Without question the family that can stake the greatest claim to Phillip Island’s heritage – one of the families to live here the longest – is the Cleelands.

Captain John Cleeland established his 2800-hectare property on a south-eastern chunk of the island – roughly from Cape Woolamai to Smiths Beach – and today many of his descendants still live on the island and even on sections of that farm.

Aside from the Cleelands, cousins and various relations still living here include the McFees, Dixons, Dickies and Forrests.

Ted Jeffery, who lives on a 30-acre slice of the original Captain Cleeland estate at Newhaven with his wife Gwen, is the eldest great grandchild of the early settler.

While Ted says he never met his great grandfather, he does remember his grandfather John (junior), who had nine children (hence the widespread number of relatives).

The 87-year-old says he even lived during World War II at Captain Cleeland’s Woolamai House with his mother Rita, while his father was at war.

“I remember the big Christmases we would have at Woolamai House with all the relatives, sitting at a very long table,” says Ted, who was born in the old Warley hospital.

“A few years ago we had a family reunion at Woolamai House and there were dozens there. We have a very big family.

“So you have to be careful about what you say and who you say it about.”

Ted and Gwen have four children and six grandchildren – three of whom are on the island, making them the seventh generation of Captain Cleeland descendants to live here.

“Although they aren’t the only seventh generation, my brother Barry and sister Judy (Dickie) have children and grandchildren here too and there are cousins with grandchildren too,” Ted adds.

Memories

Ted says one of his earliest memories of growing up on the island is riding his bike down the Phillip Island Road, which at that time was gravel and corrugated, to Newhaven Primary.

“Arnie Walton would drive his tip truck right by me, from Wonthaggi with coal for the Cowes power station, which was next to where the police station is now.

“I went to school with the boys from St Paul’s boys’ home. It was a stupid situation but we weren’t allowed to play with them.

“I remember the big celebration at the hall when the power was turned on to Newhaven.

“Also in those times I remember the Phillip Island Farmers Co-op was formed to help with hay baling and ploughing, for those who did not have the capital to buy their own equipment.

Ted played some football and helped on the family farm (brother Barry farms nearby), and also at the age of 18 started Jeffery’s Transport, now run with his son Steven.

“I remember the dances we’d go to at Newhaven, Cowes and Ventnor. They were good times on Phillip Island, no doubt about it.”

History

Ted says Captain Cleeland – a gold prospector and trader on the south seas – earned some of his riches after his racehorse Wollomai won the Melbourne Cup in 1875.

“He won 1200 pounds for winning the Melbourne Cup but apparently bet on his own horse and took 22,000 pounds, which was a vast sum in those days,” Ted says.

“We think he then purchased land off some of the original settlers, like the Rennisons and the Fletchers.”

Aside from horseracing, Captain Cleeland also ran the Albion Hotel in Bourke Street, Melbourne for 22 years.

“Our family believes he made his money not just on the races and the hotel, but earlier on the Victorian goldfields.”

The Cleeland’s contribution to the island’s history, and later the Jeffery’s, did not stop there.

Ted’s mother Rita Cleeland grew up on the island – schooled at Woolamai House with a governess – and met his father, Ted, when he was managing Churchill Island.

“Mum and her sister Eileen ran a tearoom at Newhaven, offering people a cup of tea as they came off the punt (before the bridge was built),” Ted says.

Future

Ted says he worries Phillip Island is becoming over-developed.

“People come here to look at our natural beauty, not bricks and mortar.

“If we keep going the way we are, I think it will be ruined with the amount of people coming here.

“We can’t keep going at the rate we are or we’ll risk killing the goose that laid the golden egg, so to speak. We’ll change the face of the island forever, all because of the mighty dollar.

“Developers aren’t interested in looking after this place. They just take the money and go, while the shire just wants more and more rate income.

“But I still love the island, especially the friendliness of people we chat to in the shops, and of course the natural beauty.”