Most viewed - Carrucan and Sweeney Picture Galleries

Most viewed

Cemetery Plot 271 - Thomas Sweeney Family Plot49 viewsThomas Sweeney (1803 - 1867) has long been honoured as the pioneer settler of Eltham. Sweeney had in fact been transported to Australia as a convict. After a conditional pardon, he moved from Sydney to Melbourne and, in April 1842, wrote to Superintendent LaTrobe to purchase land on the south bank of the Yarra. he settled in Eltham at a property he called "Culla Hill" and lived the rest of his life there.
He died in 1867 at age 64 and is buried with his wife Margaret and various children a family plot.

1916 - Thomas Michael Carrucan49 viewsThomas Michael Carrucan (1892-1951) served with distinction in the First World War. Post war, he worked on boats between Australia and New Zealand for a number of years before finally settling in New Zealand and marrying Agnes Beryl Connolly (1905-1986). They had 13 children, thus founding what is now a very strong New Zealand branch of the Carrucan clan.

1910 circa - Patrick Joseph Carrucan in Police Uniform49 viewsPatrick Joseph Carrucan (1860-1920), the eldest son of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods, was employed as a Constable in the police force in 1882. He was promoted to Senior Constable in 1901, Sergeant 2nd Class in 1907, Sergeant 1st Class in 1911 and to Sub-Inspector on 29th March 1915. We believe he spent some time working at Pentridge Goal in Melbourne. If we assume him to be around 50 years of age at the time of this photo, it would be placed circa 1910. Photo provided by David Reinger, the husband of Meron Mildred Reinger nee Renault, who is a great grand daughter of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods.

2016 - Shirley Blomfield with her grandchildren49 viewsShirley May Blomfield nee Carrucan (born 1929) is one of the two daughters of John Carrucan (1906-1978) and Rebecca Searle. She is a great grand daughter of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods. They have two children, Rebecca (born 1969) and David (born 1970). She is shown with her grandchildren Max and Lucy Cook (Rebecca's children) and Barry and Clare Blomfield (David's children).

1906 - Michael and Margaret Carrucan with children Thomas, Francis, Monica, Leo and Kathleen48 viewsMichael Martin CARRUCAN (1866-1954), the son of Peter Carrucan, married Margaret LYNCH (1868-) in 1891. This photo shows them with their children

Thomas Michael CARRUCAN (1892-1951) - right back
Francis William CARRUCAN (1895-1967) - left back
Monica CARRUCAN (1896-1976) - left front
Leo CARRUCAN (1901-1958) - middle front
Marguerite (Madge) CARRUCAN (1903 - 1969) - right front being nursed
Kathleen CARRUCAN (1906-1992) - front second from left

Thomas Michael eventually moved to New Zealand where a large Carrucan clan now exists.

1926 - Kathleen Carrucan48 viewsKathleen Carrucan was the sixth child of Margaret & Michael Carrucan of Kew. She was born 23/10/1906 and died 19/08/1992, aged 85 years. This photo shows her aged 20 in 1926. She married William Clements (born 28/11/1905, died 31 05/1986 aged 80 yrs) at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kew on 03/06/1935.
Kathleen was a great grand child of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods.

1997 - Culla Hill auction48 viewsWith the Dalton St farm now long gone, Culla Hill remains the only remnant and reminder of those early pioneering days. A unique opportunity was presented in 1997 when the property was auctioned. I made the pilgrimage to the old property that I had not visited since my childhood days. The following advertising brochure was produced for the sale which attracted hundreds of people.
From memory, the property (houses, sheds and surrounding paddocks) sold for around $540,000.

Shirley Blomfield nee Carrucan with her children David Blomfield and Rebecca Cook48 viewsShirley May Carrucan married Bruce Bromfield on 4 February 1967 in Hay, NSW. They have 2 children, Rebecca (1969) and David (1970). Shirley is the great grand daughter of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods. Hence Rebecca and David are great great grand children of Peter and Hannah.

