John Stuart Hepburn

Captain John Stuart Hepburn (1803–1860) was a master mariner, and an early Australian pastoralist, landholder, and magistrate, in rural Colonial Victoria.

Biography Hepburn was born in Whitekirk, East Lothian, Scotland on . He initially became a seafaring man and progressed to become master of a brig, Alice, and made at least eight voyages between England and Australia. Hepburn joined Gardiner and Joseph Hawdon in a venture to overland cattle to Port Phillip. William Coghill travelled further west, crossing Bullarook Creek and establishing Glendaruel and then Glendonald. Captain Hepburn named Smeaton Hill station after a small hamlet which lay near his birthplace. The homestead which he named Smeaton House, was constructed in 1849-50 and is occupied today. and their two children. Hepburn was buried with other members of his family in a small cemetery on the property. Smeaton House was purchased by the Righetti family and is sometimes open to the public.