W Surnames Pioneers of Bendigo Table of Contents WALKER Donald (399) .......................................................................................................................... 2 WALKER James Charles (246) ............................................................................................................ 4 WALL James Egan (36) ........................................................................................................................ 7 WALLIS Thomas (455) .......................................................................................................................... 9 WALTER George Frederick (328) ...................................................................................................... 10 WARNE George (284) .......................................................................................................................... 12 WARREN James (467) ........................................................................................................................ 14 WARREN John Frederick (466) .......................................................................................................... 18 WATKINS Edward William (409) ........................................................................................................ 20 WATSON Darnton (75) ........................................................................................................................ 21 WATSON George Harris (49) .............................................................................................................. 23 WATSON John (357) ........................................................................................................................... 25 WATSON John Boyd (2) ..................................................................................................................... 30 WAUGH John Watson (63) ................................................................................................................. 36 WEDDELL James Gray (350).............................................................................................................. 37 WELCH / WELSH William (66) ............................................................................................................ 44 WELLER George Henry (42) ............................................................................................................... 46 WELLS George Edwin (255) ............................................................................................................... 48 WHITE James (215) ............................................................................................................................. 52 WHYTE David (423) ............................................................................................................................. 53 WIDDOP Alfred (446) ........................................................................................................................... 57 WILKINSON Frederick (29) ................................................................................................................. 59 WILLIAMS G H / WILLIAMS George John (55) ................................................................................. 60 WILLIAMS John William (65) .............................................................................................................. 62 WILLIAMS R (97) ................................................................................................................................. 63 WILLIAMS Richard (4) ......................................................................................................................... 65 WILLIAMS Thomas Stephens (418) ................................................................................................... 69 WILLIAMSON Richard (110) ............................................................................................................... 70 WOOD Charles (339) ........................................................................................................................... 72 WOODWARD John (249) .................................................................................................................... 73 WRIGHT John (275) ............................................................................................................................. 79 WRIGHT William (225) ......................................................................................................................... 80 Pioneers of Bendigo compiled by Barbara Poustie 2020 https://www.bendigohistory.com/pioneersofbendigo/ Page 1 of 80 WALKER Donald (399) OBITUARY. Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918) Tuesday 7 January 1908 p 3 Article OBITUARY. One of the oldest Scottish residents of Bendigo, in the person of Mr. Donald Walker, of Moran-street, passed away last night at the age of 79 years. The deceased gentleman, who was a native of Campbelltown, Argyleshire, Scotland, came out to Australia in the sailing vessel Fanny, landing in Melbourne in August, 1852. He was then a young man 24 years of age, and with a company of nine shipmates started directly from the ship on a tramp to Bendigo. The conditions on the hundred-mile journey were very primeval, and the walk occupied 10 days. Arriving at the diggings, the party halted at Kangaroo Flat, and subsequently dispersed. However, four of them remained together, and in the first hole they sunk gold was discovered, and £250 was distributed amongst the quartet as the result of a few days' work. Mr. Walker used to relate many similar incidents with great gusto, and his reminiscences of early Bendigo were always full of interest. The site of the present city at the time of Mr. Walker's arrival was a beautiful verdant valley, with a fringe of golden wattles stretching from Golden-square to Epsom. The early diggers started from Golden-square, and walked the alluvial right on to Epsom. The late gentleman, like many another digger, experienced the fluctuations incidental to the romantic life of the searcher after gold, and after a few years on the diggings he returned to Scotland to be married to Miss Mary Bonar in his native town. Returning with his bride to Bendigo, the late Mr. Walker followed up several of the now famous rushes with varying results. Mr. and Mrs. Walker altogether spent over 52 years of wedded life on the goldfields, and in that time they saw Bendigo grow from the tented town into the progressive city of the present day. The late Mrs. Walker passed [away] on 27th November, 1906. She lived [to] celebrate the anniversary of her golden wedding on 7th September, 1904, when she and Mr. Walker were the recipients of hearty congratulations. The late Mr. Walker was of a retiring disposition, and took but little active interest in public affairs. He was one of the oldest members of St. Andrew's Church, and he used to describe how he heard the late Dr. Nish preach his first sermon in a tent on the diggings. He was also a prominent member of the Bendigo Caledonian Society, and one of the founders of the Loyal Albert Lodge, M.U.I.O.O.F. For nearly 40? years the late gentleman was employed at the battery of the Koch's Pioneer Co. in supervising work. Pioneers of Bendigo compiled by Barbara Poustie 2020 https://www.bendigohistory.com/pioneersofbendigo/ Page 2 of 80 A family of three sons and three daughters survive. One of the sons is Mr. Jas. Walker, the popular secretary of the Country Fire Brigades' Association, and of the Bendigo Fire Brigade, and vice-president of the Caledonian Society. The funeral will move for the Bendigo Cemetery at 4 p.m. today. Bendigo Cemetery MON D2 DEATH OF MRS. D. WALKER. The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918) Wednesday 28 November 1906 p 3 Article DEATH OF MRS. D. WALKER. Another of the early colonists passed quietly away yesterday, Mrs. Mary Walker, the highly respected wife of Mr, Donald Walker, of Little Ironbark, and mother of Mr. Jas. Walker, the popular secretary of the Bendigo Fire brigade and of the Caledonian Society. Mrs. Walker, who was in her 78th year, had for many years been in failing health. For the past two months she was steadily growing weaker, and died at 8 am yesterday, practically from old ago. The deceased lady was born in Campbelltown, Argyllshire, and she and her husband were girl and boy together. Mr. Walker immigrated to Australia in 1852, and not long afterwards returned to the Mull of Cantyre and married his intended. As husband and wife they left Scotland for Bendigo, where they resided ever since. On September 8, 1904, they celebrated their golden wedding, when they were surrounded by many friends, and received congratulations from different parts of the world. The bereaved husband is also in his 78th year. The deceased also left three sons and three daughters to mourn their loss. At the monthly meeting of the members at the Caledonian Society last night, Mr. Geo. Mackay moved that a letter of condolence be sent to Mr. Donald Walker, and to Mr. Jas. Walker, husband and son of Mrs. Walker, sympathizing with the family in their sad bereavement. Mr. Melrose seconded the motion, which was carried. The meeting shortly afterwards adjourned, out sympathy with the secretary. Pioneers of Bendigo compiled by Barbara Poustie 2020 https://www.bendigohistory.com/pioneersofbendigo/ Page 3 of 80 WALKER James Charles (246) DEATH OF MR. J. C WALKER. AN OLD BENDIGONIAN. The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918) Saturday 1 August 1896 p 3 Article