The above advertisements are not
part of this website
Bibliography of Harneys in Australia & New Zealand
Chart References refer to charts in the possession of the author. Contact me
for details at the address on the index page.
ADELAIDE HARNEY
Musician, Elmore, Australia. Adelaide and her sister, Elizabeth, ran a lodging house in
Axedale, near Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. Adelaide was an accomplished musician. She was
born 4 Nov 1889, the daughter of Jeremiah Harney and Elizabeth (Keiley), the youngest of
11 children. Her grandparents were Richard Harney and Mary (Shea) from the Thurles area,
County Tipperary, Ireland. Adelaide remained single. She died 5 July 1979. Chart
reference: VIRMS.AUS.
ARTHUR JOSEPH HARNEY (c.1888-1933)
Arthur Joseph was the son of William Harney and Mary Hennessy. His father was from
Loughmore parish, County Tipperary, and his mother from Templemore parish.
Arthur was educated at St. Patrick's College, Goulburn, and on leaving college joined the Defense Department. For a number of years he held responsible positions in the ordnance branch, and did valuable work as chief accountant during the war. In 1917 he took the degree of Bachelor of Economics at the Sydney University. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1925, and joined his brother, Mr. James A. Harney, in the firm of Lobban and Lobban and Harney, Solicitors, Sydney. Arthur was stricken with a serious illness in the prime of his life, and in the midst of a successful legal career. During his illness he was visited by Rev. Fathers D. O'Sullivan and L. Boyle, Christian and Patrician Brothers, Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters of Mercy (Goulburn and Broken Hill), and had the consolation of being attended on his death bed by Sister Pious Harney, of the Little Company of Mary. He died 4 Jan 1933, at his sister's residence in Hurstville, leaving his widow Winifred (Kelsey), and children Mary and James. A requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Declan's Church, Penhurst, and he is buried at the Catholic Cemetery, Woronora. Chart: TIJBC.IRE.
BRIDGET "BEATRICE" HARNEY
Born in County Tyrone, Ireland, 1892, the daughter of John (Sean) Harney and Margaret
Hennessy. In 1911, Beatrice, journeyed to Perth in Western Australia to join her older
sisters Mary and Ellen who went to work for their uncle Patrick H. Harney. Beatrice
married Philip NEVILLE. Their children are: Ellen (Mrs. Harry) Levinsen; Jim; Bill;
Aloysius; and Thomas Neville. Beatrice's granddaughter, Sue Neville, (the daughter of
Aloysius) married Brian Burke, the former Australian ambassador to Ireland and the Holy
See. For a time he was known as Australia's most popular politician. [For more information
refer to Harney Update Newsletter Issue 20 (HU20)]. Chart reference: TIEMH5.IRE. [photo
HU13]
CHARLES LEONOLD LONDON HARNEY, of Karlton, Otogo, New Zealand See Ethlinda Harney below.
DANIEL HARNEY
Daniel was the son of Edmund Harney and Mary Heffernan, of Corderry, County Tipperary
(near Galbally, Limerick), Ireland. He was born about 1840, in Ireland. Daniel sailed for
Australia, settling in an area known as The Springs, which is now called Waubra. There he
married Jane Way, in 1876. Daniel and Jane had ten children: 5 boys and 5 girls. Oddly,
the five boys all remained single, so their descendents are all from the daughters, and
therefore do not bear the surname of Harney. Daniel and Jane's children include: Daniel
(1887-1957); Mary Jane (Mrs. John Wm) TRUSWELL; James (1881-1909); John "Jack"
(1883-1918) died of war injuries in France; Edmund Michael, known as "Ned" and
"Mick" (1885-1950); Patrick (1888-1948); Catherine Ann "Katie"; Ellen
"Nell" (Mrs. John) BURKE (1894-1980); Esther (Mrs. Norman) MALCOLM; and Agnes
Harney, who died young. Most of Daniel's descendants live in the Camperdown, area today.
Chart reference: TIEMH2.IRE.
EDMUND 'TED' HARNEY (1879-1972)
The son of Patrick H. Harney, who immigrated to Australia in the 1870s and started a dairy
farm at Garvoc. Edmund married Mary (Conheady) who died shortly after the birth of twins:
Mary and Francis. Ted took his newborn infants back to the family farm, where they grew up
to become Sister Perpetua and Father Frank Harney. The ancestral home was destroyed by
fire in 1959 or 1960 and a lot of family history was lost. For additional information see
articles in HU19 and HU23. Chart reference: TIEMH.IRE.
EDWARD AUGUSTINE ST. AUBYN HARNEY
Senator, Australian Federal Parliament Edward "Ned" Harney, KC. M.P., was born
30 August 1865, in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Richard Harney and his second wife, Mary
Ann (King). As a child, he lived at Kiloteran House, near Waterford where his father was a
Justice of the Peace. Edward attended St. Vincent's College, Castleknock, Dublin, where he
excelled in mathematics and chemistry. He also attended the Jesuit College, Clongowes, in
County Kildare, and then Trinity College, Dublin. At Trinity he took first place in feudal
law, criminal law, and the law of evidence, obtaining four gold medals and one silver, and
the Victoria Studentship at the Law Students' Debating Society.
