PIONEERS OF THE PLAINS
(Werribee and Keilor)

By Archibald James Campbell * 1853 -1929

Early History

Australia lay in a sunny sleep until the time of her awakening came. In the good Providence of God she is an integral part of the Empire upon which the sun never sets.

Captain Cook sighted the goodly land of Victoria 19th April 1770

The plains of Port Phillip, in part, were probably seen by Matthew Flinders, who on 27th April 1802 ascended and named Station Peak (the You Yangs). From this coign of advantage, towards the distant Mount Macedon northward, he would get an extended panoramic view of the expansive and fertile plains, as yet untrodden by white men.

Early in 1803 Charles Grimes, Surveyor General of New South Wales walked round and surveyed Port Phillip Bay. His report of the country was not very encouraging: - "grassy plains to the mountains, no trees, and the soil very bad and stony."

On the 29th December, the same year, William Buckley (with three other convicts) absconded from the settlement near Sorrento at the Heads. He lived for thirty years with a tribe of blacks and saw much of the Plains. One of Buckley's mates repented and returned to the settlement; the other two perished in the Bush.

European Heritage, Pinkerton Family
The area has an important historical significance for Melton and District. 
A Headstone erected by the descendants of the Pinkertons on the grave of  Margaret, wife of James Pinkerton, and 4 grandchildren.   A wooden feeding trough, still survives     A Plaque describing the Pinkerton Family history.

Historical Note:

James and Margaret Pinkerton & Family left Glasgow, Scotland on 8 July 1839 - sailing from Greenock on the Barque "Superb".  They arrived at Port Phillip on 4 December 1839.  In 1840 they settled in the Keilor District on a property called "Chamois Ponds".  In 1848 the property was burnt-out and the family moved to the Werribee River, settling on the new property "Yaloke".   In 1855 Margaret Pinkerton died & was buried in Pinkerton Forest.  Between 1857 & 1860 4 grandchildren died (aged 9,8,1 & 2 years) and were also buried in the forest. A cairn was erected over the graves in 1931.   After adverse times W J Clarke ("Big Clarke") acquired the property in 1862 and James Pinkerton retired to Bacchus Marsh where he died in 1869.

Descendants of Note:

Archibald James Campbell

-Expertise in Australian Birds & Native flowers, particularly Wattles.

A J Campbell was one of the founders of Wattle Day, and he planted wattles around the original cairn in the forest.

Yellow Wattle


It is the shining glory of our hills and streams:
when other flowers lie hidden, it radiates boldly forth
its richest treasures of gold. It redeems the wilderness,
and illuminates the ragged breaks between the scrub.

Floods will not drown it, nor fire destroy it:
After forest fires, seeds germinate more freely.
When neglected, it flourishes, yet it takes kindly
to cultivation, in park and beside the roadside verge.

Poets and prophets have searched for epithets:
apples of silver in baskets of gold. Yet it expresses
all moods. There is the silver wattle for gladness,

the weeping wattle for grief. The happy may rejoice
in its billowing splendour, the bereaved find gentle
solace as if gathered in as one, unto its tender grace.
 


Poem by Ian Campbell (a descendant of A J Campbell), adapting words used in a review of 'Golden Wattle' (1921) by A J Campbell.
 

James Pinkerton Campbell

Founder of Film Australia & Official Australian War Photographer in Egypt in WW1.

Descendants photo, taken at the 'Celebration of the new extension of Pinkerton Forest on Friday 6 October 2006.

Names are L to R -  Noel Fethers, Bryan Campbell, Don Nardella MP, Dorothy Campbell (wife of John) and John Campbell' 
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