Eliza Ann Richardson

Born Buninyong 1867, Reg No 13416. Buninyong was the registration place for Sellecks Flat.

Died Sellecks Flat near Buninyong, 1871, age 4 yrs, Reg No 7923.

Joseph was digging a waterhole on their farm at Selleck's Flat near Buninyong, when 4 year old Eliza who was playing not far away fell into another waterhole and drowned before he noticed her missing. See inquest report in docs.

The Ballarat Star Sat 2 Dec 1871 An inquest was held on Friday at Bonney’s hotel, Buninyong, by Dr Brown, coroner, on the body of Eliza. Ann Richardson, who was drowned in a water hole at Sellick’s Flat, on Thursday. Deceased was four years old, and was with her father in a paddock near the house, looking on whilst he was digging another water-hole, about thirty feet from the one in which deceased was drowned. He missed the child suddenly and found it in the water-hole, at the bottom of five feet of water. When taken out the child was quite dead, having been immersed about twenty minutes. Verdict, asphyxia, from accidental drowning.

One site says Sellecks Flat is now named Scotsburn, but the history of Scotsburn from 1839 makes no mention of Sellecks Flat, so I believe it was a separate locality, now lost.

Nev & Lyn Gorman have now found a burial at Buninyong Cemetery for another child of Joseph and Mary Ann
Henry Richardson b. Buninyong (Selleck's Flat?) 1866 son of Joseph Richardson and Mary Ann Stitson, and died aged 1 year in 1867. He was described as "a miner's child" so perhaps Joseph was looking for gold rather than digging water holes.
Henry is buried in plot #238 Wesleyan at Buninyong and Eliza Ann in plot #347 Wesleyan.