Peter McCracken (1818 - 1892)

Born 13 Feb 1818 in Ardwell, Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Grace (Robertson) McCracken — married about 20 Mar 1846 in Victoria [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 4 Oct 1892 at age 74 in Thornbank, St Georges Rd, Northcote, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Peter McCracken christened 5 Mar 1818 at Girvan, Ayr, Scotland. Parents Robert and Martha Earl.^[1]

Educated at a school in Girvan and at Ayr Academy till seventeen years. His mother and elder brother, Robert, carried Ardwell, but when he left for Manchester, England, Peter took his place. Peter endeavoured to take up a farm himself unsuccessfully and began thinking of Australia but his mother was opposed. Some months after hr death the decision made, and Robert decided to join him.

He arrived in Port Phillip Bay Victoria on 26th January 1841 on the Nimrod from Liverpool via Adelaide with his brother Robert.

Married Grace Robertson 20 Mar 1846.

In March 1842 purchased with Robert some land on the Merri Creek but over a couple of years losses accumulated. In 1846 Peter leased some land near Moonee Ponds from Neil Black which he named 'Stewarton'. One of the founders of the Port Phillip Farmers' Society (later Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria). Remained at 'Stewarton' till Mar 1855 moving to Kensington (dairy) for a couple of years, while building on a property at Moonee Ponds, naming it 'Ardmillan' (the estate his family was on in Scotland), remaining till 1871.

In 1852 he was president of Port Phillip Farmers Society and an article in The Argus 28/10/1852 refers to a "severe domestic calamity".^[2] The drowning of his young son William.^[3]

Involved with his brother, Robert's, venture into 'brewing' when McCracken & Robertson Brewers of Little Collins St West Melbourne established in 1851. Could he have been in business with his father law? Other sources say his brother Robert started McCracken Brewery in 1851.

Peter wrote in a letter, 'Having lost a great deal of money by the Essendon Railway in the beginning of the year 1871 had to sell out the Ardmillan property and remove to East Melbourne on the 4th May 1871', purchising the East Melbourne house of the architect, John James Clark, which he had designed. Peter wrote in a letter, 'Having lost a great deal of money by the Essendon Railway in the beginning of the year 1871 had to sell out the Ardmillan [Moonee Ponds] property and remove to East Melbourne on the 4th May 1871.' ^[4][5]

Involved with his brother in the formation of the Essendon Football Club.

A promoter of the old Essendon railway, a venture losing a large sum of money.

In 1887 leased and later purchase 'Thornbank', Northcote.

He also owned Mount Poole and Calvert Downs in New South Wales.

When he died, he left an estate of £336,000 and nominated his wife and sons James of Hayding, Canterbury NZ, sheep farmer and Coiler (another son) of Collins St Melbourne, brewer, as executors. James renounced probate. Reference is made to a son Robert. He had a nephew Alexander of Collins St Melbourne, brewer, who was appointed an executor of his will by codicil following the death of Grace.^[6]

Died 1892 aged 74 iat 'Thornbank', Northcote.^[7][8]

He is buried in Melbourne General Cemetery.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTVJ-JVF : 11 February 2020), Peter McCracken, 1818.
2. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thu 28 Oct 1852 Page 4 DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.
   https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4787825
3. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wed 20 Oct 1852 Page 4 Family Notices
   https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4787760
4. ↑ East Melbourne Historical Society - Gipps Street 104.
   https://emhs.org.au/history/buildings/east_melbourne_gipps_street_104
5. ↑ http://www.strathmore3041.org/railway.html
6. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wed 30 Nov 1892 Page 7 THE WILL OF THE LATE PETER M'CRACKEN.
   https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8487241
7. ↑ Victoria BDM Death 15040/1892
8. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wed 5 Oct 1892 Page 1 Family Notices
   https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8466252
9. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #167434307

Papers of the McCracken Family (as filmed by the AJCP) [microform] : [M1976], 1841-1918.Miscellaneous PapersArticle on Peter McCrackenArticle on Peter McCracken
https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-743218142/findingaid