The Migrant Family - The L'Huillier Story

Over 200 years since the life of the wandering Aborigine tribes was disturbed, waves of immigrants from many cultures have made their way to "Terra Australis". There were times when only a small trickle set sail, and times when the prospect of a better life caused a flood of new arrivals. Hence the gold rushes of the 1850's saw the fast clippers set sail from European ports with their cargoes of eager settlers, bound for places such as Port Phillip. Chinese junks also island hopped, making for the goldfields. Not all vessels arrived safely. On the long sea voyage from Europe, disease often affected whole ships' complement, with appalling loss of lives. Almost in sight of their destination, many were shipwrecked, again with terrifying loss of life.

On one clipper that in 1853 completed a successful passage, was a family named L'Huillier. It is true to say that for each family group and each individual there was a story emanating from their homeland, and lived out mostly in these new British colonies. Most of these people were absorbed into and contributed to the new culture that was developing. Unfortunately their exploits, their fears, hopes, successes and failures, are generally lost in the mists of time.

For modern Australia to have true meaning, it is necessary that we who live here as we step into the new millennium, search for details of the lives of all migrants. By good fortune, much, though not enough, is know of the twentieth century migrants, but of the earlier groups there is insufficient information.

This book, based on the fortunate survival of original documents and other information, details the lives of the L'Huillier family. My desire is that this account may stimulate important research while there is yet time. Remember every family is important.

The L’Huillier story catalogues a striking chain of events in the lives of a fugitive, displaced migrant family who settled on the outskirts of the famous Bendigo Goldfield in Australia, in the early 1850’s.

Remy Felix L'Huillier as a young person from the provinces, found himself living with the rich and famous enjoying the good life in Paris. Of course he learnt the realities of politics and went on to work as an associate to a contentious Count.

The changes in his life commenced with a call-up for military service in his home commune. Marriage followed with the prospect of a peaceful existence as a prosperous merchant in a small town, but inevitably events in Paris would disturb his life and that of his wife and young family. Like most dictators Louis Napoleon started a witch-hunt seeking out real or supposed opponents. Certainly news seeping through from Paris indicated the name Remy Felix L'Huillier could be on the list, and it was obvious, flight from France was necessary. Elizabeth Poivre, his wife, bore the brunt of the disruption, and this clever, brave woman from that point onwards became the hero of the L'Huillier saga.

A long perilous sea journey tested her strength and endurance. Opportunities for life as a merchant in Melbourne were lost because Remy always looked over his shoulder in fear of secret agents.

Settling on a property in the fertile valley of Sheepwash Creek, there followed all the trials and hardships as the property grew from market garden to wine producing vineyard. Only by the fortitude of Elizabeth was survival possible. The eldest boys worked in conditions close to slavery and this culminated in one rebellious act.

There followed a period of successes and family expansion, with the Sheepwash property ultimately destroyed in a cruel tragic event. In fact within and outside the family, personal tragedies followed with monotonous regularity. Perseverance and suffering was the fate of the brave Elizabeth to its saddest conclusion.

The book also contains an insert of prints of original L'Huillier documents.

To order a copy of ' FUGITIVE ON THE SHEEPWASH '          ( researched and written by a great-grandson of Elizabeth and Remy Felix ) write to :

Pauline Murrihy
31 Roehampton Ave. Wantirna. Victoria. Australia. 3152
Phone: 03 9800 4894

Cost : $45 ( includes postage and handling within Australia)
Please make cheques payable to P. Murrihy.

or E-mail for further information : pmurrihy@hotkey.net.au

             Web Site      http://www.hotkey.net.au/~pmurrihy