Sweeney Family

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1820s Cove of Cork24 viewsThis Irish harbour was known as COVE until 1849 when it was changed to Queenstown after a visit from Queen Victoria.

1824-04-22 Sweeny in Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Thursday, April 22, 1824, page 4 24 viewsIn the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser of Thursday, April 22, 1824, there is an interesting advertisement: ‘TEN DOLLARS REWARD. – Whereas on Sunday the 11th inst. two Saving Bank Receipts of One Pound each, belonging to my Government assigned Servant, Thomas Sweeny, were stolen from the Men’s Hut on my Farm of Bexley, near Cook’s River; This is to give Notice, that I am willing to pay the above Reward, on discovery of the Individual who presented them for Payment, and endorsed the Name of the said Thomas Sweeny upon the back, as an Acknowledgement. JAMES CHANDLER

1830s Coastal Cutter - Peter Cuffley25 viewsUpon obtaining his Ticket of Leave in 1831, Thomas Sweeney set about becoming a coastal trader between Wollongong and Syddey. By 1833, he owned a half share in a small vessel called Sarah and was building a craft of some 40 tons. This old engraving, provided by Peter Cuffley, is typical of the sort of boat that Sweeney would have sailed.

1831 Thomas Sweeny Ticket of Leave23 viewsAfter 8 years as an assigned convict in the colony of New South Wales, Thomas Sweeney's Ticket of Leave, dated the 29th of November 1831, allowed him to work for himself. There is a notation on his Ticket of Leave butt dated 21st of March, 1834 which reads: ‘The holder of this Ticket is permitted to voyage between Illawarra & Sydney for trading purposes.’ It is signed, Alexander McLeay, Colonial Secretary’s Office. The Ticket of Leave has a further notation in 1835: ‘Allowed by the Colonial Secretary’s letter No. 35/613 dated 9th November 1835, Trade between Manning River and Sydney but not allowed to cut cedar.’

1833 Darling Harbour Sydney National Library of Australia16 viewsHaving obtained a Ticket of Leave dated 29th of November 1831, Thomas Sweeney is increasingly reported in Sydney newspaper lists of coastal trading vessels between Wollongong and Sydney. To sail into Sydney was no mean feat as the captain had to negotiate ‘The Heads’, the entrance to Port Jackson, and then navigate a passage to a selected mooring such as in Cockle Bay (Darling Harbour).

1834 - 1867 Thomas Sweeney Signatures15 viewsThomas Sweeney could sign his name and could probably read well enough to survive in business, but he always had a friend or professional scribe write the letters he sent to government departments.

Peter Cuffley has collected a number of signatures from Thomas Sweeney, ranging from 1834 to 1867.

1835 Illawarra Lake painting by Conrad Martens, Wollongong Art Gallery13 viewsThe 1835 painting 'Illawarra Lake' by Conrad Martens shows remnant forest including a Cabbage Tree Palm, along with a horse and figures and the lake beyond. Thomas Sweeney was one of those who transported the cut wood from the Illawarra to Sydney in his coastal cutter.

1838 Marriage Thomas Sweeney Margaret Meehan16 viewsOn the 30th of January, 1838, Margaret Meehan lands in Sydney from the 476 ton barque ‘Strathfieldsaye’ as an assisted immigrant. She marries Thomas Sweeney on the 23rd of April, 1838 at St Mary’s Church, Sydney, and the witnesses are Daniel Meehan and Peter Bodecin. The priest is Father John McEncroe and given that Margaret cannot sign her name he witnesses the cross she makes.

1840s Robert Hoddle map of Parish of Nillumbik20 viewsThis Robert Hoddle map of the Parish of Nillumbik shows that a number of the subdivision sections have names allocated to them but not all. Thomas Sweeney has a 110 acre section adjoining the Yarra River. He subsequently leased section No. 6 of 810 acres, thus giving him a total of 920 acres to farm. An annotation on blocks 6 and 7 records "Stringy bark range thickly wooded".

As supplied by Peter Cuffley to Alan Marshall for his book Pioneers and Painters.