Edward's brother, Francis Samuel Harney, was one of the pioneer solicitors of Coolgardie, in Western Australia, and Edward, too, sailed for Western Australia in 1896, leaving behind a lucrative law practice in Ireland. Coolgardie was experiencing a gold mining boom, and Ned took a lively interest in mining and commercial enterprises. In short time he became a prominent citizen and leading advocate in the area, entering the State Parliament for Coolgardie in 1897. His eloquence in defending clients was at that time almost legendary, and it was said he "could persuade the birds off the trees" with his charm and knowledge of the law. Ned was a big man, and because of his size he was charged double fare on the train. This is immortalized at a place in the Yallingup Caves of the Southwest where he became jammed in an opening that has ever since been known as Harney's Pinch.
In 1901, Edward "Ned" Harney was elected as one of the two Senators for Western Australia in the first Australian Federal Parliament. According to Western Australia's Historical Society Journal and Proceedings, Vol. 3, "The First Commonwealth Parliament", published in 1946, Edward Harney was often referred to as "the silver tongued" because of his rich and beautiful voice and his great oratorical powers "... he was so extraordinarily brilliant that the Senate was always crowded when he spoke ..." Edward married Clarissa Margaret "Daisy" Benington at Perth Catholic Cathedral 13 April 1898, and they had a daughter Pauline Agnes Harney in 1900. The family left Western Australia for London in 1906. Edward was successful at the Bar in London, and was made a King's Counsel and later (in 1922) won a seat in the House of Commons in the Liberal interest, representing South Shields in theNorth of England. He divorced Daisy Benington in London in 1922, and on 12 June 1927 married Kathleen Anderson. He was then a close adviser and friend of the former Prime Minister, David Lloyd George. Edward's second child is Desmond Edward St. Aubyn Harney, born in 1929, an investment banker and politician in London..
On 1 May 1929, only three months after the birth of his son, Edward "Ned" Harney died of pneumonia in the middle of a General Election. He was 63 years old. His daughter Pauline later married MacDonald and settled in Montreal, Canada. Chart reference: AUJAT.AUS
EDWARD BRIAN HARNEY (1910-1962)
Born 19 July 1910 in Queensland, Australia, the second son of Maurice Harney and Emma
Morshead Murry. Edward B married Gleam Norris, and they had three children.
Chart: QUJAR.AUS.
EDWARD FARLEIGH HARNEY (1880-1939)
Born 3 Aug 1800, Queensland, Australia, the son of John Harney and Anne O'Regan, natives
of Cork, Ireland. Edward F married Maude Edith Fogg, and they had at least one son.
Chart: QUJAR.AUS.
ELLEN "NELLIE" HARNEY
Born in County Tyrone, Ireland, 1873, the daughter of John (Sean) Harney and Margaret
Hennessy. With her sister Mary, immigrated to Perth in Western Australia to work for their
uncle Patrick H. Harney who settled there. Ellen married in 1902, to Tom SEAMAN. Their
children are: Reginald and James Seaman whose descendants reside in Western Australia.
Chart reference: TIEMH3.IRE.
ETHLINDER HARNEY, Auckland, New Zealand
The wife of Charles Leonold London Harney, of Karltona, Otogo, and mother of A. (Mrs.
Coffler, of Hamilton), Katie (Mrs. Lawn, Archenol), Jean (Mrs. Stagg, Dunedin), Dorothy
(Mrs. Still, Touranago), and Ken Harney. She died 21 February 1977, age 87, at Hamilton
(peacefully, in her sleep). She also had eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
She is the sister of Grace (Mrs. A. Steward, Auckland). Memorial service was held at the
Hamilton Park Crematorium Chapel. - From newspaper obituary (Film 1,419,739).
FATHER FRANCIS JOHN 'FRANK' HARNEY
"You might rear the girl but never the boy", the hospital matron told Edmund
"Ted" Harney, regarding his newborn twins, back in 1910. The twin's mother, Mary
(Conheady) Harney, died shortly after the birth of Mary and Francis. After the death of
their mother, Ted Harney brought his newborn twins back to the ancestral farm at Garvoc.
Young Mary and Francis attended school five miles away, usually arriving on their ponies.
Francis later attended Xavier College, and Mary went to St. Ann's in Warrnambool. Mary
entered the Good Shepherd Order and became Sister Perpetua, at Boronia. Francis was
ordained a priest in 1936 and in July of 1986 celebrated his Golden Jubilee (See HU19, 55
Years in the Priesthood). The twin who was not expected to live in 1910, lived to become
the oldest parish priest in the Ballarat diocese, St. Arnaud. He opened his speech at his
Golden Jubilee celebration with the words "You might rear the girl, but never the
boy." He retired about 1990, and resides in Warrnambool. In his retirement, Father
Frank is kept busy relieving priests in his parish for their holidays (vacations). - From
an article by Sister Perpetua in HU23. Chart reference: TIEMH.IRE.
SIR GEORGE ALFRED HARNEY
Mentioned in Australia Biographies, as having died 10 April 1883. Australian researcher,
Dora Harney Maguire searched the library at Kingston for mention of him, and the librarian
continued the search the following day, but nothing more has been found. (Should this be
Harvey?)
HANORA HARNEY - SISTER M. BENEDICT
The daughter of Richard Harney, a landowner in Tipperary, Ireland, and Margaret (Casey).
She was christened in Clogher parish, Cloonyross, on 23 May 1862. She joined the Sisters
of Mercy Order, 24 September 1884, and became Sister M. Benedict. In 1891, Sister M.
