Pearl Biggs (Nee: Pheeney) was born in 1944 to parents Rita & Eric Pheeney. The Pheeney's are related to the Devitts by marriage and the Vaughan's. Her mother was a Rutledge. William Vaughan travelled up from Bega to secure land when released from the Berry Estate. he farmed at Bolong til death in 1932 and was Pearls Great Grandfather. Her grandparents Evelyn Vaughan and Fredrick Pheeney came up from Bega later and secured some land near Fletchers lane then bought Maylands, Meroo Rd in early 20th century. Evelyn by horse and sulky, pregnant with Pearl's father Eric. Fred drove cattle up on horesback.

Pearl covers alot of social and agricultural history in this episode and makes an invaluable contribution to Meroo villages podcast Season 1. I love the Travelling Circus coined by the locals as they all travelled up the highway on their 7 tractors to bale on farms in the district.

The Devitt family date back to 1857 when the patriach John Devitt migrated from Donegral Ireland to Woodhill Mountain indentured to Adam & Mary Boyd.

His grandson Albert Devitt moved to Sunnyside, Devitts Lane when marrying Grace Shepherd whose father William originally owned the property in 1911. Their daughter Valerie married Reg Radford andassisted running the farm from 1950. They dairy farmed on the 140 acres. Their son Arthur provided Therese Sweeney with insight as to life on the property during mid 20th century and this is covered in the introductory narration. They were never mechanised, poor and had to sell the property in 1963.

Today John martin has resided on the land raising beef cattle after his parents purchased it in 1964. This is his journey from fairview on the south side of the princes hwy opposite devitts lane to eventually building a house and settling on the land.

Patrick Muller born 1954 is one of 7 children to parents Albert & Vonnie Muller. His mother Vonnie is 100 years old.

Patrick’s Great Great Grandfather Jacob & wife Annie with 3 young children migrated to Australia on Dec. 1854 from Hamburg Germany. Germans were assisted to emigrate if British could not supply the skills, mainly pastoral & wine industries. They travelled with 500 others on the ship Cateaux Wattel.

Jacob and his family then boarded the vessel Norma arriving in The Shoalhaven on 14 March 1955. He signed a 2 year indenture agreement prior to migrating to work for David Berry at Coolangatta. They lived initially in a house at Back Forest. Jacob was naturalised in 1861, he could then buy land. He remained all his life working on the Estate at Coolangatta, as a plasterer. He bought a house in 1880 in Berry St. Nowra. Deeding this to his son George in 1882 on his death.

George was to follow in his footsteps and became a builder after his father passed. Next son John (Johann) bought an initial 86 acres from John Hay part of the Meroo estate in 1893, when Estate lands were being sold. His brother George built John his house, ‘Pomona’. 5 generations of the Muller family were to grow up and farm at Pomona.

Today the house is heritage listed and was the heart of the Meroo community throughout the 20th century. John married Mary Host in 1877 and had 7 children.

His son Albert married Bridget Morrissey in 1912 and leased Pomona til 1941 then he purchased it. They had 8 children. Their son Albert stayed at Pomona and worked as a sharefarmer after he married Vonnie Walsh in 1948. They purchased Pomona in 1959.

For Pomona to survive; with the introduction of milk quotas in the 60s and 70s, extra land had to be purchased, even though farm practises and machinery were improving. It was a rapidly changing industry.

Patrick Muller, their son was to remain with the farm and bought Pomona in 1986 with wife Jeanette King from Numbaa. Patrick extended their land purchases. Their children also helped dairy farm. This is Patrick's story.

Some facts sourced from the publication Jacob Muller & the Shoalhaven published in 2011. A booklet produced by Katherine M Reynolds for Shoalhaven Historical Society. An extended family genealogy an emigrant story. Contact Therese Sweeney at tsweeneyink@gmail.com website:Theresesweeney.com main archive: sweeney.lib.uts.edu.au