The original lease name was Warrambine, but the name changed to Warrambeen. 

Two of Alexander and Betsy Armstrong's children were born here - William Armstrong in 1864 d.1865, and George Armstrong in.1868.

Two of the children of Lewis and Mary Ann Bell (nee Armstrong) were born here- George Bell 1882, and Margaretta Jean Bell (Jean) in 1891.

Alexander Armstrong originally managed the property for John Bell, then purchased it and Watch Hill. He lived there until his death in 1890. 

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View images at http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/catalogues/index.html
Search for "Warrambine" in Pictures Catalogue.

The former Shire of Leigh includes the following places: Corindhap, Dereel, Doroq, Hesse, Inverleigh, Mount Mercer, Shelford, Teesdale, Warrambeen, Werneth and Wingeel. Many of these recur throughout the Bell and Armstrong families' histories.

Nine of the children of Alexander and Betsy Armstrong were born at "The Leigh" 1861-1880. The other two children were born at Warrambeen.

Alexander Armstrong Stewart, son of Jean Armstrong and Rev. Alex. Stewart, was born there in 1885.

Gladys Bell, daughter of John Bell and Anne Russell was born at The Leigh in 1889.

"The Leigh" of the 1860's was the area around Shelford.

The "Leigh Road" later became known as Bannockburn.

Morongo, Bell Post Hill

LaTrobe Library Pictures Catalogue

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Bell Park

More information here

State Library of Victoria Pictures Catalogue

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James Howatson purchased the property from Septimus and Richard Morton, who established it as a pedigree Shorthorn cattle property from 1850 to 1875. James Howatson built the present homestead, laid out the garden and planted the trees on the north eastern slopes of the hill. It remained a pastoral property until sold by the trustees of the Howatson Estate to Beresford Cole in 1944.

More information about the Howatson family                         

Pictures of Woolbrook, Teesdale, held at National Library Archives

Pictures of Deer Park now    The University of Melbourne now uses the property as part of its Faculty of Agriculture. It is known as the  Mount Derrimut Field Station.

Near the Leigh Road, Geelong.  The Grant and Polwarth Coursing Club met at the Burnside estate. A newspaper cutting from 1878, states that Lewis Bell was a young newcomer, assisting his uncle, James Bell of Woolbrook, with the dogs.  

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Geelong area - Teesdale. The home of James Bell, editor "Geelong Advertiser", brother of John Bell of Bell Park and Robert Lewis Bell of Mt. Mercer, uncle of Lewis Bell(b.1853) of Booligal.  

Betsy Sutherland / Thompson married Alexander Armstrong at Woolbrook in 1860.
 

View images at http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/jcollins/inter/38904.shtml

View detailed historical information about the homestead at http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/places/result_detail/23767?print=true
 

A home built by Thomas Austin in 1869, believed to be the property where some of the first rabbits were introduced to Australia. The Duke of Edinburgh visited the property in 1868, and the rabbits provided a plentiful day's sport. There is no relationship to the family here, however the close proximity of Barwon Park to many other Geelong properties is of interest.

See Map.  

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Killearnan, Torresdale Road, Toorak. 

Origins of the Name:  It was possibly named after the town, Killearnan, Rosshire, north of Inverness. 

In Annie Bell's WW1 diary, many letters from the family, including from "Granny" Betsy Armstrong and Mrs. Howatson were written from this address.

Novel: The Gunn of Killearnan by Dorice Nelson

Melbourne home of Betsy Armstrong. The house had spires and a large ornate fountain, and stone lions statuary. The picture at left, shows Annie Bell sitting on the fountain edge in 1919, after her return from WW1.
According to The Argus 7 December 1929, a property of 11 acres 3 roods was auctioned - it surrounded the "fine old residence of Killearnan", and had frontages to Thomas and Huntley Streets and Whitmuir Road, Bentleigh. It also states that "the land could be subdivided into seventy desirable villa sites."

The fountain is at 32-46 Huntley Road Bentley, and the property has recently been purchased by the Melbourne Football Club for its social and recreational activities.  The following is from http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/places/result_detail/35532?print=true
 

It is unclear when the property known today as the ''Bentleigh Club" was first established. H.B. Foot's survey of the Brighton Estate shows the area straddling the Elster Creek east of Thomas Street reserved for Henry Dendy's farm, which was worked initially by some of "Dendy's immigrants".

In its early days, the Whitmuir Hall estate bounded by Thomas Street, Wheatley, McKinnon and Centre Roads was partly under cultivation and partly used to depasture cattle.

In 1877, Thomas Bent, MP and later Premier of Victoria, purchased the property which by then was known as "Killearnan". At the time, the estate covered 156 acres. A month later Bent sold to Walter Robert Johnson however in September 1877, the property returned to Bent's ownership. Bent's intention was to subdivide the land in anticipation of future development in the area.

The house and surrounding 13 acres were sold in January 1878 to Robert Grey Ford, a civil servant. By 1880, Ford described his occupation as "a gentleman", and his property was described as "21 acres, 15 rooms (house), rated to Thomas Street, NAV 110 pounds". Ford also owned 4 acres rated to Centre Road. It is understood that during Ford's occupancy "Killearnan" was set in extensive gardens with an ornamental pond and statues. It was surrounded by open paddocks part of which were used as a private zoo. Some land was rented to Chinese market gardeners.

Ford died in 1891 and the property was sold to Mrs. Betsy Armstrong, the widow of a Western District sheep farmer. In 1893, the house on 1.5 acres of land had an NAV of 225 pounds. Just two years later, the value of the property had plummeted to 75 pounds. At the time, it was described as a "brick house, stables on 3.75 acres".

Mrs. Armstrong continued at "Killearnan" for many years. She later left it to the care of John McKerral and his wife. After the Great War, it was vacant for 7 years before being purchased by the Crozier family in 1925. The Croziers were horse racing people from NSW who operated a stable from their new property. They remained there for 22 years.

In 1949, the house and two acres were sold to the newly formed "Bentleigh Club". The Club's interests were to encourage "social, community and sporting activities" and to that end, an extensive lounge was added to the building. The grounds over time were developed to cater for various recreational activities.

Burnswark, 

9 Canterbury Road, Toorak, Melbourne

. The house was named after Burnswark, the Iron Age hillfort (6th century BC) situated close to the Dumfries properties of the Bell families.  It was possibly a Melbourne home of Betsy Armstrong (b.1837) mother of MaryAnn Bell née Armstrong(b1861). It is uncertain when Mrs. Armstrong moved to Melbourne from Leigh, where 7 of her 9 children were born. She was still living at Burnswark after WW1. The house is not standing today.

It is presumed to be the house purchased so the Bell children could attend schools in Melbourne without boarding.

Click here for more information and pictures about the Melbourne homes.

Last updated 4 August 2011