Fred Bucknal (1839-1908)

1843  Migrated with parents from England.
1857  Managed family property in Victoria.
1877  Married Fannie. Lived in Maryborough Victoria on shared station, here 3 children were born;
         Chester, Edgar and Lottie.
1888  Moved to leased house in Portland. Selected 250 hectare Crown Grazing licence on the Glenelg
         river, near Dartmoor. Had success with Black Wattle plantations.
1890  Built his new home, he called "Rooikrantz" on the banks of the Glenelg river. Acquired 25acre
         block straddling the creek (Now Waterfall Gardens). His land holdings grew to 3000 acres.
1890s Bank crash forced Fred and brother Albert to recoup losses by gold prospecting in Coolgardie WA.
1896  Returned with £5000 ($10000). Purchased more land at the mouth of the Glenaulin Creek.
1908  September, Fred died. The properties were taken over by Chester and Edgar.
1977  The properties were taken over by CSR for pine plantations. The only block not utilised for
         pines was Waterfall Gardens, which was sold to Mr. Leo Violini (a Canadian) manager of
         the Dartmoor Mill.

Leo Violini

1984  Built present residence. Installed a concrete dam. From here he diverted the waterfalls water
         through pipes to the bottom falls known as Bucknall Falls, just near the river. The pipes
         were connected to a turbine to generate power for the house