Blue Mountains History Journal Issue 3

Blue Mountains Historical Journal 3; 2012
Conclusion
When John Donohoe was buried at 17 Mile Hollow on 25 June 1837 he was either 60 years of age
(according to the Convict Death Register) or 58 years of age (according to those who erected his
headstone). Whatever was correct, he was a long way from his birthplace in Ireland and was fated to lose
his identity to the obscure and powerful forces of local myth-making for almost the next two centuries.
Perhaps now his story can begin to be told.
Acknowledgements
I acknowledge the State Library of NSW (Mitchell Library), the Blue Mountains City Library (Local
Studies Section) and Springwood Historical Society for permission to use historical photographs from
their collections. I am also grateful to Margaret Chapman, Marika Low, Neryl Medcalf, John Merriman
(BMCL) and Donna Newton (RAHS) for help with various aspects of my research.
Abbreviations
BMCL Blue Mountains City Library
LCA Linden Citizens’ Association
n.d. no date
NSW BD&M NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
RAHS Royal Australian Historical Society
SLNSW State Library of New South Wales
References
Anonymous (1834a) Police Incidents. Sydney Herald, 19 May 1834, p.2, cols.4-5.
Anonymous (1834b) Supreme Criminal Court. Thursday, August 14. Sydney Gazette and New South
Wales Advertiser, 19 August 1834, p.2, col.6.
Anonymous (1834c) Law Intelligence: Supreme Court.–Crown Side. The Australian, 19 August 1834,
p.3, col.2.
Anonymous (1834d) Supreme Criminal Court. Friday. Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser,
2 September 1834, p.2, col.6.
Anonymous (1837) Tickets of Leave. Hobart Town Courier, 20 October 1837, p.1S, col.6.
Anonymous (1840) Supreme Court Criminal Sittings. Hobart Town Courier & Van Diemen’s Land
Gazette, 11 September 1840, p.2, cols.5-6.
Anonymous (1845) From the Hobart Town Gazette. Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston), 9 August 1845,
p.62, col.2.
Anonymous (1883) Apples. Mercury (Hobart), 31 March 1883, p.2, col.7.
Anonymous (2012) Touring Guide. Blue Mountains Wonderland, Autumn 2012: 31-35.
Anonymous (n.d. a) Old Grave of John Donohoe. BMCL Local Studies Section, Image Library File
001/001737A. http://www.photosau.com.au/bluemountains/scripts/home.asp
Anonymous (n.d. b) King’s Cave. Unpublished typed manuscript in VF Linden, Local Studies
Collection, Blue Mountains City Library, Springwood (possibly written by Allan Searle).
Anonymous (n.d. c) The Kings Cave Linden. BMCL Local Studies Section, Image Library File
HSO/HSO603. http://www.photosau.com.au/bluemountains/scripts/home.asp
Backhouse, J. (1843) A Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies. Chapter XXVII, pp.300-342;
reprinted as ‘Account of a Journey from Parramatta, Across the Blue Mountains to Wellington, 1835’
pp.197-225 in Mackaness (1965).
Baxter, C.J. (editor) (1999) General Muster List of New South Wales 1823, 1824, 1825. Sydney: Society
of Australian Genealogists. 844pp.
Blue Mountains City Council (2009) Ld002 : Grave of John Donohoe, Burke Road, Linden. Blue
Mountains Heritage Register, State Heritage Inventory, SHI Number 1170705. Updated: 03 Jan 05
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_04_2.cfm?itemid=1170705
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