George Loveland and Eliza Strickland were married in Frensham, Surrey on the 28th June 1849, both aged 24. On the marriage document, his father (also George) was a Labourer and hers was John Strickland, Hatter. Our George is also a Labourer, probably a farm labourer.
Though travel records haven’t been found, they came to Australia in the gold rush between 1850 and 1852 (their eldest child Walter was born in Surrey and their second, Albert, in Melbourne).
An entry in the 1856 Electoral Roll shows George Loveland residing in Spring Hill, Sandhurst (the goldfields district of Bendigo). His place of abode is “second white hill” and he is a puddling machine operator. He is the holder of miner’s right number 99.
It appears that George made enough to set up his farm – Rosebank – in Eddington near Castlemaine by about 1864. George and Eliza and their four surviving children – Walter, Annie, Mary Jane and Albert - were pioneers as Eddington itself was only established around that time.
The town of Eddington was established at a natural crossing point on the Loddon River. Originally, a boat operated the crossing, then a bridge was built in 1861 and the township was subdivided in 1863. Pubs opened on both sides of the river, stores, saleyards, saddlery, bank, stock and station agent, chemist, and blacksmith.
https://www.eddingtonvic.com.au/history.html
George was a successful farmer, adding to and improving his holding over the next 35 years. When it was sold it was described as consisting of a homestead, 1200 acres with horses and cattle and 30 acres of orchard – mostly peaches and apricots. It was valued at 5000 pounds.
Eliza Strickland Loveland died in 1894 after a short illness. Her obituary was published in the Bendigo Advertiser:
OBITUARY. — It was heard with very much regret of the death of Mrs. Loveland, wife of Mr. George Loveland, of Rosebank, which took place on Sunday, 29th April. Up till about six
months ago the deceased lady appeared exceptionally well and hearty, when upon symptomsof failing health Dr. Wolfenden, of Dunolly, was consulted, who pronounced the case hopeless. The funeral tcok place on the Wednesday afternoon following, when the remains were interred in the Eddington Cemetery. The coffin was a handsome one, and it and the plumed hearse were bestrewn with floral wreaths and immortelles sent by sorrowing friends. The cortege, was a large one, consisting of between 30 and 40 vehicles and horsemen, while at the grave a good number of people had assembled. On Sunday afternoon the Rev. Mr. Arnold in the Church of England preached a funeral sermon, in which he referred to the many good and amiable qualities of the deceased, at the same time pointing to the duties of life which led to a happy resurrection. Mrs. Loveland had resided at Eddington for over 30 years, and by her gentle estimable demeanour was always held in the highest esteem by all who had the pleasure of making her acquaintance. Sincere sympathy is expressed on all sides to the family in their bereavement.
George employed a nurse/housekeeper whom he married 4 months later – Susan Elizabeth Blackeby. After his death aged 75 in 1901, he left most of his estate to Susan and a clearing sale was held. His daughter Mary Jane MacLean purchased the Rosebank homestead plus 64 acres including the orchard for 1000 pounds.
Shockingly, it came to light that Susan hadn’t been a widow at the time of her marriage to George and that her (first) husband – Philip Blackeby – was still alive in Adelaide. Walter Loveland initiated court proceedings to declare the will invalid and, although Susan claimed to have acted in good faith, having heard that her first husband had died and hadn’t seen him for 20 years, the judge upheld the request. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199401606
Mary Jane Loveland MacLean and her family lived at the farm in Eddington for many years. She died there in 1946 aged 89.
