Peter McKean was born in Edinburgh, Scotland about 1834. At the age of twenty-seven, Peter and his younger sister, Jane migrated to the colonies at the height of the gold rush. They embarked on the Kent at Plymouth and arrived at Port Phillip in December 1860. Peter made his way overland to the Ballarat Goldfields. He had a number of brothers who later came from Scotland presumably to seek their fortune.
Peter married Martha Leigo at Winchelsea in 1862. They spent their early married life around Ballarat and Linton, with six of their seven children being born around the goldfields. In 1877 he finally settled in Colac, where their seventh and youngest child, Jessie was born two years later.
In Colac, Peter entered into business as a baker, in what was known as the Royal Temperance Hotel. This venture was quite successful and when Peter retired around 1887, his son took over. During his time in Colac, Peter took a great interest in the Free Library. When it was reconstructed in 1883 he served on the committee and as a trustee. He was also an exceptional draughts player and well known in sporting circles. It was said that Peter was much esteemed and respected by the townspeople for his upright and honourable dealings.
About a year after his retirement, Peter suffered a paralytic stroke leaving him in an almost helpless state. Over the following eleven years he was cared for with unremitting kindness and attention from the members of his family. Towards the last, he suffered greatly, until his death at the residence of his son, William, at the age of sixty-eight.
Peter was buried with wife, who had died about two years before. He left a grown up family of four daughters and three sons.
Research by Raye Loughnan
Story by Lynette Genua

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