Skip to main content

The Dore sisters saga - Part 4



This week we continue our chronicles on the Dore sisters and their Pentland Hills lives in the second half of the 1800s.


Peter McCluskey was discharged from the Williamstown Gaol at the end of December 1882 after serving time for bigamy. He immediately embarked on a new venture: engaging in the sale of land and as a “financier” across Victoria, beginning in January 1883.

He quickly took stock of his assets and created an opportunity for some immediate income by renting out his cottage situated on 50 acres of prime cleared land at an undisclosed location, boasting the “grandest view in Victoria at an elevation of 1500 feet”. (While this location was not mentioned, I believe it to be his Rosehill estate in Myrniong.) Peter touted this location as a potential "permanent cure for liver complaint” – obscure, yet creative!

By September 1883, Peter had established his company “McCluskey & Co.” which facilitated the sale of his Rosehill Estate, spanning 1040 acres. Mr. S Steele was the successful purchaser and Peter went on to participate in most of the significant real estate transactions in the region which was tantamount to his changed fortunes.

Peter’s involvement in the sale of land spanned from Gippsland to the Bacchus Marsh region. His endeavours expanded over the subsequent year to encompass farms in the Lilydale area, including the illustrious Lusatia estate, the outskirts of Melbourne (Oakleigh), and Victoria’s western district. Peter became a finance agent for both leaseholds and freeholds, specialising in “short notice money”. He rented a house near the Fitzroy Town Hall from Mr Green. Even though he hailed from Melbourne, Peter was invited to be a judge at the Bacchus Marsh Agricultural Society ploughing match in 1885, such was his respect from the community.

Peter proved his versatility in 1884 when he appealed through Bacchus Marsh Express newspaper to anyone wanting to try mongooses as a mode of destroying rabbits to obtain them from him in Melbourne. He did provide a caveat that, while these animals bear good characteristics to destroy rabbits, they do prefer poultry!

He was also fined 5 pounds by the Inspector of Excise in April 1884 for keeping a billiard table as a means of gain or profit without a license.

From the mid-1880s, Peter collaborated with John McEwan & Co., an esteemed estate agency and auctioneer, collectively orchestrating the sale of over £63,000 worth of predominantly local farms. This fruitful collaboration led to the establishment of a new branch in Bacchus Marsh in 1889, with Peter appointed as manager, with glowing endorsements from prior clients attesting to his integrity, honesty and trustworthiness.

In October 1887, Peter was one of the numerous attendees at the charitable concert aid ball for the Catholic school at Myrniong, held at the Myrniong Mechanics’ Institute. Entertainment consisted of, among many contributions, a piano duet (using the piano from Grace Purcell’s Plough Hotel) to much applaud, a first-class singing duet with an encore, and Peter McCluskey dancing a sailor’s hornpipe in costume which brought the house down! The proceeds from the evening’s entertainment raised 23 pounds. 


Peter continued to work as a real estate and financial agent, using a temporary address in Myrniong.

Peter was in default of Council rates and charged in June 1896, however paid his One Pound Annual Fee at the Court of Petty Sessions held in Bacchus Marsh on the day.

Tragedy struck in October 1899 while Peter was walking home along Nicholson Street, Carlton around 6pm. He was hit by a cab horse and fell, rolling under the horses’ legs and then the wheel of the cab. A passing bike rider, James Simmons of Fitzroy, saw the incident, picked up the injured Peter and put him in the cab, requesting the cab driver take him to hospital, where Peter was admitted. It was established that the cab driver was on the correct side of the road and of no fault in the accident. The bike rider visited Peter the following day in hospital and while discussing the incident, Peter told him that he had been suffering from influenza. Peter died at the hospital a short time later and was buried in Melbourne General Cemetary.

...and what happened to his wives? Find out next week about Mary McCluskey and Anne Farrell.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Martin Deveny Part 1 – Martin Senior

Martin Deveny came to Pentland Hills as a 41-year-old after a full and adventurous life in England. After serving in the military for over 17 years as a Private in the 88th Infantry he married Mary Cannon in 1854. Their first son, Patrick, arrived in mid-1856. Early the following year, the family headed to Australia for the 3-month journey, boarding the “Anne Roydon”. They landed in Melbourne in April 1857 and shortly after arrived in Pentland Hills. Martin quickly made connections with the locals, renting land from Robert Lawson before acquiring pastures of his own. He purchased many hundreds of fenced acres in Blackwood and Pentland Hills, as well as acres for the family homes. The family home was eventually settled at “Churchbank” which is still present today, located at what was referred to as “Deveny’s Corner”. Once settled in Pentland Hills, Martin and Mary added another eight children, including one set of twins – their last child being born when Martin was 62 years of age. This...
Post a Comment
Read more

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 I...
Post a Comment
Read more

John Tyson Part 3 – Meet Midnight

Today we continue the stories of John Tyson, a pioneer of our region and fascinating chap, and we ride back in time to appreciate the importance horses played in everyday life. Alex Cameron, a young lad who worked for John Tyson for about six months around 1860, was heading home to Melton one Saturday night, riding “Midnight”, John’s horse. As Alex rode through the Box Forest to the top of Stamford Hill (west of Bacchus Marsh township), he was chased down by one of the three bushrangers camping in the forest. However, it wasn’t Alex they were after – it was the horse, who proved too fast to be caught. Horse racing was a frequent pastime. John was a proud member of the Bacchus Marsh Cavalry. The Victorian Racing Club conducted a racing program for cavalry horses, with prize money of over £100. John won with his prized horse “Midnight”, a well-bred, jet-black beauty. Weekly horse races were conducted in early 1867 and the Annual Ballan jumps races were held on 30 March 1867. John, as al...
1 comment
Read more