More than 150 people from Ararat and district, throughout Victoria and interstate attended.

The Murphys have lived in Ararat since 1861 after the arrival of James and Sabina Murphy to the area.

James Murphy left Tipperary Ireland in 1941, aged 28, arriving at Port Phillip Bay on the ship the Royal Saxon in 1841. Sabina Staunton left Galway Ireland in 1841 aged 20, arriving at Port Phillip Bay in 1941.

James and Sabina married in Melbourne about 1843.

Ararat's Don Murphy produced a book tracing the family history in 2001 and organised the reunion in Ararat.

Mr Murphy first became interested in family research in 1983 and has since undertaken research into his family which helped him produce the book.

The Murphy family, headed by James and Sabina, farmed around the Ararat area and could be found in various places at one time or another, including Warracknabeal, Murtoa, Brim, Jackson Creek, Tatyoon, Willaura and Ararat.

The couple had 10 children, the 10th, William Edward, being Don Murphy's great grand father.

Most of the children were born in Geelong or Bell Post Hill and Ashby.

James Murphy's first land grant was in Geelong, believed to be opposite the now Telegraph Hotel in Geelong. The story goes that they walked off the land because it was unproductive.

They left Geelong following the marriage of their daughter Mary Ann.

James' first land grant in Ararat was on October 4 1867.