isles are situated
were unknown, save to a few sportsmen.
Here Mr. McDougall, who was an
enthusiastic fisherman, spent his time
pleasantly enough fishing and otter hunting.
In 1836 he sailed for Canada, and for three
years lived on the Huron Track, then a new
settlement. He did not take to Canadian
life, and returned to his native land. Finding
that many of his acquaintances had, during
his absence, departed for Australia, he decided
to follow their example, and emigrate.
After a 16 weeks voyage, he landed in Port
Phillip in November, 1841. He found the
pastoral interest in a very depressed
condition, owing to the sudden and great
depreciation in the value of both live stock
and wool. Soon after landing Mr. McDougall
undertook the management of the herd of
cattle kept by Messrs. T. and S. Learmonth,
at Ercildoune. Like most Highlanders he
was an expert manager of cattle, and in 1848
he commenced cattle-breeding on his own
account, renting a portion of the Glenroy
estate from the late D. Kennedy, and his
first stock were a dozen well-bred heifers,
which he bought from Messrs. Gardiner and
Fletcher, of Mooroolbark. The prosperity
consequent upon the discovery of gold in
Victoria gave him
the opportunity he had looked for,
and in 1853 he went to Tasmania, and
bought the two Auroras, mother and daugh-
ter, from the late Mr. Theodore Bartley, of
Launceston, whose stock were from the Van
Diemen's Land Company's stud. In 1855 he again went to Tasmania, and bought from the Van Dieman's Land Company eight very fine cows,
and from these are descended the finest
animals in the Arundel herd. From Cona,
Mr.McDougall removed to a property near
Essendon, which he rented from the late
Mr. Aitken, who came to the colonies in the
same vessel as Mr. McDougall. Another
fellow passenger was the late Mr. David
McLaws, of Tower-hill, near Koroit, and it is
a notable thing that several of the passengers
by this ship, who came to Australia equipped
with little more than stout hearts and
willing hands, all became successful colonists,
and died wealthy. About 16 years ago Mr.
McDougall purchased the Arundel estate
from the late Mr. Edward Wilson, and he
resided there till a few days before his death.
The story of his life from 1853 is a record of
the stud herd he founded; a herd that is
favourably known to cattle-breeders through-
out the wide bounds of Australia. When the
prospect looked darkest for the owners of
cattle, Mr. McDougall never relaxed
in his efforts to improve his herd by the
importation of the best blood he could secure
in the old country. In 1859, Mr. McDougall
visited England, and purchased some stud
bulls, but in this, as well as several other
shipments, he had more or less misfortune
through high-priced animals dying on the
passage to the colonies. He was in England
a second time in 1870, when he bought from
Mr. T.C. Booth, of Warlaby, the white bull
Field Marshall Booth, then a calf, and Major
Booth, both of which sires proved of immense
value in the Arundel herd. His last import-
ation was in 1883, when he brought out the
Farewell bull Sir Roderick, which soon after
arrival took champion prize at the National
Agricultural Society's show in Melbourne. Mr.
McDougall was a thoroughly skilled stock
breeder, and had made a careful study of the
subject for the greater portion of his life. He
had great knowledge and experience, and on
all matters relating to cattle breeding he held
strong opinions, which in public controv-
ersy he was apt to urge with more force of
language than those opposed to him liked.
For over 40 years of his life his best efforts
were given to improve the breed of cattle in
his adopted country, and owing to his energy,
skill and great judgement he achieved a great
success. For a short time Mr. McDougall
sat in the Victorian Parliament**, but politics
were not to his taste, and it is as a breeder
of stud shorthorns that for many a year to
come the name of Robert McDougall will be
familiar 'as a household word' with the
breeders of high-class cattle in Australia. For
many months past Mr. McDougall has been
in failing health. He was in his 75th year, and
leaves a widow and six children, one son and
five daughters, to mourn their loss. (P.9, Argus, 29-6-1887.)

*EventDeath Event registration number1516 Registration year1913
Personal information
Family nameMCDOUGALL Given namesMargt SexUnknown Father's nameRankin Jno Mother's nameJean (Cance) Place of birth Place of deathEsdon Age79

**MLA West Bourke 1st Nov 1856 1st Aug 1857 Resigned
(https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/re-member/details/546-mcdougall-robert)

MARRIED.
At Roseneath Cottage, near Flemington, on Wed-
nesday, 20th inst., by special license, by the Rev.
John Reid, Minister of St. John's Presbyterian Church,
Doutta Galla, Robert McDougall, Esq., of Glenroy, to
Margaret, eldest daughter of John Rankin, Esq. (P.4, Argus, 26-7-1853.)

McDOUGALL - On the 16th February, at her home,
"Corswall," Moonee Ponds, Margaret widow of
the late Robert McDougall, of "Arundel,"
Keilor, aged 78 years. (P.1, Argus, 18-2-1913.)

John Rankin was one of the earliest residents of Kensington and was the grantee of land at the south corner of Princes Street (later renamed Rankins Road) and Macaulay Rd. Roseneath Cottage provided a pleasant view of Edward Byam Wight's "The Ridge" at the top of Kensington Hill but by the time that Peter Eadie of Ben Eadie at Sunbury became his brother-in-law, the view was interrupted by the Kensington Railway Station.

EADIE--RANKIN.--On tho 24th inst., at Roseneath-
cottage, Kensington, by the Rev. A.D. Kininmont,
Union Church, North Melbourne, Peter Eadie, Esq.,
merchant, Sunbury, to Jane, second daughter of
John Rankin, Esq., Kensington.(P.4, Argus, 25-2-1864.)

Thus Robert McDougall was the uncle of Robert Eadie, who not only saved Winston Churchill's life during the Boer war but set up the platypus habitat at the Healeville Sanctuary.

The obituary stated that Robert McDougall had one son and five daughters. As indicated below they were:
SON. Alexander McDougall, married Jessie Forrester.
DAUGHTERS. 1.Caroline, married Alexander Cameron; 2. Jeannie (Jane) married Sandy Smith; 3. Maggie, married Robert Dodd; 4. Grace (d.1940 aged 77 unmarried.) 5.Helena, youngest daughter, d. 1950 aged 79 unmarried.

Birth records of children (1854-1879) born to Robert and Margaret. Victorian BDM has only three records, as below. There are 8 records for Alexander McDougall but none with the right parents named.There were no Carolines. There was only one result for Helena, with the wrong parents named. I'm sure that Robert, author of the shorthorn stud book, would have registered the births of these three, so the lack of them on the index would seem to be the fault of Victorian BDM.

EventBirth Event registration number372 Registration year1856
Personal information
Family nameMCDOUGALL Given namesJane SexUnknown Father's nameRobert Mother's nameMargaret (Rankine) Place of birthGLENROY

EventBirth Event registration number17766 Registration year1860
Personal information
Family nameMCDOUGALL Given namesMargaret SexUnknown Father's nameRobert Mother's nameMargaret (Rankin) Place of birthGLEN

EventBirth Event registration number20589 Registration year1862
Personal information
Family nameMCDOUGALL Given namesGrace SexUnknown Father's nameRobert Mother's nameMargaret (Rankin) Place of birthESSE


While at Glenroy, Robert stood for parliament, not being afraid to take on his landlord, Donald Kennedy.
The only other election on account of
resignation is that of a member for North
Bourke, in room of Mr. John Thomas
Smith. The candidates for this seat already
in the field are, Messrs. Donald Kennedy,
of Melbourne, A. Mackillop, R. McDou-
gall, of Glenroy; and Wm. B. Burnley,
of Richmond. (P.4, Argus, 9-6-1853.)

Robert and his landlord,Donald Kennedy,both of Glenroy, were appointed magistrates in 1857.
P.3, The Age, 27-8-1857.)

