Biography

“Michael DUFFY” was born cJune 1849, Rathoven Ireland <source needed). He was the son of John DUFFY and Rose Mucketon McADYN

Michael emigrated to Australia, arriving in 1865 on “Golden Land”

Michael married Bertha GROSSMAN on 28 August 1876 at Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia and they had the following children

• Private, died young
• Margaret Scott
• Private died young
• Edith Duffy
• Maud Duffy, Infant died young
• George DUFFY
• Edwin Victor DUFFY
• Eva Gray
• Private
• Private

In 1908 Michael and family moved from Bundaberg to Mosman, New South Wales

Michael died 4 February 1926 at his residence Bradley’s Head Road, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia and was buried at Macquarie Park Cemetery.

Michael was

• 1873 Storekeeper at Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
• 1880-1888 Australian Steam Navigation Agent
• 1886 Mayor of Bundaberg
• 1888 Mayor of Bundaberg
• 1893-1896 Member for Bundaberg on Queensland Legislative Assembly
• 1906 Mayor of Bundaberg

  ---

  
  

Mr Michael Duffy BY ONE WHO KNOWS HIM

Mr Michael Duffy, whose portrait appears in today's “Courier”, is no stranger to Queensland. The son of a farmer, he was born in Westmeath Ireland, in 1850 and came as a lad to this state to seek his fortune in 1865, soon after the foundation of what was then called the colony of Queensland.

His colonial experience started at a small station on the Upper Burnett as tutor to the owners family.  Then a year or two later, like so many others, he was attracted by the glamour of the West and was there for nearly seven years engaged as a stock rider, cattle drover, bullock driver, shearer, boundary rider and station storekeeper, all the time acquiring knowledge to be of service to him in after life, for no matter what honest employment offered he was ready to accept it.  

In 1873 he came to Bundaberg – then a little settlement on the Burnett River – trading in timber and corn (for the day of sugar had not yet come), rising out of what was then the forest primeval and which was not to aspire to the dignity of a town till some years later. At this time the wealth contained in its magnificent sugar lands was lying latent and undeveloped and almost unsuspected. Nature reigned supreme and the enterprise of the pioneer had not yet attached the celebrated Woongarra Scrub and the hum of industry was scarcely heard in the land.

After short engagements with the late Mr W L Barnes and Messrs Gillen Bros. he obtained a situation with Mr Samuel Johnston, of the Waterview Saw-mills, where he speedily rose to the highest position. There he remained till 1878, when he leased the Government wharf at Bundaberg and commenced business on his own account as a shipping agent and produce merchant, thus lying, in my opinion, the foundation of his future success.

From that time started his well merited and rapid success in commercial life. His business grew with the place, and from such a small beginning it assumed its present large proportions, and he ultimately became one of the town's wealthiest and most prosperous citizens.

In 1880, appointed agent for the old Australian Steam Navigation Company, he held this important position for eight years, with honour to himself, satisfaction to the public, and considerable profit to the company. In 1884, finding the wharfage accommodation at Bundaberg was insufficient for the rapidly increasing trade of the port, and after repeated ineffectual applications to the Government to improve matters, he leased a wharf frontage and built a magnificent wharf and store at a cost of 5,000 pounds, to which, later on, at considerable expense, he added another; and when the Government of the day refused to connect the wharves with their railway system, he boldly offered to make the necessary connection at his own expense, with the result that the Railway Commissioners, owing to his determination, put in the necessary siding, to the great convenience of the town and district.

Always a busy man, yet from the very first he has ever generously put his time, talents and purse at the service of the public. As a public speaker he soon shook off his early diffidence, and with his indomitable perseverance and his precaution in always making himself thoroughly conversant with his subject beforehand, he developed a fluent and excellent delivery, sometimes suave and humorous, at other times scathing and sarcastic, according as the occasion demanded.

