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Gerry can you give me the link for that reference please. The whole area is called the Goorianawa Valley (including the town of Baradine that was originally part of a pastoral run named Barradean occupied by James Walker in 1837) In 1877 part of this was bought by Cuthbert Fetherstonhaugh (an Irish immigrant)with partners, and named Goorianawa Station, and managed by him for 20 years.  The name has remained but the property has been greatly reduced and part of this was added to my family's property in the 1930s. Witter's land (that became the home paddocks for our property ''Caledonia") adjoined Goorianawa Station. Coonabarabran is a nearby large town.

Have put together some details about this family:
John Witter (1868 -1947) was the youngest son of the eight children of Richard Witter (1830 -1893) and Catherine Dwerryhouse (1831 -1906). He probably arrived in Australia in the early 1890s and by 1896 had selected land near Baradine in western NSW that he called Old Barwon. (Barwon was the name of the original Parish) He was a successful grazier and later had several trips back to England.

Several members of the family also came to Australia including his father Richard who died in 1893 and is buried at Baradine NSW. John's first wife Mary Ann Fraser (whom he married in Sydney in 1893), died in 1910 and is also buried at Baradine NSW.

John's niece Kate (daughter of his brother Samuel) arrived in Australia in 1900, accompanied by John on a return trip from England. Kate married John William Wilson in 1903 at Coonamble NSW (a nearby town) and their son, also named John William Wilson, was born at Coonamble in1905.

John Witter's sister Annie Hastie Witter married James Critchley in 1886. Their daughter Alice Critchley came to Australia in 1921 accompanied by John Witter on another return trip from England. Alice married Martin Rahn at Bathurst NSW in 1925.

James Critchley's brother Peter was the father of Robina Critchley (1894 -1968) who married John Witter in Sydney NSW in 1926.

While researching the details of the property that my grandfather Malcolm McDonald bought at Baradine NSW in 1916, the early Parish Map indicates part of this land was originally owned by John Witter. The earliest record I have found re this land is 1896 in the NSW Govt. Gazettes when it was called Old Barwon, Baradine. Do you have any details about when he purchased this property?
My father was raised on the property that was called Caledonia when purchased in 1916, and I grew up there as well. It seems that John Witter continued to live in the Baradine district and owned eight shops in the town. His first wife Mary Ann Fraser (1860 -1910) was buried at Baradine.

His second wife was Robina Critchley and they were married in Sydney in 1926. The deceased estate files record that John Witter, retired grazier, died at Turramurra in 1949.

Would like to know when he arrived in Australia and any details about the early land purchase.
Thanks.

Isabella Barnes

A quick search found a current image of the house at Mosman NSW where Isabella lived for over 20 years before her death in 1925. The house is called 'Hendon', 4 Punch Street, Mosman NSW and was built  in the Federation style about 1899.

Hello Sandy

Have noted your postings re the Barnes family of Cootamundra NSW and would like you to contact me please at (*). I am helping a friend with her family research and she is a direct descendant of Thomas Alfred Barnes.

Many thanks
Marion

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