2017 - Grave Mona Carrucan Joe Hogan Field of Mars Cemetery NSW48 viewsMonica Carrucan (1896-1976) and her husband Joseph Patrick Hogan (1898-1990) are both buried in the C of E section (Lawn 4 – Grave 2113) in The Field of Mars Cemetery, Ryde, NSW.

Mona and Joe had a long marriage, producing children Margaret, Bernard, Gregory and Frank. Mona was the grand daughter of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods.

Photo passed onto us by John Richardson.

1911 Elizabeth Martha Wiltshire nee West with her two children Bertha Frances and Clive Gordon47 viewsMartha Coleman (1858-1924), the second child to Bridget Carrucan and John Coleman, married William West in 1878.
They had 13 children between 1979 and 1896, the first 8 born in Eltham and the remaining 5 born in Research where they moved in 1890. They lived the remainder of their lives in the Research Hotel where William was the proprietor.
This photo shows the seventh child, Elizabeth Martha Wiltshire nee West, with her two children Bertha Frances Wiltshire and Clive Gordon Wiltshire. Bertha was born in 1909 and Clive in 1910. Clive died in QLD in 1998. Bertha died in Sandringham in 2001.
This photo was passed onto us by Clive's grand daughter Karen Hough.

1907 - Michael and Margaret Carrucan with children Thomas, Francis, Monica, Leo and Kathleen47 views

1952 - Aileen Carrucan47 viewsThis photo of Aileen Carrucan, was taken in 1952, soon after she joined the Navy in that same year. The cap is labelled HMAS Cerberus.
Aileen, born 1928, was the daughter of Jack Carrucan and Rebecca Searle and the great grand daughter of Peter Carrucan.
Photo from Frances James, Aileen's daughter.

1957 - Jack Carrucan on his promotion to Police Inspector47 views1957 - Jack Carrucan on his promotion to Police Inspector

1974 - Peter McKenna47 viewsWhen famous Collingwood footballer Peter McKenna married Marita Browne, he married into the Peter Carrucan family line. Peter and Marita have two children, Nicole (born 1972) and Kimberley (1975).

One of the best full forwards of all time, he played 180 games and kicked 838 goals with the Collingwood Football Club between 1965 and 1975 before finishing his career with one season at Carlton Football Club in 1977 (playing 11 games and kicking 36 goals).

1997 - Culla Hill homestead47 viewsCulla Hill was the farm of Thomas Sweeney, established in 1842 and a central point of local Eltham life. Mass was regularly held in the front parlour and many marriages were held in its grounds, amongst them that of Bridget Carrucan and John Coleman in 1854.
Culla Hill still stands in Sweeneys Lane in Eltham, along a winding and hilly dirt road. It is easy to imagine the old drays negotiating these rough tracks some 150 years ago. Some of the original 110 acres still exists in its farm form.

1906 - Michael and Margaret Carrucan with children Thomas, Francis, Monica, Leo and Kathleen - reverse47 viewsMichael Martin CARRUCAN (1866-1954), the son of Peter Carrucan, married Margaret LYNCH (1868-) in 1891. This photo shows them with their children

Thomas Michael CARRUCAN (1892-1951) - right back
Francis William CARRUCAN (1895-1967) - left back
Monica CARRUCAN (1896-1976) - left front
Leo CARRUCAN (1901-1958) - middle front
Marguerite (Madge) CARRUCAN (1903 - 1969) - right front being nursed
Kathleen CARRUCAN (1906-1992) - front second from left

Thomas Michael eventually moved to New Zealand where a large Carrucan clan now exists.

Note this is the reverse to another photo. Both have been separately sent and indicate that two original photos must exist, each the mirror image of the other. Strange but true!

1906 - John West and his sister Margaret46 viewsJohn (b 1880) and Margaret (b 1886) were two of the 13 children born to William George West (1856-1935) and Martha Coleman (1959-1924). They were grandchildren of Bridget Carrucan and John Coleman. This photo shows them around 1906.
This photo was passed onto us by John's granddaughter Cheryl Laumer nee West.

