Patrick Sweeney, the eldest of six children born to Thomas Sweeney and Margaret Sweeney nee Meehan, was born in 1838 in Melbourne and grew up at Culla Hill, the family property in Eltham. He died in 1919. His address at the time of his death was 577 Rae St, North Fitzroy, where he lived with his daughter Ellen (Nessie) and her husband