The Webber, Robertson
& Murray Families
Preserving our heritage, celebrating our connections, and honoring the generations that came before us
Click on any family line to explore their unique heritage and stories
Our Family Branches
Three distinct family lines, united by love, tradition, and shared memories
A Legacy of Strength and Resilience
The Webber family traces its roots to the wool-weaving villages of Devon, England — Broadhempston, Staverton and Berry Pomeroy. Driven by poverty and the promise of gold, Nicholas Webber arrived in Australia in 1852 and worked the Castlemaine goldfields, where he met and married Marion Murray in 1857. Wilma (Bill) O'Reilly, the last of Nicholas and Marion's 35 grandchildren, died on 1 June 2015 in Narrandera at age 108.
Tradition Meets Innovation
The Robertson family came from Peterhead, Scotland — a whaling and fishing town north of Aberdeen. James Lillie Robertson arrived in Melbourne in 1879 via Fiji, helped build the dome of the Royal Exhibition Building, then spent 45 years as leading foreman at Thompson's Foundry in Castlemaine. His daughter Jessie married Benjamin Webber in 1899, uniting the Robertson and Webber families.
Celebrating Life and Connection
The Murray family were the earliest of the three families to arrive in Australia — Robert and Margaret Murray sailed from Glasgow on the barque Portland in 1837, surviving a harrowing 133-day voyage to Sydney. Their daughter Marion would later marry Nicholas Webber, uniting two great family lines in Castlemaine.
The Webber Story Begins
John Webber is born in Staverton, Devon — the earliest documented Webber ancestor. The family name comes from the wool-weaving trade that defined Devon life for centuries.
Murray Family Arrives in Sydney
Robert and Margaret Murray arrive in Sydney on 3 December 1837 after a 133-day voyage from Greenock, Scotland on the barque Portland — surviving measles and scurvy.
Webbers Arrive in Australia
Jane Cole/Webber and her children Nicholas and Elizabeth arrive in Victoria on the ship Persian, driven by poverty in Devon and the promise of gold.
Castlemaine Goldfields
Both the Murray and Webber families converge on the Castlemaine goldfields. Nicholas Webber and Marion Murray meet here — setting the stage for the union of two great families.
Webber & Murray Families Unite
Nicholas Webber and Marion Murray marry on 7 March 1857 in Fitzroy, Melbourne — uniting two immigrant families who had each made the brave journey to Australia.
Our Heritage Lives On
We continue to honour our past — 300 years of history spanning Glasgow, Devon, Peterhead, and the goldfields of Castlemaine, Victoria.
Family Stories & Memories
The heart of our heritage lies in the stories passed down through generations
Robertson Family · War Service · 1942
Nick Walsh at Kokoda — Photographed with General MacArthur
On 3 October 1942, Nick Walsh — grandson of James Lillie Robertson — was photographed with General MacArthur at Ower's Corner, the start of the Golden Staircase on the Kokoda Track. His platoon of 25 men was reduced to 3 by January 1943. He died in Brighton in 2016, aged 100 — the last of the Robertson cousins.
Webber Family · War Service · 1941–1945
Bob Webber — Four Years in a German POW Camp
Bob Webber went missing in Crete on 2 June 1941. He spent four years as Prisoner of War No. 262 in Germany. His homecoming at Spencer Street Station in July 1945 made the Melbourne Herald.
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Murray Family · Migration · 1837
The Voyage of the Portland — 133 Days to a New World
Robert and Margaret Murray left Greenock, Scotland in 1837 with two small children. Measles, scurvy, and a 133-day voyage lay ahead. Their daughter Marion would later marry Nicholas Webber on the Castlemaine goldfields.
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Webber Family · Family Life · 1910–1920
Winnie Bradbury — Melbourne's Forgotten Soprano
Granddaughter of Nicholas and Marion Webber, Winnie was appointed leading soprano at Scots Church Melbourne in 1910. She died suddenly of diphtheria on Easter Sunday 1920, aged 32, after singing 'I Know That My Redeemer Liveth.'
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A glimpse into our family's cherished memories across the generations
Nicholas & Marion Webber, 1857
James Lillie Robertson
Marion Murray, 1856
Kokoda, 1942
Winnie Bradbury, soprano
Government House reception
Nicholas Webber, 1860s
Bob Webber homecoming, 1945
Robert Murray, 1872
Brighton Hotel, Castlemaine
Lil Webber wedding, 1938
Royal Exhibition Building, 1880
Our Family Values
The principles and traditions that have guided our families through generations
Heritage
Honoring our roots and preserving the stories of those who came before us
Education
Valuing learning, knowledge, and the pursuit of excellence in all endeavors
Community
Supporting one another and giving back to the communities we call home
Creativity
Celebrating artistic expression, music, and the joy of creative pursuits