Patrick O'Brien
Parliamentary Representative, South Bourke October, 1856 - August, 1859In the first Parliament, Doncaster-Templestowe was a part of the electorate of South Bourke, with two representatives in the Legislative Assembly: Charles Pasley and Patrick O'Brien. In the Legislative Council, there were five representatives for the Southern Province: Donald Kennedy, Thomas Herbert Power, William John Turner Clarke, Thomas McCombie, John Barter Bennett.
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| Patrick O/Brien |
South Bourke was part of the county of Bourke which owed its origin to an English-made constitution for Port Phillip. In an effort to make Australia as much like England as possible, the Colonial Office planned to divide the country into Counties, Districts, and Parishes with District Councils. Governor Bourke came to Port Phillip in 1836 to mark out the boundaries for the first county. He rode out along the Yarra to the Plenty River where he met John woods, our first settler, then up to Mount Macedon and back along the west boundary.
The idea of district councils was unsuitable for our sparsely populated country. Bourke never achieved an identity of its own and only survived as a means of organising land sales.
Patrick O'Brien was a different type of man from his colleague Pasley. O’Brien was a builder who had become wealthy as a result of successful land investment. He had been born in Shannagolden, Limerick, Ireland, in 1817. He married in Sydney and arrived in Melbourne in 1839.
O'Brien was a public-spirited man. He helped found the St. Patrick's Society of Australia Felix. Like many friendly societies, they built their own building, St. Patrick's Hall, in 1846. It was in Bourke Street between Queen and William Streets and was only demolished twenty years ago. O’Brien was appointed a Trustee of the Hall.
As a result of the active part he took in the separation of Victoria from New South Wales, O'Brien was elected to the original Legislative Council, when it was part elected, part nominated. Parliament first met in O'Brien's own building. St. Patrick's Hall, modified with a press and visitors' gallery, remained as the meeting place of Parliament until the first responsible government met in the new Parliament House in 1856. After being elected for South Bourke, O'Brien built his home "Kincore" in Power Street, Hawthorn, where he lived for the rest of his life in Australia.
O'Brien was defeated at the elections in 1859, but continued his public life. He was a Knight of St. Gregory the Great and was keen to help his church, giving £1,000 to St. Patrick's Cathedral Building Fund. Patrick O'Brien died in England in 1887.
1975 11 DTHS Newsletter
Patrick O'Brien
Patrick O'Brien. Born 1817 (Shanna-golden, Limerick) Died: 12 April 1887 (London).Marriage (1) 1839 Sydney, Sarah O'Brien; (2) Miss Hayes; several children
Occupation: Wine and spirit merchant
Religion: Catholic
Career: Emigrated to NSW 1838; to Port Phillip 1840; settled Hawthorn 1858; engaged in building and other speculations; owned much city and suburban property. Member Pyalong district road board; a founder and trustee of St Patrick's Society of Aust. Felix; gave £1000 to building fund of St Patrick's Cathedral 1886; Knight of St Gregory the Great.
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/re-member/details/617-obrien-patrick
Patrick O'Brien.
1872 Creator: Thomas Foster Chuck 1826-1898, photographer. photographic print : albumen silver. Identifier(s): Accession no:H5056/230Arrived in colony 1840.
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