Last week we discussed the marvels that Michael O’Connell contributed to our region, and in particular, to The Plough where, in 1878, he and his family took in 7-year-old orphaned Thomas Ryan Junior when he lost both parents, licensees of The Plough, 3 years apart.
A little more about Michael who was a road contractor around 1854, after trying his hand at the gold diggings in Ballarat (as did most males in the colony during that period!) He was attributed to building the road from Melbourne leading into Bacchus Marsh, known as Anthony’s Cutting around 1854, although he couldn’t accomplish this alone. He had the services of David Symes (yes, that “David Symes”, who later went on to establish The Age newspaper)! Bacchus Marsh drew all the “big guns” during its formative years.
New roads = toll gates, and they were numerous in the 1860s. Between Bacchus Marsh and Melbourne, you would encounter three toll gates to pass with the first being located five chains (about 100 metres) on the Melbourne side from the top of Anthony’s Cutting over Djerriwarrah River. The 1869 rates to travel through these gates were 2s 6d for a vehicle drawn by four animals, however, a team of eight bullocks and dray for a journey to and from Bacchus Marsh to Keilor road costs 18 shillings. The tolls quickly became very unpopular, with suggestions that they were detrimental to encouraging traffic to the district, and were eventually closed shortly thereafter.
As early as 1863, Michael O’Connell had the contract to operate the Djerriwarrh Toll Gates with annual tenders being sought. In December 1867, while not being the highest tenderer, Michael O’Connell was the successor for the Djerriwarrh Toll for the year 1868 at a cost of 312 pounds, 6 shillings.
The following month, Edmund Burke (no relation to Patrick Burke, Plough Hotel & store owner) an old man who was employed for many years as the toll-keeper at the Djerriwarrh O’Connell’s Toll Gate, was found dead in the toll house by a coach driver. Edmund was described as being a cripple, long-suffering from an old complaint. Michael O’Connell had repeatedly attempted to relieve Burke of his toll-gate duties, but Edmund steadfastly refused, not permitting anyone to live with him, believing that his illness was only temporary. An inquest was promptly held (as was the timeframe in “those” days) by the local coroner Dr. Rae from Melton. Evidence was given from the parties who found Edmund’s body and from Dr. Tweedale, who made a post-mortem examination.
The evidence of the latter revealed that Edmun had died of “serious apoplexy arising from poverty of blood, caused by old age and disease, and probably accelerated by want of proper food”. While the local papers report Edmund as being a poor old man who lived by himself, and no doubt neglected to cook sufficient meals, they also suggested that he had no relations in the colony.
One week later, in Feb 1868, Thomas Ryan, licensee of the Plough Inn, Myrniong, insisted that the record be set straight in relation to the recently-deceased toll-collector Edmund Burke. Thomas, who himself was an old acquaintance of the deceased, was concerned that an impression had been conveyed that Edmund’s friends had deserted him. Thomas indicated the contrary by stating that he was not without friends in this colony, as he had a brother living in Daylesford, and a sister in Melbourne. Such was Thomas Ryan’s commitment to fairness and justice – such a loss to the community with his premature death at the age of 45 years in 1876.
Comments
Post a Comment