Malvern Victoria Pioneer Register and any information about Gardinia later Malvern sought

I have a James Whiteford and family (Jean-Jane Wylie and children Mary Reid and Thomas) arriving in Melbourne on the Garland in 1852. They emigrated from Campbeltown Argyll Sco. James was born in Ireland abt 1826. Jean was the youngest daughter of Thomas Wylie and Jean Morton. She was bn in Stewarton Ayrshire in abt 1829.

James was a stone mason and an buttisted immigrant. Jean-Jane appears to have been interchangeable. Various bdm certs use either first name.

James and family initially lived in Richmond but moved to Gardinia, later Malvern when it was opened up.

I am very keen to find any information about the early days of Malvern and early settlers there. James and his family lived on the corner of Glenferrie Road (his son James named his house in Brisbane, Glenferrie).

Jean-Jane died in Malvern in 1911 as an 89 year old. I have a scan of a newspaper clipping (The Age) which indicates that at the time of her rest she was the oldest resident of Malvern. James died in Malvern in 1902.

Children: Mary Reid bn Campbeltown Sco in 1849-50. I have no details of any marriage in Victoria.

Thomas bn Campbeltown Sco in 1852, married Minnie Mary MACAULAY in 1895 with Minnie Macaulay WHITEFORD bn 1896 in Malvern. Thomas died in 1896.

James born Richmond 1855 who took to a droving life at about 14 and went from Melbourne to far, far Nth Qld. I'm descended from him and all that side of my family came from Qld so I don't know a great deal about the Victorian Whitefords and buttociated relatives.

Margaret born Gard 1860 m John BEATTIE in 1891. Margaret died in Hawthorn in 1939. Their children were Maurice Melville bn 1891, John Lyle bn 1893, d BRIG 1968, Linda Myrtle bn 1893, Ivo Pearl bn 1897, Clive Roy Hopetoun bn 1901, Hugh Vere Moyes bn 1906, Mervyn Whiteford bn 1906. All were born in Malvern. There may have also been a James Clarence Beattie and a Ruby May Jane Beattie who died respectively at ARMA in 1975 and MALV in 1975.

Louisa Isabella Halcrow Prussia (that's what's on the Digger CD!) m James DUNN. She died in Dandenong in 1930. Her children incl Jno Archd (John Archibald??) bn 1891 and Annie Ella bn 1893. They were both born in Malvern. I believe other children of this marriage were Louisa who married a CRIBB and died in BTON in 1941. Daisy Lilian Jane who married a REILLY and died in ARM in 1931. Thomas Butler who died in Malvern in 1939, William Francis who died in GLEN in 1958, James Morton who died in KEW in 1963 and Elizabeth Margaret (BARNES) died in 1974 in BEEC.

Jane Mary Catherine (or possibly Mary Jane according to Digger on her rest cert) born Gard 1863, married Paul SMITH Malvern 1893, died Lilydale 1936. No details of children.

Wld of course love to hear from anybody with connections with these families, but keen to know about Malvern in early days. Is there such a thing as a Pioneer Register for the area? What documentation might be available for people in the area? Rates books, electoral registers etc.

Thanks for any input.

Cheers

Anne Whiteford