1840s Sweeney leasehold Boroondara18 viewsThis hand drawn map, based on a drawing from around 1845, shows the Boroondara allotments which were then up for sale and on which Thomas Sweeney was one of the squatters. The Sweeney hut was marked. The huts of David Balfour and John Walker were also recorded. The land sale notices stated that huts and bush fences were still there.

1841-1845 circa Catholic Chapel Melbourne by Henry Gilbert Jones, etcher c1804-1888, State Library of Victoria20 viewsThis engraving is in the collection of the State Library of Victoria. It is by Henry Gilbert Jones who in 1850 purchased Allotment 6 of Portion 5, Parish of Nillumbik and became Sweeney's next neighbour on the west. The picture is dated to c1841-c 1845 which encompasses the time the children of Thomas and Margaret were baptised at St Francis Church. It had not been built when Patrick was baptised in 1839. Jones employed John Sweeney in the 1880s and died in 1888.

1842 Campbell's Wharf Sydney by artist John Skinner Prout6 viewsHaving obtained a Ticket of Leave dated 29th of November 1831, Thomas Sweeney is increasingly reported in Sydney newspaper lists of coastal trading vessels between Wollongong and Sydney. This 1842 view of Campbell's Wharf in Sydney illustrates the Sydney docks as Thomas Sweeney would have known them.
Credit: National Library of Australia.

1843-03-31 Culla Hill Land Purchase 110 acres No 17160 7821 viewsThe first land allocations in Eltham took place as part of a subdivided lot of 1040 acres advertised as Lot 69 in a Government Notice dated 4th of February 1841. The large portions of land found no buyers, so were cut into smaller allotments. It was one of these allotments that Thomas Sweeney bought in 1843. In relation to the Certificate of Title dated the 31st of March 1843, we read: ‘Port Philip. Land Purchase, A. Whereas in conformity with the Regulations made for the Sale of Crown Lands in that part of Our Territory of New South Wales, Known as the Southern or Port Phillip District Thomas Sweeny of the Yarra Yarra River near Melbourne has become the purchaser of Land hereinunder described, for the Sum of One Hundred and Ten Pounds Sterling. One Hundred and Ten Acres, be the same more or less, situated in the County of Bourke and Parish of Nillumbik. Allotment number Seven of Portion number Five.’

1843 letter of Thomas Sweeney5 viewsAn important insight into the lives of Thomas and Margaret Sweeney prior to taking up their land in Nillumbik comes from a letter written by Thomas in Melbourne on January 27th 1843 to G.S. Airey Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands. This letter is reproduced below.
Sir, this is to inform you that I am a Squatter on the South side of the Yarra distant about seven miles from Melbourne – That there is a Mr Bellfleur a Superintendent for Mr. Walker who is a Squatter upon the lands adjoining me – And he makes a continual practice of driving the Cattle under his Charge over my lands and with all I can do or say he still persists in doing so – That some part of my land being under crops it is of a most serious consequence – It grieves me much to have to make a complaint of this kind, but the Law of self protection induces me so to do. I trust therefore that you will take the matter into Consideration and aid in the procuring the wanted – restoration of my rights – Your kind interference in this behalf will Exceedingly oblige – Your very humble and obedient Servant. Thos Sweeney.’
This letter is reproduced courtesy of the Public Record Office Victoria "VPRS-96.P2, Unit 1".

1843 Sweeney Boroondara holding - a modern map6 viewsThomas Sweeney's land in Boroondara occupied under licence by the Sweeneys was basically an alluvial river flat with lagoons, some surviving trees and a stockyard. The alluvial flats with flood enriched soils were generally ideal areas for cultivation and grazing, with timber-getting being a reliable income as long as it lasted. The trees were initially felled by squatters for huts and fences, and wood was always needed for cooking and heating. Floods were a problem for anyone living close to the river and when they were severe, crops had to be replanted, huts repaired and fences rebuilt.
This modern map, to which Peter Cuffley has added words and boundaries, shows exactly how the Eastern Freeway has now cut through Thomas Sweeney's 146 acre Boroondara leasehold. Thomas was keen to buy it in the 1840s, but was not to know it would mostly become reserved land and later be affected by a freeway and the Burke Road on and off ramps.