1960 - Hayes siblings Selwyn Molly and Tom46 viewsAgnes Mary Carrucan (1881-1917), the youngest child of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods, marked Thomas Albert HAYES (1876-1952) in 1900 at Heidelberg. They had 6 children as follows
Francis Vincent (1901-)
John Joseph (1905-1985)
Thomas Albert (1907-1954)
Percival (1909-)
Selwyn James (1912-1986)
Mary Agnes (Molly) (1915-1991)
This photo, from Pam Hayes (nee Allsopp), shows Selwyn, Mary Agnes (Molly) and Thomas Albert (Tom) Hayes

2005 - Peter Carrucan house, Napoleon St, Eltham 246 viewsAt the top of the hill is Napoleon St. The house is on the left side of Bible St and the block surrounded it on the left side of Bible St.

1912 - Martin and Eileen and Molly Hogan with Agnes Carrucan46 viewsEileen Bedelia Carrucan (1886-1945) married Martin Denis Hogan (1881-1936) in 1911. Eileen was a grand daughter of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods. They had 3 children, Mary Patricia (Molly) who is shown here, along with Patrick Daniel and Kathleen Maie (Kathy) Hogan. The photo also shows Eileen's mother Agnes Mary Carrucan nee Hardbottle (1864-1944). The Meron referred to in the photo is their grand daughter Meron Mildred Renault nee Hogan. Photo provided by David Reinger, the husband of Meron Mildred Reinger nee Renault, who is a great grand daughter of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods.

2014 - Shirley Carrucan and Frances James46 viewsAn aunt and her niece.
Shirley Blomfield (nee Carrucan) is the daughter of John Alyousius (Jack) Carrucan, born in Kew, Melbourne, in 1906. Frances James is the daughter of Shirley's sister Aileen, and hence is Shirley's niece. They are both of the Peter Carrucan line. Shirley is the great grand daughter of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods while Frances is their great great grand daughter.

2016 Jim and Bess McMahon of Kinglake46 viewsSadly, we lost our last third generation link to the early Carrucan settlers, when James Peter (Jim) McMahon of Kinglake died on 4th August 2017, aged 97. A grandson of original settlers Peter and Hannah Carrucan, Jim had lived all his life in Kinglake, north of Melbourne. His mother Margaret (Mattie) Carrucan was the youngest of 10 children born to Peter and Hannah. Jim and wife Bess were farmers. Jim is survived by Bess, along with their 6 children James, Noelene, Josephine, Anthony, Peter and Michael, along with 17 grand children and 8 great grand children.
This photo, taken in 2016, shows Jim and Bess on their farm at Kinglake (source http://benetasheroes.com.au/hero/jim-beth-mcmahon/).

1915 Faunarooska Castle46 viewsFaunarooska Castle is a name that comes up every now and then in the Peter Carrucan - Hannah Woods line. What was the connection?
At some time in the past, the farming property which included the Faunarooska Castle had passed into the hands of the Woods family. John Woods, Hannah""s father, is mentioned as residing in Faunarooska in the 1855 Griffith Valuation. It was there that Hannah was brought up, within sight of the historic keep on the family property. Presumably it was still in reasonable repair when she emigrated to Australia in 1857 and, in her last years, she remembered it like that and expressed a desire to return to Ireland and lay claim to it.
Alas, by then, it was a derelict structure that was no longer capable of habitation.
This photo, taken in 1915, shows the keep still more or less in its entirety although missing its roof. A collapse in 1985 left it as a ruinous pile of rocks.

1910 approx - Elizabeth Martha Wiltshire nee West45 viewsMartha Coleman (1858-1924), the second child to Bridget Carrucan and John Coleman, married William West in 1878.
They had 13 children between 1979 and 1896, the first 8 born in Eltham and the remaining 5 born in Research where they moved in 1890. They lived the remainder of their lives in the Research Hotel where William was the proprietor.
This photo is of Elizabeth Martha Wiltshire nee West who was the seventh child, born 1888 and died 1980. This photo was passed onto us by her great grand daughter Karen Hough. I am guessing it might have been taken around 1910.

