THERE were so many Boyds in the Pomborneit area, the family used to field its own cricket team in an annual district cricket match.
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“It was the Boyds versus the rest,” Laurie Boyd, the chairman of the Boyd Family History Group, said.
The Boyds’ contribution to cricket in the district is one of many celebrated in the 312-page book, Boyd — A Family History of the Boyds of Pomborneit that was released this week.
Mr Boyd said the family created a farming dynasty, owning more than 50 properties in the area during the past 150 years.
Up to 20 Boyd families and in-laws still live in Pomborneit and surrounding district, engaged in dairying and livestock production, but many more descendants are scattered throughout Victoria.
Alexander and Margaret Boyd were the first of the clan to arrive, emigrating from the Highlands of Scotland in 1856.
They were among the pioneers of the Pomborneit area, establishing the “Zed Bee” farm in Pomborneit North in 1867.
Their son, James, and his wife, Mary, put the family on a prosperous footing, expanding the family’s holdings from the original 20 hectares (60 acres) to 1505 hectares (4500 acres) and producing 11 children.
Family members became community leaders and helped establish not only the Pomborneit Recreation Reserve but also the Pomborneit Presbyterian Church, the Pomborneit North hall and operated three district schools.
Mr Boyd said the family was proud of its history and the book was the result of more than 40 years of research by family members.
He said the latest book built upon the work of the late Elva Amery (nee Boyd) who wrote the story of the Boyds of Pomborneit in 1985 after extensive research that included travelling to Scotland.
The Boyd Family History Group was formed in 2009 to take the story further and its research included a pilgrimage to Scotland in 2013 by 34 family members who visited the crofts and districts where the Boyds had lived since the 14th century.
Descendants from throughout the south-west attended the book’s launch on Tuesday when a copy was presented to Camperdown and District Historical Society president Gillian Wadds in appreciation of the society’s contribution to research.
The book can be viewed at the Camperdown Heritage Centre and is expected to be in the Camperdown library in a few weeks.
