Kate Strachan
Kate was born in Galway, Ireland, in 1832, the second eldest daughter of the very Reverend John Armstrong and his wife Ellen.
John Armstrong was the son of Edmund Armstrong, of Kilcoglan Castle, a distinguished Irish family, and was brother to Sir Andrew and Sir Frederick Armstrong - the latter having served with the Duke of Wellington.
Kate’s cousin, Charles Armstrong, had married Dame Nellie Melba.
Kate Armstrong arrived in Australia, aged 21 years, aboard the "Marie Eliza" in 1853. She was accompanied with her brothers and sisters, Elizabeth, 24, John, 20, Constance, 16, William, 13, and Charles, 11 years. It would seem they came to join their older brothers Edmund, Charles, and John Armstrong in Australia. The three older brothers had taken up land in New South Wales, and it was there that Kate met Alexander Dudgeon Strachan, of Ournie, in that State.
Click to view Higher Resolution Image
The Argus, 21 Aug 1891, p.6
Originally from Scotland, Alex married Kate, in 1866, at Walwa, on the Murray River - there were no children from the marriage.
About 1876, they moved from New South Wales to Victoria, and in 1883 they settled in Mornington. Alex died at their home, "Horndean", Moorooduc, near the junction of Strachan’s Road and Nepean Highway in 1891. Kate lived on in their home, with her younger sister, Ellen Armstrong.
Alex Strachan’s will, after leaving Property to Kate, and bequests to family members, left the remainder of his estate to Alfred Deakin M.P.
It is local legend that Kate Strachan would set an extra place at the evening meal for a ghost, and that Alexander would have no Minister of religion at his funeral. It is believed that Alex and Kate were Spiritualists and that was their connection with Alfred Deakin .
Alfred Deakin attended séances, conducted a Spiritualist Sunday School, and in 1877 became President of the Spiritualist Association. He held that position for many years, before taking a full time commitment to politics.
Alexander was buried in Kew Cemetery, but when Kate died, in 1904, she was buried in the Mornington cemetery.
