Ross, John MacKenzie (c. 1827 - 1906)

In 1839 Ross came to Australia from Haddington Shire with his family. In 1848 they bought Broadmeadows Station, where the family lived for some time.

After the town of Glen Innes was proclaimed in 1854 John Ross pitched his tent on the site of the present Royal Hotel and erected a store. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1863 and sat on the Bench. He was keenly involved in horse racing at which he enjoyed success and was the judge at the Tenterfield races in 1858.

Upon the Robertson Land Act coming to pass, John Ross and his son took up land to the maximum allowable. This enabled them to lease land three times the size of their conditional purchase and they selected 2,500 acres which they named Balaclava. Ross bred prize-winning sheep and produced high-quality wool.

[Brief Biography compiled by Robin Hammond, January/February 2004]

Related Pastoral Stations

• Balaclava Station (1866 - )