Benedict was among the original seven sent to make a foundation in Bourke, New South
Wales. In 1925, Sister M. Benedict and another Irish nun, Sister M. Columba Garry, were
sent to Ireland to canvas for postulants for the Diocese in Parkes, NSW. They returned to
Australia with 19 young women. "In the 1930s, when Sister was stationed in
Blackheath, on the Blue Mountains, a couple of people visited her often - a lady, believed
to be a cousin, by the name of Josie Harney, of Sydney, [see Chart TIJBC.IRE], and a de la
Salle brother, Brother John, thought to be a nephew, and at that time stationed at
Bathurst".
Sister M. Benedict spent some years teaching in Bourke and Cobar. She was later Superior of those houses and proved to be a very efficient administrator. After the Wilcannia and Forbes Sisters of Mercy amalgamated, she was Superior of Parkes. Sister M. Benedict died on the 19th March 1946, in Bourke, R.I.P. after many years of devoted services to God and to the congregation. - From the Convent of Mercy, 8 Want Street, Parkes, New South Wales, Australia, 1987. Chart reference: TIRMC.IRE.
JAMES HARNEY
Arrived in Australia on the "Chollerton" on 24 March 1887. - Bicentennial
Dictionary of Western Australians.
JAMES HARNEY
was born in Glendalough, about 5 miles south of Clonmel, near the borders of counties
Waterford and Tipperary. He married Margaret Doheney, 25 January 1848, at Sts. Peter and
Paul, Clonmel. She had been married previously and had several children from that
marriage. James and Margaret had nine children, baptized at the same place: Ellen
MORRIS (b.1849); John (1850-64); Timothy (b.1851); James (1852-1949); Thomas (1854-1938);
Patrick (1856-1938); Margaret (b.1858); Catherine DOLAN (b.1860); Mary (b.1861). First the
son Patrick immigrated to Queensland, Australia, followed in 1880, by Thomas, Margaret and
Catherine "Kate". Bridget Melvin arrived in 1884, and married Thomas in
Bundaberg in 1885. The family acquired property in the Isis Scrub, 20 miles south of
Bundaberg, near the town of Childers. It is sugar cane country and farming became the
family occupation. Thomas and Bridget had two children. All of the Harneys in this line
were said to be over six feet tall, and quite thin.
Letters from Mrs. Mary (Harney) Haugh, to Dora Harney Maguire, indicate she (Mrs. Haugh) is a grand-daughter of James and Margaret, but the letters don't give any details [thru his son, James]. She mentions there were cousins in the Powerstown area - two brothers. One of these brothers died young, the other was cared for by the Order of Brothers. The family farm was bequeathed to the Order of Brothers, according to Mrs. Haugh. If anyone has further information on this line, please contact us. - Taken from letters from Brian Rough and Mary (Harney) Haugh. Reprinted from HU25. Chart reference: TIJMD.IRE.
JAMES JEREMIAH HARNEY (1887-?)
Born at Tandara, in the Kamrooka district, the son of Jeremiah Harney and Elizabeth Kiely.
James married Eileen (Hanley) Cleary and their children include: James; Richard; Mary
MCCANN; John C., who died age 1; William, died age 8; and John. Their youngest son, John,
had 13 children. James is buried at Elmore. From the notes of Mary Harney,
Hawthorne, Australia. Chart reference: VIRMS.AUS.
JEREMIAH HARNEY
Born 1836, near Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland, the son of Richard Harney and Mary (Shea). He
immigrated to Australia in 1863, and lived with his kinsman, John Harney of Adelaide Vale,
Axedale. After five years, he married Elizabeth Keiley, on 16 April 1868, who was an
employee of John's. The couple remained at Adelaide Vale for some years as the four eldest
children were born at Axedale. In 1875, Jeremiah selected land at Tandara, in the
Kamarooka district. The couple ultimately had eleven children, seven daughters and four
sons.
Jeremiah was reported to be "a typical Irishman - liked a drink!, very hot-headed, but family minded." He used to say that no matter how successful the farm was, things had to be right in the home or everything would collapse.
Jeremiah died in 1911, on the farm at Tandara, and Elizabeth died in 1934, at Osburne House, the boarding house fun by her two unmarried daughters, Adelaide and Elizabeth. The children of Jeremiah Harney and Elizabeth Kiely include: Mary (Mother Mary Malachy); William; Elizabeth; Richard; Catherine CONROY; Margaret (Sister Mary Pious); Ellen BOURKE; Johanna MCMAHON; John; James J.; and Adelaide. William and James are buried at Elmore. Elizabeth, Catherine, Ellen and Adelaide are buried in Bendigo, at the White Hills Cemetery, as are their parents. Chart reference: VIRMS.AUS. - From the notes of Mary Harney, Hawthorn, Australia.
JOHN HARNEY (1814-1871)
"Bendigo John" was christened 16 April 1814, at Holy Cross, in Thurles,
Tipperary, Ireland. He was the son of John Harney and Alice Tobin. He married his first
wife in Ireland, but her name has not yet been determined. They had a daughter Bessie,
born about 1849. John's first wife apparently died soon after, and in 1852 John moved to
Australia. He sailed on the ship "Julia" with his brother Richard Harney and
other relations. His daughter, Bessie, was not included on the passenger list, and it is
thought she remained with relations in Ireland.
