John Cleeland

Master of the schooner Harriett in which he traded across the Pacific in the 1850s.

Husband of Isabella Jane Forbes

Licensee of the Albion Hotel in Melbourne

Owner of the Wollomai House and much surrounding property on Phillip Island and the adjoining mainland.

Owner of the horse Wollamai which won the Melbourne Cup in 1875

-- FROM MAX WALTER\'S HISTORY --
His (William Ford Cleeland\'s) son John Cleeland married Isobel Jane Forbes and:-
* Travelled to the USA to join the Gold Rush in California
* Bought a Schooner and traded in the South Pacific
* Migrated to Australia and purchased 7,000 acres on Phillip Island in
Victoria called ‘Wollamai’
* Won the Melbourne Cup on his horse ‘Wollamai’ in 1875
* Bought the Albion Hotel in Bourke Street Melbourne in 1895 which was the starting point for Cobb and Co Coaches
* Raised 4 children, John Blake, Bine, Dot and Eddie.

--- FROM EMELBOURNE.NET.AU ---
Albion Hotel

A three-storey hotel with distinctive arched façade, the Albion once stood on the site of the David Jones store on the north side of Bourke Street, across from its rival the Bull and Mouth. Its neighbour to the west was Cobb and Co.\'s stagecoach office, for which the hotel acted as a terminus and depot. The first Albion Hotel was a large shingle-roofed, single-storey timber house built on the site in 1839 by carpenter James Westwood. It was rebuilt around 1851 by brewer Henry Condell, Melbourne\'s first mayor, as a larger hotel with 60 bedrooms. John Cleeland, licensee during the 1860s and 1870s, installed an American ice-cream soda fountain imported by George Coppin. The hotel closed in 1912 and the site was later occupied by Buckley and Nunn where a commemorative plaque was installed in 1946. Albion Lane once provided rear access to the hotel, and its builder is remembered by Westwood Place.

Chrystopher J. Spicer


--- Melbourne Argus 25/8/1945 ---
One of Melbourne’s most popular hosts was John Clee-land, of the Albion Hotel in Bourke St Melbourne on the north side of Buckley and Nunn’s. It was the coaching house and many of the squatters made it their head-quarters. Cleeland, like most Ulstermen, was enterpris-ing and had taken part in the early gold rush to Califor-nia. He made money there, and having bought a schoo-ner, traded for many years in Sth Pacific, a hazardous calling today but infinitely more so then. After purchas-ing the Albion, he bought a property ‘Wollamai, ran cattle and a few racehorses, one of which won the Mel-bourne Cup called Wollamai.

--- OVENS AND MURRAY ADVERTISER 28 Jan 1914 ---
DFATH OF AN OLD COLONIST.
Mr. John Cleeland, died to-day at Phillip Island, at the age of 87 years. The late Mr. Cleeland, who was a colonist of 73 years, formerly kept the Albion Hotel in Bourke-street, Melbourne, when it was the headquarters of Cobb and Co. coaches. He won the Melbourne Cup in 1875 with Wollomai.

--- Melbourne Leader (Sat 31 January 1914) ---
DEATH OF MR. JOHN CLEELAND.
Racing men of the old school will regret to learn of the death of Mr. John Cleeland, whose principal sucess on the turf was gained by Wollomai, when the son of Ace of Clubs won the Melbourne Cup in 1875. Mr. Cleeland\'s pretty grey and gold livery was, however, carried to victory seven years previously in the Australian Cup by the flighty grey mare Shenandoah, who used to pretty well farm the principal han dicaps that were in those days run on the suburban coures at Emerald Hill; Village Belle (St. Kilda), Brighton Beach, -c., as well as in the provinces. Mr. Cleeland\'s colors were also carried subsequently by Barwon, Fleur de Lis (dam of Wollomai), Flying Scud, Bribery, Milesian, Dilke, Al bion. Tommy and Langley.. Mr. Cleeland\'s death took place on Sunday last, at New- haven, Phillip Island, where he had lived in retirement for many years. In the sixties and seventies Mr. Cleeland was mine host of thle Albion Hotel, in Bourke street.


