One of these was former Eungai schoolmaster, Robert Joseph Edgar Marceau, who was a grandson of a French-Canadian convict.

The convict ship Buffalo left Quebec on September 28, 1839 for the Australian colonies, arriving in Port Jackson on February 25, 1840. Aboard were 58 French-Canadians who had participated in riots against the British in Lower Canada, demanding greater participation in government.

Originally destined for Norfolk Island, the French-Canadians on the Buffalo were instead sent to Longbottom Stockades (now Concord) in Sydney following representations by the Roman Catholic bishop, Dr Polding.

One of 50 rebels whose death sentence was commuted to transportation-for-life was Joseph Marceau, who was born in January 24, 1806 in Quebec.

At Longbottom Stockade, the men worked at breaking stones for roads and collecting shells to be burnt for lime used in the building trade.

After three years the French-Canadians had received pardons and all but three returned home. Apart from two who had died, the only other exile not to return was Joseph Marceau.

Canada Bay in Sydney is named after the French-Canadian exiles, and Marceau Drive, Concord is named after Joseph Marceau, the only one not to go home.

In 1844 Joseph Marceau married a local girl, Mary Barrett, and settled at Dapto where he was granted land. Mary and Joseph Marceau had eleven children together. He passed away in 1883, aged 77.

His fourth child, a son named Joseph Francis, born in 1851, married Margaret Ann Grigg in Araluen.

Joeph Francis worked in the gold mines there for a while and became a respected magistrate, which position he held for forty years.

Joseph and Margaret had two children, a daughter Frances Margaret and son Robert Joseph Edgar.

Edgar Marceau, as he became to be known, was born in Araluen in 1885 and began a career as a school teacher in 1904 at two "half day" schools in the Snowy Mountains. He became teacher-in-charge at Norahville (now Toukley) in 1911 and married Daisy Matheson at Braidwood the following year.

Edgar Marceau, as he became to be known, was born in Araluen in 1885 and began a career as a school teacher in 1904 at two "half day" schools in the Snowy Mountains. He became teacher-in-charge at Norahville (now Toukley) in 1911 and married Daisy Matheson at Braidwood the following year.

Edgar and Daisy had two children, a daughter Edith Pauline (married William Parish) born in 1914, and a son Allyn, born 1919.

Edgar and his family moved to Eccleston, in the Hunter Valley near Barrington Tops in 1918, where he was also teacher-in-charge.

At some stage, he had acquired a Kodak Autographic Camera, and began taking photographs of the Barrington Tops and surrounding areas in the 1920s.

First released in 1914, the Autographic camera was so called because the photographer could add notes to the photographs through a small aperture in the back of the camera.

Edgar took photographs of many subjects including bullock teams, mobs of sheep and other scenes of the Allyn and Williams River valleys.

Edgar's numerous photographs were rediscovered in the 1990's and are now regarded as a priceless heritage of rural life in the Upper Hunter Valley.

Sadly, Edgar Marceau passed away in 1981 before the recognition of his magnificent achievements as a photographer.

He retired from teaching in 1950 after 13 years at Eungai Public School, his last posting, and retired to Broughton Street, Kempsey where he and his wife had built a new home.

Loved and respected by his ex-pupils, Edgar was also a strong supporter of Masonry and in 1979 was awarded for his 50 years service in the Masonic Lodge.

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