He tried a few different jobs before marrying a young English woman called Jane Ruffy in 1844. Jane's family were among the first merino sheep farmers in Australia, and William went into partnership with them. In the mid 50's his wife got 1,200 sheep from her family, and she and William set up their own sheep station. This was at the time of the great gold rush, and William sold the land for a huge profit. He then bought another three stations. With the help of his two sons, he built them up into a very successful business in spite of famine and flood. He was also a member of the New South Wales Parliament from 1872 - 82.

In 1886, he retired to Brighton, near Melbourne. Now his thoughts kept returning to his Scotland home of Cornhill. He had not kept in touch with his parents after he was sent away in disgrace, but he wrote to his brother and later his nephews at Black Culphin (a farm outside Cornhill). His brother James was killed in an accident in 1857, and William supported James' widow financially and took great interest in how the two sons were coping on the farm.

Early in 1891, William received a letter which must have given him great satisfaction. It was from the minister in Cornhill, saying that he had long desired a public hall for the district and that several successful men had given such halls in other areas. This from the very church that put pressure on William's parents to get rid of him all those years before! William wrote back that he would finance the building but that he also intended being involved in the planning. He asked that a committee be set up, consisting of his two nephews, Mr. Gordon-Duff the Laird of Park Estate and the minister.

The committee first met on 16^th November 1891. They agreed on a hall big enough to hold 300, with a hall-keeper's cottage attached. Several sets of plans were drawn and sent to Australia for William to study. Once he decided on the plans he liked, work began. The hall with the furnishings and the organ cost L2500.

The hall was officially opened on 20^th January 1894. William was not invited!! At the opening ceremony, a portrait of William Hay and one of Jane were unveiled in the hall. You will also see his portrait in the stained glass window above the front door. William sent a letter to Mrs. James Hay at Black Culphin which said that he hoped the key would not rust in the door or he would know that his money had been wasted.

Not long after, William lost his beloved wife, Jane. When he had left Scotland all those years before, he vowed never to set foot in Scotland again. However, he wanted a special monument to his dear wife, so he decided to come to Scotland to order a massive headstone of Peterhead granite with a portrait of Jane inlaid. When he first arrived in Scotland, he went to Aberdeen to view the new turrets he had donated to Marischal College. He then came to Cornhill to see for the first and only time the Hay Memorial Hall.

On 12^th June 1896, William arrived in Cornhill to a wonderful sight. Every house was decorated with flags, and banners were strung across the street. He was welcomed into his hall, and a most enjoyable afternoon's entertainment was enjoyed, followed by another grand ball. It must have been very touching for him to be welcomed back with open arms into the village which threw him out 60 years earlier. William returned to Australia but kept in touch with the people of Cornhill until his death in September 1908.

One of his sheep stations was called Boomanoomana. His great-grandson, Sir David Hay, bought back the homestead with 320 acres in recent years and has devoted his retirement to restoring it.

The hall's centenary was celebrated in 1994. The original stained glass windows are still there. The hall is now managed by a group of trustees, which still must include a member of the Hay family.