1847 - Edward Dunn convict 1769-18508 viewsA legal dispute between Thomas Sweeney and one of his employees, Edward Dunn, was reported by the Port Phillip Herald of Thursday 22nd July 1847. Peter Cuffley has investigated the background of Edward Dunn and this information is captured in the attached image.

1865 circa Sweeney heirloom emu egg - view 146 viewsThis traditionally carved emu egg was passed onto Mary Carrucan (nee Sweeney) by her father John Sweeney. It was on display in this old pink vase in the dining room at the Dalton Street farm house for some 60 years. It is believed that the egg was given to John Sweeney in the 1850s by the local First Peoples. The vase itself was also a gift to John Sweeney and his wife Ellen Kenney.

This is 1 of 3 views of the emu egg, showing the full extent of the carving.

1865 circa Sweeney heirloom emu egg - view 225 viewsThis traditionally carved emu egg was passed onto Mary Carrucan (nee Sweeney) by her father John Sweeney. It was on display in this old pink vase in the dining room at the Dalton Street farm house for some 60 years. It is believed that the egg was given to John Sweeney in the 1850s by the local First Peoples. The vase itself was also a gift to John Sweeney and his wife Ellen Kenney.

This is 1 of 3 views of the emu egg, showing the full extent of the carving.

1865 circa Sweeney heirloom emu egg - view 3153 viewsThis traditionally carved emu egg was passed onto Mary Carrucan (nee Sweeney) by her father John Sweeney. It was on display in this old pink vase in the dining room at the Dalton Street farm house for some 60 years. It is believed that the egg was given to John Sweeney in the 1850s by the local First Peoples. The vase itself was also a gift to John Sweeney and his wife Ellen Kenney.

This is 1 of 3 views of the emu egg, showing the full extent of the carving.

1865 approx - Sweeney/Carrucan heirlooms - carved emu egg and vase44 viewsThis traditionally carved emu egg was passed onto Mary Carrucan (nee Sweeney) by her father John Sweeney. It was on display in this old pink vase in the dining room at the Dalton Street farm house for some 60 years. It is believed that the egg was given to John Sweeney in the 1850s by the local First Peoples.

The family story was that the vase itself was a gift to John Sweeney and Ellen Kenney on the occasion of their wedding on 10 Nov 1868, but it looks to be from a later time, so that is probably apocryphal.

1868-11-10 John Francis Sweeney and Ellen Mary Kenney marriage at St John's Church in Heidelberg38 viewsThis historic photo captures the wedding of John Francis Sweeney and Ellen Mary Kenney on the 10th of November 1868 at St John’s Church in Heidelberg. Investigation of the original photo showed writing under a glued over backing sheet. Some of the text is indecipherable but it does include ‘To Dear Nellie with fondest love from E..DE..NE Culla Hill Eltham Victoria.’

The original is in the collection of the Eltham Historical Society and a copy has been purchased for our Sweeney archive.

1910 approx - Patrick Sweeney38 viewsPatrick 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).

1883 - John Sweeney Diary32 viewsJohn Sweeney intermittently kept a personal diary (hand written in an old exercise book) between the years of 1881 and 1883. It was passed onto his daughter Mary Carrucan) who in turn passed it onto her son Jack. Jack passed it onto his sister Betty (Erickson) who in turn passed it onto her son Tim Erickson. It is currently being looked after by Tim. It documents the sort of subsistence farming which framed the lives of the early Eltham settlers. The diet was one of cutting wood, ploughing, planting or digging up potatoes, taking produce or wood to Melbourne to sell and the various special occasions when someone visited or the family visited someone.

1883 - John Sweeney Diary23 viewsJohn Sweeney intermittently kept a personal diary (hand written in an old exercise book) between the years of 1881 and 1883. It was passed onto his daughter Mary Carrucan) who in turn passed it onto her son Jack. Jack passed it onto his sister Betty (Erickson) who in turn passed it onto her son Tim Erickson. It is currently being looked after by Tim. It documents the sort of subsistence farming which framed the lives of the early Eltham settlers. The diet was one of cutting wood, ploughing, planting or digging up potatoes, taking produce or wood to Melbourne to sell and the various special occasions when someone visited or the family visited someone.

