Hi Susan Have just had a look through the 1939 Centenary "Mortlake Dispatch" and in 1962 Thomas Dowling was a member of the Mortlake Pastoral Society formed in 1961. No mention of Benjamin amongst the pioneers, if that's any help. And I just fished out "Pastures of Peace: A Tapestry of Mortlake Shire" which was compiled by the Mortlake Historical Society for the Shire as a Bi-centennial project lists Cr T Dowling as Shire President for the following terms: 1865-68; 1874-48; 1881-95. He was also a Member of the Legislative Council from1886 to 1892 and from 1892 to 1904. The note says: "DOWLING Thomas. Bought JELLALABAD 1853, Mortlake Shire President 1865 and twenty other years." And this gives his years of office in the LA as 1856-1872, which contradicts the list I just quoted. Re JELLALABAD Station it says; 17,548 acres, 8,000 sheep) 1839 Keith King and John Down 1849 Edward Robe Bostock (So you need to talk to Thelma Birrell) 1852 JG Ware 1853 Thomas Dowling 1909 Subdivided A note with this says: "These dates from Pastoral Pioneers of AUstralia and may not be accurate; first day is shown as 1837 which is not correct." After the subdivision: I JELLALABAD 1909 Thomas Dowling 1915 GW Dowling and Gerald Cumming 1961 Dowling family sold its interest Part still owned by Hector Cumming, whose grandmother was a daughter of Thomas Dowling and who married TF Cumming of Stony Point. Part sold for Soldier Settlement after WWII. II ROCKGROVE G Murch 1939 Mrs Elizabeth G Murch 1944 Peter Cotter 1977 Peter Cotter died 1979 Bought by Gilberstons from Cotter's trustees. So that should clear it up for you. The MHS would have had access to the Shire records for their research. If you want a copy let me know. I remember Hector Cumming when I was a child. I knew we'd end up with a connection somewhere Susan! Cheers Beryl Beryl O'Gorman Greensborough Victoria Australia List Admin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Patterson" <aapatterson@bigpond.com> To: <AUS-VIC-WESTERN-DISTRICT@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 3:49 PM Subject: [AUS-VIC-WESTERN-DISTRICT] W.D Roads Boards > I wonder if anyone would know where the minute books of the Hampden and > Mortlake shires are kept? I have a discrepancy regarding Thomas Dowling and > Benjamin Dowling as members of the boards. > Aust Dictionary of Biog says Thomas was active for many years but McAlpine

Thanks Beryl, You certainly have all the detail. Thanks for writing it all up for the listers. They were all prominent families during those early days. I remember going to "Jellalabad" many years ago, when it was rundown and unoccupied. We chatted with a Roger Cummings, relative of Dowlings, who lived opposite at that time. We all must appreciate those who wrote this history down, many years ago, for the benefit of future generations. Sincerely in Searching.. Thelma (Bostock) Birrell.