Individual Details

Dr Henry Holland TOMKINS ⛵🧬

(1829 - 21 Jul 1907)

1841 census lists him as Henry aged 11.

Occupation at time of marriage listed as Apothecary

Occupation at time of death listed as Grazier

Robyn says: Ex London per 'Francis Ridley' 27 Aug 1850 - arrival Portland 1850, lived first at Camperdown then to Hinnomunjie - built a house of sapling logs and daub, then a larger home at Coghlan's Lane. Trained bullock teams and hauled logs.

Rodpaf says: Henry Holland TOMKINS - Ex London per "Francis Ridley' 27 Aug 1850. Arrived in Portland 1850. Lived first at Camperdown then to Hinnomunjie. Built a house of sapling logs and daub then a larger home in Coghlan's Lane (now McKenzies Road, Benambra). He trained bullock teams and hauled logs.

FamilySearch says born 1831, died at Benambra

DR HENRY HOLLAND TOMKINS

HENRY HOLLAND TOMKINS was a doctor, who evidently signed on as Ships Surgeon on an immigrant ship coming to Port Phillip, Victoria in the early days of the gold rushes. He departed England from Yeovil in Somerset.

He, and probably half the crew, jumped ship when it arrived at Portland on the southwestern coast of Victoria and headed off to the goldfields. Whether it was his intention to find a fortune in gold or to practice medicine (or both) is not known.

(DCT: Henry is shown on a passenger list arriving at Port Phillip aboard the Francis Ridley on 27 Aug 1850. No mention of him being the ships surgeon. Dr James Hutchinson is listed as Surgeon. In March 1850, Mr. W. Campbell of Strath Loddon found on the station of Mr. Donald Cameron, of Clunes several minute pieces of native gold in quartz. This was concealed at the time but on 10 January 1851, Campbell disclosed it. James Esmond's "gold find" which was made on Creswick's Creek, a tributary of the Loddon River, at Clunes on 1 July 1851, was the first marketable gold field.)

About 3 years after his arrival, he was at the wharves in Melbourne to meet his intended wife, MARTHA BAKER, and her family who had arrived from Yeovil. This begs the question whether his jumping ship was a spontaneous decision or part of a pre-arranged plan.

The Victorian Government of the time were encouraging people to select areas of land for pastoral or farming purposes and this selected land was later validated with the issue of some sort of title, probably leasehold.

HENRY was born at Yeovil in 1829. At the 1841 Census he is listed as a scholar, age 11, born in Somerset and living with his parents, William and Anna Tomkins.

He arrived in Port Phillip in Victoria on 27th August 1850 on board the "Francis Ridley".

He and Martha Baker were married on 12 April 1854 at Belfast, now Port Fairy, Victoria in St John's Church of England.

Henry Holland Tomkins was a Deputy Registrar for Births, Marriages and Deaths at Macarthur from 1863 to 1866 (at least). Macarthur is approximately 50 km northeast of Portland. It would appear that Henry spent 16-20 years in the southwestern district of Victoria.

From jumping ship in 1850 and his subsequent marriage to Martha in 1854 at Belfast (now Port Fairy), through the births of all 5 children William and John George at Portland, Thomas Fancourt at Eumeralla in the Belfast district and Edwin and Walter at Macarthur. He selected land at Omeo which became known as Omeo Plains. The validation of his selected property at Omeo prior to 1870 would suggest he moved to the area sometime between 1866 and that date.

The selectors mostly came from Geelong and Hamilton districts but a few were arrivals from England, Scotland and Ireland. In the next few years many new selectors had arrived in Omeo, and the following names had been included on the ratepayers roll John, William, Frederick and Enoch Condon, John and Henry Tomkins.

He appears to have led a varied professional life. Although a qualified Surgeon, his occupation is shown as Apothecary on his marriage certificate and on Thomas Fancourt's birth certificate in 1861 as Schoolmaster. From 1863-1866, at least, he was Deputy Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths at Macarthur. On later records for the Omeo district he is listed as Farmer or Grazier.

