John Dunne

  General Notes:

John was born to a farming family in Queens Co. Ireland (now Co. Laois), approximately 1833 (date calculated from his recorded age at the time of death, exact date unknown).

I have not been able to identify his family as the Dunne’s are prolific in the area and the name John somewhat common. However I haven’t tried too hard as of yet.

From his death notice I do know that he was born to a farming family. Upon reaching manhood, which I take to be 21, he joined the Irish Constabulary, something that was often done by middle sons of Irish farming families. Whether he was a Catholic or not I do not know for sure, but I am assuming he was (his daughter married in a Catholic Church).

It is stated he stayed with the Constabulary for 7 years before emigrating to Victoria in 1859. This throws some doubt either on the age he joined the Constabulary, or on his birth date. He either joined the Constabulary at age 19 or was born in around 1831. The dates are close enough that small errors can be allowed for (i.e. I don’t know what month he was born in or if 7 years was 7 full years or 6+ years…).

A John Dunne arrived (unassisted) in Melbourne aboard the Merchant Prince on the 26th of July 1859, aged 26 years.

Once in Victoria he spent a year as manager of a station, after which he joined the Melbourne Mounted Police. So that puts him joining the MMP around 1860.

His death notice states that he was selected by Captain Standish, acting on behalf of the Provincial Govt. of Southland, to proceed to N.Z. to take charge of the gold escort at the Queenstown Goldfield in 1863. According to information received he arrived in Waipori in 1864 and was appointed to the Otago Police on the 15th of November 1864, being sworn on the 1st of December that year. At the time of appointment he was listed as being 29 years old, 5'9" tall with dark brown hair, dark complexion and dark eyes.

He remained in charge of the escort, and Southland Mounted Police, for approximately 18 months. After this he took charge of the Tuapeka District, where he remained until moving to Balclutha in about 1870 at the rank of Sergeant.

In Balclutha he was chief police office for 2 years before resigning on the 3rd of September 1872 and starting up in business.

He owned the Newmarket Hotel in Balclutha between approximately 1872 and 1880, after which he moved to the Crown Hotel where I believe he stayed until his death.

In 1863 a Captain John Joseph Dunne led a troop of aprox. 400 men (the Victorian Volunteers) from Melbourne to Auckland to take up as part of the colonial force here. The troop marched off to Papakura and I do not know what happened to any of the men after that. From what I have read so far it seems that they were split up and moved to wherever the need was. I have not yet ascertained if this Captain John Dunne was the same John Dunne that took up in Southland, but the dates do match. I have more research to do on this.

He was elected to Borough Council on 1Aug 1873, and took his seat on August 6. With rare exceptions he served as Mayor or councillor through to about 1905-1910; he filled the office of Mayor for no fewer than 14 years (which at the time was a record for New Zealand). He was a member of the Clutha River Board for about 10 years, and took an active part in getting the Provincial Govt. to place the first steamer on the Clutha river.

Apart from his civil duties and hotel business he also appears to of been an active breeder and racer of horses. A passion that his son continued.

He married while at Tuapeka to a Margaret Hogan and had 5 sons and 3 daughters.

In 1882 he owned land in Bruce (2 Acres, £60), Tuapeka, (£40), Balclutha (£3340).

  Noted events in his life were:

• He was employed as an Irish Mounted Constable about 1851-1859 in Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland. It is stated he was with the constabulary for 7 years.

• He immigrated in 1859 to Melbourne, , Victoria, Australia. Might of been John Dunne (26) with James Dunne (22) on Dawn of Hope, January 1860. Or maybe John Dunne (26) on Merchant Prince, July 1859.