The Obituary of Dr Callaghan ~ Trove Tuesday

Most researchers are well aware of the benefits of a death notice and obituaries found in newspapers. A death notice is usually very brief providing minimal details such as the name of the deceased, date and location of funeral or burial. The following is an example of the death notice of Dr Joseph Callaghan who operated for many years in the Hawkesbury and who passed away in 1924.

Family Notices - Sydney Morning Herald 17 June 1924

On the other hand, an obituary provides a history of the deceased and listing all the good qualities of the person. It will include family details possibly parents, spouse and children. It can also include other relatives. It may provide information about deceased's occupation, place of work or business and associated hobbies and their involvement in the community. If you are lucky it may mention the period leading to the death and even the cause. The location of the cemetery, place of burial, and undertaker may also be mentioned. The length of the obituary will often depend on the popularity of the deceased. A selected few may include a portrait, like the following image of Dr Callaghan which appeared in his obituary in 1924. Photographs were more popular from in the 20th century.

Dr Callaghan as pictured in his 1924 obituary

Joseph Callaghan's lengthy obituary appeared in the Windsor & Richmond Gazette 20 June 1924 and provided over sixty unique pieces of information, that would be extremely valuable to both family and local historians. The main points were:

• Born in Ireland 

• Obtained his medical diploma in Ireland

• Migrated to Australia as a ship's surgeon in 1868 

• Settled at Rockhampton, Queensland and practiced there until 1875

• Came to Richmond in 1877 and practiced there for about five years

• Lived for about 12 months in Sydney, then returned to the Hawkesbury

• Settled in Windsor about 1884 where he practiced as a surgeon and physician  

• Sold his medical practice to Dr Arnold in 1920

• When he left in 1920 he was presented with a very fine illuminated address and a purse of nearly £100 

• Went to Sydney to spend the remainder of his days in 1920

• Loved horses and dogs, and bred some good specimens of both 

• Was a great horseman and frequently rode his own horses in races  

• At the gathering in the School of Arts many identities attended the presentation 

• He was a Justice of the Peace for 40 years and many years Licensing Magistrate

• Was 36 years medical officer to the Manchester Unity IOOF 

• Member of the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association for 31 years and several times President 

• Was a committeeman of the Windsor School of Arts for 24 years and President on several occasions

• Foundation member and constant benefactor of the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society and Hospital

• 22 years on the Wilberforce Settlement Board 

• Trustee of the Windsor Savings Bank

• Deputy Sheriff; Government Medical Officer and visiting justice to the gaol

• Member of Hawkesbury Race Club for almost 50 years and President on different occasions. 

• His wife died in Windsor some years ago, and he never recovered from the blow

• Family included Reginald, Clendon, Clive, Oscar, Madeline, and Mrs. Boydell 

• Sons Reginald, Clive and Oscar served in WW1, Clendon served in the Boer War, tried to enlist again but was turned down. 

• Dr Callaghan died in Lane Cove

• Died aged of 78 years

• The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon 17 June 1924 and buried in the Church of England portion of the Rookwood cemetery, alongside his wife. John Cherry (formerly rector at Pitt Town) and Rev. J. H. Wilcoxsen, (Lane Cove) officiated at the grave, and both clergyman extolled the great benevolence and high-minded qualities of the deceased doctor.

• The chief mourners were the four sons, his daughter Madeline Callaghan & nephew Mr. T. Dixon 

• Many people attended the funeral including many of his friends from the Hawkesbury including Messrs C. S. Icely, Charles Roberts, Brigadier-General Lamrock, G. G. Kiss, J R Hardie (Hawkesbury Race Club), Messrs J. W. Ross and A. J. Berckelman (Windsor Hospital), R. A. Pye, James Gosper, G. D. Wood. Brinsley Hall, John Tebbutt, J Tebbutt jun, J. Byram, Sidney Gosper, Alex Gough. J. T. Town, P. J. Chandler 

• Hawkesbury Race Club committee each sent a beautiful wreath. Flags at Windsor Fire Station and the Council Chambers were flown at half-mast

The above is an excellent example of why all references to deceased person should be followed up. Checking different issues of newspapers also can provide different variations of a story including that of Callaghan's obituary which appeared in the Hawkesbury Herald 19 June 1924.

Trove is an excellent source of digitised Australian newspapers. A considerable article, partially reproduced below, also records information about Dr Callaghan's death with a picture also appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald 17 June 1924.

The street names of Hobartville

Driving through the streets of Hobartville, a subdivision of Richmond, one may note some of the unusual street names including Grand Flaneur, Tim Whiffler, Tarragon and Sardonyx.

There is a story behind these and some of the other street names, which makes an interesting story. Andrew Town, son of William Town & Mary Ann nee Durham, was in 1840 in Richmond and as a young man, married Emma Susannah Onus in 1863 at St. Peter's Church, Richmond.

On his father’s death in 1868 Andrew inherited property as well as Tarragon a stallion known as one of Australia’s foundation sires. Andrew’s father had raced him for about five years and had won many races including the 1866 Australasian Champion Stakes at Flemington. Tarragon was a good stallion and following his retirement from the track, siring many winners including the 1877 Melbourne Cup winner Assyrian.

Town purchased additional thoroughbreds and began a breeding program and also imported various horses which resulted in better-quality bred stock. With his expanding business, Town purchased the Hobartville Estate on the outskirts of Richmond, in 1877 from the Cox estate.

Hobartville still operates as a horse stud. Photo taken 1996, M. Nichols

Town held yearly sales at Hobartville in the late 1870s, these were spectacular events in a marquee set up in the grounds with special trains between Sydney in Richmond to ferry the crowds. Between 1872-1884 over 700 horses were sold at Hobartville, valued in the vicinity of £95,000. Town also purchased the 1880 Melbourne Cup winner, Grand Flaneur whilst his other celebrated sire was Maribyrnong. The Fawn, was one his mares and bred yearlings which sold for large sums. Her colt Segenhoe by Maribyrnong was sold for 2000 guineas.

In 1872 Andrew Town was one of founding member of the Hawkesbury Race Club and Chairman from 1888-89. He was involved with Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association and President from 1879-1889. Andrew also had a keen interest in harness racing and in 1882 imported in 1882 the Childe Harold for £3935. This horse improved the quality of trotters and laid the foundations for harness racing in Australia. The former Harold Park raceway was named in honour of this famous horse.

Following a drought in the late 1880s and the oncoming economic depression of the 1890s, Andrew Town ran into difficulties which led to his eventual bankruptcy. He died in 1890 aged only 49 and his funeral was held at St. Peter’s Richmond and he is buried in the cemetery across the road. A number of obituaries are  found in the newspapers of the day including the Windsor & Richmond Gazette , Evening News and the Sydney Morning Herald. 

The Hobartville estate eventually went to William Alexander Long and George Hill as part of mortgages and securities from Town. Percy Reynolds purchased the property in 1900 and carried on his own family’s tradition of breeding horses and establishing Hobartville as a Hereford cattle stud. The Reynolds family property was Tocal in the Hunter Valley. Percy bred many good performers including Patrobus who won the Melbourne Cup in 1918. Hobartville changed owners many times in the 1960s. In 1966 a large piece of land was subdivided from the main property of Hobartville and many of the blocks were purchased by the Housing Commission on behalf of the RAAF and Army.

The RAAF have long since departed (1990s) and today it is home to numerous families who live on the estate. Many would not be aware that some of the streets of Hobartville, bear the names of some of the famous breeding stock that were once connected to the Hobartville estate.