William JOHNSTON and Jane GRAHAM, my Great Great Grandparents, were married in County Cavan, Ireland and their two children, Elizabeth and Robert George, were born in Killeshandra, County Cavan. The Johnston family arrived in Sydney on the 11 August 1850 on board the "Ramillies" which left the old country on the 18 April 1850. William, Jane and Elizabeth settled in Sydney, but Robert George followed many of the settlers in Australia and headed to the Victorian goldfields where he tried his hand at mining around the Bendigo area. In 1868 Robert married Catherine LOCHHEAD at the Presbyterian Manse in Sandhurst.

Robert George JOHNSTON b. 17 November 1839 Drumkeeran, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan, Ireland d. 18 October 1918 Bendigo, Victoria, Australia m. Catherine LOCHHEAD 14 September 1868 Sandhurst, Victoria

Sometime after 1873 Robert George JOHNSTON retired from mining and became the Powder Magazine keeper for the mines at Bendigo. The family moved into the "Mag" in Strickland Road and remained in that house until 1918.

The original house still stands in Strickland Road although there have been some additions to the building over the past years. A number of years ago the owners tried to have this house certified by the National Trust, but due to the additions and alterations which had been made at the back of the house, this was not possible.

The "Mag".

Photo: courtesy of Jessie Clements 1984

from left
Robert William, Wilfred and Frederick Kenneth JOHNSTON

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