George Williamson CARMICHAEL b. 1821, Lanarkshire, Scotland, son of William CARMICHAEL & Elizabeth WILLIAMSON was married at Melbourne, Port Phillip in 1850 to Mary Macquarie FRASER, b. 1830, Isle of Mull, Scotland, daughter of John FRASER & Catherine CAMPBELL.
George CARMICHAEL along with brothers William and James arrived in Port Phillip in 1839 and took up a number of squatting runs. At the time of his marriage in 1850, George's place of abode was rcorded as Port Fairy. The CARMICAEL brothers purchased "Retreat" station on the Glenelg River, north of Casterton in 1851 and George moved there and established his family. He also acquired "Refuge" station west of Casterton.
George Williamson CARMICHAEL was an original Glenelg District Roads Board member in 1863 when the first meeting was held on December 2nd, 1863. Those present at this first meeting were George CARMICHAEL (chairman), Maurice CUSSEN, Francis HENTY, Denis NASH, Owen O'REILLY, & William TREVASKIS. The Roads Board was proclaimed the Shire of Glenelg on 29th June, 1864. Meetings were held at the original Council Chambers at Sandford 1864-1866 and from then in Casterton where a new Council building was opened in 1868. George was the first President of the Glenelg Shire.
"The Argus" Saturday, 7th November 1868
The Geelong Advertiser says:-"We have been shown a very handsomely embossed and illuminated address, presented by the Shire Council of Glenelg to Mr. George Carmichael, J.P., of the Retreat, Glenelgshire, who has been long a resident at Casterton, and president of the council since its inauguration in 1863, on his resignation of the office and removal to the seaside at Geelong. The address compliments Mr. Carmichael on his regular attendance at the meetings of the council; his good judgment, impartiality, urbanity, and zeal for the progress and welfare of the shire being fully appreciated by the ratepayers at large and his late colleagues. The address is very handsomely bound in red morocco, and beautifully gilt, and is altogether a presentation of which any man may feel proud."
George & Mary CARMICHAEL had a family of 12 from 1851 to 1871, before Mary died in Melbourne in 1872. George remarried in 1873 to Anne WRIGHT, b. 1830 Suffolk, England, daughter of David WRIGHT and Anne CANTLER. Anne had arrived on the "Priam" at Portland in 1852 with her parents and siblings. Anne's mother died at "Retreat" station in 1884 and is buried in the Casterton old cemetery.
George CARMICHAEL died at his "Retreat" station in 1885 and his widow Anne (2nd wife) died at Portland in 1896. They are borth buried in the Casterton old cemetery.
George Williamson CARMICHAEL & Mary Macquarie FRASER had the following known family: