It has been said that the Clan Farlan traces its history to ancient Ireland among Celtic heroes who came originally from Spain.  Alwyn Mor, first earl of Lennox was said to be the great grandson of Mainey Leamna, the son of Conc, King of Munster, himself fifth in decent from Con of the Hundred Battles, King of Ireland.

Alternatively, Chalmers the Scottish archealogist, in, "Caledonia", quoting the 12th century Simeon of Durham, said the family's ancestor was the Saxon Arkil, son of Egfrith who fled from the Norman invasion and settled in Scotland.  He received from Malcolm Canmore the custody of the Levanox or Lennox district.  Alwyn, Arkil's son was created Earl of Lennox by Malcolm IV. Alwyn's son was a minor at his fathers death and William the Lion gave the Earldom to his brother David Earl of Huntingdon.  Alwyn II recovered possession by 1199. He died in 1224 leaving 8 sons.

Sir John Stewart of Darnley, in 1473, obtained a royal precept declaring him heir of half the land as well as the title Earl of Lennox. Later the MacFarlane's were among the first of the Highland Clans to accept the Protestant form of worship.

At the battle of Langside in  1568  Andrew, the Clan Chief fought alongside the Regent Moray with 200 followers.  This led to him receiving a pardon from a death sentence previously imposed.  Also he received the right to wear a crest of "a demi-savage proper, holding in one hand a sheaf of arrows, and pointing with the other to a crown, with the motto 'This I'll Defend'. See illustration above.

The Australian society's objectives are to collect and preserve the records and traditions relating to the Clan MacFarlane, promote genealogical research of our ancestry by members, promote the history and culture of the Scottish people and to  foster social activities for members. We also aim to raise and disburse funds for the furtherance of these and any other objectives, as determined from time to time.