--- THE QUEENSLANDER 20 Jun 1914 ---
MISCELLANEOUS.
Mr. John Cleeland, whose will was re- cently proved at £48,035, was once prom- inent in the world of sport. He won a number of races, including Melbourne cup, wilh Wallomai.

--- The Argus Thursday 17 August 1865 ---
SUPREME COURT.

CIVIL SITTINGS BEFORE MICHAELMAS TEEM.

NEW COURT-HOUSE.-WEDNESDAY, Aua. 16.

(Before his Honour Mr. Justice Barry, and

Special Juries of Four,)

CLEELAND V. WATSON. |

An action by John Cleeland, hotel-keeper, against George Watson, proprietor of the horse bazaar in Bourke-street, to recover damages for slander, and for an assault. The declaration contained two counts. The first, for falsely and maliciously speaking and publishing the following words:-"You are a damned scoundrel ; a bloody thief ; and a robber." The second for assaulting and beating plaintiff. Damages claimed, £1,000. Pleas-to first count, " Not Guilty;" to second count, \'payment into court of 1s., as sufficient to satisfy the plaintiff in respect of the grievances alleged.

Mr. Ireland, Q.O., Mr. Aspinall, and Mr. Dobson for the plaintiff; Mr. Michie, Q.C., Mr. Dawson, and Mr. Fellows for the defendant.

Tho action arose out of the disputed Irishtown Steeplechase, when the stakes were claimed by and given to Mr. Cole\'s grey mare Alice (which came in last of the five starters), on the ground that the first three were dis- qualified by not having gone over the course,

and the fourth by not having weighed in.

The material evidence follows :

John Cleeland sworn, and examined by Mr. IRELAND.-I am the landlord of the Albion Hotel, Bourke-street. I was one of the stewards at the Irishtown Steeplechase, which took place on Saturday, May 20. Wat- son entered Comet. Blueskin caine in first. He was entered in the name of Unrau. Cole [owner of Alice] entered a protest against Blueskin, Baron, and Comet, on the ground that they did not go over the course. He did not protest against the fourth horse, as he had not weighed in. Tho protest of the owner of Alice was considered by the stewards on the course. I declined to act in the con- sideration of the protest, as I had a bet. Wat- son made use of very threatening language on the course, when he heard that the stewards had decided that Alice should receive the stakes. Alice did receive tho stakes. It was proposed in Melbourne to reopen the case, but the proposal was not entertained. On the 24th May I saw Watson at tho review of volunteers which took place at Emerald-hill. I drove to the review with Mr. Teesdale, agent for Cobb and Co. There were ten or twelve thousand people on the ground. I drew up in my buggy near where Watson was with two or three other gentlemen. Watson said, "Halloa, Irishtown, are you here? I shall call yon nothing but Irishtown for the future." I said, " You are not the George Watson ad- vertised as steward." [Another person of the same name as defendant] I then drove away. On returning, a child fell in front of my path, and I had to pull my horse sharp up, to avoid running over the child. Watson saw me, and sang out, "Halloa, Irishtown, you here again. What do you do running over people like that?" He then said to Teesdale, "Ben, why do you ride with an Irishtown robber ?" I said, " You muff, do you want to insult me?" He made a charge at me with his horse. He said, "You damned wretch, do you call me a muff ? You damned thieving scoundrel. I\'ll make you pay the man his money now, you Irishtown robber." He fol- lowed me to the line of houses facing the review ground, and struck at me with a whip several times. He would have struck me, only I moved in the buggy. He touched me on the shoulder. He called me a scoundrel and a robber, and gave me a line of abuse all the way up to the houses-upwards of 200 yards. When we had got to the street, he jumped off his horse and challenged me to fight. He said, "Jump off, you scoundrel, and have it out with me." I told him he could not get me to make a blackguard of myself there.

