John and Denis Bacon were stonemasons and builders and arrived with their families aboard the Strathfieldsay, 31 Dec 1831. In 1848 they both moved to Antil Ponds and John became a farmer. John was a trustee, along with others, to land granted by the Government for the erection of St Paul's Catholic Church at Oatlands of which the foundation stone was laid by Bishop Willson on 10 Apr 1850.;;John and his family left Tasmania on board the Wigeon, 26 Apr 1850 and continued on to San Francisco after a harrowing sail to Sydney. While in San Francisco John became ill and wanted to return to Tasmania. On the family's return they bought Belle Vue, a farm on Lake Dulverton, which Honora, John's wife and two daughters Elizabeth and Margaret managed. Belle Vue became a place for many social gatherings for families in the Oatlands area.