Hi! All Joined about a week ago and have been just been reading all messages. I am just concentrating on 2 families at the moment the are Hower and O'Meara. George arrived in Australia from Germany in 1860. George or Charles Hower as he was sometimes called spent time at Upper Maffra, Eaglehawk, Toongabbie,Walhalla and a place called Red Jacket ( no longer exist) 50 - 70 miles into the mountains from Walhalla. 1860+ Worked as a farmer and woodcutter. I believe he worked the "Green Hill" run at Maffra had an interest in the Glengarry Sawmill. owned the "Mountain Queen" Goldmine at Walhalla went into the hotel business at Eaglehawk(Glengarry) 1890+ My other mob is James O'Meara and family wife Bridget, children Anne, Edmund, Elvirya and Honora(Nora). Arrived in Australia from Tipperary Ireland in 1853. James had wagons and carted most of the early machinery etc to Walhalla. Anne married my gggrandfather George Hower in 1883 (Anne was his second wife) First wife Jane died in 1881. I believe they are all buried beside one another in the Toongabbie Cemetery. Would appreciate any help as I live on the other side of Australia in Mandurah. Cheryl Hower