McNeilly, John, 1827-1901.

John McNeilly was born in Ireland in 1827 and came to Australia when he was 23. He settled at Mt. Franklin near Daylesford and he and Eliza Pitkin were married in 1860. They had three sons and one daughter, the younget son being William. In 1871 the family travelled by wagon to Drouin, to virgin land John had selected. The 320 acre property became a prosperous farm. The first school at Drouin opened in 1877, and Samuel McNeilly was the first pupil enrolled. The family's pet was a lyre bird called Jackie which had been found injured by Samuel in the bush. Jackie imitated phrases used by the McNeilly bullock drivers, and died of loneliness after his mate was stolen. In 1970, two of John McNeilly's grandsons, Cecill and Geoffrey, were farming a large section of the original farm.