Downward Family
The Downward family have lived on the Mornington peninsula for the past 160 years.
During that time the family has made a remarkable contribution to the life of the community.
Edward Downward was born in England in 1810, and in the 1840’s he married Elizabeth Graham.
In 1855 Edward and Elizabeth and their family of two sons and four daughters moved to Schnapper Point (Mornington) and farmed on land adjacent to the township in Wilsons Road. The family moved to Balnarring in 1865, returning to Mornington in 1880.
Downward house in Wilsons Rd
In 1866 Alfred, at the age of 19, was awarded a contract to provide a twice weekly mail service between Mornington, Hastings and Balnarring, during this time he rode a total of 2,500 miles a year and was paid four pence halfpenny a mile. He later took up sheep breeding, and became one of the largest landowners on the Peninsula.
Before entering Parliament, in 1894, Mr. Downward took an active part in municipal affairs, and in one year was President of both of the Shires that at that time covered the Peninsula. Mr. Downward had extensive Ministerial experience.
Alfred Downward M.L. C.
He was Minister for Agriculture and Water Supply in the Bent Ministry of 1905, Minister for Mines and Forests in the Bowser Ministry in 1918-19 and Minister for Mines and Water Supply in the Allan Ministry of 1924. He retired from Parliament in 1929.
On his retirement, his son Herbert succeeded him in the Assembly, and further emulated his father by being a Councillor of both Flinders and Mornington Shires at the same time in the 1920's.
The rural character of Mornington was emphasised by the fact that Alfred and Herbert Downward were staunch upholders of country policy, first enunciated by the United Farmers, who later formed the Country Party. In public and private life Alfred Downward had the reputation of being an incorruptly honest man.
As a leading sheep-breeder Mr. Downward displayed great interest in land settlement
problems throughout the State for more than half a century, and his knowledge had been valuable to the Ministries in which he held portfolios. He died in 1930.
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Edward Downward
Harry May Downward
Josephine Downward
Rupert Charles Downward