The Keegan Family
Keegan St Reserve, and the land on which this building is built, was donated by the Keegan Family who once owned this area. Philip Keegan, and his wife Mary, owned the property as early settlers to the Morwell district as a farming allotment allocated by the local government (the then Rosedale Shire).
They had migrated from Scotland after being married and had moved around both South Australia and Victoria seeking employment on the Railways. It was Philip’s employment on the new Mirboo North line that saw them settle in the area.
With the new Railway head being established at Morwell, the town quickly grew, as did the value of the Keegan Property, they were able to build their homestead, which still stands at 28 Hazelwood Road (the front portion of the current house). It is the oldest standing building in Morwell, having being built in 1884.
The Keegan family were involved heavily in the infant Morwell community, Philip and Marys children (John, Phillip, Rosanna, Anthony, Thomas and James) were one of the first enrolled in the local Primary school (Commercial Rd).
The family were heavily involved in playing football for Morwell, and importantly, James, Phillip and Thomas can be found to have played cricket for the Morwell Cricket Club not long after our formation in 1885.
In our history book, it is noted regularly that both Thomas and Phillip must have been very useful bowlers for us in the mid 1890’s, regularly taking ‘bags’ of wickets. James is noted occasionally as player, and as umpire. It is hoped that Thos Ferguson who led the club at this time, allowed the Keegans to play without having to pay fees which stood at a hefty 5 shillings (50 cents) in a foresighted move with their family having donated the land on which the club was to play 100 years later! Upon Marys’ death in 1912, with Philip having died prior, the land which she owned, which contains currently Elgin St, Ann St and much of the area between Hazelwood Rd and Maryvale Cresent (the old site of the Mirboo North Railway) and a considerable area southwards, was broken up and sold off in plots with the Keegan St Reserve area to always be used for recreational purposes only.
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