  The small farm was called "Gemini", and probably named after the mine close by of the same name. Jacqui & I decided that we would find that farm one wet and wintery day, and we were supposed to be met by a local historian, but the message that she could not meet us was delayed , so we went off on our own search. We were armed with just the photograph you see at the top of this page. By the grace of good luck we happened upon the elderly farmer whose family had actually bought the land. He was very chatty once he knew who we were, and told us that he has used a lot of the timber from the original farmhouse when he built his own home. He directed us to the spot and we walked over the area - imagine how elated we felt ! The only thing left standing now is the original house well, beautifully constructed of bricks, with the top shaped like a beehive. We were given permission to take what we wanted, so we each returned home happily in possession of a rick dark orange-colored handmade clay brick , which had been made by John Gordon, and had seen most of the changes in that early family ! Most likely feeling that they at last had some roots, John & Mary Ann took an interest in the local community - which lasted for the rest of their lives. The business partnership then took on the cutting and carting timber to be used in the newly laid railway lines from Ballarat to the outlying area of Grenville. They used bullock teams and had to travel over some of the roughest terrain imaginable, being away from home for weeks on end. By 1889 John owned Gemini and gradually bought up small tracts of land close by the original farm. The small land holdings by the family were as follows : At the time of his death John senior held forty-four acres, ....William held twenty-three acres in 1883 and Thomas purchased seventeen acres in 1907. The boys helped their parents with the farming initially, but becoming disinterested they gradually went off into careers, and to make their own way. Four of the girls also went into businesses, within keeping for young ladies of that era. Sadly, in 1891 Charles Gerald had pre-deceased his father, dying at the age of fourteen - we were unable to find out why he died. Nothing is written about him at all, except a small death notice in the newspaper which just said "much loved son...." John is buried at Scarsdale Cemetery - his magnificent headstone was made by his son Thomas who followed in his father's footsteps to become a stone mason. By 1899 the Boer War loomed on the world horizon and as part of the Commonwealth, Australia was to take part. Thomas was already in South Africa, having made his first trip there in 1896. In 1904 Margaret Loiusa married Edward Bromley and went to live in Tasmania - her older sister Edith Lavinia later went to help her with her young family and stayed. In 1906 John Joseph who had gone to South Africa with Thomas on one of his trips, returned home to marry Ann Roberts. Elizabeth Jane, who ran her own private ladies school in Lydiard Street North., Ballarat, died 8 Nov 1907, in Ballarat. Edith Lavinia died in 1914 in Tasmania and is buried in Scarsdale. 1917 saw Henry Davies enlist in World War One along with his younger brother Julius Percival. John Joseph was married with two small boys and although he was a builder by trade, he was, about this time the publican of an hotel in the country town of Whittlsea, Victoria. Mary Ann had continued to farm with the help of the two youngest sons, Henry ( Harry ) Davies, and Julius ( Percy ) Percival. With the advent of Warld War One and both Harry and Percy enlisting, Mary Ann sold up the farmland and went to live with her daughters, Mary Rosina and Annie Selina in Ballarat. Annie Selina had her own dressmaking business in Lydiard Street North., Ballarat, and in her latter years shared the house with Mary Rosina. Annie died in 1942. Mary Rosina was a student teacher at Scarsdale School No 911 for four years, and after that time was a fully trained teacher. She later went to teach at her sister Elizabeth Jane's school in Ballarat. She died in 1943.  These photos below are of some of the Gordon children and are photcopies, so they are not very clear. Reading from the top left clockwise: (1) Annie Selina is at right, but the others are not named - In checking the original a likeness in the females suggests that the others could possibly be Margaret Louisa (Gordon) & Edward Bromley and two of their children. (2) Gordons - from left - Henry (Harry) Davies., William James., Thomas Stuart., Julius (Percy)Percival. (3) Thomas Stuart Gordon & his wife Mary Ann ( Young)., Mary Ann Gordon and Thomas Stuart ll. (4) back: Annie Selina Gordon........ Lily (Alexander) Gordon - wife of Henry., middle row: Mary Rosina Gordon., Mary Ann (Davies) Gordon., Margaret Luisa., and baby Alexander son of Henry & Lily Gordon. 
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