James Johnston settled at Kangaroo Ground in 1849. His nephew James Mess joined him and a descendant Robert James Mess changed his surname to Ness. The family became active in all aspects of Kangaroo Ground life. Contents Text (handwritten and transcribed): "The Ness Family, Kangaroo Ground", Joy Ness, 1989. Newspaper article: "True pioneer stock", Diamond Valley News, 2 March 1982. History of the Mess/Ness family Newspaper article: "Ness family are keepers of 140 years of historical knowledge", Diamond Valley News, 4 February 1986. History of Joseph Stephenson and descendants. Newspaper article: "Joy Ness paints native flowers for posterity". Diamond Valley News, 21 October 1986. Life and career of Joy Ness as painter. Newspaper article: "His Cup runneth of with Joy", ?Diamond Valley Leader, 6 December 2000. Bruce and Joy Ness celebrate 60th wedding anniversary. Pencil sketch by Joh Ebeli no date but pre 2004: Portrait of Joy Ness dressed for the Historical Society Parade. Order of Service: Thanksgiving service for the life of Robert Bruce Ness 22 January 1917 / 28 June 2004. Eltham District Historical Society newsletter no date: "Robert Bruce Ness 1917-2004", obituary and extract from Joy Ness's history of the family. Copy of letter from Joh Ebeli to Gwen Orford, no date but ~2004: Describes drawings he made of Robert Bruce Ness when taking part in Diamond Valley Arts Society float and enclosed 3 drawings and a photograph of drawing of the bakers (corner Main Road and York Street Eltham). Eltham District Historical Society newsletter September 2013: "Vale Joy Ness", obituary and extract from Diamond Valley News article of 6 December 2000.Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcness family kangaroo ground, james johnston, kangaroo ground, pretty hill farm, wellers hotel, betsy sadler, ingleside kangaroo ground, james mess, jane stevenson, ness lane kangaroo ground, view hill kangaroo ground, stte savings bank agency, ruth lettice gosling nee mess, kangaroo ground state school, garden hills kangaroo ground, william mess, joseph mess, isabella mess, james johnson mess, ruth ettie mess, george mess, alexander mess, janes mess, robert david mess, heidelberg agricultural show, diamond creek agricultural show, rober james ness, pearl ness nee mills, william mills, sabina mills, robert bruce ness, beryl ness, vera ness, donald ness, kangaroo ground presbyterian church, kangaroo ground cemetery trust, kangaroo ground tennis club, professor osborne, doctor osborne, joseph stevenson, joy ness, kangaroo ground fire brigade, bruce ness, country fire authority, ship wellington 1837, diamond creek, david christmas, christmas hills, andres harkness, samuel furphy, andrew ross, caledonian gold fields, queenstown now st andrews, mother coleman of kangaroo ground, diamond valley arts society, winifred joy ness, andrew ross museum, eltham art show

Joseph Stevenson came to Australia in 1837, eventually settling near Kangaroo Ground. He was active in local affairs.. Contents Handwritten and typed notes by Winifred Joy Ness, 1985, "Joseph Stevenson of Kangaroo Ground". Handwritten extracts from "Pioneers and Painters" by Alan Marshall, relevant to Joseph Stevenson. Handwritten extracts from "Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip"by R V Bills and A S Kenyon, relevant to Joseph Stevenson. Photocopy of photographs: Stevenson daughters; a stevenson daughter with baby; Joseph Stevenson. Handwritten Stevenson family tree (on 2 sheets). Photocopy of photograph: Robert Stevenson and family, "Bankhead", Kangaroo Ground (ref 423). Photocopy of two prints/paintings, annotated on reverse (information from R B Ness: Punt over Yarra River at Melbourne which Joseph Stevenson helped build, from "History of South Melbourne", published 1930s; First bridge over Yarra at Melbourne which Joseph Stevenson helped build. Photocopy of Death Certificate: Joseph Stevenson, 1 November 1878. Photocopy of Death Certificate: Ruth Sevenson, 