Hector McDONALD b. 1806 Alvie, Invernessshire, Sct., son of Hector McDONALD and Catherine NICHOLSON had a son John Samuel McDONALD with Margaret McPHERSON. John Samuel McDONALD was born in 1837 at Alvie on the Isle of Skye and came to Portland on the "Tamerlane" in 1846 to be with his father, Hector. Hector had emigrated from The Isle of Skye to Sydney in 1836 where he worked for a number of years before working in Melbourne and partnering Kenneth McKENZIE in the "Snizort" Pastoral Run at Hotspur in south-west Victoria from about 1845.

Hector McDONALD built the "Crawford Inn" at Hotspur and a bridge over the Smokey River next to the Inn. The location of the Inn was on the southern bank of the Smokey or Crawford River not far from where the photograph on the right was taken.

Hector later moved to Portland where he built "Mac's Hotel", still a significant landmark in Portland, before he died in 1859.

1. John Samuel McDONALD 1837-1932 mar. Eliza Thompson McDONALD 1853-1944
   John Samuel McDONALD and Eliza Thompson McDONALD had the following family:
   1. Hector Andrew McDONALD, b. 1875
   2. Margaret Adam McDONALD, b. 1876
   3. Grace McDONALD, b. 1879, m. James Iverach GREENHAM
   4. Andrew John McDONALD, b. 1882
   5. Flora Isabella McDONALD, b. 1883, m. Arthur Hosken NESBIT
   6. Eliza McDONALD, b. 1886, m. David Henry WEDD
   7. Jessie McDONALD, b. 1888, m. Francis Daniel RAGGATT
   8. John 'Jack' McDONALD, b. 1890, d. 1916, France
      • Pte 1690, 24th Battalion, AIF, enlisted 28 May 1915
      • KIA 24 Aug 1916, North Mouquet Farm, France
      • Strathdownie Honour Roll
      • Dartmoor Honour Roll
      • Casterton War Memorial
   9. Christina McDONALD, b. 1894, m. Edward WARREN
   10. Alvie Sorlie McDONALD, b. 1897, m. Rose Louisa HUGHAN

Hector McDONALD married in 1844 at Melbourne to Charlotte McDONALD b. 1818 Invernessshire, Sct., dau of John McDONALD and Isabella STEWART. Hector & Charlotte moved to Hotspur on the Smokey River where he took up a partnership in "Snizort" Pastoral Run with Kenneth McKENZIE. He also built and operated the "Crawford Inn" at Hotspur and later, "Mac's Hotel" in Portland. Hector was the brother of John McDONALD who arrived at Hotspur in 1853 after emigrating with his wife and family to Portland on the "New Zealander".

Hector McDONALD died in 1859 at Portland and was buried in the North Portland Cemetery.

Hector and Charlotte McDONALD had the following children:

1. Catherine Sarah McDONALD b. 1845 Smokey River (Hotspur), Vic., mar John ROBERTSON;
2. Isabella Stewart McDONALD b. 1849 Smokey River (Hotspur), Vic., mar Colin McKENZIE;
3. Christina McDONALD b. 1849 Smokey River (Hotspur), Vic;
4. Flora McDONALD b. 1851 Smokey River (Hotspur), Vic, mar. David Mills FINLAY;
5. Allan McDONALD b. 1857 Smokey River (Hotspur), Vic d. 1858.

Hector McDONALD was listed as an early landowner on the Hotspur Parish map. He occupied the pastoral lease of 'Snizort' from 1845 to 1854 with Kenneth McKENZIE.

James HAMILTON recalled as a ten year old, in 1848, from Ozenkadnook Station north of Casterton taking a dray load of wool through Digby and Hotspur to Portland.

..... From Digby we made the Smoky River next day. This was our worst crossing - the black mud and slush running along way out at each side of the channel. On getting through, we camped at the township, now called Hotspur. It was much in appearance like the other townships I have described. The public house was kept by Hector McDONALD, who afterwards shifted to Portland, and built the place well-known as Mac's Hotel. Our next stage brought us to Heywood.....

Daryl Povey

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