Thomas Freeman of Janefield, was born in Berkshire, England in 1824 and came to Victoria in 1853. After ten years to Castle Hill Estate, Yan Yean, Freeman manged Mr Bear’s vineyard for sixteen years. He then held the vineyard for some years on his own account, during which he planted 25 acres of vines and built wine sheds and other appurtenances. After this he gave up the vineyard, and took a farm on the Wills estate. When that estate was cut up he removed to Janefield – March 1887 where he is now engaged in dairy farming on a large scale.
From Victoria and its Metropolis: Past and Present, 1888 by Alexander Sutherland. Chapter –, “Bourke District” page 424. Includes descriptions of some townships and short biographies of local residents.
Image: Cows at Mernda, Fay Thomas Collection, Yarra Plenty Regional Library