I believe that he provided whatever medical services were required in the Omeo district during his lifetime.

Henry died on 21st July 1907 at Omeo Plains and was buried at Benambra on the 23rd July. Probate of his will was granted on 25th September 1907. There were 5 sons born to Henry and Martha. WILLIAM HENRY, JOHN GEORGE, THOMAS FANCOURT, EDWIN and WALTER. (Source: Robyn Moore)

Probate details:
Given Name Henry H
Surname Tomkins
Alternative Name
Title
File number 104/475
Death Date 21 Jul 1907
Death Date notes
Grant Date 27 Sep 1907
Grant Date notes
Nature of Grant P
General Notes
Occupation Farmer
Residence Hinnomunjie

Barry says: One of Henry's sisters was Wendy Driffield's great grandmother..
The town was surrounded by rural farmland, with many small villages and hamlets in the surrounding area. The economy was largely based on agriculture, with crops such as wheat, barley, and apples being grown in the area. There was also a thriving market for livestock such as cattle, sheep, and pigs.
At the time, Yeovil was not particularly well connected to the rest of the country, with limited road and rail links. However, it was served by a weekly market, which attracted merchants and traders from nearby towns and villages. The town also had a number of local inns and alehouses, which were popular with travelers and locals alike.
Overall, Yeovil in 1829 was a small, largely agricultural community with a growing market-based economy. Despite its limited connectivity to the wider world, it was an important center of trade and commerce for the surrounding area.

Events

Birth	1829	Yeovil, Somerset, England
Baptism	25 Aug 1829	Yeovil, Somerset, England
Residence	1841	Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset, England, United Kingdom
Immigration	27 Aug 1850	Ship: Francis Ridley, Port Phillip, Victoria, Australian Colonies
Residence	Bef 12 Apr 1854	Occupation: Apothacary - Mt Shadwell, Victoria, Australian Colonies
Marriage	12 Apr 1854	St Johns Church, Sackville Street, Belfast, Victoria, Australian Colonies - Martha Eliza BAKER 🧬⛵
Occupation	1857	Shepherd - Blackfellows Creek, Victoria, Australian Colonies
Occupation	1859	Labourer - Portland, Victoria, Australian Colonies
Occupation	1861	Schoolmaster - Eumeralla (Macarthur), Victoria, Australian Colonies
Occupation	10 Mar 1862	Appointed Deputy Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages - District of Macarthur, Colony of Victoria
Occupation	23 Jun 1862	Post Master - Macarthur, Victoria, Australian Colonies
Occupation	3 Feb 1863	Post Master - Macarthur, Victoria, Australian Colonies
Occupation	6 Mar 1865	Post Master - Macarthur, Victoria, Australian Colonies
Event-Misc	Abt 1869	The Road to Omeo - Omeo Plains, Victoria, Australian Colonies
Occupation	1870	Farmer - Omeo Plains, Omeo, Victoria, Australian Colonies
Will	24 Nov 1902	Benambra, Victoria, Australia
Occupation	1907	Grazier - Omeo Plains, Victoria, Australia
Death	21 Jul 1907	Acute bronchitis following chronic bronchitis - Omeo Plains, Victoria, Australia
Burial	23 Jul 1907	Church of England Section, Benambra Cemetry, Benambra, Victoria, Australia
Probate	27 Sep 1907	Hinnomunjie, Victoria, Australia
Alt name		Henry Hollow TOMKINS
Ancestral File Number		1396-9BL

Families

Spouse	Martha Eliza BAKER 🧬⛵ (1834 - 1926)
Child	William Henry TOMKINS (1856 - 1862)
Child	John George TOMKINS 🧬 (1859 - 1938)
Child	Thomas Fancourt TOMKINS snr 🧬 (1861 - 1949)
Child	Edwin TOMKINS (1862 - 1950)
Child	Walter Henry TOMKINS (1865 - 1945)