1895 circa Eltham State School No. 209 Dalton Street Eltham23 viewsThe Eltham Elementary School in Dalton Street (School Number 209) had been started in the 1850s and all the Sweeney children attended. At its peak, 2 teachers had to teach up to 100 children ranging in age from 3 to 14 in the old sandstone schoolroom. The early schooling was general in nature and focused on rudimentary reading and writing and basic farming capabilities.
Sourced from the Eltham District Historical Society.

1906 approx - John Sweeney portrait circa 1906, when about 62 years of age36 viewsJohn Sweeney, the son of Thomas Sweeney, lived in Eltham all his life (1844-1909). My brother Michael Erickson has the original large portrait at his farm in country Victoria. The following is written on the back of the photo:
To my dear sister Ellie with much love
J. F. Sweeney
28/12/06

1900 approx - portrait of Mary Sweeney as a young lady39 viewsMary Sweeney was one of 5 daughters to John Sweeney - Portrait as a young lady, circa 1900.

1900s One of the Sweeney daughters poses in front of the Culla Hill gate36 viewsA very interesting photo, showing the hand made front gate at the Culla Hill property

1914 circa - Culla Hill Mary Carrucan nee Sweeney with oldest child Patrick39 viewsThis photo shows Mary Carrucan nee Sweeney with oldest child Patrick, who was born in 1911. Mary was a grand daughter of Thomas Sweeney

Peter Cuffley discusses this photo as follows

It is a wonderful image and reflects the remarkable ability with wood the early Sweeneys had. The homemade seat is in a tradition of Australian bush furniture which Kevin Carney and I wrote about in our 1974 book ‘A CATALOGUE AND HISTORY OF COTTAGE CHAIRS IN AUSTRALIA.’ Not only is it a classic example of hand whittled ingenuity, in the background is a fine example of a picket fence which is entirely made of hand-split bush timber. The posts and the rails are all hand-split and not milled, but even better, every single picket is hand-split! To add further to the importance of the picture, the seat is actually in the Irish hand-made furniture tradition. In 1993 Claudia Kinmonth brought out a superb book called ‘IRISH COUNTRY FURNITURE 1700-1950.’ An up-dated edition was released in 2020 titled ‘Irish Country Furniture and Furnishings 1700-2000.’

1900 - John Sweeney and daughter Annie Cecile at Culla Hill37 viewsThis superb photo shows John Sweeney and his daughter Annie Cecile in a buggy outside the front gate of Culla Hill. Unfortunately the photo developer has put the words 'Bulla Hill' on the photo.

1900 - John Sweeney with his 5 daughters at Culla Hill45 viewsThis photo of John Sweeney with his five daughters has been taken on the same day as the one with him in a buggy with his daughter Annie Cecile.

From left to right:

John Sweeney
Kathleen (1884-1916)
Mary Frances (1876-1961)
Annie Cecile (1869-1951) is third in line holding a puppy.
Ellen Irene 1874-1940
Elizabeth Agatha 1871-1917.

There are 2 points which date the photo to around 1900.

1. Kathleen was born in 1884 and looks around 15 of 16 in this photo.
2. Annie Cecile married John Patrick Foley in Waterford, Ireland on the 8th of January, 1901. She had her son Marcus in Wales in May, 1902, and a son Thomas in Perth in April 1903. She probably didn't get back to Culla Hill before her father died in 1909. She was a teacher in north-west New South Wales up to 1899.

1901 - Ellen Sweeney Dance Invitation38 viewsA dance invitation extended to Miss Ellen Sweeney from the Bachelors of Edenhope.

1902 approx - John Francis (Frank) Sweeney37 viewsJohn Francis (Frank) Carrucan was the 9th of 10 children born to John Sweeney and Ellen Kenney. He was born at Eltham in 1882 and died in 1952 in Perth, West Australia.

