John Daniel Whittlesea, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and arrived in Melbourne in 1858. First engaging in farm work at Kangaroo Ground, he went thence in 1860 to the Baw Baw diggings in Gippsland, where he might have succeeded but for the want of provisions. After two months’ there he returned to Melbourne, and started farming with Mr. Donaldson near the city. in 1865, he engaged in horse dealing between Melbourne and New Zealand, and carried on that business for two years.
He then removed to Ivanhoe, where he kept entire horses, one of which was celebrated Lord Lyon. Mr Daniel lived at Ivanhoe from that time until he removed to his present premises at Whittlesea, 1st March 1887. In 1868 he married Mary Joanna Gibbs, and has a family of five children.
From Victoria and its Metropolis: Past and Present, 1888 by Alexander Sutherland. Chapter –, “Bourke District” page 422. Includes descriptions of some townships and short biographies of local residents.