1900 - Faunarooska Castle45 viewsFaunarooska Castle is a name that comes up every now and then in the Peter Carrucan - Hannah Woods line. What was the connection?
At some time in the past, the farming property which included the Faunarooska Castle had passed into the hands of the Woods family. John Woods, Hannah""s father, is mentioned as residing in Faunarooska in the 1855 Griffith Valuation. It was there that Hannah was brought up, within sight of the historic keep on the family property. Presumably it was still in reasonable repair when she emigrated to Australia in 1857 and, in her last years, she remembered it like that and expressed a desire to return to Ireland and lay claim to it.
Alas, by then, it was a derelict structure that was no longer capable of habitation.
This photo, taken between 1890 and 1915, shows the keep still more or less in its entirety although missing its roof. A collapse in 1985 left it as a ruinous pile of rocks.

1939 Carrucan house45 viewsThe old Carrucan homestead

1940 - Dennis Carrucan and family45 viewsThis photo shows Dennis Carrucan (in centre with flat cap) with some of his family. Dennis was the father of Patrick (1917), Michael (1919), Jimmy (1922), Mary (1924) and Jacko (1925).
Back right: Mary Carrucan
Front: Seamus Carrucan (Dennis Carrucan""s brother), Jimmy Carrucan (with accordion), Dennis Carrucan (with flat cap), Michael Carrucan on right (with violin).
Michael Carrucan (right) was born in 1919 so this photo must be around 1940.

2010 - Gravestone Edmond Thomas Carrucan45 viewsEdmund Thomas (Ted) Carrucan was one of 13 children born to THomas Michael Carrucan (1892-1952) and Agnes Beryl (Beryl) Connolly (1905-1986) and is part of the history of our strong New Zealand family. In 1939, he married Ellen Monica Beeson and they had 9 children. He died in 1991 and is buried in Auckland. He was a great great grandson of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods.

1900 - Kevin Carrucan first Assumption boarder45 viewsKevin James O'Doherty Carrucan, the oldest of 5 children born to Patrick Joseph Carrucan and Agnes Mary Hardbottle, was born in Pyalong, Victoria, on the 6th March 1885.
He arrived at Assumption College, Kilmore, Victoria, on the 15th August 1900 as the first boarder to board at that famous college. He was brought to the school from Lancefield by Fr. Farrelly, the then Parish Priest of Kilmore and the founder of Assumption. There were no more than five boarders at this point with about 50 day students. Kevin was Dux of the School in 1900.
Whilst appointed to Traralgon Creek State School, he met his future wife Rubina Beaton who lived in nearby Koornalla. They married on 22nd June 1910 at Traralgon. Kevin and Rubina had four children Patricia, Donald, Enid and John. Kevin then went on to join the Commonwealth Public Service which was then developing in Melbourne because Canberra had not yet been founded. In the mid 1920's he went overseas to take up a position as the Secretary to the Australian Ambassador at Australia House in London. Rubina and the children lived in Brugge in Belgium whilst Kevin lived in London.
He returned to Australia in March 1931 and returned to work at Canberra in November 1931 but died soon after.
He was a grandson of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods.
This photo appeared in a 1984 Assumption College Newsletter, obtained when our son was attending the same College and was given to us by Kath and Grahame Murphy.

