Families – Mills

David Mills was born on 6 April 1887 at Bungwahl.  He was the son of Charles Job Mills and Eliza Paterson.  At the age of 11 he went to Burringbar and in 1908 moved to Upper Lansdowne where he engaged in dairying.  In 1913 he married Miss Eliza Rhoda Stace at Coopernook.  For a time David had a bullock team whilst his wife and family looked after the farm.

Wedding photo of Eliza Rhoda Stace to David Mills

David and Eliza had 13 children:

1. James Joseph born 2 November 1913 died 26 July 1978 married Jeanne Fleming in 1939.
2. Nellie Beatrice (Dot) born 29 February 1916 died 26 November 1996 married Arthur Raymond Bennett in 1941.
3. Violet Alena born 8 May 1919 died 4 January 1986 married Howard Minett in 1938.
4. Daisy Isobel born 31 May 1921 died 29 August 2004 married Walter Francis Shiels in 1942.
5. Elsie May (Ett) born 27 July 1925 died 9 December 1999 married Peter James Atkins in 1943.
6. Donald Stanley (Duke) born 13 January 1927 died 24 February 2012 married Doreen Christensen in 1951.
7. Olga Joan born 13 January 1928 died 5 October 2009 married Edward Schubert in 1949.
8. Francis Oliver (Frank) born 1929 died 20 December 1985 died 20 December 1985 married Dawn Turner in 1949.
9. Nola Joyce born 21 February 1932 died 18 January 2001 married Dudley Schubert in 1951.
10. Thelma Irene Rhoda born 21 July 1933 married Neville Rose Potts in 1954.
11. Shirley Margaret born 17 January 1935 married Kevin George Layton in 1952.
12. Yvonne Faye born 11 November 1937 died 7 February 2012 married William George Mann in 1958.
13. Valerie Jeanette born 22 April 1940 married Raymond John Richards in 1960.

Children of Eliza and David Mills

David died on 23 October 1948 and his wife Eliza died in June 1946.  They are both buried at Lansdowne Cemetery.

In September 1991 the new bridge just past Muddy’s Lane on Koppin Yarratt Road was officially named “Mills Bridge”.  Lansdowne Valley residents turned out in force for the official opening. 

The original bridge was built in 1915 adjoining the Mills’ property and became informally known as ‘the Mills bridge’. 

The official opening was performed by Mayor Ralph Metcalfe.

^{Compiled by Gloria Crittenden – February 2025}