Obituaries Australia

John Moffat, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 February 1926

Mr. John Moffat, of Chatsworth House, Chatsworth, Vic., a leading pastoralist in Victoria, died at a private hospital in Melbourne on 9th February, after a long illness.

A son of the late William Moffat, Mr. John Moffat was born at Shriva, Kirkintilloch, Scotland, in 1854, and came to Victoria with his parents in 1872, where he completed his education at the Geelong Grammar School. Here he distinguished himself in sport, winning the school cup for athletics. At the age of nineteen he took over the management of Burnewang Estate, near Bendigo, his father's property, and in 1879 moved to Chatsworth House Estate, in the Western District. This he inherited in part, and added to by purchases from the trustees of his uncle, the late John Moffat, sen., the original proprietor of Hopkins Hill and other large properties in the neighbourhood. At the time of his death Chatsworth House comprised some 18,000 acres, and was mainly stocked with Merino sheep, of which Mr. Moffat was a prominent breeder.

Mr. Moffat took a leading part in local and State affairs. He represented the Chatsworth riding in the Mount Rouse Council and was president of the shire for a number of years. He was also a member of the Pastoralists' Association of Victoria and of the Australian Sheepbreeders' Association. He was at one time keenly interested in racing and coursing, owning a number of good horses.

Mr. Moffat married a daughter of Mr. S. McKenzie, of Geelong, in 1894, and is survived by his wife and two daughters.