Alexander McLEAN, along with sister Jane McLEAN arrived on the "Edward Johnstone" at Portland in 1854. Alexander was employed by Henry MONRO of "Crawford Station" near Hotspur in 1854. His grand-nephew states that he was remembered as 'full of life and fun' and that he died at Bowen, Port Dennison, Queensland about 1868.
Alexander and Jean McLEAN were members of the family of John McLEAN and Marion (Sarah) CAMERON from Clabach on the Isle of Coll in Argylleshire, Sct.
While Alexander left the area, his sister Jane spent much of her life in the Western Districts. She married Free Church lay preacher Malcolm McINNES, a friend of her brother Lachaln McLEAN, another early Free church preacher. The history of Naracoorte refers to Malcolm's "rousing sermons" conducted in gaelic.
Malcolm wrote a set of autobiographical notes before he died. He says that he had been preaching and teaching in Portland for a year before the district had a minister appointed and he married in Geelong. They were married in Skene Street, Geelong by Free church minister Rev John Tait. [Malcolm himself did not get a licence to marry people until 1883].
Malcolm went to Narrawong teaching after he married but continued preaching every 3d week in Portland. He took over "labouring within the bounds of the Presbytery of Portland" from 1858-1872.
"There were but few ministers of any denomination labouring in the Western District at that time. Mr. Kelso was in Portland, DR. RUSSELL on the Wannon, Mr. SUTHERLAND at Merino, Mr Angus McDONALD at Hamilton, so that the field was large between Portland and Mosquito Plains" [Naracoorte].
He rode 120 miles a week and supplemented his income by selling relgious texts from 1863.
In 1867 Malcolm and Jane moved "to Bowtells Creek near Sandford" where they'd taken up a selection of 58 acres. They moved to Hamilton in 1872 so that their sons could be educated "in the Hamilton Academy under the rectorship of Mr. James BEGG". Malcolm split with the Presbyterian church in 1872, after a row over him attending a Free Church service. After moving around for some time he took up preaching for some time, but the climate was too hot so they moved to Coleraine in 1898. Jane caught a cold and died of pneumonia during the journey, pressing on because she wanted to see her grandchildren.
Malcolm then went to live with his son at "Innesleigh", Wartook, arranging to help Mr McDONALD with services at Hamilton, Branxholme, Grassdale, Pigeon Ponds, Nareen. He became ill while doing so and began wring his autobiography notes in February 1899. The notes then become almost a diary of travels on a religious holiday around Victoria west of Melbourne until he died in February 1903.
Notes above from Rosanne McINNES.