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Was born at Glenbrittle,
Skye, off the west coast of Scotland, in 1810. He was the fourth son of
Ewan McMillan, a farmer. Little is known of his early life, but he was a
man of some education, with strong religious feelings. His diary, which in
1925 was in private keeping at Sale, Victoria, shows that he left Scotland
on 13 September 1837 as a cabin passenger in the Minerva, and
arrived at Sydney on 23 January 1838. He had letters of introduction to
Captain Lachlan Macalister who gave him a position on his station in the
Goulburn district. The years 1838-9 were drought years, and McMillan was
instructed to try and find new pastures in Victoria. Taking an aborigine,
Jimmie Gibber, with him McMillan rode south on 28 May 1839. Five days
later he had crossed the Snowy River and was in eastern Victoria. But his
companion was afraid to venture farther into the territory of the Warrigal
blacks, and McMillan thought it wise to go west by north to an outstation
near the site of Omeo. He returned and reported progress to Macalister,
who encouraged him to make another attempt. A few months later McMillan
formed a cattle station on the Tambo near Ensay. Using this as a base
McMillan, with a party of five others of whom two were aborigines, made
his way down the Tambo, and after a most difficult journey reached the
lowlands near the coast. There he found his way blocked by the Macalister
River and returned to Ensay. He began to make a road for stock, but a few
weeks later was instructed not to form any more stations until a way was
found to Corner Inlet. In July 1840 with Lieutenant Ross, R.N., and some
of his former party, he made another effort, but found the rivers in flood
and was unable to proceed any farther than before. Another attempt brought
McMillan to a hill known as Tom's Cap where dense scrub blocked the way.
On 9 February 1841, with T. Macalister, four stockmen and an aborigine,
McMillan tried again, forced a way through the scrub, and on 14 February
stood on the beach at Port Albert a little to the east of Corner Inlet.
During the next few years
McMillan built up an export trade of cattle from Corner Inlet to Tasmania.
He established himself at Bushy Park near Stratford, where he was well
known for his hospitality and public spirit. In 1856 he was given a public
dinner at Port Albert, and a portrait in oils was subscribed for, which is
now in the council chamber at Yarram. In 1864 he was requested by the
Victorian government to open up the rugged country to a new goldfield. A
start was made 74 miles from Stratford and McMillan marked a track through
to Omeo where 700 men were at work on the diggings. His health, however,
had become impaired, and he died on his way home to Bushy Park on 18 May
1865. He was survived by two sons.
McMillan was a natural
leader whose tact, good sense and kindliness enabled him to get on well
with his men, including the aborigines, and he has long been recognized as
one of the great pioneers of Victoria. His hospitality no doubt prevented
him from becoming a rich man, but he valued very much the esteem in which
he was so generally held. He took particular pride in his election as
president of the Caledonian Society of Victoria. |