[A letter was here put in by plaintiff\'s so- licitor to defocdant, demanding some " arrangement." It was not replied to by defendant]

Cross-examined by Mr. MICHIE.--The first expression was "Irishtown." I had a bet on the Grand National Steeplechase. I backed Alice at £5 to£20. I won the £20. I took no part in the proceedings, because I had won the bet. I do not remember receiving a protest from Unrau.

Mr. MICHIE.-Perhaps I can refresh your memory. Look at this copy.

[The witness looked at a paper addressed to the stewards of the Irishtown Steeplechase by Unrau.]

Witness.-I remember receiving this. I did not show it to the other stewards. I tore it up immediately I received it. The subject of it was a protest against handing over the money. I know of no other protest. I saw Captain Scott pointing out the course to the jockeys, I am not aware that Cap- tain Scott protested against the deci- sion. I did not show the protest of Un- rau to the other stewards, as a deci- sion had already been arrived at. Had tho bet been reversed, it would have made a difference of £25. I don\'t think I thought of the £20 when I tore up the protest. I don\'t think Unrau asked me to show it to my fellow stewards. I thought they had each got a copy. I might have said l did not show it because it was no good. I am not aware that Captain Scott directed the jocks to only attend to the flags on the fences. Cole, the owner of Alice, put up the flag which was the subject of dispute. He was deputed to put up the flags. The judge was not at the post when Alice came in, I was the judge, Mullett, one of the stewards, protested against the stakes being handed over to Alice. The flag was there daring the hurdle race. [Before the steeplechase. The two courses were a smaller oval and a larger one; the run in being common to both.] It was contended that the flag had nothing to do with the steeplechase. Alice got the stakes, although she came in last. She was a considerable distance behind. Tho treasurer told me that the George Watson advertised as steward was a man from the Plenty. I never saw him. He was not prcsont at any of the meetings of the stewards. When I came against the boy at Emerald-hill I did not call Watson a " bloody muff," or use any strong adjective. Watson did not get close enough to hit me. By duck ing I avoidod the blows. About half-way across the field he began charging me.

By a Juryman.-I think by " the man" Watson meant Unrau.

Benel Teesdale sworn, and examined by Mr. ASPINALL-Watson rode off. He re- turned when the boy tripped. He said, " Ben, I\'m astonished at you riding with such a man as Irishtown." Cleeland said, " What\'s that to do with you, you muff?" Watson rode up, and said, " Who do you call a muff?" He turned, and spurred the horse towards him, and shook the whip at him. When we got to the street, he jumped off his horse, and said to Cleeland. "If you\'re a man, come and have it out.

Cleeland said he was not going to make a blackguard of himself there.

Cross-examined by Mr. MICHIE.-I did not see any blows. He thrust at him. Watson\'s language sounded like chaff at first.

George Hughes sworn, and examined bv Mr. DOBSON,-I heard Watson call Cleeland repeatedly an "Irishtown robber" and a "bloody thief." Saw him striking at Cleeland, endeavouring to strike him ; and jump off his horse, as though he wanted to pnll Cleeland out.

Cross examined by Mr. MICHIE.-I was de- fendant in tho case of Unrau v. Hughes, re- cently tried at the County Court, to recover the stakes, or the entrance money, for the Irishtown Grand National Steeplechase. Unrau recoverod £12, the entrance-money. The stako was £100. Alico was thirty or forty lengths behind, perhaps more. Cleeland never told me about Uurau\'s protest. Cole was deputed by the stewards to point out the course. Cleeland was present with me when we deputed Cole. I can\'t remember the names of any other stewards that wore present. It is a usual thing for the starter to point out the course. The starter\'s evidence was not falcon by the stowards in this instance I can\'t say whether Captain Scott, the starter, did point out the course. We decided on the evidence of the riders. All but the rider of Alice ad- mitted they had gone the wrong course, but said that they had followed each other.