On 1 July 1855, John Harney married Adelaide Chadwick, in Sandhurst (now Bendigo), Victoria, Australia. John and Adelaide had at least five children, some which died in infancy: Alice (1856-1926); Mary (1858-58); Thomas Richard Aloyious (1860-87); John (1864-75); and another Mary (1868-68). The son, Thomas, became a surgeon, and died at the young age of 27 in New South Wales. Their son, John, died in a swimming accident when he was just 11 years old.
John Harney died 6 November 1871 at Bendigo. A large monument was erected in his honor in the White Hills Cemetery. It is inscribed "John Harney. Erected by friends who knew his worth and loved his many amiable qualities." Chart reference: AUJAT.AUS
JOHN HARNEY (c.1830- ?)
Born in Athlone, County Roscommon, Ireland, and married at St. Peter's Drum parish on 20
Jan 1855 to Catherine Rigney, the daughter of Michael. John and Catherine immigrated
to Charlesville, Murweh Shire, SW Queensland, Australia, with their children:
Carherine (probably died young); John (1857-1945); Catherine (b.1860); and Mary
(b.1862) who were all christened at St. Peter's Drum parish, Athlone. After
moving to Queensland, they had the following children: Bridget, died in infancy,
1864; Michael, died in infancy, 1865; Margaret (b.1866); and Ann (b.1868).
JOHN HARNEY (1841-?) Mackay, Queensland
John married Anne (O'Regan) on 25 June 1865, in their native Cork, Ireland. She was
the daughter of Timothy O'Regan and Ellen (Ahern). John and Anne became one the the
first - if not the first - pioneers to settle in the Sarina district of Mackay. In those
early days, John Harney took an active part in public affairs, and occupied the position
of Mayor of Mackay. Children of John and Anne include: John (c.1865- before 1939); a
daughter who died in infancy; Patrick Frank (c.1871-1939); Eleanor Mary "Nell"
Harney, a music teacher; Maurice (1877-1935); and Edward Farleigh Harney (1880-1939).
QUJAR.AUS.
JOHN HARNEY (1885-1936)
Born 1885 at Tandara, in the Kamrooka district, the son of Jeremiah Harney and Elizabeth
Kiely. He worked as a wheelwright at Goornang, then went up to New South Wales on a wheat
job and ultimately settled at Finley near Deniliquin. He married Elizabeth Leahy from
Bridge- Water-on-Leddan. They had four children, who all live in Melbourne: Mary; Eileen;
Joan; and John. Chart reference: VIRMS.AUS.
JOHN LINDSAY HARNEY (1896-1967)
Mackay, Queensland Born 5 November 1896, Mackay. The son of Patrick Francis Harney and
Annie Lindsay (Seaborn), John Lindsay Harney was a veteran, and a store keeper. He died 5
January 1967, Greenslopes, Brisbane, and is buried at Mt. Gravatt Anzac Cemetery. John L.
married first May Regina Brayshaw, in February 1920, she died in 1922, just three weeks
after her second daughter's birth. John L. married second, Theresa Vina Gorman, on 16
December 1925. They had six children. Chart reference: QUJAR.AUS.
JOHN MAURICE HARNEY (1908-1972)
Called Maurice, like his father, he was the son of Maurice Harney and Emma Morshead
Murray, of Mackay & Laidley, Queensland. It appears he married first, Margaret June A.
(maiden not known), and second Joan Piercy. He has two daughters.Chart reference:
QUJAR.AUS.
JOHN THOMAS HARNEY
New South Wales & Queensland Born 12 Aug 1910, Copeland, NSW, the youngest of four
children of Mathew Harney and Frances Ann Giddey. John Thomas, known as Jack, spent many
years farming in north western NSW at Wee Waa, and then in southern Queensland at
Goondiwindi. He married Dorothy Madden, and they have two sons, Ron and Peter Harney. John
Thomas Harney died 18 Feb 1994. Chart reference: TIMJR.IRE. - From his niece, Fay
Mitchell.
JOSIAH HARNEY
Employed on "T/L", as a blacksmith, 1870, Perth. - From Bicentennial Dictionary
of Western Australians.
LISA HARNEY
The granddaughter of John Harney (dec.) and Kate (Ely) Harney of Queensland. Lisa is a
film editor, and recently wrote a TV movie for ABC television called "The Ghost
Story." She lives in England, but is a native of Queensland.
MARY HARNEY
Mary and her sister Ellen Harney, daughters of John (Sean) Harney and Margaret Hennessy of
Ireland, moved to Australia about 1886 to work for their uncle Patrick Harney (1846-1902).
Patrick and the girl's father, John were the sons of Edmond Harney and Mary Heffernan of
Galbally, which is located near the borders of counties Limerick and Tipperary, Ireland.
Mary (b.1868) and Ellen's (b.1873) younger sister, Bridget "Beatrice" Harney,
(b.1892) later followed them to Australia, arriving in October 1911.
Mary married John HICKEY, in 1892, Victoria, and they moved to New Zealand. Chart reference: TIEMH.IRE.
MARY E. HARNEY (b.c.1844- ?)
Mary is the daughter of William Harney and Ellen Leahy of Ballylooby parish, near
Burncourt, County Tipperary, Ireland. Family tradition tells that she ran off to Australia
with the family's groom, William Carew. Her marriage record indicates she married at
Mansfield, Victoria on 15 Feb 1866. They had at least eight children, including: a male
who died in infancy in 1863; John (b.1864); Ellen Mary "Nellie" (b.1866), who
married Timothy E.W. Fitzpatrick; Mary Ann "May" (b.1868), who married Henry K.