1902 John Francis Ryan and Ellen Elizabeth Sweeney with children Thomas John Margaret and Francis (Frank)25 viewsEllen Elizabeth Sweeney (1845-1932), one of the daughters of Thomas Sweeney, married John Francis Ryan in 1880 in Cormandel, NZ. They are shown here with their 4 children Thomas Joseph "Tom" (born 1882), Margaret Katherine "Tissa" (born 1883), John Desmond "Des" (born 1885) and Francis Michael "Frank" born 1887. They were living in Waihu, NZ, at the time.

1907 circa - Thomas and Kathleen Sweeney, postcard to Mary and Frank in WA16 viewsThis photo of Kathleen (Kas) and Thomas (Tom) Sweeney was sent as a postcard to older siblings Mary and Frank in Western Australia. It says in part

"Tom Prior took it as we were returning from a ride. You will recognise the hill; our young stock.....Pigs send their love. Only another 3 weeks to live....Tell Frank to try and come home this year. Anxiously waiting for your next letter. Dad's neck is a bit troublesome now. He is making a new fowl house and it is nearly finished. Went for a ride on my own today."

1907 circa - Thomas and Kathleen Sweeney, postcard to Mary and Fran in WA24 viewsThis is the back of the photo of Kathleen (Kas) and Thomas (Tom) Sweeney which was sent as a postcard to older siblings Tom and Mary in Western Australia. It says in part

"Tom Prior took it as we were returning from a ride. You will recognise the hill; our young stock.....Pigs send their love. Only another 3 weeks to live....Tell Frank to try and come home this year. Anxiously waiting for your next letter. Dad's neck is a bit troublesome now. He is making a new fowl house and it is nearly finished. Went for a ride on my own today."

1908 - Sweeney Carrucan tennis group, Eltham41 viewsThis photo, taken in 1908 at the Lower Eltham park, shows various Sweeney and Carrucan family members. Cathleen Cuffley, the daughter of Frank Ryan, has identified a number of the players

Kathleen 'Kassie' Sweeney - back row, right hand end
Nellie Sweeney, daughter of Patrick Sweeney - back row, third from right
Frank Ryan, son of Ellie Sweeney - back row centre (fourth from right)
Will Oliver - front row, right most person
Nellie Oliver (Smith) - front row, second from right
Mary Sweeney - front row (third from right)
Michael Carrucan - front row centre (fourth from right)
Frank Carrucan, who married Kassie Sweeney - lying in front, leftmost of the 2 men

1909-06-16 Nellie Bourke postcard to Frank Ryan - Bridge St and Bourke Residence - Ryan Collection - writing on back15 views Tim Keary, brother of Eliza Bourke married Kate Sweeney. The Bourke residence was named "Woodville" after the town in Galway where the Keary family lived. Tim wrote letters home to the family in Galway from 'Little Eltham' and two of them are in the Sweeney Family book. Nellie has headed this postcard "Woodville" and written "Bourke's Road" at the bottom of the postcard. She writes about last going up to Culla Hill the day John Sweeney was buried in 1909. It is dated 16th of June 1909.

1909-06-16 Nellie Bourke postcard to Frank Ryan - Bridge St and Bourke Residence - Ryan Collection - writing on back18 views Tim Keary, brother of Eliza Bourke married Kate Sweeney. The Bourke residence was named "Woodville" after the town in Galway where the Keary family lived. Tim wrote letters home to the family in Galway from 'Little Eltham' and two of them are in the Sweeney Family book. Nellie has headed this postcard "Woodville" and written "Bourke's Road" at the bottom of the postcard. She writes about last going up to Culla Hill the day John Sweeney was buried in 1909. It is dated 16th of June 1909.

1910 approx - Patrick Sweeney35 viewsPatrick Sweeney, the eldest of six children born to Thomas Sweeney and Margaret Sweeney nee Meehan, was born in 1838 in Flinders St, Melbourne, and grew up at Culla Hill, the family property in Eltham.

Pat and his wife Mary (Fitzsimmons), who had been living in "Mount Pleasant" in Eltham, moved in 1881 and settled in North Fitzroy.

Pat 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). This is probably where this photo was taken.

