Deep Lead, just northern west of Stawell, and the Mornington Peninsula are two places in Victoria that many would assume share little to no connections.
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But the Stawell Historical Society has been investigating a link that goes back to the nineteenth century.
In 1841 a young Scottish Oxford Graduate, John MacLure, arrived in Hobson's Bay on 'The Argyle'.
Georgiana McCrae and her four young sons travelled on the same ship to join her husband Andrew.
The McCrae's purchased a pastoral lease at Arthur's Sear to build a large homestead designed by Georgiana.
John MacLure came with them as tutor to their three eldest boys and remained with them for 10 years.
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During the construction of the homestead, John lived in a small bark hut with the boys - tutoring them and helping out with some of the construction chores.
During his time there he also encouraged the boys to interact with and learn from the Aboriginal children in the district.
Georgiana went on to have more children and pursue her love of music.
The family were noted for entertaining such dignitaries as Governor La Trobe.
By 1851 the McCrae's were forced to give up the property and, after many years of varying use, their cottage was renamed "McCrae Homestead" and donated to the National Trust of Victoria in 1970 by a grandson.
It had been initially re-purchased by their Great Grandson George and then left to his son.
The Pleasant Creek connection
At the time the McCrae's left the property John MacLure made the decision to pursue another career.
He applied to the Government and was approved for the role of Clerk of Petty Sessions.
After his appointment as the first Clerk for Pleasant Creek he was based in the Police Hut at Deep Lead in 1851.
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He oversaw cases ranging from electoral issues, breaches of mining permits, assaults and violence.
Deep Lead was the administrative centre for the surrounding goldfields until the construction of the Pleasant Creek Courthouse in 1860.
Sadly John MacLure did not live to see this.
He died at Pleasant Creek in June 1859 aged 46 and was buried in Deep Lead cemetery.
Descendants of the McCrae family have erected a memorial plaque at his gravesite.
Recently members of the National Trust Mornington Peninsula branch visited the cemetery to pay their respects to John.
They were hosted by Helen Curkpatrick (committee member of the National Trust Wimmera branch) together with Greg Robson and Kate van Dyck from the Stawell Historical Society.
Lesley Bennett (from the Deep Lead Cemetery Trust) was able to share her extensive knowledge with the group.
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