# South Purrumbete, Victoria

A dairy-farming district in western Victoria near [Camperdown](/places/camperdown-victoria), where the Whillas family farmed through the mid-to-late 1950s.

## Connection to the family

- c. 1954, D & C bought a dairy farm here in shares with neighbour Vin Witwer (from [Bray](/places/bray-robe-south-australia)); about 125 cows. Volcanic soil, productive but cold and wet. [Dick](/people/richard-charles-whillas-b1920) caught pneumonia here (and possibly recurring malaria).
- The children attended the local [Tandarook South School](/places/tandarook-south-victoria) (one teacher, ~20 kids) and bussed daily to [Camperdown](/places/camperdown-victoria) HS. [Nan](/people/catherine-normandy-whillas-b1939) met John Walsh on the bus.
- [Teena](/people/christine-frances-whillas-b1947) recalled the family moving to “Cobden” and attending Tandarook South School. The relation between that description and the South Purrumbete farm is unresolved; see the [open question](/open-questions#teena-birth-residence-and-chronology-questions) and [Teena's interview](/documents/interview-teena-mclean-2026).
- Several children were born nearby at Camperdown in this period ([Jim](/people/stuart-james-whillas-b1954), [Mark](/people/mark-campbell-whillas-b1955), [Fiona](/people/fiona-victoria-whillas-b1956), [Susan](/people/susan-catrina-whillas-b1958), [Craig](/people/craig-douglas-whillas-b1959)).
- The family left c. late 1959/early 1960 for a drier climate at [Invergordon](/places/invergordon-victoria).

## 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).