Son of Peter McCracken, Coiler was born March 2, 1848 and died in 1915.  The pronunciation of his name was often mistaken and he found himself answering to both ‘Coiler’ and ‘Collier’.  Often the spelling of his name is confused too.  Such examples include: Coyla, Cola, Coiller, Coila and Colyer.

On April 23 1874, Coiler married Margaret Robertson, eldest daughter of James Robertson, at Aberfeldie.

Coiler was also involved in many sporting areas.  He was first president of the Essendon Golf Club when it formed in 1878.  Its first course was on a property owned by the family.  In 1891, he was elected president of the Essendon Cricket, Bowling and Tennis Club when the club met at Moonee Ponds Town Hall to receive and adopt rules drawn up by the sub-committee.   

In August 1886, Coiler purchased an allotment of land in Leslie Road, Essendon from grazier Alexander Oliver.  The land measured 297 feet x 346 feet (just over 2 acres).  In 1890 the foundation stone was laid for “Earlsbrae”, Coiler’s home which cost him about £35,000.  In November 1911, Edward W Cole, of Cole’s Book Arcade fame, purchased "Earlsbrae" from Coiler for £6,000.  He moved into the residence with daughters Ada, Pearl and Ivy.

Earlsbrae Hall

In November 1919, Earlsbrae Hall was sold for £6,500 to the Church of England Trusts Co-operative for the Diocese of Melbourne for education purposes.  The Church of England Girls’ Grammar School opened in February 1920, with Miss Florence Hutton placed in charge of 135 boarding and day students.  Today the building, now known as Lowther Hall, forms part of Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School.

Earlsbrae Hall (2003)