Laurel Kellett (Nee:Davis) has dairy farmed for 70 years, born at Meroo Meadow. Today she is 86 years of age.

Samuel Thomas Davis B Portland England in 1835 married Susan Anthony on 17 August 1886. They migrated to Australia on the ship Hindostan leaving from Liverpool and arriving in Sydney on 12 August 1887. Susan was pregnant with their first child.

They were of methodist faith and lived at Milton, on Sth Coast and had 7 children there: John Davis b1857, Sarah Davis B 1860, William Davis B 1862. Edward B 1863, Robert B 1866 & Caroline B 1868.

Youngest son Robert married Selina Knapp in 1890. Selina b Nov. 1868. They too had 7 children.Stella B 1891, Oswald B 1893, Dorothy B 1896, Dulcimer B1899 (known as Dulcie), Raymond B1902, Leo B 1906 & Merle 1910. Leo Davis, the youngest son is Laurel’s father who later farmed with his father Robert at Meroo. Robert Davis, Laurels grandfather moved up to meroo in January 1923, Leo was 16. Robert was Influenced by Uncle Jim Knapp who informed him there was a farm for sale. James R Knapp (Jim) ran the cattle stud Swanlea in Bolong,

Leo Davis farmed at Meroo with his wife Minnie, they married in 1923,They are Laurel Davis’ parents. Laurel married Harry Kellett whose family date back in the region from the late 1820s.

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Season 1: Supported by Turf Co Jaspers Brush https://turfco.com.au/ &

McGoldrick Estate Agents Berry https://mcgoldrick.com.au/

James Wiley b 1840 with his brother Thomas b 1836 migrated from northern Ireland to Port Jackson in 1860. Their father Charles, with wife Jane Maquire and 4 additional children followed shortly after on the ship Hot Spur. It cost Charles 28 pounds to bring out the remaining family members.

James and brother Thomas were men with vision and savvy business acumen under the eye of father Charles. They contributed to the early development of Kangeroo Valley transforming a land parcel into a small township with a main street. Father Charles was an early lease holder in Foxground which at the time fell under Gerringong Municipality.

Thomas made his fortune and headed north to Bangalow, James also held land and business interests up north but invested and lived down south. Other siblings headed north too.

Charles passed away in 1888 and is buried in Gerringong cemetery. His second wife Anne Heatherington must have followed his sons north after his death as she is buried near Bangalow.

James, Margaret's paternal Great Grandfather died in 1915 at his home of retirement, named Kelvin Grove, on Scenic Dr Nowra. A 2 storey home later known as Mandalay Guest House. He was aged 75 and died of a stroke. He is buried in the Methodist portion at Nowra public cemetery. He was a well known farmer in the region and highly regarded in the district.

James married his wife Mary Hanigan in 1870 at Broughton Creek. Together they had 8 children. James purchased a parcel of land near Wileys Creek from the Gardener holding in 1855,some 78 acres. Further land acquisitions totalling 270 acres were made under the Berry Estate secured from families Andersons and Thorburns. Land titles are currently being analysed by the descendants and will be made available to archive down the track.

James’ 2 sons: William b 1873 & Fredrick b 1878 were the inheritors of these lands. William married Kate Pestell in Kiama in 1907. This podcast engages the only surviving Wiley of Grandfather William, who actually farmed the land. Her name is Margaret Hollingworth nee: Wiley, age 80 now living in Nowra.

Margarets father Keith was born that same year, 1915, he married Ethel James in 1940.

Keith with brother John known as Jack and their sister Margaret inherited the land portion on the southern side of Wileys Creek. Fredricks sons Fredrick and William, known as Fred and Bill farmed the northern side of Wileys Creek, where Silo’s Estate is located.

I introduce to you Margaret Wiley, daughter of Keith Wiley-she later married Peter Hollingworth in 1969 from Nowra.

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Season 1: Supported by Turf Co Jaspers Brush https://turfco.com.au/ &

McGoldrick Estate Agents Berry https://mcgoldrick.com.au/

Colin Walsh is a 5th generation dairy farmer in the meadow. His famous twin uncles Tom & Ted were instrumental in developing the Illawarra Shorthorn breed. His families paternal side is Irish Catholic convicts deported to work for Alexander Berry in 1824 & Scottish immigrants on his maternal side arriving in 1852. His aunty was Vonnie Muller (nee: Walsh) who recently passed away. Colin is 1st cousin to Patrick Muller.

Colin married Sue McIntosh and they both live in Turners Lane still on the functioning dairy farm ran by their son Justin. They also have a daughter Mel Green who lives in Hanigans Lane, Plus a few grandkids fast growing up.

Dorothy O'Neill, Colin's sister from Morschels Lane helped me through the introduction to Ep. 8 and referred to papers written by Maureen Ackland (nee: O'Mara).

Donate Links: https://rss.com/podcasts/season-1-the-dairy-lane-project/

:https://theresesweeney.com.au/podcasts/

Season 1: Supported by Turf Co Jaspers Brush https://turfco.com.au/ &

McGoldrick Estate Agents Berry https://mcgoldrick.com.au/