Castlemaine history enthusiasts will be delighted to learn about a new book which delves into the history of a number of local pioneering local families including the Lindsay, Martin and Crump families.
The new book titled A History of the Lindsay and Clarke Families 1852-2025 has been painstakingly researched and written by Judith Hopkins whose family has a long connection to the Warragul & Drouin Gazette.
Judith told the Mail the book began as a yearning to know more about her Nana Reita Clarke’s family.
“To satisfy this itch, I contacted the Clarke family historian, Verna Woods. Verna had reams of information on both the Lindsay and Clarke families, and generously shared it with me,” Judith said.
This initial information led her to make a number of important family connections and these people were a catalyst for two-years of extensive information gathering.
Her research led her to Castlemaine where she connected with Ruth Giddings at the Castlemaine Historical Society who assisted Judith to delve deeper into her Castlemaine family connections.
“Once gathered, I couldn’t bear to see this research lost. I wanted it recorded and passed on to future Lindsay and Clarke generations,” Judith said.
Thus the idea for the comprehensive family history book was born.
“Did I find any skeletons in the closet? Well no, but I did find some interesting characters along the way, Sir George Samuel Measom and Major Charles Newman for instance, plus a predominant sense of determination: the two Lindsay boys, the Clarkes, the Martins, the Crumps and the Newmans, all had the will to succeed in a new, fledgling land, a long way from home,” Judith said.
Judith’s great great grandfather James Lindsay and his wife Susan (nee Kilpatrick) were pioneering members of the local community establishing a saddlery shop and tent at the corner of Mostyn and Union Streets in 1855 and later opening a larger business on Barker Street.
Shortly after they settled in Castlemaine tragedy struck. James’ brother, Robert, 22, who joined the police force on arrival in Australia, died as a result of an accidental gunshot wound after leaning on his musket whilst guarding 45 prisoners.
James and Susan went on to have nine children, naming their first son in honour of Robert, but sadly the high infant mortality rate took its toll on the family, with three small graves.
Lindsay took active roles in community affairs, including urging the Railway Committee to reconsider plans to divert the railway line away from Castlemaine.
As a tribute to his life work he was mentioned every year in Castlemaine Annual Show reports as having taken all saddlery prizes.
Another ancestor, Charles Martin, was a master butcher and the Martin and Crump families built homes and settled in Wimble Street in the mid 1850s.
Judith recently visited Castlemaine to share her newly completed book with her friends at the Castlemaine Historical Society, and also visited the former family homes in Wimble Street, and family graves at the Castlemaine Cemetery.
Judith said her research into the book highlighted the important role local newspapers played in recording the everyday happenings of rural people and events
“The Mount Alexander Mail (predecessor to the Castlemaine Mail) provided the answers to many questions.
“I would like to acknowledge these reporters of the past, and suggest local newspapers today are just as important as they continue to provide account accounts of local news and, importantly, are still archived for future reference,” she said.
Anyone who would like to know more about Judith’s research and limited edition book is welcome to email her at jbhopkins@bigpond.com