1910 October - wedding of Michael Carrucan and Mary Sweeney of Eltham40 viewsThis shows the wedding of Mary Sweeney and Michael Carrucan at St John's Catholic Church in Heidelberg in October 1910.
Celebrant was Rev Fr. Parker.
From left to right: Kathleen Sweeney, Michael O'Heare, Michael Carrucan, Mary Carrucan, Thomas Sweeney, Ellen Smith

1902 - John Francis Ryan and Ellen Elizabeth Sweeney with children Thomas John Margaret and Francis (Frank)22 viewsEllen Elizabeth Sweeney (1845-1932), one of the daughters of Thomas Sweeney, married John Francis Ryan in 1880 in Cormandel, NZ. They are shown here with their 4 children Thomas Joseph "Tom" (born 1882), Margaret Katherine "Tissa" (born 1883), John Desmond "Des" (born 1885) and Francis Michael "Frank" born 1887. They were living in Waihu, NZ, at the time.

1912 circa St Mary's Catholic Church cnr Main Road and Henry Street Eltham16 viewsSt Mary's Catholic Church, cnr Main Road and Henry Street, Eltham was opened/blessed October 13, 1912. The wooden church was built to replace an earlier brick church also known as St Mary's (1865-1912), which had been situated on the main road near present day Wingrove Park. The church and land cost £1,400 (Evelyn Observer). The wooden church was destroyed by fire in 1961.
Sourced from the Eltham District Historical Society.

1915 circa postcard J.H. Clark- Eltham from Bolton Street21 viewsThis photo postcard shows an early view of Eltham looking east from Bolton Street between Bridge Street and Brougham Street (Wellington). The fenced road reserve on the right is Brougham Street.
Originally dated as pre-1877 introduction of the Telegraph (the Telegraph was connected to the Post Office on Thursday, June 7, 1877) given the lack of poles and wires visible, a more recent higher resolution scan has revealed the presence of several Telegraph poles: one about half way between Brougham Street and Dalton Street, one opposite the Police Residence, another opposite W.B Andrew’s Corn Store (Zen Den site), one possibly near the Fountain/Evelyn Hotel. Also, given the photo was originally marked “J. H. Clark Photo” it is safer to assume the image is dated circa 1915.
Sourced from the Eltham District Historical Society.

1916 - wedding of Frank and May Ryan43 viewsFrank Ryan was one of four children born to Ellen Sweeney and John Ryan. Frank was born in 1887 at Coromandel in NZ. He married Mary Ann (May) Smale in 1916 in North Fitzroy and they had 4 children Cecilia (Sheila), Catherine) (Kitty), Eileen (Ellie) and John (Jack). He died in 1965 at the Alfred Hospital in Prahran. May died in 1937 at Black Rock where they lived.

1920 approx - Ellen (Nelly) Sweeney poses side saddle at Culla Hill32 viewsEllen (Nelly) Sweeney was one of the ten children born to John Francis Sweeney and Ellen Mary Sweeney nee Kenney. She was born in 1874 at Culla Hill and died in 1940. She was a fine horsewoman.

1921 Eltham Elementary School grades 3 and 4 - Patrick and Jack Carrucan Nellie Sweeney Teacher23 viewsThe Eltham Elementary School in Dalton Street (School Number 209) had been started in the 1850s and was just a stone's throw from the Carrucan farms and not too far from Culla Hill. All the Carrucan and Sweeney children attended and this photo of the 1921 Grade 3 and 4 class shows 40 children ranging in ages from about 10 upwards. Nellie Sweeney is the teacher on the right. Patrick and Jack Carrucan are amongst the children.

1921 - Betty Carrucan and Nellie Sweeney - Eltham Elementary School Grades 1 & 241 viewsThe Eltham Elementary School in Dalton Street (School Number 209) had been started in the 1850s and was just a stone's throw from the Carrucan farms and not too far from Culla Hill. All the Carrucan and Sweeney children attended and this photo of the 1921 Grade 1 and 2 class shows 39 children ranging in ages from about 6 to 10. Betty Carrucan is fourth from the left in the second row from the front. Her aunt Nellie Sweeney is the teacher on the right.

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