Michael O'Dea

Patrick Lenehan and his Ballarat born wife, Mary, daughter of Michael O'Dea. Private Collection.

Carleton Inn, Killarney, Victoria, c2010. Ballarat Heritage Services Picture Collection.

Background

Michael O'Dea was born in 1824 at Kilteely, Co. Limerick, Ireland, the son of John O'Dea and Penelope Meagher. Michael initially arrived in Sydney, from there he went to California, then returned to Yass, New South Wales. Michael O'Dea married Mary Purtell on 1 June 1848 at Bowning, New South Wales, and they overlanded to the Tower Hill region soon after. At Killarney (Victoria) O'Dea was initially a tenant farmer on Rutledge's Farnham Survey, Look Out Hill.

Once gold was discovered Michael O'Dea used his Californian experience to search for gold at Ballarat. Michael and Mary O'Dea's daughter, Mary was a very early birth on the Ballarat goldfield. The birth is unregistered, but is listed as 1849 within the family.

In 1852 Michael and Mary established the property 'Cloverfield', Crossley, Tower Hill and is thought to have supplied the Ballarat goldfield, spending enough time prospecting for gold to become friends with stockaders such as Patrick Sheedy.

Michael O'Dea died in 13 July 1876 at Kirkstall, and was buried at Tower Hill Cemetery. Michael O’Dea left his property to his daughter, Mary Lenehan, and her children. This included ‘Cloverfield’ later known as ‘Clover Hill’ (north east of the Killarney Hotel).

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

Michael O'Dea was thought to have some involvement in the Eureka Stockade. He was living at Tower Hill in 1854, but delivering farm produce to the goldfields. He was friends with Patrick Sheedy who moved to the Tower Hill locality after the Eureka Stockade.

Post 1854 Experiences

Michael O'Dea served on the Belfast District Road Board from 1858 to 1861. He sold his stock and farming equipment in 1861 and built the Carleton Inn, Killarney, Victoria. Michael O'Dea's sister, Bridget O'Dea, married John Lynch of Kilteely, Ireland. (Lynch was also from Limerick and his mother was an O'Connell.)

Belfast District Road Board

The Road Distrct Act of 1852 was proclaimed 'For Making and improving roads.' Belfast Road Board was established in 1853, and was the first road board in Victoria.

The Belfast Road Board first struck rates in 1854, although John Dilmond Howes was their engineer in 1853. The Belfast Shire was proclaimed in 1863.

The 8.1 metre single-span bluestone masonry arch bridge over Youl Creek at Woolsthorpe was built by the Belfast Road Board.

LOCAL GOVERNiMENT, "The District of Belfast" was the first municipality established in the Colony of Victoria entrusted with the local administration of its affairs, having been "proclaimed" in 1852 a year after the separation of the District of Port Phillip from the mother colony of New South Wales. Mr Dilmond J. Howes was the first secretary of the "Belfast District Road Board" (as the corporation was then named), as well as its surveyor, and within its boundaries were included nearly the whole area of the present Shires of Belfast, Dundas, Warrnambool and Minhaniite, and the Borough of Koroit.THE The management, however, of this gigantic municipality seems to have been superior at least` to the more recent acts of local government in Port Fairy, which have given occasion for criticism and comment. The first council was composed of Messrs R. H. Woodward, C. H. Macknight, Horace Flower, S. Macgregor, R. Urquhart, J. Irvine and J. Whitehead. In those days, the Government provided the money for public works by heavy grants from the general revenue of the colony, and by this means many of the main roads were early constructed. One of the most important acts of the Belfast Road Board was the construction of the main roads leading to Warrnambool and Spring Creek, both of which works were supervised by Mr Howes. Some of the streets of the town were also partially laid out, whilst under the control of the Road Board, but, after some agitation on the part of the residents, who considered more attention was demanded by a rapidly-growing settlement around the Port than could be given by a Board in charge of such an extensive district as that described, authority was obtained in 1856 for the election of a Council to manage the public affairs of the Municipality of Belfast. The following official record of its first half-year's doings of our original civic fathers is of especial interest in these more degenerate days of municipal government: "The District of Belfast was duly proclaimed a municipality on the 1st day of July, 1856, and its boundaries described as 'Commencing at a point on the sea-coast, being the south-eastern angle of section vii, parish of Belfast, thence by a line bearing north, seven degrees fifty-two minutes west, being the eastern boundary of sections vii, viii, ix and x to the southern boun dary of sections xxiv, xxv, xxvi, and xxvii to the River Moyne, thence by the western side of the River Moyne to the Belfast Lough, thence by a line south-easterly, crossing the said lough to the northern angle of suburban portion 38A in the said parish of Belfast, thence on the north eastern boundary of said portion to the sea coast, and thence by the sea coast to the commencing point, including the Islands, at-the Mouth of the Moyne.'. And a public meeting of the house holders and landowners within the said district, was held in the Court house, Belfast, on Saturday, the 27th day of September, 1856, for the purposes prescribed by the Municipal Institutions Act, James Mylne Knight, Esq., having been appointed by His Excellency to preside at such meeting. "The meeting elected Messrs John Bland and John Wall to act as assessors, and decided that the council should consist of seven members, who should not receive pecuniary remuneration. A poll was then taken by voting cards, and the following are the names of the members declared duly elected :-John Mason, 222 votes; Lloyd Rutledge, 210o; Alexander Russell, 200; William Ninnis Hosking, 19.; Joseph Whitehead, 189 ; David Talbot, 186; Charles Ruffle, 174. "The first meeting of the council was held in the Road Board Office on the 30th day of Septemiber, at which Alexander Russell, Esq., was elected chairman for the municipal year. The following olfficcrs were elected: -Town Clerk-S. J. Bayly was appointed on the 21st October, at a salary of £100 per annum. Town Surveyor-Charles Kingk was appointed on the 14th November, at a rate of £250 per annum, the surveyor to provide himself with instruments. Treasurer-William Young, Esq., manager of the Bank of Victoria, tendered his services gratuitously, which were accepted, October 7. "The council 'has not as yet thought fit to appoint permanent committees, but for the carrying out of special objects, the appointment of special committees has been found advantageous. For the compilation of the ratepayers' roll, the valuation of the assessable property, and the collection of the rate, tenders were called, and the most eligible tenderers appointed.