Pitter; William (b.1869); Thomas F. (b.1871) who "died young"; Richard P.
(b.1873); and Patrick J. Carew (b.1876). Dora Harney Maguire, of Canberra, is the
great-granddaughter of Mary E. Harney and William Carew. Dora initiated the research on
the Australia Harney families, and is also the Australian distributor of the family
newsletter. Chart AUJAT.AUS
MOTHER MARY MALACHY HARNEY, L.C.M.
Born Mary Harney, 1869, Sandhurst, Victoria, the eldest daughter of Jeremiah Harney and
Elizabeth (Keiley), who were from Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland. Her sister, Margaret,
became Sister Mary Pius of the Little Company of Mary; and two nephews, William and Leo
Harney, became priests, Father Will and Father Christopher (called Fr. Leo by family).
During her 50 years in religion, Mother Malachy had been twice Superior in Ryde and twice
in Adelaide. She was outstanding for her kindness and generosity to the poor. She died 26
September 1955. A solemn requiem Mass was celebrated in the Convent Chapel at Ryde, on the
18th, the celebrant being her nephew, Rev. Father Harney of Benalla, Victoria. Among the
clergy present was Rev. Father Quinn, C.M., also a relative. Chart reference: VIRMS.AUS.
SISTER PERPETUA - MARY HARNEY (1910-94)
Born in 1910, the twin sister to Father Frank Harney, only children of Edmund 'Ted' Harney
and Mary (Conheady). It was to his parents dairy farm that Ted brought his newborn twins
after the death of their mother. Farming was difficult in the early days. Milking machines
were not installed until 1941, then they were driven by a stationary petrol engine.
Electricity was not connected until 1964. Young Mary and Francis attended school five
miles away, usually arriving on their ponies. Francis later attended Xavier College, and
Mary went to St. Ann's in Warrnambool. Mary entered the Good Shepherd Order and became
Sister Perpetua, at Boronia. Francis was ordained a priest in 1936 and in July of 1986
celebrated his Golden Jubilee (see HU19, 55 Years in the Priesthood). Mary died on 5
January 1994. - From letters from Sister Perpetua (nee Mary Harney), printed in HU23.
The following obituary was published in the Herald Sun newspaper: God bless you for always being there to all in need. God's love, gentleness and kindness flowed through you at all times. The Good Shepherd was certainly your call in life. You took many lost ones into your arms. Thank you from many. - Lois and Hugh Sanders and family. Chart reference: TIEMH.IRE.
MATHEW HARNEY (1867-1946)
Born 1867 at Dry Creek, near Scone, New South Wales, the son of Thomas Harney and and his
first wife, Catherine Waters. His father immigrated to NSW about 1855, from Clogher
parish, Tipperary, Ireland. His mother was from Kilkenny. Mathew married in 1900, to
Frances Ann Giddey, and they have a daughter Alice Vera (Mrs. Thomas Garret) Mullen.
Mathew Harney died in 1946. Chart reference: TIMJR1.IRE.
MAURICE HARNEY (1877-1935)
The son of John Harney and Anne (O'Regan), pioneers in Mackay Queensland, from Cork,
Ireland. Maurice was born 18 June 1877. He died 7 June 1935, at Dalby. He married Emma
Morshead Murry, and they had four children: John Maurice, called Maurice like his father
(1908-1972); Edward Brian (1910-1962); Kathleen Alice, who remained single; and Henry
James 'Jim' Harney (b.1921, Laidley). Chart reference: QUJAR.AUS.
PATRICK FRANCIS HARNEY
Patrick was known as Frank, Paddy, and P.K. He was born c.1870/1, in Mackay, Queensland,
the son of pioneer settlers John Harney and Anne (O'Regan). In his early days he was a
restless and adventurous man and this brought him into varied scenes and occupations.
There was hardly a corner of the North and West with which he was not acquainted. An
outstanding feature of his life, according to his obituary, was his love of horses and
dogs, which endured from his station days. Of a sociable disposition, a flair for
comradeship, a love of books, and a wonderful memory for incidents and experiences, he was
always an entertaining companion, and this brought him many friendships.
Prior to the Great War, he was stock inspector in the Hughenden district. He enlisted in the early days of the great conflict, and served for the duration in both the artillery and veterinary corps. His elder son, Jack, also enlisted and served at the front. After the war, Patrick Frank, as he was called, engaged in farming pursuits at Wagoora.
Patrick married, 10 Dec 1895, to Annie Lindsay Seaborn, by whom he had four sons: John Lindsay, (1896-1967); Francis (1898-98); Francis 'Frank' Henry Harney, born 2 February 1901, Mackay, Queensland; and a son William born 1 Jan 1903 who died young. It is believed that Annie Lindsay (Seaborn) Harney died in 1903, possibly in childbirth with William. Patrick married again "late in life" to Lillian McKerihan, who worked at the local bank. -Taken in part from his obituary, 1939. Chart reference: QUJAR.AUS.
PATRICK H. HARNEY (1846-1902)
Born in Corderry, County Tipperary, near Galbally, Limerick, the son of Edmund Harney and
Mary (Heffernan). Patrick immigrated to Australia in the 1870s and started a dairy farm at
Garvoc. He married Ellen Hyland on 6 October 1876. They had nine children: Anne
(1877-1964), Mrs. James Threlfell; Edmund "Ted" (1879-1972); John
"Jack" (1881-1963); Mary (1883-1912), single; Catherine (1886-1970), Mrs.
