Miles from Anywhere: Mary Jane Muirhead’s 1847 Voice from Port Phillip

Welcome to Stories of Geelong, where we uncover the histories that shaped our community. In this episode, we journey back to the frontier days of early Victoria through the voice of Mary Jane Muirhead.

In December 1847, Mary Jane, the Irish‑born wife of squatter Robert Muirhead, wrote a remarkable letter from the Grampians to her brother in Portglenone, Ireland. Preserved in the National Library of Australia, this correspondence offers a rare female perspective on squatting life in Port Phillip.

With unsentimental clarity, she describes the rhythms of pastoral work, the challenges of isolation, and her efforts to create a home “miles from anywhere.” Her words move between the practical; gardens, livestock, wool presses, and the deeply personal, including the loss of a newborn son and longing for news from “Home.”

This letter not only illuminates daily life on a remote Port Phillip run but also connects us to the Muirhead family’s later ties with Osborne House in Geelong. Join us as we hear Mary Jane’s voice across time.