BELFAST ROAD BOARD ELECTION

This meeting took place at Rosebrook on Monday last, when all the former board were returned with the exception of Mr. Austin, in whose room Mr. Maurice Molan was elected; the numbers were:-. Mr. Flower .........148 - Duffas ..........110 - Glesson.........107 - Molan ........ 95 - O'Dea ......... 93 - Thomson...... 84 - Cummins...... 76 The assessment was fixed at:-Agricultural land Is 6d per acre alienated and uncultivated, 1 1/2 d ; pastoral land (crown) 3/8d. -Belfast Gazette.

Family

John O'Dea (B. 1798, Kilteely, Co. Limerick, Ireland). Married Penelope Meagher (b, 1803, Kildromin, Kilteely, Ireland)

1. Bridget (Biddy) O'Dea (B. 10 June 1820, Kilteely, Ireland). Married John Lynch (03 March 1840 at Kilteely Parish, Ireland). Died 02 May 1872, Dennington, Victoria).

a. Mary Lynch (b. 1841. Married 1858 to Michael Dunne. Died 13 June 1907, Cororooke, Victoria

b. Thomas Lynch (b. 1843, Merri Creek, Victoria. Died 1917, Warrnambool)

c. Michael Lynch (B. 1844, Plenty river. Died 1887, Killarney)

d. John Lynch (b. 1845, Camperdown, Victoria

e. William Lynch (b. 1847, Tower Hill, Victoria)

f. Ellen Lynch (b. 1849, Melbourne)

g. Patrick Lynch (b. c1851)

h. Daniel Lynch (b. c1852. Died c1852)

i. Daniel Lynch (b. c1851. Died 1929, Fitzroy)

j. Bridget Lynch (b. 1854, Belfast, Victoria. Died 1854, aged 3 months)

k. Martin Lynch (b. c1853. Died 1938, Colac, Victoria).

l. Richard Lynch (b. 1856, Tower Hill, Victoria).

m. Bridget Lynch (b. C1857).

n. James Lynch (b.1857, Tower Hill. Died 1857, aged 2 months)

0. Robert Lynch (b.1858, Tower Hill)

p. Catherine Lynch (b. 1862, Wood)

2. Michael O'Dea (b.1823, Kilteely, Co. Limerick, Ireland). Married Mary Purtill (01 June 1848, Bowning, Yass, New South Wales). Died 89 July 1894, Crossley, Victoria).

a. Mary O'Dea (b. c1849, Ballarat. Married Patrick Lenehan on 25 July 1870. Died 23 December 1894, Crossley, Victoria).

b. Catherine O'Dea (b. 1852, Kilmore, Victoria. married James Ryan. Died 31 May 1876, Tower Hill)

c. Bridget O'Dea (b. 1854. Died 16 January 1865, Koroit).

d. Stillborn Female (b. 1855, Belfast, Victoria)

3. John O'Dea (Christened 12 July 1826, Kilteely parish, Co. Limerick, Ireland)

4. Margaret O'Dea (Christened 17 April 1834, Kilteely parish, Co. Limerick, Ireland)

5. Thomas O'Dea (Christened 04 May 1837, Kilteely parish, Co. Limerick, Ireland)

Obituary

Michael O'Dea's headstone on the Tower Hill Cemetery, 2013. Photography: Clare Gervasoni.