He'd been involved in trying to improve things as early as 1849 when he wrote a very detailed open letter to John Pascoe Fawkner, whose grant was across today's Victoria St/ Rhodes Parade from the Glenroy Estate.
Paste http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4774200 into your search bar.


An advertisement placed in about 1852 by Robert McDougall showed that he was taking a keen protective interest in the Bulla area. He warned that people removing timber from the properties of Alexander Kennedy (north end of the parish of Tullamarine, including the Inverness Hotel) and John Cameron (grantee of c/a 11 Bulla Bulla, which became Robert's Warlaby) would be prosecuted.For some weird reason I can't re-find this notice. He was later to buy Cameron's grant and name it Warlaby after the stud of Major Booth. The following comes from my dictionary history of Bulla journal.

WARLABY.(Section 11, Bulla Bulla; Melway 384 J8-homestead.)
See the heritage study:
[PDF] Place: Warlaby - Hume City Council
www.hume.vic.gov.au/files/a500cc6e-5e52-49ae-864c.../warlaby_‎
Warlaby is of State level heritage significance for the evidence of its use as a ..... that the Bulla property was named Warlaby after the Booths' stud, probably to ...

The study stated that not much was known about Maurice Quinlan. See my journal about him. Maurice was a bookmaker and for a time lived in James Robertson Jnr.'s Aberfeldie mansion that gave the suburb its name. According to one of my informants,probably Bob Blackwell,Quinlan's son became an Australian boxing champion.

The name, Warlaby, came from the stud of Major Booth who developed the Booth strain of shorthorns of which Robert McDougall was the prime breeder in Victoria and probably Australia. This brought him into conflict with Niel Black (grantee of the northern 777 acres of Gladstone Park and Western District squatter) and Henry Stevenson* of "Niddrie" who favoured the Bates strain.

The heritage study states that Isaac Batey gave John Cameron's name for Warlaby as -- but death notices indicate that the original name was "Tobernaroy".
DIED. On the 26th inst., at Tobernaroy, Bulla Bulla, Deep Creek, Mary, the beloved wife of John Cameron, aged 42 years.(P.4, Argus,27-9-1854.)

From http://www.strathmore3041.org/farms.html
In "Memoirs of a Stockman", Harry Peck tells us that Frank Goyder, who was on Oak Park in 1880, bred racehorses and raced a few good ones such as the big chestnut, Sussex. Harry makes the apparently strange claim that Robert McDougall of "Arundel" (Melway 4,H/12) and Henry Stevenson of "Niddrie" (16, A/9) were neighbours. However they had adjoining land at Strathmore in 1880 with Henry on St. Johns and Robert on 200 acres to the north or east. Both probably bred Shorthorn cattle there, but there the similarity ended. Stevenson followed the Bates strain and was therefore a declared enemy of McDougall who supported the Booth strain.

Sandy Smith grew up on "Norwood" on the south side of Buckley St, between the Aitken Estate and North Road, Avondale Heights and would have seen plenty of his neighbour Jeannie.
SMITH - McDOUGALL - On the 24th inst., at the resi-
dence of the bride's parents, by the Rev. Hugh
M'Kail, Bulla, Alexander Smith, of the firm of King
and Cunningham, stock and station agents, Mel-
bourne, to Jeannie, second daughter of Robert
McDougall, J.P., of Arundel, Keilor.(P.1, Argus, 29-11-1881.)

Paste http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/74589268 into your search bar to see Alexander Smith's 1915 obituary.

Sandy or Jane later moved to Coilsfield which was later demolished for the construction of the Essendon Hospital. Old residents of Ardmillan Road to the north told me that a lane on the downhill side of number 39 was known as Smith's Lane because it connected the Smith house on the site of the 1857 Ardmillan mansion with Coilsfield. The owner of the Ardmillan Rd house, Sandy and Jane's only son, was named after his maternal grandfather and the house was obviously named after John Rankin's Roseneath Cottage at Kensington.

