He settled in Toolamba in 1870, working the land and applying for his 320-acre lease in 1873.
His brother George acquired land soon after James, and in 1884, he donated two acres for the first Toolamba Primary School.
In 1873, James and his brother George set up one of the first businesses in Toolamba, a blacksmith and wheelwright.
They also grew wheat and oats due to the large acreage of the property, which was carried by bullock teams to Avenel.
James was a wheelwright by trade, and George was a carpenter, and together they built many houses in the district.
The original home, Herdstown Villa, named after Herdstown in Northern Ireland where they were born, is still standing.
James and George shod horses, made and repaired wagons, drays and all sorts of agricultural implements.
They were farriers for Cobb and Co, and Cobb and Co would call in and change horses, leaving the tired ones to be fed, watered and reshod for the next trip.
They had over nine full-time employees and over 120 clients throughout the district in 1873.
James married Eliza Cruthers in 1874, and they had 10 children, five of whom died in infancy.
The five remaining children, Anne, Mary, James, Margaret and William, all attended Toolamba Primary School.
Anne (Annie) Bitcon was the youngest child ever enrolled at Toolamba Primary School at two-and-a-half in 1880.
William, Noel’s father, was born at Herdstown Villa and attended in 1898. William loved horses and would often travel to school by horse and buggy.
He was very proud of his pony called Toby. He always kept his harness shining, and Toby would pass everything in front of him.
William Bitcon served on most committees, including the primary school, and was treasurer for several years. He was also a life governor of the Mooroopna Hospital.
Noel Bitcon was born on December 8, 1931. She was one of three children and grew up on the family farm.
She attended Toolamba Primary School in 1937 and then Shepparton High School.
Noel’s father was one of the first to own a car (Dodge) in Toolamba, but Noel, in her early years, travelled to school by horse and buggy.
After leaving school, Noel worked at the Toolamba telephone exchange and cooked for the boys at Dhurringile mansion.
Noel was a wonderful cook and catered for numerous local events and weddings.
She was renowned for the scones she made for the Toolamba Pumpkin Festival.
Noel married David Rea in 1957, and most of their life was spent farming on the family property at Toolamba.
Their children Stuart, Jeneane and Lynda still live in the area and all attended Toolamba Primary School.
Noel loved her community and held positions on many committees, including the Toolamba Primary School and the Toolamba Tennis Club.
She was on the Toolamba History Book Committee, which assisted the author in the publication of the history of Toolamba Heart of the Valley Toolamba in 1983.
She was also president of the mothers club for the Toolamba Primary School celebrations in 1974. She was also a Shepparton Croquet Club president.
Stuart Rea attended Toolamba Primary School in 1969. Stuart married Suzie Robins in 1993, and together they operate a large dairy farm on the family property today, which has expanded to include beef and cropping.
The Rea family also provided land for the Toolamba Fishing Club and purchased the Junction Hotel in 2022.
Stuart and Suzie’s four daughters Sharnna, Kyrra, Tahlia and Emmersyn all attended Toolamba Primary School.
Emmersyn attended Toolamba Primary School in 2007 and is the fourth generation of her family to attend.
