Rosewood History

Queenslander News Budget (Brisbane, Qld.), Saturday 12 September 1908, page 17

A ROSEWOOD PIONEER.
Mr. P. O’Donnell of Ashwell (B. Taylor photo)

(By Our West Moreton Representative.)

Mr. P. O’Donnell, of Ashwell, is one of the pioneers of the Rosewood district, having arrived there in the year ’63: in fact, he is one of the oldest members of the Farmers’ Club. He came out in the ship Vernor, and first went to Caboolture and worked at Raff’s sugar mill. He is also an old Oxley identity. He went to the Gympie diggings, but found he was on the wrong track, so he soon decided that the best plan for him to make a living was on the land, not underneath it. 

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Saturday 5 February 1910, page 3

OBITUARY – MR. PATRICK O’DONNELL.
Mr. Patrick O’Donnell, an old and respected resident of the Rosewood district, passed away at his residence, Ashwell, on the 22nd January last, at the age of 76 (he was really 67 years old), death being due to haemorrhage of the brain. The deceased had been confined to his bed for only two days, though, for some six weeks before his demise, he had been unable to get about. He was one of the pioneers in the Rosewood Scrub, and had lived at Ashwell for about 35 years. He was one of the first members of the Rosewood Farmers’ Club and the Lanefield Co-operative Dairying Company, and was Chairman of the trustees of the Tallegalla General Cemetery. 

Born in Drumore, Donegal, Ireland, the deceased came to Queensland, arriving in Brisbane in the year 1864. He worked on a farm at Oxley for 12 months, and then commenced farming on his own account at the same place. When the great gold rush to Gympie occurred, he left his farm and went to the goldfield. But, after residing there for a month, he went to Mr. Raff’s plantation at Caboolture, where he remained for five years. From Caboolture he came to Ashwell, and selected a farm, on which he has lived ever since. He was married at Oxley 12 months after his arrival in the State, and his wife and a family of three still survive him. His only son (Mr. Francis J. O’Donnell) is a resident of Ashwell, and his daughters (Mrs H. Wright and Mrs J. Oliver) live at Ashwell and Crow’s Nest respectively. A brother of the deceased (Mr. Daniel O’Donnell) also lives at Ashwell. 

The mortal remains of deceased were interred in the Roman Catholic Cemetery at Tallegalla, on Sunday, the 23rd January last, the ceremony at the graveside being conducted by the Rev. A. Wright of St. Mary’s Presbytery, Ipswich. We are informed that the funeral was the largest ever seen at Rosewood, and a large number of wreaths, sent by sympathising friends, were laid on the grave.

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Wednesday 12 April 1922, page 3

OBITUARY – The death occurred at the residence of her daughter, on Wednesday night last, of a very old resident of the district, in the person of Mrs. Mary O’Donnell, relict of the late Mr. Patrick O’Donnell, at the advanced age of 85 years. The funeral left St. Brigid’s Church, on Thursday afternoon for the Tallegalla Cemetery, and Rev. Father M’Kenna officiated at the graveside.