Michael Woodruff; Robert (1888-1962); Daniel (died young); Agnes (1893-1960), Mrs. Patrick
McEntre; and Ellen (probably died young). After the death of his first wife, Patrick
married a second time, in 1901, to Annie (Lee) Kelly, and they had a daughter Annie
"Lena"., born 1902, the same year of Patrick's death. He died 31 January, at
Garvoc. Lena married Alan Jennings. Patrick's descendants still operate the family dairy
farm at Garvoc. Chart reference: TIEMH.IRE.
PATRICK JOSEPH HARNEY - BROTHER COMGALL JOHN
(1909-1968)
Director, Brothers of the Christian School, Australia. He was christened Patrick Joseph
Harney, 15 May 1909, Drumbane, Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland, the son of Thomas Harney, a
farmer, and Julia (Brett). He entered the novitiate 21 November 1925, at Castletown,
Ireland. He became Brother Comgall John, and arrived in Australia 15th July 1929. His tour
of duty included Haberfield, 1930; Ashfield 1931-32; Marrickville 1933-5; Bathurst
(Director) 1940-43; Malvern, Victoria 1944-45; Dubbo, NSW (Director) 1946-50; Richmond,
Victoria (Director) 1952-58; Bathurst, NSW (Director) 1959-63; and Richmond, Victoria
(Director) 1964-68. He returned to Ireland on holiday in 1951 and 1962. While at Bathurst
he often visited with Sister M. Benedict, Director of the Mercy Sisters, who is thought to
be his aunt. Brother John died at Melbourne 6 December 1968. Chart reference: TIRMC.IRE.
RICHARD HARNEY (1811-1893)
Christened 27 January 1811, Roman Catholic and Civil parish of Thurles, Tipperary,
Ireland. He was the son of John Harney and Alice (Tobin). Richard married in 1841 to
Margaret Mary Walsh/Welsh, and they had three children: John (b.1842, died); John G.
(1845-1919); and Thomas (b.1846). Margaret Mary died, and Richard then married Mary Ann
King, the sister of Samuel King, in 1850, at Clonmel. Mary Ann is thought to have had
sixteen children, the first in Ireland, and the remainder in Australia: Eliza (b.1851,
died); Alice (1853); Richard (1854); William (1856); Mary Ann "Molly" (1857);
Alice (Mrs. W. T.) MULLALY; Johanna (1860-61); Eliza (1862); Louise POPE; Kate
(1863-1875); Patrick (1863?); Edward (1865); Francis (1866-1905); Agnes (1867); Josephine
(Mrs. James) McMUNN; and Joseph Harney (b.1871).
Richard's son, John G. Harney, was once interpreter at the Court of China. His sons Edward "Ned" and Francis were pioneer solicitors of Coolgardie, in Western Australia. Coolgardie was experiencing a gold mining boom, and Ned took a lively interest in mining and commercial enterprises. In short time he became a prominent citizen and leading advocate in the area, entering the State Parliament for Coolgardie in 1897. In 1901, Edward "Ned" Harney was elected as one of the two Senators for Western Australia in the first Australian Federal Parliament. (For additional information see Edward Augustine St. Aubyn Harney, above).
Richard Harney, a Justice of the Peace, and his large family resided at Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland, Liscahill House, Northcote, near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and Killoteran House, Waterford, Ireland. Chart reference: AUJAT.AUS.
RICHARD HARNEY (1874-1960s)
Born at Axedale, the son of Jeremiah Harney and Elizabeth Kiely. He is described as a real
"character", very like his father in personality (had an Irish temper), and
therefore they clashed. Richard, also called Dick, took up land with his brother, William,
at Glengariffe, but soon left to go to Melbourne, where he ran a dairy business. William
bought him out in 1925. That end of the farm is still referred to as Dick's. Their father
told the boys they wouldn't make a go of it there because of the rabbits and the Nortons!!
One day their father went to visit William and Richard in the buggy, and he ran into old
man Norton. The pair began to argue, and Jeremiah took the whip to him! Richard Harney
married Minnie Moore, and they had two children: Kathleen and Jeremiah. Chart reference:
VIRMS.AUS. From the notes of Mary Harney, Hawthorne, Australia.
ROBERT HARNEY
Born 1852, married Emily (Ester). She was born 1857. Children include: Sarah Mary, b.1876;
Albert Richard, b.1877; George James, b.1879; and Mary Anne E. b.1880. The family was
living in Albany by 1881. - From Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians.
SEAN HARNEY
Sean Harney made Australian headlines as trainer of the winning horse 'Jack Morris'. The
horse did very well in the Grand Circuit for 1992-3, and was voted Horse of the Year in
1993. The horse's wins have promoted headlines such as "Australian harness racing has
been set back on its heels in recent months by a brash young Irish Australian from W.A.
and his champion horse Jack Morris". Sean's racing colors were green shamrocks on a
gold background with green and white sleeves. Sean rocketed to national fame, and his avid
fans helped him enjoy cult status. At the height of his popularity, it was announced he
had inoperable cancer in January of 1994. He died 29 September 1994.
