John Stuart Hepburn

Captain John Stuart Hepburn (1803–1860) was an early pastoralist and landholder in Victoria, Australia.

Hepburn was born in Scotland in 1803.^[1] He initially became a seafaring man and progressed to become master of a 226-ton brig, Alice.

In 1835, the Alice sailed for Hobart. On board was John Gardiner, an ex banker, who talked Hepburn into joining him in a pastoral run.^[2] Hepburn joined Gardiner and Joseph Hawdon in a venture to overland cattle to Port Phillip.^[2] The overlanding trip was successful. Hepburn met up with Captain John Coghill and his brother William. The brothers were settled at Kirkham and Stathellen near Braidwood, New South Wales.

In 1837, Hepburn and William Coghill became partners in a plan to overland 1400 ewes, 50 rams and 200 wethers to central Victoria.^[2] On 15 January 1838, the party left Strathallen for Victoria. Shortly after leaving Gundagai, New South Wales, they met William Bowman and the three parties travelled southward, crossing the Murray River near Albury. The Major's (Major Mitchell) tracks were picked up near Wangaratta and followed to Mount Alexander, where they set up a lambing camp in April. Bowman stayed, establishing the Sutton Grange run, but leaving it for Jas Orr when he moved on to Stratford near Heathcote.