A photograph of workers, including William McNeilly (third right), felling trees and clearing land in Drouin.
William McNeilly was born in 1871 as the fourth child of John and Eliza McNeilly, acknowledged as the first European settlers to take out land rights in Drouin.
John was granted 320 acres of virgin forest in 1871. William was only a baby when the family arrived by bullock and wagon.

The young family lived in a slab hut on their heavily treed land on the north of Drouin. Conditions were harsh with the land a mixture of dense musk scrub, fern trees and heavily treed gum trees.
William, along with his two older brothers and sister, attended Drouin State School once it was gazetted and built.
Acknowledged as an excellent tree logger, William and his brother Sam farmed the 320 acres after their father died. Their mother moved into a house in Albert Rd.
They each owned 160 acres, with William owning the west side and Sam the east.
Their other brother Jack moved to land holdings in East Gippsland.
After Eliza's death in 1917, the Albert Rd house is believed to have been moved to a new location on William's land near Main Neerim Rd.
William purchased the first 20 shares in the newly established Drouin Co-operative Butter Factory Company on May 28, 1906. His share numbers were one to 20.
He later purchased five more in 1928; share numbers 4610 to 4614.
William was the first treasurer of the Drouin Brass Band, formed in 1912.
At the age of 48, he married Mabel Walsh in May 1919. They had two children.
William was skilled at divining for water and metals. Sadly, William's health deteriorated and he had to sell the farm to his nephews; Sam's sons.
Photograph and information courtesy of Stories of Drouin, a cooperative oral history project between The Committee for Drouin, Drouin History Group and 3BBR FM to preserve local stories.
The story of William McNeilly is recorded as part of the McNeilly family story. It is told by two of his grandchildren.
To listen or find out more, visit storiesofdrouin.com.au