A photograph of James Grant Young looking over his Drouin property "Holly Tree Orchard" c1897.
The orchard property was located on the corner of Young St and Hopetoun Rd.
James was born in Scotland and emigrated to Australia via Tasmania in 1860. He turned 15-years-old soon after sailing into Port Phillip.
He worked in Heidelberg as a farm labourer, then later for the Department of Land and Works as a draughtsman.
James returned to farming and worked for Mr Hampton and Watts on their "Longwarre" pastoral lease. While here, he applied for Allotment Two of surveyed land near Brandy Creek.
He married Sarah Walton, a daughter of another early selector Thomas Walton.
James ran a Seed and Corn store for nearly 20 years in Main St, Drouin, located on the east side of the old Railway Hotel.
However, his passion was his orchard on the corner of Young St and Hopetoun Rd. He bought several town blocks and had 10 acres of orchard.
The majority of trees were peaches, but he also had three types of apples and also lemon trees.
James' idea was to send fruit direct to his customers in Melbourne and, by cutting out the middleman, the fruit would be fresher and costs kept low. On receiving a letter in the morning, he would pack the fruit and send it on the afternoon train, with the customer getting the produce the next day.
Photograph and information courtesy of Drouin History Group.
Visit drouinhistorygroup.org.au to join or find out more.