Alexander McMorran (1820-1911) is generally regarded to have been the first saddler in Cranbourne. He and his wife Annie were pioneers of the Cranbourne district. They are listed in the Cranbourne rate books with a house on 7 acres of land in the early 1860s, the time the tree is thought to have been planted in their garden. Alexander and Annie are buried in the Cranbourne Cemetery. The tree is thought to be the oldest English Oak in the district.
Source: City of Casey (Cranbourne, Knox) Heritage Study
Mc Morran’s Oak plaque
Transcription
Alex McMorran opened a saddlery in Cranbourne in the 1860’s. This / tree, an English Oak (Quercus Robur) was part of the garden that / he planted. / This oak is said to be one of the oldest European trees in the / district.
When the footpath and then the carpark was developed, care / was taken to minimise the impact on the tree.
Surveyed on: 23 Feb 2017
Surveyed by: Lynne
Cranbourne VIC 3977, Australia
Another story about the McMorrans is linked with a long term head school teacher of Clyde North School
http://clydehistory.000webhostapp.com/html/0407twyford.html
Mrs McMorran was his aunt, who raised the Twyford children from 1861.