Sir John Gellibrand

There has been a call for Murrindindi Shire to give greater recognition to pioneer resident Sir John Gellibrand.

Sir John held the ‘Balaclava’ property, with a homestead alongside the Murrindindi River. After his death in 1945, his remains were buried at the Yea Cemetery.

Major General Sir John Gellibrand, KCB, DSO and Bar was a senior Australian Army officer in the First World War, Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police from 1920 to 1922, and a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Tasmanian seat of Den-ison for the Nationalist Party from 1925-28.

Sir John purchased the ‘Balaclava’ property, at Murrindindi on August 1, 1936, where his son Tom had a farm, and made his home there, selling properties in Tasmania.

Gellibrand died at Balaclava from a cerebral haemorrhage on June 3, 1945, and was buried in Yea Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and children.

Current day Murrindindi identity Don Lawson says that he believes greater historical recognition is due to Sir John, who was consulted by Prime Ministers Joseph Lyons and Robert Menzies about defence matters.