Father	Dr William TOMKINS M.D. 🧬 (1799 - 1855)
Mother	Hannah "Anna" HOLLAND (1793 - 1871)
Sibling	Dr William "Fancourt" TOMKINS J.P. (1824 - 1899)
Sibling	Marianna TOMKINS (1826 - 1909)
Sibling	Latitia "Jane" TOMKINS (1827 - 1887)
Sibling	Susan "Emily" TOMKINS (1831 - 1865)
Sibling	Fanny TOMKINS (1833 - 1900)
Sibling	Lucy Jane TOMKINS (1837 - 1909)

Notes

Occupation

Macarthur – humble beginnings

Aboriginal tribes resided in two areas around Mount Eccles - one area south of the park at Lake Gorrie, the second at Lake Condah, west of the Park. They constructed stone huts in both areas and stone fish traps at Lake Condah, and lived on fish, native plants and animals. They were permanent residents in these areas until European settlement slowly pushed them out.

Macarthur on the Eumeralla river, was originally called Eumeralla, thought to be an aboriginal name meaning “ Valley of Plenty”. It was a settlement of pastoral licences long before any towns appeared. Macarthur was a popular resting place half-way between Hamilton (“The Grange”) and Port Fairy ( Belfast). Travellers rested at the Eumeralla Inn.

In 1857 John Turner surveyed a township and named it Macarthur, after Victoria’s administrator General Edward Macarthur, John Macarthur’s eldest son. John Macarthur was the known founder of the merino sheep industry in Australia.

Pastoral Licences

One of the earliest pastoral licences was “Harton Hills” taken by Bolden Bros (Armyne, George & Menuel) in 1840. It was sold in 1842 to well known squatter, William Carmichael.

The Pastoral Run that began in 1842 as Eumeralla was divided into two licences - "Eumeralla West" and "Eumeralla East". Both Eumeralla licences were taken up in 1842 by Hunter, Hoskin & Davidson of Sydney, and sold to Benjamin Boyd in 1843. Eumeralla West and Eumeralla East were separated in 1846.

Boyd sold Eumeralla West in 1846 to Sam Gorrie & Sam McGregor, hence the name Lake Gorrie, south of Macarthur. The pastoral licence was cancelled in 1873, with W.J.T. Clarke being the last to hold the lease. The property has passed through many owners and is currently owned by the Fleetwood family.

Eumeralla East changed hands many times until in 1861 Edward Hurst who held the licence, purchased the freehold. Eumeralla East was subdivided with only the Eumeralla Homestead on 15 acres still remaining.

Blackfellows Creek licence was originally owned by John McKay and William Carmichael. The licence was cancelled in 1865 when William Carmichael was the owner.

Other notable properties were Weerangourt in 1865 (William Melville), Breakfast Creek in 1873 (David Aitken), Dunmore in 1841 (MacKnight, Campbell & Irvine), and Squattleseameare in 1844 (Browne – known as Rolf Boldrewood, who was an author, and who wrote “Robbery Under Arms” and “Old Melbourne Memories”.)

It was during this era of early pastoral licences where there were many confrontations with the local aboriginals, with stories of aboriginal and white man ‘wars’ and aboriginal massacres.

Early settlement

Macarthur’s first house was the Eumeralla Inn in 1852 built by Mr. Gwyther. It was situated on the corner of Heckfield and Russell Streets, Macarthur.

The first land sales were held on 17 July 1857, where town blocks were sold in Lots, costing 8 pounds per lot.

On the map of the first land sales appears the name of Joseph Twist, who purchased 15 acres on the Eumeralla river. Joseph Twist, who died at 89, was one of the districts first settlers. He was known as a skilled horseman, bullock driver and stockman. He and his wife Margaret, were also successful dairy farmers and had some of the best Hereford cattle around. Catholic church services were held in their home. Other well known Macarthur names to purchase freeholds were Robertson, Ewan, Cameron, Phillips, Deardon, Twist, Squires, Kennedy, Young, Nield and Cruickshank.

