Phillip Holland's 236.05 Acres

By Ray Gibb.

On 19-2-1846, Brewster conveyed 236 acres 8 perches to his co- grantee, Philip Holland, who had received half of the proceeds from land previously sold as well as this land, conveyed for 10/-, as an act of Partition. With a western boundary of 2835 links, Holland's land adjoined Napier's and went north to the York/Lloyd St midline .

On 11-8-1846, Holland leased this land to R.MacNamara and Duncan Cameron for 100 pounds paid before sealing and a rent of 70 pounds p.a.

On 5-4-1852 Holland sold the land to James William Dunbar for 608 pounds. As Mary MacNamara and Duncan Cameron were named as the parties of the second part, I presume they were still leasing the land.

The MacNamara name was associated with the area for a long time and a street name in Airport West recalls this. The Camerons were early lessees on "Glenroy" (sections 6 and 1 Will Will Rook, 2313 acres), which they were said to have named. The Dunbar name was associated with the Moonee Ponds (Dean's) and Flemington Hotels.

Edward James Kernan's application for title indicates that I may have misread Dunbar's purchase. The lease of 11-8-1846 had included the option for Robert McNamara and Duncan Cameron to purchase the 236 and a bit acres. On 11-12-1852, this option was exercised despite Robert McNamara having died. The land was partitioned with the McNamaras taking the northern 1285 links and the Camerons the southern 1550 links. The boundary between the two is the Kernan St/ Henshall Rd midline and explains the bends in Bournian and Collegian Avenues. The McNamara land was conveyed by Robert McNamara's widow, Mary, to her sons Matthew and Joseph on 27-4-1853. Mary McNamara was about to marry John Kernan. The McNamara land , north to the York/ Lloyd St midline (which explains the other bends in those two streets) was lost to the Bank of New South Wales, which sold it to John Kernan on 3-9-1875.

The Cameron land, south to Glenbervie/Upland Rd, passed into the hands of Thomas Knight Bennett, who sold it to John Kernan on 20-9-1873 for 2634 pounds. Kernan mortgaged it to Josh Henry Kay who died. John Kernan also died, on 6-1-1877. He left no will but on 29-3-1877, probate was granted to his widow Mary and John Kernan (junior). On 22-6-1877, Kay's executors reconveyed the land to John Kernan's executors. The land was mortgaged to John Kernan's great mate, Michael Loeman of Bulla, on 17-2-1880 and despite the mortgage apparently not being paid off, Loeman agreed to Edward James Kernan's application to apply the certificate (of title) to himself.

Three interesting details found in sketch of title 21650 are:

*Edward James, Mary Jane, Mary and John Jun. were the only Next of Kin of John Kernan.

* Pascoe Vale Rd is shown on a sketch from about 1850, and is called "road to the Young Queen, Pascoevale.

This could be a mistake but Bulla Rd might have originally branched off Napier St and is shown meeting the future Mawbey Rd / Lincoln St/ Carnarvon Rd near Alf Pearce Park. It was called "Road from the Springs To Melbourne". This could be correct as even in Tullamarine the "Old Mt Macedon Rd" did not follow the present course of Melrose Drive; in 1844 it was west of Barrie Rd on section 21, Doutta Galla where William and John Foster established "The Springs". (See volume 7.)

This is the map shown on sketch of title 21650.