People / Elizabeth Beattie Telfer

Elizabeth Beattie Telfer

1832 – 1896
Deceased Telfer Line
Wife, mother, pioneer | **Burial:** Houghton Cemetery, section E, row 11, site 377
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Biography


Elizabeth Beattie Telfer (1832–1896)

Born: 1832–1834, Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders, Scotland | Died: 17 February 1896, Norwood, SA (age 62–64) | Mother: Elizabeth Beattie (1802–1891) | Father: James Telfer (1796–1863) | Occupation: Wife, mother, pioneer | Burial: Houghton Cemetery, section E, row 11, site 377

> Also known as Elizabeth Beattie Dillon after marriage. A Scottish immigrant who arrived in 1854 on the Oliver Lang with her brothers James and Robert, travelled overland from Melbourne to South Australia.

Family

| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Self | Elizabeth Beattie Telfer |
| Spouse | John Charles Dillon (1827–1906) |
| Child | Elizabeth Esther Dillon (1858–1945) |
| Child | John Boswell Dillon (1859–?) |
| Child | James Telfer Dillon (1861–1951) |
| Child | Robert Telfer Dillon (1862–1942) |
| Child | Francis Telfer Dillon (1864–1942) |
| Child | Henry Hatch Dillon (1866–1936) |
| Child | Margaret Dillon (1869–?) |
| Child | Adam Telfer Dillon (1870–?) |
| Child | Septimus Dillon (1871–1946) |
| Father | James Telfer (1796–1863) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Beattie (1802–1891) |
| Brother | James Telfer (1829–1913) |
| Brother | Robert B. Telfer (1834–1907) |
| Brother | John Telfer (1840–1913) |

Life Summary

Elizabeth Beattie Telfer was born in Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders, Scotland, likely around 1832–1834, the daughter of James Telfer (1796–1863) and Elizabeth Beattie (1802–1891). She grew up in the rural Scottish borderlands, a region known for sheep farming and textile weaving.

In 1854, at approximately age 20–22, Elizabeth immigrated to Australia on the ship Oliver Lang with her brothers James and Robert. The ship landed in Melbourne, and the siblings travelled overland to South Australia, where they visited her uncle Francis Telfer at "Macoota," Kersbrook.

On 18 December 1856, Elizabeth married John Charles Dillon at the residence of Francis Telfer, Chain of Ponds, South Australia. The marriage was registered at Talunga, SA, Volume 8, Page 376.

Between 1858 and 1871, Elizabeth bore nine children at their home in the Para Wirra / Chain of Ponds district. The family was deeply connected to the Mount Lofty Ranges — John Charles Dillon acquired land sections 648, 5517, and 5521 in the Hundred of Para Wirra in 1860 under the new Torrens Title system.

Elizabeth passed away on 17 February 1896 in Norwood, SA (age 62), and was buried at Houghton Cemetery. Her husband John survived her by a decade, dying in 1906 at Tea Tree Gully.

Timeline

| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| ~1832–1834 | Born, Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland |
| 1854 | Immigrated on Oliver Lang with brothers James & Robert; landed Melbourne, overland to SA |
| 18 Dec 1856 | Married John Charles Dillon at Chain of Ponds, SA |
| 1858 | Birth of daughter Elizabeth Esther Dillon |
| 1859 | Birth of son John Boswell Dillon |
| 1860 | Husband lodges caveat for land in Hundred of Para Wirra |
| 1861 | Birth of son James Telfer Dillon |
| 1862 | Birth of son Robert Telfer Dillon |
| 1864 | Birth of son Francis Telfer Dillon |
| 1866 | Birth of son Henry Hatch Dillon |
| 1869 | Birth of daughter Margaret Dillon |
| 1870 | Birth of son Adam Telfer Dillon |
| 1871 | Birth of son Septimus Dillon at Kersbrook, SA |
| 17 Feb 1896 | Died, Norwood, SA (age ~62) |

Photos

Elizabeth beattie telfer dillon grave
Elizabeth beattie telfer dillon grave

> Grave of Elizabeth Beattie Dillon, Houghton Cemetery, section E, row 11, site 377
Source: FindAGrave - Elizabeth Beattie Dillon — accessed 25 May 2026

Notes


  • Four of Elizabeth's nine sons carried the middle name "Telfer" — an unusually strong preservation of the mother's maiden name

  • The Oliver Lang immigration and overland journey details come from FindAGrave contributor notes

  • Sister of James Telfer (1829–1913), the prominent Koppio Estate manager and Port Lincoln JP

  • The family naming pattern: James (after grandfather), Robert & Francis & Adam (maintaining the Telfer surname)

  • Her brother John Telfer (1840–1913) may be a different John Telfer from any previously vaulted — check against Leads.md

  • Francis Telfer Dillon death year: Confirmed as 1942 by the approved Dillon-Telfer research report (processed report, May 2026), which cross-referenced the Triplett family matrix with Dillon records — accessed 28 May 2026


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