Sneaking into Haunted Struan House WOOPS!

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The Robertsons of Scotland
The history of the “Struan” lands is synonymous with the Robertson family who migrated from Scotland early in the nineteenth century to take up land in the western districts of Victoria and the south east of South Australia.
John Robertson was born in Dunachton, Invernesshire, Scotland in 1809. The family owned ‘Struan’ and a photograph of that property ‘Struan’, together with the Robertson Tartan, (courtesy Mark Seeliger) is in Struan House. John Robertson landed in Hobart in 1831 sailed for Sydney in the Saint George in 1838 with high hopes and 30 cents - a half crown and sixpence. For 9 years he worked as an overseer and increased his wealth to $6000. Obviously he was a true son of Scotland.
Land Acquisitions
John Robertson was soon to take up land, initially Struan Station at Wando Vale on the Wannon River in western Victoria. This became a substantial settlement and can still be visited today. John Roberston took up further land leases with his brother William to the west. He earned the nickname “Poor man Robertson” in a confrontation with the Hentys of Portland. Both were interested in acquiring the same property, Mosquito Plains of 17612 hectares, to be disposed of by the Land Board of Portland in 1845. John arrived at the Land Board Office in his work clothes just before Henty, a prosperous looking gentleman in his horse-drawn carriage. The contrast between the two persons must have been extreme because the Magistrate handed down his judgement saying to Henty, “We have decided to let the poor man have it”. ‘Poorman Robertson’ stuck, perhaps because of the inappropriateness, for in years ahead, John further increased his holdings, acquiring land at Wrattonbully and Elderslie, giving him 505,587 Hectares (505 square kilometers). It is said that he carried 60,000 sheep and 2,000 head of cattle and 500 pedigreed thoroughbreds.
John Robertson met Susan Frazer at Portland. She was also from Inverness Scotland, much younger than John, and socially outranked him being the daughter of the factor (or administrator) to Lord Lovat. Being attracted to her common sense and spirit, John proposed to her. Provoked by his assurance of success, she refused, but next morning, like many a girl before, changed her mind when seeing him ready to depart, she leaned from her window and called, “John, I’ll have you”. They had a large family and lived to create a pastoral empire that was well known for its grandeur.
John Robertson was one of the earliest to make up a claim near Naracoorte (note Naracoorte was spelt Narracoorte in its early years) which allowed him the advantage of the dry dunes running back to the Caves Range and the Mosquito Creek, being one of the few watercourses to flow through the region and the green, swampy treeless Mosquito Plains.
The Struan Houses
John Robertson chose a site for his first home near the creek with the rising land behind. The home is no longer visible, but was located about 100 metres south of number two house which is still standing. The home was a simple cottage, built with timber and a shingle roof. It was the symbol of the first farming of the wet, bird-thronged wilderness, and of the Robertson’s claim to a new life-style. As the little town of Naracoorte 13 km to the north was growing, hopeful settlers brought sheep and cattle to begin new industries to sustain the economy. A feeling of community evolved as social events, competitions and so on began. The little home opened its doors to traveling missionaries, among whom was almost certainly Father Julian Tenison Wood and saw the sad remnants of the aboriginal tribes fade out. His family continued to prosper producing first class sheep, wool and beef.
The Second House
As the family grew in numbers the hut was too small. A second house was built on the slope with a magnificent view across the plains. This was built with limestone mined from the range to the east. This represented colonial Australia with its wide verandah surrounding it under a subtly pitched roof and its arched doorways with their graceful fan lights. With large rooms underneath, this must have been luxury for the growing children after the restrictions of the hut.
Friends included Dugald McCallum, the Presbyterian minister from Robertson’s own highlands and Park Laurie with whom he played many card games. John and Susan Robertson lived most of their married life in this house. In later years it became crowded and so at the age of 64 John Robertson planned for a new retirement house.
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