David Alexander Hugh Milne

1890-1965


David Alexander Hugh Milne was born on 14 April in 1890 in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia -


His parents, George Maiden Milne and Elizabeth Johnston Sinclair were dairy farming in Tintenbar, New South Wales having moved their family from Hobart, Tasmania in about 1888.




George Maiden Milne


David was working on the Blackall Range felling timber... and learnt a great deal about clearing land on steep country. The range cutters felled a large tree on the top and as it fell downhill, it would take others with it. Teams could then drag the logs out from the lower slopes and cart them downhill using chutes or rough tracks to get them closer to the rail heads or better roads.









Initially he selected a block on Maroochydore Road near the current roundabout, but in February 1918 he chose portion 193v on the top of Mons, with an acreage of 25 acres 1 rood and 16 perches. It was steep country but with a view across the countryside from the Blackall Range to the Maroochy River.



On 28th April 1919, David Alexander Hugh Milne married Keturah Dorothy Parsons from Knoll Park on the Eudlo Flats, just at the end of Parsons Road.

They were married in St Margaret's Church of England in Woombye, with David's brother George Norman Milne as best man and his sister Hilda Grace Milne as ........



Keturah had been born in 1890 on the Maroochy River on portion 79v, where her parents William Parsons and Eliza Smith had settled in 1888. After the 1893 floods submerged their property Cheddar Farm, William looked for land for dairying and purchased 180 acres in ......., bringing his family of 13 children closer to schools and transport.


William built a 2 storey house again and farmed dairy cattle and made cheese again..

His sons, William Parsons, Albert Parsons and Earl John Gear Parsons took up land along what became Parsons Road and into the Forest Glen area.


So the families grew up surrounded by their cousins and siblings, all farming and living in the area.



A wedding of interest in the Woombye district was celebrated on April 28, in St. Margaret's Church of England.


The bridegroom was Mr. David Alexander Hugh Milne (third son of Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Milne, Kia-Ora, Stuckey Road, Clayfield, and late of Roslyn, Tintenbar, Richmond River, N.S.W.) and the bride Miss Dorothy Keturah Parsons (sixth daughter of the late Mr. William Parsons and Mrs. Parsons, of Eudlo). The Rev. Tunstall officiated. The church had been effectively decorated with palms and flowers by friends. As the bride entered the church, which was crowded with spectators, "The Voice that Breathed o'er Eden" was sung.


The bride, who was given away by her brother (Mr. Albert Parsons) , wore a pretty dress of ivory Japanese silk, richly embroidered and trimmed with hemstitching, and finished with tassels. She also wore a wreath and veil, and carried a handsome bouquet of white dahlias and chrysanthemums, ferns, and white streamers.


Miss Hilda Milne (sister of the bridegroom) acted as bridesmaid, and wore white voile trimmed with filet lace insertion, a Pink sash, and a vieux rose and champagne silk hat to match. She carried a bouquet of pink and white flowers and pink streamers. Her bouquet and gold circle brooch were gifts from the bridegroom.


Private George Norman Milne, M.M., acted as best man. After the ceremony about 30 guests were entertained at a wedding breakfast at the residence of the bride's sister (Mrs. S. J. Hooper). The spacious verandas were enclosed with palms, and the tables were enclosed with palms, and the tables were decorated with flowers and greenery.

The drawing and dining rooms were also tastefully decorated. A social evening was arranged, a number of additional guests being entertained.


Mr. and Mrs. Milne subsequently left for Knoll Park en route to Mons, their future home. The, bride's travelling dress was of navy crepe voile trimmed with cream georgette, and she also wore a cream satin hat. The presents were numerous and handsome and included cheques.


The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864-1933), Thursday 15 May 1919, page 11















Building Mountain View at Mons

1919


David Milne cleared his block, planting a wide variety of crops as well as running dairy cattle, chickens, turkeys.

By 1922 when the first Buderim Show was held, he was even growing cotton..


In 1926 he won first prize at the Woombye Show for six sticks of standover cane, Slab cane with roots , case of pawpaws for export and second prize for 12 Canton mandarins.


By 1929 he was entering the Woombye and Buderim Shows and winning prizes for slab cane with roots, 14 pounds of sweet potatoes pink, exhibit of Paspalum Dilatatisima and three table pumpkins, any variety.