# Bray / Brae, near Robe (South Australia)

An area of Crown Land near Robe in South Australia's south-east, where the Whillas family homesteaded in the early 1950s.

## Connection to the family

- D & C, together with [Norman McLeod](/people/norman-macleod-b1880), leased Crown Land at Bray on 4 Sep 1952 (sold the lease 6 Jul 1954).
- The family lived in a tent on "a square mile of virgin country" while [Dick](/people/richard-charles-whillas-b1920) built a house, working as a wool classer and grazier and growing strawberry clover for seed. The children attended school in Robe and by correspondence; [Nan](/people/catherine-normandy-whillas-b1939) went to [Millicent](/places/millicent-south-australia) HS. [Norman McLeod](/people/norman-macleod-b1880) lived with them for much of this time.
- [Teena](/people/christine-frances-whillas-b1947) recalled starting school in Robe and her mother working as a wool classer's cook while Dick built the house. See [her interview](/documents/interview-teena-mclean-2026).
- [Janet Barbara Whillas](/people/janet-barbara-whillas-b1951) was born (Murray Bridge, 1951) while the family's home address was Robe.
- Because of high Korean-War wool prices and schooling difficulties, the family left for the [Sth Purrumbete](/places/south-purrumbete-victoria) dairy farm.

## Sources

- Whillas–McLeod family history spreadsheet (Rev 4), *1950s* sheet.
- [Interview with Teena McLean, interviewed by Erika Whillas, 16 Aug 2026](/documents/interview-teena-mclean-2026).