The Bowman’s Track Estate is named after the track cut by Janet Bowman and her sons in 1864 from the Gippsland Hotel (on the site of the Central Hotel) in Beaconsfield, linking to the Hughes Track to the Jordan Goldfields (Jericho). The track became known as Bowman’s Track.
In April 1988 a reunion for Bowman descendants was held at Akoonah Park, Berwick and plaques were placed along the remains of Bowman’s Track by the Shire of Pakenham and the Berwick Pakenham Historical Society in a Bi-Centennial event. The main plaque was placed at the corner of O’Neil Road and Princes Highway, however, this could not be located at the time of our survey.
Further reading: Casey Cardinia – links to our past: Beaconsfield and the Royal Connection
Surveyed on: 18 Oct 2011
Surveyed by: Fay
Beaconsfield VIC 3807, Australia
Hi Lynne. . Not sure this site still exists but I’ll try anyway, I am a direct descendant of Janet and David Bowman and did attend the 1988 reunion but was either too late or left before the plaque opening. After this COVID is over I intend to visit the area for more research,
I meant their Sir Colin Campbell tin mine, which they supposedly discovered on the track at Willam Wallace Creek, a locality that others have questioned – one mineralogist from Museum Victoria suggests the mine was in McCraes Creek and a newspaper of the day says it was between the headwaters of the Latrobe and Little Yarra Rivers (which is a long way from Gembrook) – another says William Wallace Creek but does not refer to Gembrook (which may not have existed as a town then, althought the name was applied to the Cockatoo area in those days (“Gembrook diggings”)
Is there a map of Bowman’s track in existence – there seems to be some uncertainty about its route from Gembrook and northwards, especially around the Franklin River and Little Yarra River etc, until the Baw Baw Plateau is reached and it junctioned with the Yarra Track? In particular, about whether their William Wallace tin mine was really on William Wallace Creek near Gembrook or further north where visited by the geologist Bleasdale.
Did the sons Alexander and William prosper with their own families? I am looking for my Bowman descendants. My Dad’s name is David Bruce Bowman and his Dad’s is William Wilson Bowman, 1899 – 1978. So I was wondering if anyone knew if my family are related to David and Janet Bowman.
Hello Steve,
Well, after a quick look at the Victorian birth, death and marriage indexes, we’re going to say ‘probably not’ but nothing is certain until it has been properly researched and evaluated, and our initial opinion has not had this luxury.
We found that the death indexes show William Wilson’s parents as being Edwin and Elsie (nee Wilson) Bowman. According to the marriage indexes Edwin Bowman married Elise Wilson in 1894. According to the death indexes, Edwin died in 1952 at Boronia aged 88. His parents’ names were listed as William and Emma Maria Bowman. His birthplace was listed as Hornsy, London, England at the time of his death.
If you’re local to us, you don’t need to be a member to use our resources, we have two volunteers on duty who can help you, our visitor’s fees are $5 per day.
http://nwfhg.org.au/research-room/
The Victorian birth, death and marriage indexes are online if you’d like to explore them, at:
http://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/home/family+history/search+your+family+history/
regards,
Lynne
Good morning Lyn, thanks for replying. I’m originally from VIC growing up in various locations in the Melbourne area. I work in Sydney and live in Brisbane. I’m visiting Melbourne next week and want to have a good look around whilst also visiting my family in Warburton through to Glen Iris.
Thanks for the websites you have provided me, apart from joining Ancestory and others is there a wealth of sites that are relatively free to use for my research? Is there sites that recorded the migrant names that landed in Portland VIC in the mid 1800s, there family names, ages, where they settled etc etc?
Regards,
Steve
Hello Steve,
a quick look came up with this site that has many links you might find useful – good luck!
http://www.swvic.org/index.html
Lynne
i believe i am related some where down the track