Sean's father, John Harney comes from Drum, Athlone in County Roscommon, Ireland, and his mother, Teresa, was from Clareside in County Clare. Sean, who was born 28 October 1954, is survived by his wife and young son and daughter. Chart reference: ROTMF.IRE.
THOMAS HARNEY (1837-1916)
Born in Clogher parish, County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of Mathew Harney and Judith
(Ryan). He was christened 9 March. Thomas set out for Australia 30 Dec 1857, at the age of
20, arriving in Sydney, NSW, on 6th April 1858. There he met his sister, Mary, who was
already in the colony. He traveled from Southampton as an assisted emigrant on the ship
"Joshua", a handsome fully rigged vessel of 804 tons, carrying a crew of 33, and
a total of 293 passengers. It took 97 days to make the journey, using the great circle
route which took the ship 700 nautical miles south of Capetown, South Africa.
During the years following his arrival three more of Thomas' sisters, Johanna, Bridget and Honora, also arrived to settle in NSW.
Records in NSW show his name spelled Hearney. On 11 April 1861, at Morpeth, near Newcastle, NSW, Thomas married Catherine Waters, from Kilkenney. She was born 6 Mar 1832, in Ireland, the daughter of James Waters and Judith Guilfoyle (or Kilfoile), of Dunmore, Kilkenny. The couple settled on a small farm north of Newcastle, at Dry Creek, Scone, in NSW. They had six children, two of whom died in infancy. After Catherine's death in 1875, Thomas married Annie Magee, on 7 February 1877, at Dry Creek, near Scone. She was the daughter of Michael and Bridget O'Neill from Donegal, Ireland. They had two sons. The family continued to live at Dry Creek until Thomas' death 22 March (or July?) 1916. His two youngest sons continued to farm the property until their deaths in 1957. Children include: Julia (1861-61); John (1862-1942); Margaret (1864-69); Mathew (1867-1946); Patrick (1868-92); and Catherine, b.1873. Children from his second marriage: Thomas b.1880; and Michael b.1882, both died in 1957. Thomas Harney's sisters Honora and Judith/Johanna immigrated to New South Wales, in 1863, aboard the "Sir John Moore." Chart reference: TIMJR.IRE. - From Fay Mitchell.
THOMAS HARNEY
Born c.1858, in Moore parish, which extends into Counties Roscommon and Galway, Ireland.
He was the son of Michael Harney and Mary Kelly. Thomas immigrated to Queensland,
Australia, and married there to Bridget Sayers, on 6 November 1884. She was born in County
Kerry. Thomas and Bridget had a son Michael, born 15 December 1885, at Clermont. He
married Maude Alice Kantor (she was previously married to a Mr. Reed). Michael and Maude
Alice had two sons, Vincent Ra (pronounced Ray) and Ra Thomas Harney, who were born at
Bulimba in 1925 and 1926. (Ra is the name of an Egyptian god). Reprinted from HU25. Chart
reference: QUTBS.AUS.
THOMAS HARNEY
From the Victoria Police Gazette, 1866 - Thomas Harney is charged, on warrant, with
stealing certain cattle belonging to [Mr.] Haines and [Mr.] McClusky, at Healesville, on
the 3rd, 4th, and 9th instants. He is an Irishman, a butcher, age 35, 5 feet 7 inches
high, fresh complexion, brown hair, grey eyes, large bushy whiskers and moustache
extending all over the face, feet tender from chilblains, and lump about the size of a
marble about an inch above the forehead; when last seen, wore drab suit and drab billycock
hat. He is supposed to be either concealed about Healesville or trying to escape to N.Z.
[New Zealand] - 17th July, 1866.
W. HARNEY
Mentioned in The Leader, 13 June 1903, p.36, as a cricket player. It appears he was a
member of the Church of England Cricket Association, St. Phillips CC, Collingswood,
1900-02. Runners up 1902-03. Reference states "group portrait includes W. Harney,
V.P." (Family History Library film #1363,976).
WALTER A. HARNEY (1916-
Born 1916, the son of William Harney and Honorah Quinn. Walter was a Counselor
representing the Northern Riding. His maternal grandfather, Walter Quinn, was President of
Huntly Shire in 1896. Walter Aloysius Harney married Nancy (Drummond). Chart ref:
VIRMS.AUS.
WILLIAM HARNEY (1845-1926)
Christened 21 July 1845, Whitefield, Loughmore parish, County Tipperary, Ireland, the son
of James Harney and Bridget Connell. Married Mary Hennessy, from Templemore parish, in
1883. Their children include: Bridget KINSELLA; James Augustine, a solicitor at Grenfell;
Johanna "Josie", of Arncliffe; and Arthur Joseph, a solicitor at Sydney. The
first three were born in Ireland, and the last may have been born in Australia, where
William moved about 1887. He named his residence in Arncliffe "Templemore". He
lived for many years in Goulburn, New South Wales, where he was well known and highly
respected. He was one of the oldest members of the A.H.C. Guild. The family moved to
Arncliffe in 1912. William died 22 April 1926, and his obituary, published 6 May, notes he
was "Blessed with a very bright and happy disposition, his cheery presence will be
greatly missed by his many old friends." Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Francis
Xavier's Church, Arncliffe. He is somehow related to Jeremiah Harney (VIRMS.AUS).
