Historical information

Jessie, known as Ma Barrie to her grandchildren, was the daughter of a school teacher. The family lived in various locations around Central Victoria, particularly Pastoria and Melton. When her
father was Head Teacher at Melton State School no 430, she met her future husband, CE Barrie. Jessie May married Charles Ernest Barrie in the Methodist Church Melton on the 23rd August 1906.
They lived in the newly built house beside the Chaff Mill on the corner of Station and Brooklyn road Melton South.
In April 1910 the family moved to a farm in Trundle NSW. The Chaff Mill was sold to Glover Onians - HSK Ward. The family returned to Melton in 1911, buying the “Darlingsford” farm in May. In 1916 they lived in Elizabeth Street, Moonee Ponds where the children attend Bank Street School, Ascot Vale. The children developed diphtheria Mary and Bon were transferred to Fairfield Hospital. In March 1919 the family returned to live at Melton at the time of the outbreak of the Spanish influenza.

Mary, Bon and Edgar returned to Melton School. Following the death of CEB in a car accident in 1931 she was left to bring up her children on her own; the youngest Jim, aged 9
and eldest Mary, aged 24. Jessie left ‘Darlingsford’ in 1946 when her sons had safely returned from WW II. She stayed at Yarram for a time where her married twin daughters lived when more grandchildren were born and spent the remainder of her life living with various family members. Jessie died in 1960 while living with Mary and Keith.

Physical description

Jessie Barrie with her grandchildren at Darlingsford, Melton