Few families can claim such deep roots in the Hills District as the Trethowans, whose story stretches back to 19th-century England and the days of wooden sailing ships. Now, after more than 100 years of farming, building, and contributing to the local community, the family is farewelling their cherished 5-acre property at 2 McAlister Road, Galston.
The Trethowan Family History journey began in 1855, when Alfred Trethowan was born in Falmouth, Cornwall, where his family had operated a shipbuilding yard for over two centuries. But as the age of sail declined, Alf sought a new life.
In 1877, he and his sister Augusta, newly married, boarded a ship bound for Sydney. By 1885, Alf and his wife, Anna Maria, had saved enough to purchase 40 fertile acres at the corner of Smalls and Blacks Roads, Arcadia, where they grew citrus and poultry and raised a young family.
Their legacy of hard work and innovation continued through the generations. Alf and his sons even helped design and build St Columb’s Church in Arcadia, which opened its doors in 1907. In the 1950s, Alf’s grandson Dick Trethowan and his wife Dorothy moved to Radnor Road, Galston — the property that is now 2 McAlister Road — drawn to its rich, arable soil perfect for fruit farming. For decades, the family cultivated Naval and Valencia oranges, plums, peaches, and stone fruit, with a wind protective row of towering pines planted some 70 years ago, still standing as a proud natural landmark today.
Set on 5 fertile, park-like acres, this unique property boasts over 300 metres of road frontage, a private cul-de-sac, a tranquil gully, and Still Creek meandering along its base, offering both privacy and timeless rural charm.
Through changing times — from orchards and egg production, the Trethowans have remained a pillar of the local community. Their story is not just one of farming but of resilience, vision, and connection to the land.
Marketing agent Kate Lumby of Lumby Real estate said “ As 2 McAlister Road enters a new chapter, it carries with it the rich history of a family whose legacy has shaped the Hills District for over a century.”
