Most viewed - Carrucan and Sweeney Picture Galleries

Most viewed

2008 Wyuna in Brighton20 viewsSusan Carrucan (1862 - 1943), the third eldest child of Patrick Carrucan and Mary O'Brien, married Edward Shae (Ned) Kent (1858 - 1907) in 1881. Ned died in 1908 and Susan moved to Brighton in 1910, firstly living in 'Rothwell' at 143 Church St and then at 'Wyuna' in Black Street. This historic property is still occupied and these photos, taken recently, show its grand nature.

20 viewsAnn Margaret Carrucan (b 1931) and Francis Xavier Magee (1931-1997) were married at East Kew in January 1956. These two photos are taken immediately after their wedding. Photos compliments of their son Kieran Magee.

1970s Sweeneys Aerial Photos20 viewsThe 4 aerial photos here are from Mike Burston and provide a wonderful snapshot of the Culla Hill (now called Sweeney's) property. The aerial views are undated but would likely be from the 1970s.

1993-11-27 Sweeneys subdivision20 viewsIn late 1993, the Burston family did a major subdivision and offered 12 allotments, ranging in size from 1 to 3 acres. Once this was done, the Burstons were left with the single house block.

1993-11-27 Sweeneys subdivision20 viewsIn late 1993, the Burston family did a major subdivision and sold off a number of 12 allotments, ranging in size from 1 to 3 acres. Once this was done, the Burstons were left with the single house block.
The auction took place in this seated marquee.

1993-11-27 Sweeneys subdivision20 viewsIn late 1993, the Burston family did a major subdivision and sold off a number of 12 sllotments, ranging in size from 1 to 3 acres. Once this was done, the Burstons were left with the single house block.

1950s or 1960s - Culla Hill homestead east side, Burston family collection20 views

1956 circa - Jamie and Mike Burston at Sweeneys with cows, Burston family collection20 views

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.

1850s Culla Hill Main House - floor plan Dr Roger Luebbers20 viewsThe new house at ‘Culla Hill’ was of a type often seen in colonial Australia which displays a simple ‘bungalow-style’ hipped roof which also covers the recessed verandah. It was given twelve-paned windows and the brickwork was rendered with stucco. Materials and fittings such as cedar doors and architraves would most likely have been brought by dray from Melbourne. One of the three floor plans Dr Roger Leubbers has based on his close inspections and old photographs shows the internal layout as it would have been in its first decade.

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.

2012 - Fanore - general shots on a walking daytrip19 views

1904 - Kas Sweeney19 viewsThis photo shows Kathleen A Sweeney (Kas), the youngest of 10 children born to John Sweeney and Ellen Kenney. She was born in October 1884. I guess this photo was taken when she was about 20 years of age. The photo is currently with Brian Carrucan, her grandson. I am still to get a good copy so this is just in interim attempt. Kas married Frank Carrucan in 1915 but died in 1916 soon after bearing her first child Ken.

19 viewsFrancis William Carrucan (1895-1967) and Thelma Stoney (1900-1988) were married at St Mary's Church, Glenferrie Rd, Glenferrie, on 30th April 1924. Frank was the grandson of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods. These two photos show Frank and Thelma on their honeymoon at Lorne, Victoria, immediately after the wedding. Photos compliments of their grandson Kieran Magee.

19 viewsFrancis William Carrucan (1895-1967) and Thelma Stoney (1900-1988) were married at St Mary's Church, Glenferrie Rd, Glenferrie, on 30th April 1924. Frank was the grandson of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods. This photo, taken in 1944, features Frank with children Gavin, Peter, Estelle, Ann, and Moya (left to right: Gavin, Peter, Estelle, Frank, Ann and Moya). Photos compliments of Ann's son Kieran Magee.

1980-01 Sweeneys Photos - Burston Collection19 viewsThis photo from the Burston Collection shows how idyllic 'Culla Hill' was in January, 1980. It is remarkable to think that this location is a mere 14 miles from the Melbourne GPO, yet there are no signs of urban development. Thankfully, 'Sweeneys Flats' are now preserved forever as riverside parkland.

1993-11-27 Sweeneys subdivision19 viewsIn late 1993, the Burston family did a major subdivision and sold off a number of 12 allotments, ranging in size from 1 to 3 acres. Once this was done, the Burstons were left with the single house block.

1973 Cullahill Farm outbuildings, Parish of Bourney, Tipperary North - taken by Brian Cuffley19 viewsPhoto taken by Brian Cuffley in 1973, when the Guider family were still in residence. Photo shows the barn and outbuildings at Cullahill, Tipperary.

1947-07 Parish Map Dept of Lands and Survey19 viewsThis July 1947 Department of Lands and Survey map shows the original owners of the subdivisions blocks around the Culla Hill property. Thomas Sweeney's name is on 3 allotments - allotment 7 of 110 acres (the original land purchase), along with allotments 2 and 3 of section 6 (each of 158 acres).

1820s Cork Harbour showing the prison hulk Surprise19 viewsOn the 14th of May 1823, Thomas Sweeney and Michael Connors left Clonmel Gaol and under armed escort were transferred to the Convict Depot at Cork. From there they were later taken by steam packet to the Cove of Cork (Cobh) and placed on the Prison Hulk Surprise. This former Royal Navy frigate, built in the shipyards in Milford, Wales in 1812, was modified as a hulk in 1822-23. This 1820s print shows the 'Surprise' in Cork Harbour.
Collection Peter Cuffley

2008 - Aloha Surf School in Fanore18 viewsWhen Frank Carrucan of Ballarat (Patrick line) visited Fanore in 2008, he found the Aloha Surfing Club and went for a swim in the Atlantic - brrr..I feel cold already.