1 November 1868. Photocopy of Marriage Certificate: names illegible 16 November 1868 Photocopy of extract of Marriage Certificate: Joseph Stephenson and Ruth Boyd, 14 June 1837. Newspaper article: "Resting in peace", Diamond Valley News, 23 March 1982. Judith Furphy and early Kangaroo Ground families buried in Kangaroo Ground Cemetery. Newspaper article: "Grounds for celebration", Diamond Valley Leader, 23 November 2005. Lynette Beale traced her ancestor Joseph Stevenson to Kangaroo Ground. Letter Diana Bassett-Smith to EDHS, 10 August 2005. Donation of a moulding plane marked Joseph Stephenson, property of descendants.Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcjoseph stevenson, ship willington 1837, ruth stevenson nee boyd, david stevenson, jane stevenson, kirk's bazaar, first punt across yarra river, princes bridge melbourne, stevenson street melbourne, saltwater creek, river plenty, christmas hills, david christmas, diamond creek, isabella stevenson, robert stevenson, five mill creek, watson's creek, "bankhead" kangaroo ground, ellen stevenson, yarra glen road, yarra glen cemetery, stevenson's corner kangaroo ground, stevenson's creek, presbyterian church kangaroo ground, eltham district road board, margaret stevenson, ruth stevenson, emma stevenson nee peers, margaret hargreaves nee stephenson, robert peers, cyrus peers, charlotte peers, jane mess nee stevenson, robert mess, pearl mess nee mills, james mess, george mess, janet mess, joseph mess, william mess, alexander mess, barbara mess, isabella mess, ruth gosling nee mess, john gosling, jessie gosling, evelyn sinclair nee gosling, william gosling, vera rowland nee gosling, florrie rawland, ethel rawland, john rawland, isobel gilson nee mess, bruce mess, joy mess nee masefield, janet crook nee mess, rodney crook, judith rodgers nee mess, ray rodgers, dean crook, jenine crooks, carolyn rodgers, merryn rodgers, beryl nansen nee mess, robert nansen, gerry oliming, roberta oliming nee nansen, bernard nansen, michele nansen nee blackie, rohan nansen, janet nansen nee britton, vera cope nee mess, cliff cope, graeme cope, louise cope nee thimpton, shannon cope, lucas cope, peter cope, marilyn cope nee turnley, oliver cope, sarah cope, kelvin cope, donald mess, joan mess, geoffrey mess, peter mess, rosemary mess, kerrie mess, isobel gibson nee mess, ellen stevenson nee armstrong, james stevenson, john stevenson, elizabeth stevenson, joanna stevenson, ellen little nee stevenson, william little, francis little, janet little nee armstrong, ruth lorimer nee little, david lorimer, ruth cameron nee lorimer, francis lorimer, val wade, elizabeth lorimer, david kelso, willaim lorimer, jean lorimer nee hewitt, nancy mitson nee lorimer, stan mitson, john hewitt, alison hewitt, john cameron, beryl ryan nee cameron, robert cameron, maryann ryan, peter ryan, margaret ryan, steven wade, andrew wade, jonathan wade, jennifer wade, ruth sadlernee stevenson, thomas sadler, alexander sadler, isabella booth nee sadler, angus sadler, heather sadler, ruth sadler, andrew sadler, nancy sadler, benjamin sadler, robert sadler, alice sadler nee smith, margaret smith, david sadler, anne mcclusky nee sadler, hope sadler, anne carson nee sadler, ruth edwards nee carson, david carson, joseph sadler, isabella bond nee sadler, ian bond, ruth bond, isabella bond, john sadler, thoas sadler, mary sadler nee stewart, stewart sadler, keith sadler, glen sadler, peter sadler, terry sadler, pamela sadler, armstrong family kangaroo ground, bell family kangaroo ground, rogerson family kangaroo ground, barr family kangaroo ground, harkness family kangaroo ground, jardin family kangaroo ground, thompson family kangaroo ground, johnson family kangaroo ground, walters family kangaroo ground, sir ewen camerson, flora margaret cameron, ewen cameron, sir ewan camerson, sir herbert gepp, "garden hill" yarra glen road, andrew moss museum kangaroo ground, lynette beale, noel beale, mick woiwod, diana bassett-smith