Lilybank

Today's Lilybank is the property situated on Section 416 Hundred South Rhine, together with a section adjacent.

Established in 1855 as Walton Farm by John Dixon and his wife Francis nee Phillis, who had emigrated to South Australia on board the CHARLOTTE JANE in 1852. According to the local history book 'The Quiet Waters By', by Reg Butler, John Dixon obtained a land grant for Secction 416, Hundred South Rhine, in 1855. They built a stone home. Two sons, Edmund and John jnr. arrived with them and left for New South Wales in the 1860s.

After the death of John, in 1870, Frances went to live with her brother James Phillis, at Updown Park, which she inherited for life after James died. William Kemp rented Walton Farm in the 1870s.

Walton Farm was inherited by Frances and the land and the Section was divided, with one part sold to David Thomson and the second part sold to Robert Thomson Melrose. Part Sect. 416 owned by David Thomson was cancelled by order of the Lands Titles Commissions on 28 March 1882. The land became vested in the Crown in 1919.

John Thomson took up land grants for sections 414 and 415, Hundred South Rhine, in 1855, which became known as Lilybank. Euphemia Thomson, daughter of John, married local landowner George Melrose.