being close to one of the first victorian trade ports, , the town grew quickly after settlement, as a result of the rich dairy country that supplies milk products to australia, and to the timber industry. in 1841 the site, originally a low-lying swamp, was chosen by a scottish clan leader, aeneas ronaldson macdonnell, who, with his fellow scots, attempted to set up a feudal-style court. however, the experiment folded and he subsequently moved to new zealand.