SMITH.— On February 4, at his
home, "Roseneath," 33 Ard-
millan-road,, Moonee Ponds, Robert
McDougall, only son of the late
Alexander and Jane Smith, "Coils-
field, Moonee Ponds, and brother
of Heather.(P.2, The Age, 6-2-1952.)

DODD - McDOUGALL - On the 21st December, at
Corswall, Moonee Ponds, by The Rev. Alex.
Marshall D.D., Robert Dodd to Maggie, third
daughter of the late Robert McDougall, Arun-
del. (P.9, Argus, 13-1-1900.)
MAGGIE'S DEATH RECORD.
EventDeath Event registration number6800 Registration year1935
Personal information
Family nameDODD Given namesMargaret SexFemale Father's nameMCDOUGALL Robert Mother's nameMargt (Rankin) Place of birth Place of deathHAWTHORN Age74



McDOUGALL (MacDougall) - On June
28, at her home, 9 McMillan street,
Elsternwick, Helena, youngest daughter
of the late Robert McDougall, of
Arundel, Keilor, and late of Holmes
road, Moonee Ponds, in her 79th year.

McDOUGALL - On June 28, at Elstern-
wick, Miss Helena McDougall, vice-
president and foundress (with her sis-
ter, Miss Grace McDougall*) of the
Melbourne Branch of the British Union
for Abolition of Vivisection (By re-
quest, no flowers.) (P.19. Argus, 30-6-1950.)

* EventDeath Event registration number6010 Registration year1940
Personal information
Family nameMCDOUGALL Given namesGrace SexFemale Father's nameMCDOUGALL Robert Mother's nameMargaret (Rankin) Place of birthESSENDON Place of deathMOONEE PONDS Age77

To identify the fifth daughter of Robert and Margaret McDougall, I assumed that A. Cameron, the other son-in-law at Robert's funeral, was Alexander and searched marriage records for this name. I then found the death record for Caroline Cameron.Her address was given in her death notice. She was buried in the Melbourne Cemetery, Carlton.

EventMarriage Event registration number6547 Registration year1885
Personal information
Family nameCAMERON Given namesAlexander SexMale Spouse's family nameMCDOUGALL Spouse's given namesCaroline

EventDeath Event registration number13848 Registration year1942
Personal information
Family nameCAMERON Given namesCaroline SexFemale Father's nameMCDOUGALL Robert Mother's nameMargaret (Rankin) Place of birthGLENROY Place of deathELSTERNWICK Age88

CAMERON.-On December 20 (suddenly),
at 9 McMillan street, Elsternwick, Caroline,
widow of Alexander Cameron, and eldest
daughter of the late Robert and Margaret
McDougall, of Arundel, Keilor, aged 88
years.(P.2, Argus, 22-12-1942.)

Robert and Margaret's only son (to outlive his father, at least)was Alexander, known as Sandy, who lived at Warlaby after his marriage before moving to Western Australia in about 1900. He probably met his future wife while on the Aitken Estate. The Forresters were early residents on James Watson's grant between McCracken St and Lincoln Road, Forrester Street, named after them, being continued west through Mar Lodge and Butzbach to Hoffmans Rd as those farms were also subdivided.

McDOUGALL—FORRESTER - On tho 9th August, at
Blairgowrie, North Brighton, by tho Rev. J. Hay, Alex
ander, only son of the late Robert M'Dougall, Arundel,
Keilor, to Jessie, youngest daughter of the late Charles
Forrester.(P.5, The Age, 11-8-1888.)

Jessie would have been soon immersed in the activities of the newly formed Oaklands Hunt Club which had been formed after a paper chase ride organised by Farquhar McCrae, who was in charge of the hunters at Glenara, which started at Warlaby. And who do you think was the first master of Foxhounds?
MASTERS OF FOXHOUNDS
1888 – 1900 Alexander McDougall (https://oaklandshunt.com.au/)
Much information about Sandy, and probably photos, will be found in THE OAKLANDS HUNT, D.F. Cameron Kennedy, the centenary history of the club.