1912- Michael and Hannah O'Bryan with Mary Veronica (Mollie)45 views1912 - Michael O'Bryan with his wife Hannah (nee Sloan) with their eldest daughter Mary Veronica (Mollie). Michael O'Bryan was an accountant and the family lived in Fitzroy.
Their 3 children were
Mary Veronica (Mollie) - born 15-11-1911 - Mollie subsequently joined the Little Sisters of the Poor as Sr Veronica Mary
Agnes (Sr Michelle) - born 31-03-1915 - Agnes also became a nun and became known as Sr Michelle
Kevin - born 25-12-1919

1935 - Mona Carrucan45 viewsMonica (Mona) Carrucan, the fourth child of Margaret and Michael Carrucan of Kew, was born in 1896 in Kew. In 1925, she married Joseph Hogan and they had 4 children, Margaret, Bernard, Gregory and Frank. This photo, taken around 1935 shows her with the youngest of the 4 children as a baby. Mona died in March 1976. She was a granddaughter of Peter and Hannah Carrucan.

1958 - Kew Wood Yard Invoice45 viewsMichael and Margaret Carrucan (Michael was the fourth child of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods) settled in Kew and started a small business called 'M Carrucan Fuel & Produce Merchant'. This grew into a large enterprise supplying wood, coal, coke, sawn timber, chaff and grain, sand, gravel, etc. The business thrived in the expanding Melbourne of the early twentieth century and finally closed its doors in the late 1950's, a victim of the changing face of Melbourne's fuel economy. This invoice, from 1958, is from shortly before the business was closed.

1900 approx - Maggie Carrucan45 viewsPortrait of Maggie Carrucan (1879-1925) as a young woman, probably in the early 1900s. She married John Joseph (Jack) McMahon in 1911 and they settled in Kinglake.

1900s - Culla Hill painting45 viewsIn the early 1900s, Mary Sweeney commissioned travelling painter Charles Bertie to paint the Culla Hill homestead. She took this painting with her when she married Michael Carrucan in 1910 and it hung in the Dalton St farmhouse for many years. In the 1960s, the Burstons (the then owners of Culla Hill) had a card printed from the painting. This copy of the card has been given to me by Peter Cuffley.
This painting was thought by the family to have been lost but it has now come to light that the painting was donated to the Shire of Eltham in 1970 when there was a community callout for historical contributions to the Shire's centenary history project.
The very fragile original was kept in the Council strongroom and suffered significant damage to its edges over the years. It has also yellowed and lost its frame.
A comparison of the original when it was digitised in 2022 with the negative taken 50 years earlier reveals that the left 20% of the sketch has been cut off, probably due to damage.
The Shire of Nillumbik gave EDHS the Shire of Eltham archives in 2004 but the sketch was not part of that listing. EDHS probably received it after that time.

1967 - Wedding of Shirley Carrucan and Bruce Blomfield45 views

Guy Mannering Painting by Frank Carrucan45 viewsThe U.S. ship Guy Mannering was built at New York by William H. Webb, New York, for Robert L. Taylor and Nathaniel W. Merrill's line (called in Liverpool the Black Star Line) of sailing packets between New York and Liverpool, and launched in March 1849.

The ship plied other routes apart from Liverpool – New York. Patrick Carrucan, with his bride Mary and his younger brother Peter, sailed from Liverpool on the Guy Mannering in 1857 on their 90 day voyage to Australia. The shipping records list the travellers, who were not Assisted Migrants, as follows:

... Patrick and Mary Carrocan, ages 30 and 23, married, farmer, Irish, and Peter Carrocan, 24, single, farmer, Irish, on the Guy Mannering in 1857 from Liverpool to Melbourne

In 2017, Frank Carrucan, the great great grandson of Patrick Carrucan, painted a picture of the Guy Mannering. Here it is!

1932 - Michael and Jimmy Carrucan44 viewsThis Fanore photo shows two of the children of Dennis Carrucan - Michael (born 1919) and Jimmy (1922). They are in the middle front with flat caps on. This photo must have been taken around 1932.

1996 Fanore - Jim Martin with Patsy, Jim and Nancy Carrucan44 viewsTaken when Jim and Helen Martin were touring the family haunts in Ireland in 1996, this photo shows Jim with Patsy Carrucan and Patsy's parents Jim and Nancy.