Another of the early settlers at this district has gone to his “long home”. We allude to Mr Michael O’Dea whose death took place on Thursday last. For some time previously Mr O’Dea had been suffering from a complication of disorders arriving principally from consumption. The deceased was a very old resident of the district although, in reality, not a very old man. He came to the Western district from California many years ago, and was one time proprietor of the Carleton Hotel, Killarney, which building was erected by him, but afterwards partially destroyed by fire. After the fire Mr O’Dea devoted his attention to farming pursuits in which he was very successful. In the days of the Old Belfast District Road Board, Mr O’Dea for several years was a member of the body, but beyond this he took no very active part in public affairs.

BARBER and ARDLIE, Kepler-street, Warrnambool, solicitors for the said executors. RE MICHAEL ODEA (Deceased) - Pursuant to "The Statute of Trusts 1864," notice is hereby) given, that all creditors and others having any claims or demands upon or against the estate of Michael O'Dea, late of Cloverfleld, in the parish of Koroit, in the county of Villiers, in the colony of Victoria, farmer, deceased, who died on the 13th day of July, 1876, and probate of whose will was granted by the Supreme Court of the said colony, in its Probate jurisdiction, on the 24th day of August, 1876, to William Anderson, of Rosemount, In the County of Villiers, in the said colony, farmer, and William Charles Davies, of Koroit, in the said county, bank manager, the executors appointed by the said will are hereby required to SEND in the PARTICULARS of such CLAIMS or demands to the said William Anderson and William Charles Davies, or to the undersigned, their solicitors, on or before the twelfth day of March next; and notice is hereby further given, that after that day the said executors will proceed to distribute the assets of the deceased among the parties entitled thereto, having regard only to the claims of which they shall then have notice, and that they will not be liable for the assets or any part there of so distributed to any person of whose debt or claim they shall not then have had notice.

Dated this nineteenth day of January, 1877.

BARBER and ABDLIE, Kepler street, Warrnambool, solicitors for the said executors.

In The News

On Friday last, says the Banner of the 24th inst., the party of surveyors, who are at present engaged in making a flying survey of the proposed line of railway which is to connect Hamilton with the seaports of Belfast and Warrnambool, were encamped on Mr Michael O'Dea's farm near Kirkstall. We understand that the operations of the party will for the present be confined to selecting the best line along the Main Penshurst Road, for the branch line from the proposed terminus near Koroit to Belfast. Since their arrival in the district the survey party have been engaged in making surveys from Warrnambool in the direction of Koroit and they will now, no doubt, continue their work in the direction of this town.

James Conners, an aged man, was charged with perjury. Mr Adamson stated that prisoner was in the habit of frequenting Clarke's Carleton Inn, at Killarney. He frequently gave orders on employer, Michael O'Dea, for cash received from Clarke, or for drinks had at Clarke's Inn. On the occasion referred to in the indictment, on the 2nd or 3rd of March last, prisoner gave an orler on O'Dea for £2, receiving £1 in cash, and an order previously given to Clarke for £1. He signed this order in the presence of Clarke and a man named John Lynch, who witnessed his signature, but on proceedings being taken against him he swore that he never saw the order before, that he did not sign it, and could not write his name. Several witnesses were examined. Lynch and Clarke swore that he wrote the signature, but it was also given in evidence that he usually made only his "mark." to such documents. Mr Wrixon addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner, contending that if he did write it he must have been unconscious of having done so, from the length of time he was drinking in Clarkes, if so he was not guilty of perjury. His Honor in summing up concurred in this view of the case, and the jury without leaving the box acquitted the prisoner.

See also

Crossley

Patrick Sheedy

Further Reading

Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.

External links

Couriermail.com.au

http://www.hotkey.net.au/~jwilliams4/patrick1.htm, viewed 29 March 2013.

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This page compiled by Clare Gervasoni, 2013 - https://www.eurekapedia.org/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Michael_O%27Dea&id=34349