Bridget Irwin

Bridget Margaret Byrne emigrated with her parents from Ireland some time in the early 1850s. She married William Irwin in 1856. She was present in Ballarat at Eureka in 1854 tending to the sick and wounded.

After the events of Eureka, Bridget and William Irwin produced four children: Anna Jane b. 1857 (died 16 October 1859 aged 16 months); William Joseph b. 1861 (died 30 August 1887); William John b. 1861; and John Alfred b. 1865 (died 30 March 1886). On 12 December 1853 William Irwin and Henry Abbott signed an agreement to join in partnership in an eating house. After this partnership William Irwin, in partnership with McCrae and Eva, built the Star Hotel at 223 Main Road Ballarat East, between Eureka and Esmond Streets. Simeon Davey may also have been a stakeholder in the venture. This partnership was dissolved on 23 August 1856. The hotel was a wooden building with a concert hall attached. The Star Hotel was used as a meeting place by the committee of the Ballaarat Reform League. Both Irwin and McCrae were friends of John Basson Humffray. Henry Ross, one of the wounded diggers, was taken to The Star Hotel after the storming of the Eureka Stockade on 3 December 1854. The Star was flooded several times because of its proximity to the Yarrowee Creek. It was burnt down in June 1861. William then became licensee at the John O’Groat Hotel where he and Bridget stayed for 18 months. In 1862 William purchased land opposite the railway station and built the Provincial Hotel. It was also a depot for Cobb and Co. coach lines.

Bridget and William were in contact with the Irwins back in Ireland. Robert, William’s brother had joined them in Ballarat. In 1862 Bridget wrote to the Irwins, sending a photograph of herself and their grandson, young Joseph William, to Ireland.

Bridget was sometimes referred to as Margaret but her tombstone records her name as Bridget Margaret. After a long illness she died of cervical cancer and was buried in the Ballaarat Old Cemetery on 23 June 1865. Bridget’s obituary recorded that: We regret to have to chronicle the death of Mrs Irwin, wife of Mr Irwin, of the Provincial Hotel. Mrs Irwin has been a resident in Ballarat during eleven years, and in the troublous times of the Eureka Stockade administered relief to several of the wounded in the brief struggle with the military. Mrs Irwin had won the respect of those who knew her, by her kindness and charity. (Ballarat Star 21 June 1865)

William married Jane Norris in 1867. They had four children and Jane was stepmother to the children of Bridget and William. In addition Jane worked in the hotel. Jane Norris died on 14 April 1876 and was buried in the Ballaarat Old Cemetery. William was a widower with six children to care for. He married for the third time in 1879 to Julia Vivian (nee Lawrence). Julia and William had three children of whom one survived. William died on 22 January 1893 aged 62 years. His third wife, Julia died on 22 May 1934 aged 92 years.

Reference: Helen Townsend, The Starry Frame.