The other witnesses for the plaintiff were -John Thompson, miner, Wood\'s Point; Thomas Chapman, stonemason ; James Byrne, landlord of the Argus Hotel; and William Bencraft, Emerald-hill ; each speak- ing to more or less knowledge of the abuse and demonstrations at Emerald-hill.

Mr. MICHIE addressed the jury, and called witnesses.

James Robort Scott sworn, and examined by Mr. DAWSON.-I was one of the stewards of the Irishtown Steeplechase. The steeple chase course was altered after the hurdle race was run, in order to avoid an awkward wire fence at the finish, and avoid finishing within the enclosure where the carriages and horses were.\' I told the jockeys to run from fence to fence by the flags on the fences. I did not point out "the flagstaff." When the protest was entered, I said, " If anyone is to blame it must be me, for I did not tell them to go round the flagstaff, and therefore they were not bound to do so." I followed the ordinary inles of steeplechaslng. I made a protest as soon as I heard of the decision. The five stewards refused to reopen the case. I at- tended the second meeting, and endeavoured to get them to reopen it. I withdrew on account of having a bet on the race. I pointed out distinctly to the stewards that the jockeys were not in fault, as I never men- tioned anything about the flagstaff.

George Watson sworn, and examined by Mr. MICHIE.-Am defendant. I heard of the dispute about the steeplechase I expressed my opinion, and couldn\'t help but do it, or any other man that knew anything about a race. I was at Emerald-hill on horseback. I saw the plaintiff there with Ben Teesdale. I called plaintiff " Irishtown\' in chaff. I then rode away. I was basking about in the sun on horseback, looking at what was going on as everyone else was, I suppose-and I saw the boy tripped up. I said, in chaff,-"Now then, Irishtown, don\'t ride over the people." Ho got all in a flutter, like a peacock, and said something I didn\'t like. I said, " You are a good hand at killing drunken men, now let\'s see what you can do with a sober one." I could easily have struck him if I\'d been so minded, or the man on the other side of him.

The defendant was not cross-examined.

The other witness for the defendant was Arthur W. Chomley, from the Attorney General\'s office, who said merely that the words used began in chaff, and that there was an angry altercation as they rode away.

Mr. MICHIE addressed the jury for the de- fendant ; Mr. IRELAND replied.

His HONOUR summed up very briefly.

The jury, after a short retirement, found a verdict for the plaintiff; damages £20-£10 on each count-beyond the 1s. paid into Court.

--- SOUTH BOURKE AND MORNINGTON JOURNAL 18 May 1904 ---
Mr. John Cleeland sustained a severe accident at Woolamai on Thursday. In compuny with his daughter he was out driving, and when returning home the horse took fright, ran the trip against a stump, and threw Mr. Cleeland out. One wheel passed over his body, fracturing one rib and causing a severe shock. Dr. Manly is in attendance, and hopes soon to see his patient about again. Miss Cleeland escaped unhurt.

--- THE ARGUS 28 January 1914 ---
FAMOUS COACH HOSTEL.

---*---

MEMORIES REVIVED.

DEATH OF CAPT. CLEELAND.

In the days when Melbourne was more remote from the outside world than it is now, when citizens were more dependent on their own resources for the pleasures of every-day life, there was no more popular resort than the Albion Hotel, Bourke street. It reached the zenith of its fame under the management of Captain John Cleeland, whose death took place at Newhaven, Phillip Island, on Sunday, at the age of 87 years. To know Captain Cleeland was to be ac- quainted with a man at once genial, hos- pitable, and generous. The Albion Hotel was known throughout Victoria for the quality of its wines and the perfection of its cookery, and the business men of Flin- ders lane and the professional men of Col- lins street made the hotel their rendezvous for lunch and dinner. It is narrated of Captain Cleeland that if a man was unable to pay for his board after some days\' resi- dence at the hotel, that man became the guest of the captain until he chose to leave.

