![The Barrabool Inn, Ceres [Wynd collection]](https://geelonganddistrict.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/barrabool_-inn.jpg "The Barrabool Inn, Ceres [Wynd collection]")
So just who are the Winchelsea Wonders? A pair of wonderful ladies who are constantly doing indexing projects for the Geelong & District database. Joan and Di are from the Winchelsea & District Historical Society.
Their most recent project has been the Shire of Barrabool rate books 1869-1901. They have indexed every five years but have access to the interim years if you are “missing” your ancestor in that period. The indexed rate books include 5,204 entries.
The Barrabool Inn at Ceres [photo above] can be found in the index in 1869 under the ownership and occupation of James Parsons. He “inherited” this imposing establishment by marriage. The former owner, George Cartwright from Yorkshire, died in 1868. His widow, Eliza, carried on the business until she married James Parson in 1869 when the licence was transferred to him.
The Shire of Barrabool rate books are grouped into three ridings: Ceres, Moriac and Coast. The parishes in the Shire are:
- Barrabool
- Gnarwarre
- Modewarre
- Duneed
- Puebla
- Paraparap
- Jan Juc
Thank you from all of us to our Winchelsea Wonders! Think of them while you search the Geelong & District database for your ancestors.
Geelong and District 
An interesting surprise to read about Eliza Cartwright /Parsons in this post
Eliza was the sister of my husbands greatgrandfather, Jospeh BRAND
Strangely, another similatr situation has occurred on my side of the family
Richard PHILLIPS, married to Elizabeth Goodenough, owned the hotel The Thistle Inn in Corio Street in 1846
After he died the license passed to Elizabeth, only to go to her new husband Anthony BECK
However he took off with another and Elizabeth regained the license..She later moved to Ballarat
where she died.Elizabeth was my gt gt grandmother and is featured in two books by Elizabeth Rushen
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Just looking at Winchelsea Wonders and notice that Elizabeth Beck nee Phillips/Goodenough was mentioned. She is my great,great grandmother! My maiden name was Beck and she is a direct descendent through her son Frederick Charles Beck. Would love to hear what information you may have about this courageous woman. I have seen her gravesite in the Ballarat Pioneers Cemetery
Sandra Chatterton
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Hi Sandra – I do hope you’ve spent time looking at all the references to Elizabeth in the Geelong & District database? If not, have a look at … http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/databases/gddbs
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Sandra
I would love to contact you off this site
My email is
fauna6@gmail.com
Di Christensen
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I did say the Winchelsea girls were wonderful!
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