The Gregg Family
Gregg Family Book
Extracts from the book "A Moment in Time" by Daniel Gregg with permission of same.
There had never been any evidence or suggestion that Richard and his sister Catherine had any brothers or sisters. About 1968 I had asked Geo Starritt (1881-1971) how many brothers and sisters his mother had; the reply was, that beyond Richard Gregg being a brother, he did not know. His explanation was that in those days one was not told and did not ask.
Poowong
After a cursory inspection, Mr. Alex Gillan lodged an application with the Land Board at Melbourne on 1st. January, 1878, for "License to Occupy" three hundred and twenty acres in the Paris of Poowong. (Later to be Allotment 42)
After what appears to have been a considerable delay a license was issued on 1st. April, 1879.
This action could well have led to Richard Gregg's introduction to South Gippsland.
From the file pertaining to Allotment 42, 1 have found that at on stage Mr. Gillan had not fulfilled the conditions of the residential clause; being for the six years of the license, the Head Teacher at th Cattle Station Hill school.
In a letter of explanation to the Department of Lands and date 30th. July, 1885, Mr. Gillan stated in part that he "had a m residing on the ground for the first three years and the same party Richard Gregg - who has now a selection himself, has been looking after it up to the beginning of the present month".
"Woodland Park"
Contributed by Catherine "Katie" Wilson (nee Gregg)
in its natural state, produced magnificent stand of Eucalypts. Extremely tall Bluegums, with thick undergrowth predominated. Every gully was crowded with a variety of fern shrubs and trees. Tree ferns in abundance, shrubs such as Haze Musk and Christmas Bush; Clematis and Wonga Vine, both lovers the cool forest, climbed to great heights and, in Springtime produced masses of flowers, which were a joy to the eye. "Woodland Park"
Tall Blackwoods and Eucalypts towered above the lot. These gullies were a paradise for the many native birds and animals ... Lyrebirds were a common sight before the big fire of 1898, which unfortunately destroyed much of our indiginous wildlife.