While Robert was on the Aitken Estate he'd issued strict instructions about what to do with straying cattle so that his breeding program wouldn't be compromised. Endeavouring to follow instructions cost a new employee his life. See http://www.familytreecircles.com/dr-john-dunbar-tweedale-pioneer-of-essendon-and-the-mornington-peninsula-vic-aust-67582.html

ROBERT McDOUGALL AND JOHN AITKEN.
A passage in Robert's obituary at the start of the journal concerns me regarding its accuracy. The claim that he arrived in November 1841 could be accurate or just a little bit out but the main concern is that John Aitken was said to be a fellow passenger.
"From Cona,
Mr.McDougall removed to a property near
Essendon, which he rented from the late
Mr. Aitken, who came to the colonies in the
same vessel as Mr. McDougall. Another
fellow passenger was the late Mr. David
McLaws, of Tower-hill, near Koroit, and it is
a notable thing that several of the passengers
by this ship, who came to Australia equipped
with little more than stout hearts and
willing hands, all became successful colonists,
and died wealthy."

John Aitken of Mount Aitken arrived much earlier, from Van Dieman's Land, soon after John Batman had signed his treaty and had decided where he'd squat before his sheep, the ones that survived, had to carried ashore near Arthurs Seat in 1836 when the Chili went aground on a sandbank. An article, or perhaps a heritage study, about John Aitken or Mount Aitken that I read some years ago, stated, as I remember, that he had crossed at Solomon's Ford, heading west to the east branch of Kororoit Creek and then north towards Mt Aitken following a track that became the Calder Highway. This was the basis of my assumption that he had purchased section 8 Doutta Galla, (whose south west corner at the bottom of Melway 27 F8 was only 1200 metres from Solomons Ford) as a depot to rest his sheep being driven to market.

FROM DHOTAMA, PAGE Mc.33.
Robert McDougall's biography in VICTORIA AND ITS METROPOLIS 1888, stated that he arrived in 1842. It is possible that his ship was placed in quarantine for a month or so before he was allowed to go ashore to explain the variation from the claim in his obituary that he arrived in November 1841. Unfortunately, I only copied snippets of Robert's biography, such as Robert being on Glenroy for 14 years and the Aitken Estate for 10 years, but 29 years later, I still recall that it mentioned the success achieved by many of his fellow passengers. I did not record this but I'm sure that if John Aitken's name had been mentioned as an example, I would have done so.

Of interest is that Harry Peck had stated in MEMOIRS OF A STOCKMAN that Harry Delahey had married one of Robert McDougall's daughters.
H.H.Peck was wrong but not by much because the Dodds and Delaheys were related and Robert Dodd (probably the son of George Dodd)married Maggie, the third daughter of Robert McDougall.

Most of the genealogy that I have provided here was in the DHOTAMA entry, obtained from Angela Evans' KEILOR PIONEERS:DEAD MEN DO TELL TALES. Margaret Rankin had been born in Hobart on 14-12-1835. There were also photocopied excerpts from Harry Huntington Peck's book and the catalogue of the Arundel herd to be sold on 1-12-1887, maps showing properties, rate book details etc*. Any descendants who would like the Mc. file could private message me requesting it and providing an email address to which I can send it.

*For example, Alexander McDougall was born at Glenroy in 1859. He did not move to Western Australia in 1900 as I wrongly stated before. In 1900 he moved to Camperdown but by 1907 he was a stipendary steward of the Western Australia Turf Club. Appointed chairman of Stipendary stewards in 1909, he retained the position until 1928 when he retired. He died while visiting a friend aboard S.S.Chitral at Fremantle in 1938* aged 79.
*This is wrong! Alexander died in 1937. Thanks to Janilye, I might be able to give the link for the report of his funeral. Trove


Were there two John Aitkens? A trove search in the 1840's revealed that there was a John C.Aitken but Isaac Batey referred to the grantee of Mount Aitken in this way. I have found no reference to John Aitken returning home circa 1840 which would account for a return voyage to Port Phillip in 1841-2.

