Michael COTTER was born ca 1817, London, England, son of Patrick COTTER and Fanny FRANCIS. He was married at Branxholme, Victoria in 1860 to Catherine McINTOSH, born 1834, Isle of Skye, Scotland, daughter of Angus McINTOSH and Catherine NICHOLSON.

Catherine McINTOSH arrived at Portland in 1853 on the "New Zealander" with her parents and siblings.

Michael COTTER, a labourer of Carapook with 5 school-aged children and shown as living 1/2 mile NW of Carapook was one of the signatures to the 1875 petition aimed at establishing a new school at Carapook.

Michael COTTER died at Dunrobin, near Casterton in 1913, aged 95y and was buried in the Sandford Cemetery. According to his 1913 death certificate he had resided in Victoria for 60 years which makes his arrival circa 1853.

Catherine COTTER (nee McINTOSH) died at Casterton in 1927, aged 93y and was buried in the Sandford Cemetery.

Michael COTTER and Catherine McINTOSH had the following known family:

1. "Fanny" Frances McCoy COTTER b. 1861, Branxholme, Victoria d. 1945 m. John McKENZIE 1862-1951. John had been born in Geelong and they had the following family:
   1. Rose Ann McKENZIE b. 1884, Casterton, Vic, m. Donald Wallace KERR 1893-1973
   • WW1 1st AIF Nursing Sister
   • enlisted 5th Dec 1916
   • RTA 22nd Mar 1919
   • Carapook WW1 Honour Roll
   2. Catherine Adeline McKENZIE b. 1886, Broadwater, Vic, m. William McKINNON
   3. Jane Alexandrina McKENZIE b. 1889, Broadwater, Vic, m. John TAYLOR
   4. Ethel Winifred McKENZIE b. 1893, Stra___, Vic, m. Peter Archibald McDOUGALL
   5. William Alexander McKENZIE b. 1900, Branxholme, Vic, d. 1979, Vic
   6. John Stanley McKENZIE b. 1905, Branxholme, Vic, d. 1978

2. Catherine COTTER b. 1862, Carapook, Victoria d. 1949 m. James SOMERVILLE 1861-1947

3. Annie COTTER b. 1864, Branxholme, Victoria d. 1949 m. Charles Arthur LEY 1859-1943

4. James Angus COTTER b. 1866, Branxholme, Victoria d. 1949, m. Elizabeth Jane FLOATE 1871-1934

5. Ellen COTTER b. 1868, Branxholme, Victoria d. 1936, m. Thomas Hunt LEY 1858-1936

6. John Archibald COTTER b. 1870, Carapook, Victoria d. 1948, m. Caroline Elizabeth McCALLUM 1870-1938

7. William Alexander COTTER b. 1873, Carapook, Victoria d. 1888 (drowned at Konongwootong Sheep Wash)

8. Mary COTTER b. 1876, Carapook, Victoria d. 1956 m. Richard SWEETMAN 1871-1957