Captain Cleeland was an Irishman, born in County Down. He arrived in Victoria in 1840, living at Whittlesea in the early days, where his father owned a farm. Be- fore entering into business he led a sea- faring life as the owner of a schooner The Harriet, trading between the South Seas and San Francisco. Much produce, par- ticularly limejuice, was exported from the islands, brought to Melbourne, and tran- shipped to Great Britain by trading firms between the two countries. The limejuice was prepared on board from the fruit ob- tained on the islands. Retiring from the sea in 1859, Captain Cleeland rented the Albion Hotel from the first mayor of Mel- bourne (Mr. Conder), which is now repre- sented by the little hotel which lies below the two warehouses of Wertheim and Co., the pianoforte-makers, and Sutton and Co., the music warehouse, in Bourke street. The hotel was the starting place for coaches running to Beechworth, with several branch lines going into other parts of Victoria. Two coaches left daily - one at 6 o\'clock in the morning, to be followed by the mail at 12 o\'clock.

The service was under the direction of Cobb and Co., who ran the principal coaches as far as Longwood, despatching smaller vehicles to Beechworth, Mansfield, and other places. None of the drivers had the reputation of "Cabbage-tree Ned," the famous Ballarat driver; but splendid whips such as Smith and Kelly were among the number. Kelly had a stock joke, which he practised on all new chums, of introduc- ing the occupants of the coach as "My cousin Betty" or "Uncle Dick," until the bewildered passenger was lost in amaze- ment at the number of his relatives.

The restaurant, the resort of many well- known Melbourne men such as the late Mr. George Watson, the late Mr. Richard Goldsborough, and Mr. J. C. Campbell, ex- M.L.C., was controlled by Messrs. Proctor and Acot, but it was under Captain Cleeland\'s supervision that it made its name for the excellence of the dishes provided. The hotel partook of the character of the old English inns of mid-Victorian days, where geniality and good humour were provided as part of the fare.

At the end of 20 years\' occupancy Captain Cleeland retired from business, purchased 7,000 acres on Phillip Island, and became a breeder of Shetland ponies. In later years he extended his ownership of land on the island, made it his home, living at "Wolla- mai," Newhaven, and as a member of the shire council and a justice of peace took an active part in its development.

Mr. Cleeland was not known to racegoers of to-day, as it is some years since he retired to his island home. Three or four years back he paid a visit to Melbourne, and was heartily welcomed by a few of his friends, who had known and respected him in the seventies, when he was a leading owner of racehorses. Though running in the name of Mr. H. Sharp, Wollomai, the Melbourne Cup winner of 1875, was owned by Mr. Cleeland, who belonged to the jovial type of sportsmen, and the win was highly popu- lar. Wollomai, who was by Ace of Clubs from Fleur de Lis, by Lugar, was bred by his owner, and the late Robert Batty had the mount on the horse in the Cup. Wol- lomai carried 7st. 8lb., and it took him 3min. 38sec. to run the two miles. The winner\'s share of the stake was only £1,265. When Carbine won in 1880 the winner\'s share was £10,230. Piastre\'s time in 1912 was 3min. 27¼sec. The late Mr. Cleeland won the Australian cup in 1868 with Shenandoah.

Mr Cleeland married Miss Blake, of Mornington, and leaves two sons and two daughters.