While trying to confirm or disprove the claim that Robert McDougall had come out on the same ship as John Aitken, I found that Robert McDougall had been an auctioneer and was secretary of the Moonee Ponds Farmers' Society when it had changed its name.

TO-MORROW, JULY 14.
Unreserved Sale of first-rate
Dairy Cows.
MR. R. MCDOUGALL
Is instructed to sell, at the Market Yards,
TO-MORROW (Wednesday), 14th. Inst ,
at One o'clock, p. m.,
30 VERY SUPERIOR DAIRY COWS
springing, and with young Calves.
Lonsdale-street,
July 12th, 1847.(P. 3, The Melbourne Argus, 13-7-1847.)

THIS DAY, (Tuesday), 14th INSTANT,
at the Market Yards,
TWO TEAMS OF WORKING BUL-
LOCKS.
ROBERT MCDOUGALL.
Lonsdale-street,
September 14, 1847 (P.3, The Melbourne Argus, 14-9-1847.)

THE (late) MOONEE PONDS FARMERS
SOCIETY.
To the Editor of the Argus.
Sir, — At a meeting of the Committee of Ma-
nagement of the above Society, which took place
pursuant to advertisements, at the store of Messrs
Thomson and Duncan, Great Bourke-street, Mel-
bourne, on the 18th of August last, the enclosed
Rules und Regulations, for the ensuing match,
were approved of unanimously by the Committee.
The most important alteration from the original
Code, as you will observe, was changing the name
"Moonee Ponds Farmers' Society " to " Port
Phillip Farmers' Society."
The Committee sanguinely hope that by thus
changing the name of the Society, the sphere of
its operations and usefulness will be extended ; and
that outlandish folks will have no plausible ex-
cuse for not furthering the good cause. The
Committee also confidently expect that the Editor
of the Argus (from his having from the outset
taken such a warm interest in the proceedings of
the Society,) will give an insertion to their Rules
in his far-famed journal. Hoping yet to have the
pleasure to meet you " amang the rigs o' bar-
ley,"
I remain, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
ROBERT McDOUGALL
Secretary.
Glen Roy,
9th October, 1848.(P.2, Argus, 10-10-1848.)

Neil Mansfield's magnificent Bulla Cemetery Index shows that one of Alexander McDougall's sons died while he was on "Warlaby" whose homestead at Melway 384 J8 is heritage-listed.
1345 McDOUGALL Archibald William 3M 00/10/1895 00/00/1896 06/01/1896 Presb. 1 13 Son of Alexander McDougall & Janet Forrester. Died in Bulla, Victoria, Australia.

Surnames: BOOTH CAMERON EADIE FORRESTER MCDOUGALL RANKIN SINCLAIR SMITH STEVENSON
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by itellya Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2017-09-05 11:25:32

Itellya is researching local history on the Mornington Peninsula and is willing to help family historians with information about the area between Somerville and Blairgowrie. He has extensive information about Henry Gomm of Somerville, Joseph Porta (Victoria's first bellows manufacturer) and Captain Adams of Rosebud.

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by itellya on 2017-09-08 14:01:52

MAGGIE McDOUGALL AND HER FUTURE HUSBAND GREW UP ABOUT HALF A MILE APART.
During the 1860's, Maggie's father, Robert McDougall was leasing the Aitken Estate, section 8 of the parish of Doutta Galla each side of where the Maribyrnong River comes within 240 metres of Buckley St. The north west corner of section 8 is opposite the south end of Rachelle Rd. The south east corner of section 10 Doutta Galla granted to George Dodd and Henry Delahey, Robert Dodd's father and uncle, was near Rita Court, just west of Arcade Way. His father and uncle were granted the northern two third of 11A, north of Lauricella St. and West Gateway which would be slightly closer, 1500 metres. We should make a history series about the countless brides and grooms who grew up near each other, and perhaps call it NEIGHBOURS!!!