The Fields Above Fanore44 viewsThe Fields Above Fanore (sung to the Tune of Galway Bay] was written by Dr Bryan McMahon
Hear Patsy Carrucan sing this song: http://soundcloud.com/fanoremosaics/the-fields-above-fanore

Motuihi Island, Auckland, Hauraki Gulf44 viewsMotuihi Island, Auckland, Hauraki Gulf

1926 - Kathleen Carrucan44 viewsKathleen Carrucan was the sixth child of Margaret & Michael Carrucan of Kew. She was born 23/10/1906 and died 19/08/1992, aged 85 years. This photo shows her aged 20 in 1926. She married William Clements (born 28/11/1905, died 31 05/1986 aged 80 yrs) at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kew on 03/06/1935.
Kathleen was a great grand child of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods.

1932 - Selwyn Hayes age 11 with his dogs Trixie and Parky44 viewsAgnes Mary Carrucan (1881-1917), the youngest child of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods, marked Thomas Albert HAYES (1876-1952) in 1900 at Heidelberg. They had 6 children as follows
Francis Vincent (1901-)
John Joseph (1905-1985)
Thomas Albert (1907-1954)
Percival (1909-)
Selwyn James (1912-1986)
Mary Agnes (Molly) (1915-1991)
This photo, from Pam Hayes (nee Allsopp), shows Selwyn, aged 11, with his dogs Trixie and Parky.

1935 - Kathleen Clements nee Carrucan on her wedding day with bridesmaid Molly Carey44 viewsKathleen Carrucan was the sixth child of Margaret and Michael Carrucan of Kew. She was born 23/10/1906 and died 19/08/1992, aged 85 years. She married William (Bill) Clements (born 28/11/1905, died 31 05/1986) at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kew on 03/06/1935.
This photo, taken on her wedding days, shows her with her bridesmaid Miss Molly Carey.
Kathleen was a great grand child of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods.

1953 - Shirley Carrucan44 viewsShirley Carrucan born 1929, the daughter of Jack Carrucan and Rebecca Searle. Photo taken in 1953 when she was nursing.
Photo from Frances James, Shirley's niece.

2005 - Culla Hill homestead and back paddocks44 viewsI revisited Culla Hill in 2005 and was able to get this great snap, looking back towards the farmhouse from above it. This area is now covered with a new housing development so this view is no longer available.

1943 Faunarooska Castle44 viewsFaunarooska Castle is a name that comes up every now and then in the Peter Carrucan - Hannah Woods line. What was the connection?
At some time in the past, the farming property which included the Faunarooska Castle had passed into the hands of the Woods family. John Woods, Hannah""s father, is mentioned as residing in Faunarooska in the 1855 Griffith Valuation. It was there that Hannah was brought up, within sight of the historic keep on the family property. Presumably it was still in reasonable repair when she emigrated to Australia in 1857 and, in her last years, she remembered it like that and expressed a desire to return to Ireland and lay claim to it.
Alas, by then, it was a derelict structure that was no longer capable of habitation.
This photo, taken in 1943, shows the keep in a state of disrepair. A collapse in 1985 left it as a ruinous pile of rocks.

2010 - Gravestone Thomas Carrucan43 viewsThomas Michael Carrucan, born 1892, was the eldest of the 6 children born to Michael and Margaret Carrucan of Kew. He was a grand child of Peter Carrucan and Hannah Woods.
When World War One broke out, many young Australian men ansered the call, Thomas Michael Carrucan amongst them. After a distinguished 4 years serving overseas, he returned home. Alas, there did not seem to be any place for him in the family business so he eventually decided to settle in New Zealand where he had a mate.
Once there, he met and married Agnes Beryl (Beryl) Connolly and and they had 13 children, Leo, Joe, Ted, Brian, Mary, Kathleen, Robert, Maura, Peter, Andrew, Janet, Elizabeth and Anne.
Thomas died on 25th March 1951 in an Auckland hospital, aged 58. Beryl died in 1986, aged 80.
Our strong New Zealand line is descended from Thomas and Beryl.
This photo shows his gravestone in Auckland.

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