Another notable name was that of John Huntley, who was the Minhamite Shire Secretary and architect of many district buildings. He was also President of the Mechanics Institute Hall among others.

Early settlers entertained themselves with dances which were held in private homes or woolsheds.

Edward Hurst was one of the larger land holders/stations at Eumeralla East, followed by his son Joseph, who was one of the inventors of the little clip we use for closing up wool bales! On the opposite side of the river at Eumeralla West was J.R. Learmonth who was a Minhamite Councillor and a judge of stock at Melbourne and other shows. Other big stations in the early years included Glenburnie (Thomas Laidlaw), Moyne Falls (manager - Jack Black), Weerangourt (William Melville), Breakfast Creek (David Aitken) Harton Hills (manager - Ernest Goldie), and Ardonachie (John Hick).

The 1860’s saw the arrival of the Travellers’ Rest Hotel (Victoria Hotel), Post Office, General Store, Court House, School (Schoolmaster H H Tomkins), and Police station to name a few. It also saw the emergence of a saddler, butcher, blacksmith, stonemason, wheel-wright, tinker & jeweller, and carpenters.

Event-Misc

It seems Henry & Martha and their sons would have had to travel overland from Port Albert to Omeo in about 1869 as detailed in the following historical information (mading it an even more remarkable journey):

"Lakes Entrance, Gippsland, Victoria - River Travel Before the formation of the man-made channel which would permanently open Bass Strait to the Gippsland lakes and river systems, natural entrances occurred in various locations, generally in the dunes towards the end of Cunninghame Arm (previously Reeves River). The currents of Bass Strait would wash the sand into the dunes and seal the entrances. Meanwhile, the water level of the lakes would gradually rise to such a height that the water pressure would break through the dunes; the water level in the lakes would equalise to sea level; and the cycle would begin again.

Early Settlers in East Gippsland were isolated by long difficult treks to reach the outside world. Boats were used on the lakes and rivers for local travel, but goods in and out of the region had to come overland from Port Albert.

In 1856, Malcolm Campbell was the first person to enter the lakes system from the ocean with a commercial load. He entered at Lakes Entrance. He steered his schooner the ‘Georgina Smith’, through the natural entrance and travelled up the Tambo River to Tambo Upper in order to deliver his cargo of mainly flour, salt and building materials to the Omeo diggings. People from Omeo were excited at the potential of being delivered goods faster and a lot cheaper than the overland transport from Port Albert, which could take four to six weeks and cost £40 to £50 per tonne.

Malcolm Campbell had proven that under favourable conditions, the entrance could be navigated and that enormous transport savings could be effected.

The entrance to the lakes system was challenging, winds, storms and floods influencing whether it was passable or not.

Although the Entrance remained open to some extent at various times, it proved treacherous to both transport vessels and tugs. Many boats came to grief trying to cross the sandbar. Some of the wrecks included the PS ‘Tommy Norton’ c 1877, the ‘Glengarry’ c 1877, the Schooner ‘Latrobe’ c 1878.

In the April of 1867 the Lakes trade closed due to the closing of the Entrance. The Natural Entrance opened again some 90 m eastward of its previous location. Although snags were often a problem, by 1872 many small schooners and steamboats were making their way up the river to the landing place at Mossiface near Bruthen.

The consideration of an artificial entrance at Jemmy’s Point was debated, consulted and attempted from the March of 1866 until its completion in 1889. An Engineering Triumph, The Entrance with much of the original structure is still in use today.

Although the landscape has changed dramatically since the construction of the artificial Entrance linking the Gippsland Lakes to Bass Strait in 1889, historical accounts and records provide the tools to estimate the location of the intermittent and ever moving Natural Entrance that challenged shipping and transport between Gippsland and Melbourne in those early years of settlement."

Individual Details

Dr Henry Holland TOMKINS ⛵🧬

Events

Families

Notes

Birth

Baptism

Residence

Immigration

Marriage

Occupation

Occupation

Occupation

Occupation

Event-Misc

Will

Death

Burial

Probate