Yallock Estate and Henry Beattie

Henry Beattie's Yallock Estate at Koo Wee Rup was sub-divided and placed up for sale in August 1915. It was an exceptional opportunity, according to the advertisements, only 41 miles from Melbourne and  close to the Monomeith Railway Station, thus farmers could send their milk to Melbourne. It was also rich flats - suited to onions, potatoes and maize and had no rabbits.

The sale was extensively advertised - see the the full advertisements here and here.

Henry Beattie was born in St Kilda in 1868 to Henry and Margaret (nee Stiven) Beattie (1). After his arrival from Scotland in 1854, Henry Snr, worked with John Aitken at his Mt Aitken Station, in the Sunbury area. Beattie later purchased Mount Aitken, operating a Hereford cattle stud (2).  Henry also purchased the Yallock Station, previously part of Mickle, Bakewell and Lyall's Western Port holdings,  in May 1875 for £13, 600 (3). At the time it was 2,719 acres but by 1913, the Shire of Cranbourne Rate books list the Beattie property as 1,243 acres (4) made up of the 640 acre Yallock Pre-Emptive Right; 553 acres of Section 2 Parish of Yallock and another 50 acres.  Henry Jnr  lived on the Yallock property from at least 1885 as he was elected to the Council representing the Yallock Riding that year (5).  He married Sarah Jane Allardyce in August 1895 and they had two children - Constance Margaret born in 1896 and Henry Gordon in 1901 (6).  Sarah died July 26, 1937 aged 59 and Henry died February 23,  1940 aged 72 (7).  They are buried at the Burwood Cemetery.

Parish of Yallock plan - showing the Yallock PR - Pre-Emptive Right - and Section 2 - all up 1,193 acres, the bulk of Beattie's Yallock Estate, which he sold in 1915. These two blocks were south of the South Gippsland Highway, the Monomeith Station was located in Monomeith Road. The meandering creek is the Yallock Creek. 

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/296564

The sale of the Yallock Estate was the subject of an article in The Leader of August 14, 1915 (read it here) It is transcribed below and is illustrated with the four photographs from the article.

THE YALLOCK DISTRICT.
While the greater part of Victoria was stricken by drought during the last 12 months, there was one part of the State where the climatic conditions were more than favorable. In this locality all the crops were prolific, and whether it was for his hay, his potatoes, his grain, his onions or his dairy produce, the farmer of the Yallock and Kooweerup and Monomeith districts received returns much more handsome than usual, as the result of his year's work.

This record is in keeping with previous experience. Since it was first occupied half a century. ago, the lands of the Yallock and adjoining districts have never known a drought. There has always been a fruitful response to cultivation. The tiller of the soil has obtained his richest rewards in years when other parts of the State were suffering severe losses because of drought conditions.

For Years Devoted to Sheep

The Leader August 14, 1915 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/90191670#

So far the richest lands in the Yallock district have been mainly devoted to pastoral pursuits. The rich stands of rye grass and clover which prevail, enable three sheep to the acre to be kept all the year through. Encouraged by the remunerative nature of the grazing industry large holders of some of the richest areas were loth to dispose of them. Practical farmers, keen on getting a plough to work in these virgin soils with their exceptional fertility, could only admire them from the outside of the fence. To-day, a different state of affairs prevails.

One of the largest properties, "Yallock Estate," has now been made available for subdivision, and can be secured in holdings to suit the requirements of buyers. This is the first time the property has been on the market. It is confidently expected that practical onion and potato growers will take full advantage of the unique opportunity.

The Land on Being Ploughed

The Leader August 14, 1915 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/90191670#

As our illustrations indicate, the rich black soil at Yallock is peculiarly suited for potato culture.  There is over a foot of a free black loam resting upon a rich dark clay, having unusual capacity for the retention of moisture. This feature will at once appeal to the practical man familiar with the possibilities of intertillage in the presence of a well soaked subsoil. Onion growers also find much that is attractive in the Yallock soils. Specialists in this industry, with experience of other onion districts are already at work on the property, and state that the Yallock soil compares favorably with other onion soils of the State. Onion growers from the Western districts are now in possession of Yallock land, and express themselves as pleased at the manner in which the young onion plants are growing.

Will Produce Rich Crops of Potatoes Like This

The Leader August 14, 1915 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/90191670#

The South Gippsland railway runs conveniently to the Yallock Estate, the Kooweerup and Monomeith stations being within a mile or two of it. Lest the mention of Kooweerup should suggest reclaimed land, with heavy rates due for drainage and with the possibility of occasional inundation, it may be pointed out that Yallock is high and dry land, well above flood levels. While especially suited for the cultivation of potatoes and onions, it also yields heavy crops of Algerian oats. Laid down in grass, the soil produces heavy growths of rye grass and clover, which, as is well known, constitute a pasture unexcelled for milk production. The fertile character of the land, its generous and dependable rainfall, and the fact that it is situate, within 41 miles of Melbourne are features that make the Yallock Estate of unique interest to practical men desirous of making a home on the land. The terms of sale are exceedingly favorable. These, with all other details about the property, may be obtained from Smith, Nicholson Pty, Ltd., land salesmen, next Metropole Hotel, Bourke-street, Melbourne.

And Prolific Yields of Onions

The Leader August 14, 1915 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/90191670#

Trove List  I have created a list on Trove of newspaper articles connected to the Beattie family and the sale of Yallock Estate in 1915, access it here.

Notes
(1) Henry Beattie arrived in Victoria from Scotland in 1854.  He married Margaret Stiven in 1860. Her surname is listed in the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages as Simpson, Stephens, Stivens, Stiven and Stivin but I believe Stiven is correct. They had five children that I can trace, possibly more - Walter (1861-1937), Annie (1864-?), Henry (1868-1940), John (1871-1937), Jennet Violet (1873-1901). Henry Beattie (son of Walter and Jennet Beattie) died 1906 at the age of  75. Margaret (daughter of James Stiven and Ann Cairncross) died 1890, aged 56.
(2) This information is from Henry Beattie's obituary in The Australasian August 18, 1906, see here.
(3) Gunson, Niel The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire (Shire of Cranbourne, 1968) p.128.
(4) The original size of the Yallock Estate comes from Gunson, op. cit p. 128.
(5) Gunson, op. cit p. 261. Beattie resigned from the Council in January 1887.
(6) Henry and Sarah's marriage notice was in The Argus August 24, 1895, see here. Constance Margaret was born July 24, 1896, see her birth notice in The Argus, of August 22, 1896  here. Henry Gordon was born October 29, 1901, see his birth notice in The Argus November 5, 1901, here.  Henry and Sarah's children are the executor's of Henry's will and are listed in  Henry's Probate application notice in The Argus, February 27, 1940, see here.  Constance was a Spinster and Henry was a Solicitor. They were still living at the family home in Lumeah Road, Caulfield.
(7) Sarah's death notice was in The Argus July 27, 1937, see here and Henry's in The Argus February 24, 1940, see here.