Elizabeth Beattie Telfer

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

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

Sources

• FindAGrave - Elizabeth Beattie Dillon (memorial 192688051) — accessed 25 May 2026
• WikiTree - Telfer-148 (Elizabeth Beattie Telfer) — accessed 25 May 2026
• Old Prospectors - John Charles Dillon & Elizabeth Beatie — accessed 25 May 2026
• FindAGrave - John Charles Dillon (memorial 192688080) — accessed 25 May 2026
• SA BDM Index: Death 17 Feb 1896, Norwood SA, Volume 233, Page 114
• SA BDM Index: Marriage 18 Dec 1856, Talunga SA, Volume 8, Page 376