He was a member of the town's first public body, “The Progress Committee”, from its start until 1880, when he was elected to the Divisional Board. Then in 1882 he was elected at the first full election and alderman of the newly created Municipal Council, coming out fourth out of fourteen candidates. Since then he had contested eight municipal elections, and in each case was returned at the head of the poll. A foundation member of the Fire Brigade Board, he has been a member thereof for nearly twenty-five years. A foundation member also of the Chamber of Commerce, he has always been a constant attendant and speaker at its meetings. Thrice Mayor (in 1886, 1888 and 1906), he has ever upheld the dignity of the town by his generous hospitality, the last occasion being his banquet last year to the present Premier in the Queen's Theatre.

Lastly he represented Bundaberg in Parliament from 1893 to 1896, and recalls with pride his action in 1893, when he opposed some of the financial legislation of the McIlwraith Government, and objected to any agreement being entered into with the Queensland National Bank until after investigation of its affairs had been made by a Royal Commission, and a report thereon laid before the House. Snubbed at the time for his pains, his independence and foresight were fully vindicared four years later, when his suggestions were carried out by the Nelson Government. Such is the man who, at no inconsiderable loss and inconvenience to himself, has yielded to the pressure of a large and representative body of the electors to once more contest the seat at the next Parliamentary election in the Government interest.

For along time there has been steadily growing a strong feeling amongst the electors of Bundaberg that a local resident of the town, a strong fearless man, who will uphold and advance its interests, a man who, so to speak, has constantly his finger on its pulse, and is familiar with its financial and commercial interests and needs, is required, if ever the town is to take its proper position in the Parliament of this State. Hence it is that public opinion has chosen Mr Duffy as the one local man capable of filling the position, and satisfying the just asperations of the town; a watchful public servant, who allies himself to no particular class, but seeks to promote the welfare of all; a man who if he has made money here has spent it all locally in improving the town. You need only walk along Bourbong-street to see where he has left his marks – one whose determination has ever been to sink or swim with the place which has made him, and who, if he has occasionally given offence by his fearless denunciation of extravagance and wrong-doing, commands the respect and admiration of even his opponents.

Since the foundation of the town the public have seen him ever fighting for its interests; now contending for the dredging of the river, and keeping it open for navigation; now urging railway extension to the West; now advancing the claims of the great agricultural and pastoral industries of the district; long ago pointing our the shortage of labour that would ensue on the withdrawal of the island labour; now watching that the town and district received its share of public works and expenditure. It is only those who, like him, have been in constant touch with the needs of the town who have graduated in its local and public bodies, who can recognise its requirements and are capable of truly representing it.

With all his success he has not forgotten that wealth has also its reponsibilities and many a man still lives who could tell how in his hour of financial difficulty he has, unbeknown to the world, received from Mr Duffy that kindly and timely assistance which has enabled him to weather the storm. I will just add, in conclusion, that the above sketch has been drawn by one who has known its subject and the town for twenty years and I can only write of a man as I find him.
'The “Courier” Political Portrait Gallery. The Brisbane Courier (Qld 1864-1933) 22 Mar 1907'

Michael retired from business in Bundaberg and he and his family settled in Mosman, NSW. They moved to their new home ‘Ardagh’, 19 Prince Albert Street, Mosman, NSW circa 1908. Ardagh, named after the place of his father’s birth in Co. Longford, Ireland, was constructed by Smith & Cabban and is now heritage listed. The family moved to a smaller home, 56 Bradleys Head Road, Mosman, also constructed by Smith & Cabban, and named it Westmeath, the county of his own birth, about 1916. A year after Michael’s death Westmeath was sold to Mr & Mrs. Norman Lowe in February 1927.

Michael sailed with his wife and single children to Europe in 1911. They were booked to sail to New York aboard the Titanic but cancelled just before departure as one of the children were unwell.
Elizabeth Gray, (Michael Duffy was my husband's great grandfather)

LINKS

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Duffy_(Queensland_politician)