The following confirms my suspicion that Robert Dodd was George's son. My word, Keilor can claim some renowned journalists as early residents: Edward Wilson, Donald Macdonald, C.P.Blom and ROBERT DODD.

MR. ROBERT DODD : FOR MANY YEARS AGRICULTURAL EDITOR OF
" THE AUSTRALASIAN."
Died July 14 at his residence, Mandeville-crescent, Toorak.
MR. ROBERT DODD.
THE DEATH OF A POPULAR
JOURNALIST.
We have to record with deep regret the
loss of a valued member of "The Austral-
asian" staff—Mr. Robert H. Dodd, agricul-
tural editor, who died at his residence.
Mandeville-crescent, Toorak, on Friday
night, the 14th July, aged 56. He had been
connected with this journal for 14 years,and
was widely known throughout Victoria and
the other States as a man whose experience,
soundness of judgment, and uprightness of
character placed him among the first in his
branch of the profession. In his earlier
days Mr. Dodd had had a great deal of
practical acquaintance with farming and
dairying—he was the second son of the late
Mr. George Dodd, of The Oaks, Keilor—
and there was very little touching the rural
industries on which he was not able to give
a reliable opinion. Apart from his profi-
ciency as an agricultural expert, he had
other qualities which won him in a singular
degree the liking—rather the affection—of
all who came into contact with him. Every
acquaintance came quickly to look upon him
as a friend. Quiet and equable in his man-
ner he had a never-failing spring of humour,
which made him the pleasantest of conver-
sationalists and raconteurs. As his gift for
mimicry and witticism was wedded to the
kindliest disposition, no one was wounded
ever so slightly by the mirth be made; in-
deed, no man could be more considerate
than he to the feelings of others. There
was much virility and determination in his
character—he was a strong man, with well
defined views on most matters, yet the free
expression of them never appeared to make
him enemies. The wide circle who valued
him as a genial companion and warm-
hearted friend had watched for some years
past the courageous fight he made against
a severe malady which attacked him, neces-
sitating two surgical operations. His in-
domitable resolution bad a great deal to do
with the recovery be made. The heart was,
however, affected, and he succumbed to a
seizure which occurred some four or five
days before his death. Although his medi-
cal adviser. Dr. E. Barrett*, had hopes of a
rally, a relapse occurred on Friday evening
last week, and the end came suddenly. Mr.
Dodd leaves a widow, who was Miss Mar-
garet M'Dougall, daughter of the late Mr.
Robert M'Dougall of Arundel, Keilor, one
of the pioneer breeders of shorthorn cattle
in Victoria.
The funeral of the deceased took place in
the Melbourne Cemetery on Sunday, and
was attended by a very large gathering of
journalistic friends and members of the
Yorick Club, of which Mr. Dodd was a most
popular member. The burial service was
read by the Rev. Dr. Marshall. The chief
mourner was Mr. John Dodd, a brother of
the deceased gentleman, and the pall-bear-
ers were Mr. David Watterston (the re-
presentative of the Edward Wilson estate
on "The Argus" proprietary), Dr. E. S.
Cunningham (editor of "The Argus"), Mr.
E. T. Fricker (editor of "The Austral-
asian"), Mr. W. Moxon Cook (sporting
editor of "The Australasian"), Mr. H.
Burrell (printer of "The Argus"), Dr. E.
Barrett, Mr. W. Davidson (inspector-gene-
ral of Public Works), and Mr. W. J.
Fookes. Among other old friends and col-
leagues present were Messrs. D. H. Maling,
Donald Macdonald, George Bell, F. M.
Robinson, and F. W. Lydiard. (P.32, The Australasian, 22-7-1911.)

*See the Dodd journal.

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