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455 ii. KATHLEEN MACALISTER (1906-1979)
456 iii. ANDREW ELSWOOD STEWART (DICK) (1912-1999)
252. BENJAMIN CHAFFEY (GEORGE 5, GEORGE 4, BENJAMIN 3, BENJAMIN 2, RICHARD 1). Born on 24
Sep 1877 in KINGSTON, CANADA. BENJAMIN died in AUSTRALIA on 3 Mar 1937; he was 59.
Occupation: RANCHER, RACE HORSES.
BENJAMIN CHAFFEY WAS NINE YEARS OLD WHEN HIS FAMILY CAME TO VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
FROM CALIFORNIA, USA. HE WAS EDUCATED AT GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL. THE 1929 EDITION
OF WHO’S WHO IN AUSTRALIA CARRIED THIS ENTRY ON BENJAMIN (p. 918):
“HIS ACTIVITIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DIRECTED TOWARD THE PASTORAL INDUSTRY, AND HE HAS
DEVELOPED AND WORKED LARGE TRACTS OF THE WEST DARLING RIVER COUNTRY IN NEW SOUTH
WALES. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE WELL KNOWN MOORNA
SHEEP STUD, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SOME VERY VALUABLE THOROUGHBRED HORSE STUDS.
DURING THE GREAT WAR HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VICTORIAN FEDERAL BOARD DEALING WITH THE
REPATRIATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY ARMY, AND IS THE AUTHOR OF AN EXTENSIVE
SCHEME FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF AUSTRALIAN AND BRITISH SOLDIERS ON GRAZING AREAS
THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH.”
WHILE HE HELD NUMEROUS PROPERTIES AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, HE IS BEST REMEMBERED AS
THE OWNER OF WOODLANDS WHICH HE PURCHASED IN 1917 IN THE NAME OF HIS WIFE, COWRA. AT
WOODLANDS, THE CHAFFEYS MADE MAJOR CHANGES BOTH TO THE HOUSE AND GARDEN, TURNING
IT INTO AN ELEGANT ESTATE HOME IN WHICH TO ENTERTAIN THEIR MANY RACING FRIENDS. THE
STABLES THEY BUILT WERE USED FOR SOME OF THE RACE HORSES BUT THE CHAMPION HORSES
SUCH AS MANFRED AND WHITTIER WERE NOT HOUSED THERE. MANFRED, WINNER OF THE CAUFIELD
CUP, IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST ALL TIME AUSTRALIAN RACE HORSES.
AFTER BENJAMIN’S DEATH IN 1937, SADLY, CREDITORS MOVED IN AND TOOK MOST OF THE ESTATE
LEAVING COWRA WITH VERY LITTLE.
WOODLANDS IS NOW A MUSEUM LOCATED ABOUT 40KM NORTHWEST OF MELBOURNE AND IS PART
OF GELLIBRAND HILL PARK, UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE VICTORIAN DEPARTMENT OF
CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES. IT IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH ANOTHER PROPERTY
OF THE SAME NAME OWNED BY RELATED CHAFFEYS AT LITTLE RIVER, ABOUT 100KM TO THE
SOUTH. 61,42
BENJAMIN married COWRA CROZIER, daughter of ELLIOTT CROZIER.
FROM KULNINE STATION NEAR MILDURA, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
They had one child:
457 i. MAVIS (1900-1968)
253. COLONEL JOHN BURTON CHAFFEY (GEORGE 5, GEORGE 4, BENJAMIN 3, BENJAMIN 2, RICHARD 1).
Born on 12 Sep 1883 in LOS ANGELES, CA. DELIVERED BY UNCLE ELSWOOD CHAFFEY, A PHYSICIAN.
JOHN BURTON died in ARCADIA, CA, on 8 Apr 1940; he was 56. Occupation: Vice President Of The
California Bank.
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