John Francis Brown (1867 - 1943)

Born 18 Jun 1867 in Bobinawarrah, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 18 Jul 1943 at age 76 in Milawa, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

The life and achievements of John Francis Brown are in a historical sense the second chapter in the Brown family`s association with, and development of, the Milawa district and the Oxley Shire.

He was born at the original selection at Hurdle Creek, Bobinawarrah, in 1867, in the year his father George Harry Brown was elected Secretary of the Oxley Shire, a position he held for forty years. John Francis was once heard to remark: `I was born into a municipal atmosphere`.

He was the second son in a family of seven children, and received his early education at the Bobinawarrah `Common School`, later known as Hurdle Creek No. 1046.

At the age of eighteen years he leased 70 acres of his parents` Milawa property, where his grandfather had experimented with vine growing, and planted vines including Malbec Shiraz, Riesling, Tokay and Chasselas and gradually increased his acreage.

Mr Brown acquired much knowledge of his blending of wines and the success he achieved was indicative of his ability to master details, a characteristic which distinguished his work in various other directions. He was held in high regard by other vignerons, and for a period was President of the Rutherglen Winegrowers` Association.

The continued success and growth of his vineyard, now continued by his son and grand-sons is a living memorial to his vision and faith in the agricultural potential of the Milawa district.

In 1897, aged thirty, he was elected an Oxley Shire councillor and became President in 1900. In that year he was in the unique position of presiding over a Shire Secretary who was his father, and receiving correspondence from his brother Austin, who was at that time Secretary to the Minister for Public Works in Victoria.

In 1903 he was defeated in an exciting electoral contest by Charles Sparks, a district farmer, by only five votes. In 1907 he was appointed Acting Shire Secretary while his father took a short period of leave.

His father retired from office in July 1909 and John Francis was unanimously selected from 29 applicants to succeed him as Shire Secretary and Treasurer - a position he held with distinction for sixteen years. He resigned in 1925. The high regard in which he was held by his fellow councillors was illustrated by the comments of the EditorProprietor of the Wangaratta Despatch who wrote: `He was a most conscientious and painstaking official, he did his work with a thoroughness that was almost a fault, the neatness of his books, as well as the accuracy and completeness of his work, attracted the attention and favourable comments of every Government auditor who examined the Shire`s books`.

In the short space of three years, John Francis was again elected an Oxley Shire councillor, serving another eight years before retiring in 1936, thus completing a unique and interesting municipal career spanning thirty-nine years.

In addition to his Council work, he was actively engaged in most of the public activities in the Milawa district and continued to extend his vineyard and land holdings, providing permanent employment for several local men.

His life spanned the period of both world wars, and he was engaged in an administrative position during both periods as Secretary of the Soldiers` Benevolent Fund in 1918-21, and Treasurer of the Milawa Patriotic Fund in 1940-43.

He was a member of the Shire`s advisory committee appointed to assist with Soldier Settlement after the first war, and his knowledge of land values was utilised by the Soldier Settlement Department following the second world war.

For a lengthy period, and until immediately before his death, he served as Treasurer for the Milawa Free Library; he was Treasurer of the Cemetery Trust, a member of the Milawa School Committee, the Milawa Progress Association and Treasurer of the Oxley Picnic Committee.

He was, for a number of years, a member of the Board of Directors of the Wangaratta Flour Mill, and succeeded his father as Electoral Registrar for both the Legislative Assembly and Council. He was a keen churchman and loyal supporter of St. Andrew`s Presbyterian Church, Milawa.

John Francis Brown died after a short illness in July 1943,^[1] leaving a widow, three daughters and a son. So came to an end a life of continued service to the people and district of Milawa and in general to the people of the Oxley Shire.

Research notes

No sources provided for children named in profile. More research needed.

Sources

1. ↑ Death record: 20926 / 1943. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history.
   (Name: John Francis BROWN); (Place of birth: MILAWA); (Place of death: WANGARATTA); (Age at death: 76); (Mother: Rebecca GRAHAM); (Father: BROWN George Harry)

• Dunstan, Keith. Not a Bad Drop. Australian Scholarly Publishing, 1999.