From Cumnock to Melbourne - The Howats from Glaisnock Street

 

 by Roberta McGee

'Melbourne was founded on wealth from wealthy graziers, successful gold miners and those known as Squatters who, although not owning the lands they occupied, drew incredible wealth from those lands via Agriculture and grazing, mainly of sheep'

(Source: Melbourne's Lost Heritage - Mansions and Estates)

DAVID WILSON HOWAT was born in 1814 in Old Cumnock. He was a joiner and in 1840 married Sarah Robertson, also born in Old  Cumnock. In 1851 David and Sarah, with their children Mary, George and William, lived in Glaisnock Street, Cumnock. In October 1855 the family sailed into Melbourne on the 'Octavia' to begin a new life a world apart from the one they left behind. 

With the influx of immigrants into Melbourne more houses were required. David Howat capitalised on this. He set himself up as a builder and was a very successful one. When he died in 1885 at William Street, Melbourne, he left real/personal estate worth nearly £10,000. His son David commissioned a series of four single lancet stained glass windows in the Union Memorial Church, Elm Street Hall, North Melbourne, as a memorial to him. 

Image - Cumnock Connections

David and Sarah had four children, Mary, George and William, who were born in Cumnock and David who was born in 1858 in Melbourne but who sadly died in 1865 when he was just seven years old.

MARY MAXWELL HOWAT  was born about 1841 in Old Cumnock and died in 1916 at 'Glaisnock', 458 William Street, Melbourne. Mary was a dressmaker and also housekeeper for her family. She gave her earnings from her dressmaker's business to her father to bank for her. Her father and brothers also paid her for domestic work and this was also banked for her by her father. This amounted to £809 which was repaid to her on her father's death. According to her Will, Mary kept a safety deposit box at the Melbourne Safe Deposit Box (Stock Exchange of Melbourne Co. Ltd). Her father had taught his family the value of money and she invested wisely. On her death she left real estate and stocks & bonds worth nearly £15,000. Mary never married and her Will describes her as a 'gentlewoman'.

458 William Street (turned into a restaurant) - image Melbourne Streets

William Street - Image Old Time Photos of Yesteryear Fb page

GEORGE HOWAT was born in 1844 in Old Cumnock. His first employment was with a company of Stock & Station Agents in Melbourne and he became a Stock Agent. He married Lucy Goodson in 1875 in Ballarat. He was the only child of David and Sarah's to marry. Soon after his marriage he opened his own business and specialised in pure stock, chiefly Shorthorns and Ayrshires. His business went from strength to strength and his success was reflected in the magnificent mansion he built in Royal Park, Melbourne. It was a two storey brick and cemented residence containing thirteen rooms, tower, glass conservatory and conveniences with brick stable, men's room and workshop. He named it 'Cumnock' after the town of his birth. He also owned Gulpha Street Station, Mt. Ridley, Bunker Hill Estate and The Quamby Station, Loch. George died at Gulpha Creek Station in 1919 and left an estate worth in excess of £80,000. 

‘CUMNOCK’

George Howat - Image Cumnock Connections

Image - Agricultural Society of Victoria Oct 1885 

George and Lucy had four children, sons David and George Jnr., and daughters, Elizabeth-Ethel and Sarah. David and George jnr. were both graziers and took over the running of the estates on George's death. Their partnership was terminated in 1943 and the properties sold. 

 

The Argus 27/3/1943

George and Lucy's daughters married well.

Elizabeth-Ethel married Franc Brereton Sadleir Falkiner whose father was pioneer pastoralist Franc Sadleir Falkiner, born in Tipperary, Ireland. The Falkiners were considered to own more freehold land than any other family in Australia. Her husband Franc Jnr was born on the Arafat, Victoria goldfields. He became an Australian politician and grazier and was a world famous stud breeder of merino sheep. He was extremely wealthy and Elizabeth became a very rich widow when he died in 1929. Elizabeth died in 1946 at their mansion on Bellevue Hill, Wentworth, NSW when she accidentally smothered herself. 

In 1921 younger daughter Sarah Howat married , at the age of 37 years, widower Dr Henry Alexander Hagen. Dr Hagen's father was the General Inspector of Aborigines. Sarah and Henry built and funded the Cumnock Private Hospital in Moore Street, Tralalgon in 1926. Tralalgon is in the Gippsland region of Victoria and they operated the hospital for about two years before it was leased out. 

The Cumnock Private Hospital - Image Traralgon History Fb page

It is interesting to note that David Hamilton Weir and his family also lived in Gippsland. David's father was born in Blackfaulds, Old Cumnock. David Jnr. was born at Waterhead, New Cumnock and emigrated to Sydney in 1838.

Youngest son of David and Sarah Howat was WILLIAM HOWAT who was born in 1850 in Old Cumnock, Ayrshire. He never married and died at 'Glaisnock', 458 William Street, Melbourne. William was a significant figure in Melbourne during the late 19th century.

He was an accountant and for four generations served as manager of the extensive Clarke estates owned by the Hon. Sir William Clarke, Bart., one of Australia's wealthiest men. Sir William was a stud breeder, philanthropist and agriculturalist. William was so trusted and respected by the Clarke family that he was appointed an executor in the Will of Lady Jane Clarke. The Clarkes were leading socialites and entertained lavishly in their magnificent homes of Cliveden and Rupertswood. In 1882/83 Rupertswood became famous due to hosting the first ever 'Ashes' series between Australia and England when the touring English cricket team went there to play a friendly game of cricket which they won. Lady Clarke took the balls, burnt them, placed them in an urn and presented them to the English captain as a trophy - the birth of the 'Ashes'.

Image - Cumnock Connections

The Howats showed that they never forgot their roots in Old Cumnock by naming their homes 'Glaisnock' and 'Cumnock'. This seems to have been a common thread with our emigrants. There is a small town called 'Cumnock' in the Central West of New South Wales. It was originally known as Burrawong Crossroads and renamed Cumnock in 1879. Some sources say the name was suggested by William Ross of Dilga Station who was born in Cumnock. However, William Ross was born in Muirkirk.  He emigrated to Australia in 1845. Another source says that it was named after John Strahorn who arrived in NSW in 1838. It also claims he was born in Old Cumnock but records show that he was born in Mauchline. See links to the Cumnock Connection Tree.

Cumnock NSW also has a Royal Hotel