August 15th, 2026Our region’s history with Natalie Poole

Fern Hill forefather

William Middlemiss was born on June 5, 1831 at Dunira Estate, Perthshire, Scotland. His parents were Thomas Middlemiss and Janet Ewan.

The family sailed on 20 March 20, 1849 on the ship Saxon and while travelling William wrote a diary of his experiences. Here are some excerpts from his diary writings on Voyage on the Saxon:

March 20 – Sailed from Gravesend with 296 passengers and 40 crew.
April 26 – One passenger put in a noose and fed on bread and water, for misconduct, released the next day.
May 31 – A young woman died, committed to ‘The Deep’, was to have married on landing at Port Phillip.
June 12 – Another death being the 5th child and 6th death.
June 23 – Got sight of land, Australia!

William and his family reached Melbourne on June 29, 1849. They arrived safely at their destination and William was about to embark on a journey lasting 72 years. He would work in Brighton, Avenel, the Wimmera and find his forever home in Fern Hill.
Upon landing, William was taken to the residence of Mr Frederick Liardet in Brighton and for the next four months was employed carting flour to Melbourne by horse and dray.
Then the owner of Avenel Estate, Mr Lloyd Jones, engaged him as a manager on his property in late 1849. He was responsible for taking out rations to the men living in huts on the station, overseeing stock and ensuring the general running of the place.
In 1853, he was offered the overseer’s position at McMillan’s station Irrewarra, in the Wimmera. He stayed a few years but longed to have his own place. He left the Wimmera and saw land was advertised and available in the Trentham District. He purchased land in Fern Hill in 1858 and settled down.
He married his first wife Frances Gorman on October 1, 1858 and they had five children: William (1859), Frances (1862), Archibald (1864), James (1865) and Mary (1869). Sadly, his wife died in 1871.
William married for a second time to Janet Stewart Ferguson on May 2, 1877, and they had three children: Elizabeth (1878), Thomas (1880) and Stewart (1882).
During 1865, advertising in the Kyneton Guardian stated Land Certificates were wanted, of any number, with the highest price given. Apply to William Middlemiss Esq.
William managed to buy more land in the immediate area. One of those blocks was the Junction Hotel, at the corner of James and Pearsons lanes, East Trentham. He rented out the premises and my records show Joseph Barnes was renting this in 1876.
By 1895, William became the publican of the Junction Hotel but chose to hand it over to his son William George in 1897. Eventually, the hotel was closed in 1912 due to the Reduction Board ruling of too many hotels in the area.
William’s involvement in the local area included being a trustee of church land, a member of the Old Colonists Association, electoral registrar, Justice of the Peace, a member of the Tylden and Trentham Farmers’ Union, a councillor at the Kyneton Shire for many years and also a member of the Trentham Freemason’s Lodge.
His obituary in the Argus 19 October 1921 read as follows: “Mr William Middlemiss, J.P., one of the earliest pioneers of the Trentham district, died at his residence, Fern Hill, on Tuesday, at the age of 91 years. He was recently made an honorary member of the Historical Society in recognition of many valuable records of the early days of Victoria which he presented to the society.
“When the land at Trentham was thrown open for selection 63 years ago, he selected a farm at Fern Hill, where he resided up to the time of his death.”
A colonist for 72 years and a life well lived. (Image: ancestry.com.au)