BRS1 Bracken Ridge Settled by the Scottish Immigrants 1862

Sometimes a huge breakthrough comes out of left field, and so many doors then open with the most amazing results.

Such was the case in researching the major landowners of Bracken Ridge. Again there were so many co-incidences, which required answers!

Most received their lands around 1862, most arrived on the same boats, most had a relationship with another family.

Having an understanding of the Immigration Schemes, certainly became  an enormous benefit to following the lives of these Scottish pioneers.

Most of the Bracken Ridge owners, it seems were settlers.  There were some speculators amongst them, David Laughland Brown seems to be one.

All the lands in Bracken Ridge were granted to the Scottish immigrants who arrived in 1862, and the below article indicates how, in 1861, when the Immigration Scheme was being sold in Scotland, that the Agricultural Reserve between Bald Hills and Sandgate was not even surveyed!

These settlers were granted lands according to the number in their family.  Perhaps not in Bracken Ridge as it seems the surveyors may have just decided the quickest and easiest method of surveying was similar sized blocks.



The relationships between all the families is an indication of how massive the exodus from the Western lands of Scotland was.  From the Isle of Skye almost half emigrated..


The island has been occupied since the Mesolithic period and its history includes a time of Norse rule and a long period of domination by Clan MacLeod and Clan Donald. The 18th-century Jacobite risings led to the breaking up of the clan system and subsequent Clearances that replaced entire communities with sheep farms, some of which also involved forced emigrations to distant lands. Resident numbers declined from over 20,000 in the early 19th century to just under 9,000 by the closing decade of the 20th century.

The "Viking canal" at Rubha an Dùnain

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1861  -  As per a report to the editor

Unless something much  in advance of this can be offered) let no poor half-starved wretch, sitting on a bench listening to the entrancing strains of Mr. Jordan, take anything for granted- not even the first eighteen acres ? The mention of acres reminds us that it is not until we come to consider the immigrants in connection with this be-praised facility of

settlement upon the land that the failure of the government to fulfil their engagements

is seen in all its outrageous extent; Where are the famous agricultural reserves containing a fabulous number of acres of  £11 beautiful land, all ready for the plough?

Dr. Lang and Mr. Jordan have both spoken about the eligibility of the land in the neighbourhood of the Bald Hills-- about fourteen miles from Brisbane. There is a reserve there, we forget the size, but it was proclaimed some time since, and some of the incidents connected with this reserve of Redcliffe will show the surprising activity and foresight of those who have those things in charge. 

Although proclaimed, lt is not surveyed, but is to be when the surveyor now at work nearest to it has done what he is busy upon, It will be at least twelve months before it is ready to select a farm from, and when it is all ready, it will not be of the slightest use, on

account of its inaccessibility. 

To reach it from Brisbane--and whatever is grown upon it must come to Brisbane,--both the North Pine and the South Pine Rivers have to be crossed, besides some more or less. formidable creeks. It is only at certain times of tide that these rivers are fordable, and as

there are no bridges, it is evident that no farmer would like to take up land thus  situated. 

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Well now the surveyor and those charged with the allocation of lands in Bald Hills/Bracken Ridge region of the Agricultural Reserve, and it seems from the maps, that this was all the land in Bracken Ridge, would never have realised just what lay beneath the thickly covered ground.

Problem solved - allocate the lands to the next major shipload of poor suffering (some) Scottish folk!

And they did!

From the map those immigrants include: J McCallum; T, McNaught; W. Davis; G.A. Hope; W.C. Whitehill; A Norris; Barbour; J Grant; J McPherson and J Ferguson, D.L Brown and W. Brown

The relationships of the above people are extremely complicated.


From the grid it can be seen that the Portion numbers ,93 95, 96, 97 and 98 are in a row., in the centre of Bracken Ridge, followed by 99, 100, 100B which adjoin each of these and front Bracken Ridge Road, or the road to Bald Hills as it was known.


The link with all the owners lies not only in Scotland, but with the ships that they arrived on and the family relationships with each other.


Who were these people,  who arrived on the "William Milne" in 1855 or "Helenslea" in 1862

Lot 92 Donald McPherson

Perhaps this Donald McPherson was the same

Donald McPherson later lived at Bald Hills  son of Alexander McPherson and Margery who arrived in Queensland in 1862
and his wife Mary Ann McCrimmon whose mother was Catherine Grant

(No doubt this family was related to all the others)

Lot 93  David Laughland Brown and William Brown arrived Clifton 1862

David Laughland Brown son of John Brown and Janet Laughland
Margaret Bethune



Lot 95    John McPherson  arrived William Milne 1855

John Mc Pherson  son of Hugh McPherson
Elspeth Bruce daughter of Bruce and Ross


Lot 96 J Ferguson  which one?

John Ferguson  who arrived on William Milne
Janet Ferguson who arrived on the Helenslea
John Ferguson who arrived on John Davies
John Ferguson who arrived on John Bell and then arrived in Qld in 1862

James Ferguson who arrived on Clifton 1862

Mary Ferguson his sister, who arrived on Clifton 1862

Ann Ferguson his mother who arrived on Clifton 1862

Alexander Ferguson his uncle who arrived on Clifton 1862

John Ferguson his uncle who arrived on Clifton in 1862

Ann Ferguson, his uncle's wife, who arrived on Clifton in 1862

Lot 97  J Grant  who arrived William Milne 1855

John Grant son of William Grant
Martha Rycroft daughter of William Rycroft and his wife Mary



Lot 98 Whitehill, Norris and J & W Barbour  arrived Helenslea 1862

William Campbell Whitehill  son of Alexander Whitehill
wife Elizabeth Fairlie


Alexander Norris son of Thomas Norris and M/s Robertson
wife Margaret (Mary)  Waddell

John Barbour
William Barbour


Lot 99 T. McNaught and J Mc Callum arrived Helenslea 1862

John McCallum  son of Archibald McCallum and Elizabeth Clark
wife  Margaret Stewart daughter of Duncan Stewart and Elizabeth Clark (maybe incorrect in records)

Archibald McCallum  son of Archibald Buchanan McCallum and Elizabeth Clark
wife Jane Cochrane

Thomas McNaught  died NSW  details of his parents unknown
wife Elisabeth McNaught

Lot 100 W. Wilson   arrived Helenslea 1862

William Wilson and his wife Ann

Lot 100 B  W Davis arrived Helenslea 1862

William Davis son of Patrick Davis and Jane Collins



Lot 100 G.A. Hope arrived Helenslea 1862

George Alexander Hope son of Frank Hope and Margaret Turner
wife Elizabeth Black daughter of Alexander Black and Elizabeth Currie

Matthew Thomsen Hannah and his wife Christina Noble and son Alexander

Apart from John Ferguson who was working at the McConnel's property and John Grant who was probably there as well, all the others arrived in 1862

Margaret Grant was the daughter of Duncan Stewart.  She had a nephew in the colony when she arrived.

Everyone was related to another, so it seemed!

The ship's captains were paid for the number of passengers who arrived safely, as this record on the arrival for John Ferguson from London to Tasmania arriving in 1855 shows.

Gladly none of our settlers were involved in a mutiny aboard the Georgiana in 1852!

http://www.scan.org.uk/researchrtools/mutiny.htm