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Thomas Ryan, 1866


Here we are in September 1866

Mr Thomas Ryan, 35 years old and the current licensee of The Plough Inn Hotel since 1865. He married his bride, Mary Meehan, 4 years later. They purchased Mr Burke’s store, hotel (The Plough Inn Hotel) and adjoining land. Two years later, the Ryan’s first child was born – Michael. Sadly, Michael passed away in October of that same year, aged nine months. In early 1872, the Ryans welcomed another child to their family – Thomas Jnr (more on Junior next week...)

Thomas Ryan (Senior) was considered an “old resident” of Myrniong, but not in the chronological sense! He was a fundamental contributor to the establishment of this new and thriving township. He became a Justice of the Peace in 1868 after much contention due to his Irish hereditary and all that this implied politically. He participated in Coroner Inquests for the region, was a member of the Bacchus Marsh and Maddingley Roads Board (a pre-cursor to the local Council), member of the Myrniong Mechanics Institute, as well as being appointed to the Myrniong Common School Committee.

He was very much respected within his community due to his “upright, kind and charitable character”. He was referred to as their “esteemed towns-man” through the reporting of his passing after a very short illness in early 1876. His funeral procession to the Houptoun Cemetary consisted of 32 vehicles (horse & carts) and 87 on horseback – the largest in the district.

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APROPOS: An accident happened to the young John Nolan, of Mount Blackwood Road, shortly after leaving Thomas Ryan’s funeral. His horse stumbled and fell, throwing Nolan down heavily, breaking his collar bone and fracturing his skull. Fortunately, The Plough was open where Nolan was returned, while awaiting Dr. Marr to attend to his wounds.


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