2012 - Fanore - general shots on a walking daytrip18 views

1953-02-07 Gavin Carrucan and Gwen Lodge wedding photo 118 viewsGavin Michael Carrucan (1928-2020) and Gwenda Marie Lodge (1927-) were married on 7th February 1953 in Camberwell, Victoria. Gavin was a great grandson of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods. Photo sourced from their son Michael Carrucan and passed on by Kieran Magee, who is a great great grandson of Peter and Hannah.

1922-04-16 Ellen Sweeney in Mrs Cox's garden Eltham Easter Sunday 192218 viewsThis photo shows Ellen Sweeney in Mrs Cox's garden in Eltham on Easter Sunday 1922. The writing on the back is as follows

Jackson St Casterton Aug 18. 23
Dear Girls, I was very pleased to receive your nice letters with news of your doings in Eltham. You put Casterton S.A., so your letters were a long time reaching me. As I hope to see you all very soon I shall just send a p.c. of me taken in Mrs Cox’s garden Easter Sunday 12 months ago. The river here has been in flood twice and people who lived along its banks had to move. I believe the Eltham PS is greatly improved. Betty says I shall get lost there now. Casterton is on the Glenelg R. in Vic so you will remember that next time. Best wishes to you all.
From E. Hooley

Ellen Sweeney was a former student of Eltham State School in the 1880s, She became a teacher at the school from 1891-1898. She returned in 1915 until her marriage to William Hooley of Casterton at St Marys, Eltham, Tuesday, April 24, 1923. see the following 2 articles, recording her wedding (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56655781) and her death (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57491650).

1970s Sweeneys Aerial Photos18 viewsThe 4 aerial photos here are from Mike Burston and provide a wonderful snapshot of the Culla Hill (now called Sweeney's) property. The aerial views are undated but would likely be from the 1970s.

In this photo, we can see what seems to be a house site on the other side of Sweeneys Lane which would be on 'Yarra Braes'. There is a good photograph of a substantial weatherboard house with cast-iron-lace verandah titled 'Yarra Brae Park' in the Eltham District Historical Society Collection. I believe this would have been built by John Francis Rutter 1842-1906 and his wife Elizabeth, possibly in the 1890s. I presume this is the same dwelling burnt out in the 1939 Black Friday fires. It was then owned by Hubert Rutter and family.

1926 - Family photo at Dalton St - Nana (Hooley), Betty and Mary Carrucan18 viewsOn the front porch at the Dalton St Eltham farmhouse circa 1926. Mary Carrucan (nee Sweeney) is back right and her daughter Betty is back left. Mary's sister Ellen (Nana) Sweeney is seated.

1952 circa - Culla Hill, old longhouse with buttress, Burston family collection18 views

1940-02 Culla Hill Home Beautiful - House and Dairy18 viewsThe Home Beautiful magazine issue of 1st February 1940 contains a wonderful 6 page article on 'Sweeneys'. This is one of a number of historically significant photos from that article. Peter Cuffley has a copy of the original magazine issue.

1850s Culla Hill Main House - cross view drawing Dr Roger Luebbers18 viewsDr Roger Leubbers' 1997 study of Culla Hill confirms family stories of there being two upstairs spaces which, by their remnant samples of paint and wallpaper, would have been used as bedrooms. These can be seen in the cross section drawing.

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.

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.

2012 - Fanore - general shots on a walking daytrip17 views

1950 - Frank Carrucan at home in Ballarat17 viewsFrank Carrucan, who lives in Ballarat, is the great great grandson of Patrick Carrucan who migrated from Co. Clare to Eltham in the 1850's. Frank is one of the children of Cornelius Patrick (Con) and Clare (nee McArdle) Carrucan and a grandson of Kack and Maggie (nee Doherty) Carrucan. He is one of the main cogs in the active family history group. Frank was born in 1948 and this photo shows him as a very young child, circa 1950.

Carrucan Family Bible 217 viewsJohn Sweeney died on 24 May 1909 at age 65 and this Bible was given to his daughter Mary on the occasion of her marriage to Michael Carrucan in 1910. It stayed in their house in Dalton Street until the property was subdivided and the old house demolished in 1976.

The following inscription is found inside the front cover pages

Dec 2nd 1887
I John Sweeney became a teetotaller for twelve months.

This Bible was published in 1877.

1953-02-07 Gavin Carrucan and Gwen Lodge wedding photo 217 viewsGavin Michael Carrucan (1928-2020) and Gwenda Marie Lodge (1927-) were married on 7th February 1953 in Camberwell, Victoria. Gavin was a great grandson of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods. Photo sourced from their son Michael Carrucan and passed on by Kieran Magee, who is a great great grandson of Peter and Hannah.

1954-01 Gavin Carrucan and Gwen Lodge at the christening of their first child Christine Mary Carrucan17 viewsGavin Carrucan and Gwen Lodge at the christening of their first child Christine Mary Carrucan, who is being held by Gavin's father Francie William Carrucan. Christine is a great great grand daughter of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods. Photo sourced from Gavin's and Gwen's son Michael Carrucan and passed on by his nephew Kieran Magee, who is a great great grandson of Peter and Hannah.

1940-02 Culla Hill Home Beautiful - Old Longhouse17 viewsThe Home Beautiful magazine issue of 1st February 1940 contains a wonderful 6 page article on 'Sweeneys'. This is one of a number of historically significant photos from that article. Peter Cuffley has a copy of the original magazine issue.

This stone built building was part of the original homestead. In 1940, it served as a guest room.

1952-01 Culla Hill detached kitchen, Burston family collection17 viewsIn this photo, dated January 1952, you can see how a section of the back wall has collapsed and other parts have been given props. You can also see an opening to the cellar. I wonder how they accessed it. Perhaps there was a trap door in the floor. The building was soon to be demolished

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