--- PUNCH (Melbourne) 29 January 1914 ---
JOHN CLEELAND, OF "THE ALBION

E. F The death of John Cleeland, which occurred at Phillip Island last Sunday afternoon, snaps one of the links with the past of Mel bourne. In the \'fifties and the \'sixties of the last century there were few better-known figures in \'the city than "mine host of the Albion, " John Cleeland. The Albion Hotel in Bourke- street was the central terminus in the gold-diggings days, and it\'s door started Cobb Coaches to "the fields." These coaches, the stage coaches of those days were great red vehicles that have long since disappeared the roads; but in their time they were re-garded as fliers, and always carried her majesty\'s mails. Their terminus was the Albion Hotel, and each departure used to be witnessed by John Cleeland, the landlord, and Ben Tees- dale, who had charge of the booking office. The departure was always an "event" that acted as a focussing point for all the idle rich and un employed poor of the city, who assembled at the Albion as people nowadays crowd the pier to speed each outgoing mail steamer. Nor was the departure then less interesting than that of a P. and 0. or an Orient liner to-day. There were dangers of the road then as great as the perils of the sea. Bushrangers were often to be reckoned with, and each coach was loaded with romances of past lives and strange possibilities in the future. Men were going off to make their fortunes or to unknown graves. So they went forth daily to fortune or disaster, as the case might be, whilst all unmoved, and, prob ably, little concerned, stood the quiet, imper turbable landlord of the Albion, who looked upon the moving, romantic panorama of life in the golden \'fifties with stolid countenance and gathered in the gold cast about with a lavish hand \'in the "diggings" days.

But mine host of the Albion was too canny. The gold fever might last or it might not, the rapidly-growing city might continue to flourish or it might begin to decay, In the latter case the support of the community must come from the surface of the land, not the bowels of the earth. So forty or fifty years ago John Cleeland selected land at Phillip Island, and gradually bought out others from time to time until he owned practically half the island, the eastern portion extending from Cowes round to New haven and Cape Wollomai. Here he went in for raising horses and stock, here he raised the Melbourne Cup winner, Wollomai, named after the Cape, and here, some thirty years ago, he retired. With his retirement to Phillip Island he passed out of Melbourne life, and soon was but a memory and a name. Quiet and self contained, he always inspired respect rather than affection, and so was soon forgotten, save by his own family and the few young-old fogies who "kept stock" of the identities of the past, one of whom, the present scribe, stood yester day by the open grave at Phillip Island, where they buried John Cleeland, aged eighty-eight, beside his wife. Mr Cleeland leaves two sons and two daughters, all married, all resident on Phillip Island. Had he put his faith m Melbourne, what a splendid fortune he could have made.

--- THE ARGUS 22 May 1912 ---
OLD CRICKET TROPHY.

THE CLEELAND CHALLENGE CUP

An interesting old time cricket trophy has just come into the hands of the Melbourne Cricket Club. In the --- of 1881- 1882, the late Mr John Cleeland gave the Victorian Cricket Association a handsome silver cup, for competition amongst the various clubs. Owing to some irregularities in the arrangements the competition did not end until the next month when the only clubs left - were Melbourne, Richmond and South Melbourne. In October, 1882 Melbourne beat Richmond by 68 and 113 to 99 and 22. \\ Bruce and the late J. D. Edwards were responsible for Richmond\'s downfall in the second innings, their respective figures being

Bruce - 71 balls 2 maidens 5 runs, 8 wickets
Edwards 71 balls, x maidens, 11 runs, 2 wickets

Altogether Bruce took 12 wickets for 49, and Edwards six for 46 in the match. For Richmond, R Hoste took 10 wickets for xx. The final match between Melbourne and South Melbourne was won bv Melbourne by seven wickets the scores being

Melbourne 213 and three wickets for 82, South Melbourne 153 and 111. J Sleight 48 and 50 not out for South Melbourne, and the late J.D. Edwards 52 and 36 not out, and G Alexander 51 for Melbourne, were the principal scorers.

The cup was duly handed over to the Melbourne Cricket Club, and the committee decided to present it to their president, the late Mr Frank Grey Smith. For nearly 30 years it has been in the possession of Mr. Smith and his family, until at the last meeting of the Melbourne committee, a letter was received from Mr. Grey Smith, stating that the cup had come into his pos- session and that he thought it ought to be in the custody of the club, and kept in the pavilion, and that he wished to re-present it to the club. The committee has accepted the offer and the cup will be added to other trophies in the Melbourne pavilion.

-- ABC Story on Wollomai House, John Cleelands Phillip Island Property --
http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2014/02/26/3952799.htm