Mrs. Harney, the former Mary Hennessy, was a native of Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland. She belonged to the famous Irish family of the Butlers, the Lords Dunboyne, and was the great-grandniece of John Butler, the 12th Lord Dunboyne, who founded the Dunboyne Establishment. She died, 9 November 1927, age 83, and is buried alongside her husband at Woronora Cemetery. Daughter, Bridget Kinsella, claimed they were the "wealthy branch of the family" while Sister M. Benedict, a relation, belonged to the "poor branch." Chart reference: TIJBC.IRE.
WILLIAM HARNEY
Birth date and place not known. He married 9 October 1876, at St. Helen's, Gresford, New
South Wales, to Mary Lill. Their children are: Catherine M. (b.1877); Barbara Magdalene
(b.1881); Florence M. (b.1884); Mary A. (b.1886); Elizabeth M. (b.1887); Arthur
J.(b.1887); Magdalene (b.1893); Johanna J. (b.1895); and Teresa G. Harney (b.1898). Chart
reference: NSWWML.AUS.
WILLIAM HARNEY (1870-1959)
Born 1870, at Axedale, the son of Jeremiah Harney and Elizabeth Kiely. In 1898, he took up
land on the Picanniny Creek, at Tandara. Originally the farm was in his father's name, but
William and his brother Richard paid it off into their own names. Their partnership
apparently didn't last long. William was a very successful farmer. He married late in
life, to Honorah Quinn, and had eight children: Mary (Sister Benidicta); Noreen; Jeremiah
Joe (1912-1997), of Yanibuck, Pt. Fairy; Elizabeth, b.1914, (Sister Fidelis); Walter A.
(b.1916); William, who became Father Will (1919-1980); Leo Anthony (Father Christopher,
Patrick O. Carn) Harney, called Fr. Leo by his family; and Veronica TIERNEY. William
Harney died in 1959, and is buried at Elmore. He called his property
"Glengariffe." William's son, Walter Harney, now owns the Glengariffe property
on Picanniny Creek. Chart reference: VIRMS.AUS. - Notes from Mary Harney, Hawthorn,
Australia, daughter of Walter; and obit of Jeremiah Joe Harney, 1997.
WILLIAM E. "Bill" HARNEY
Bill Harney, author, radio and television announcer, and poet, was born in a gold camp, in
Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia, in 1895. He was the son of a miner, William Harney
and Annie Beatrice Griffin. His father was born in London, England, in 1848, just 2 months
after his grandparents arrived there from Armagh, County Donegal, Ireland. His Irish
grandparents were William Harney and Catherine Newman, which he describes as wandering
tinkers. Bill's mother, Annie Beatrice Griffin, was from Birmingham originally, traveling
to Thursday Island, off the north coast of Queensland, at age 15. She ended up in this
unlikely spot when a white doctor in the area needed a young girl to care for his invalid
mother, and she was chosen. Bill had two sisters, Beatrice, known as Beattie, who married
Fred Escreet, and Laura, who married Bill Hinds. Beattie settled in Yeppoon, North
Queensland, and Laura settled in Narrandera, New South Wales.
At the age of 12, Bill Harney became a drover, cattleman and trader. He
traveled about Northern Australia and came to know the land as well as the native
Aborigines. He counted among his many friends "the blackfellows, the whitefellows,
and those
in-between."
The natives called him "Billarney" a slurring together of his first and last names. This name was quite fitting for it sounds much like the famous "Blarney" stone which is said to give the gift of gab. And this gift Bill Harney definitely had.
Bill Harney enjoyed all kinds of people and learned from them all. He was a born story-teller, and once noted that when two men spend seven or eight months in the bush together, "the telling of the same story twice can drive them mad."
His education included just two or three years in a formal school. The rest of his considerable knowledge was self-taught in the bush from reading, and campfire discussions with explorers, engineers, drovers, road builders, beachcombers and natives. It is said those who chose to live a lonely life in the bush were the best students of the world's great literature.
Bill exercised his verbal skills on the air during the 1950's, becoming one of the most successful broadcasters both in Australia (ABC) and for the British Broadcasting Commission (BBC). He also wrote many books about his wanderings, all of which were published. In addition to factual accounts, Bill Harney wrote ballads, poems, and short stories.
From 1940 to 1947 Bill was Government Protector of Aborigines under the Native Affairs branch of the Northern Territory. He was curator at the famous Ayers Rock from 1957 to 1961.
Ayers Rock is said to be one of the finest treasures of rock art in the world. The picture of the Lightning Brothers is an example of this art. Bill was also a member of and advisor to the National Geographic Society, U.N.E.S.C.O. and Australian Universities.
Bill married "a quarter-caste girl from the island mission" school, named Linda. [This term means that one of her four grandparents was an Aborigine.] Linda's father, Walter Alroy, was a white cattleman who lived at a remote cattle station on the Barkly Tableland, in the Northern Territory. Her mother, Lena, was "half-cast", the daughter of a white "boss", and a native girl. There were few white females in the bush in those days. Bill and Linda had two children before she died from tuberculosis at a young age. Their daughter, Beattie, was just 4 years old, and son Billy was 2 when his mother died in 1932. Little Beattie also contacted T.B. and died young, and the son, Billy, died at age 15, when he tried to save another boy from drowning, and was drowned himself. Bill Harney talks about this tragedy, and the 1930's depression, in his book Grief, Gaiety & Aborigines. Bill's wife and children were considered members of the Wardaman tribe.
Bill Harney lived a full and interesting life in the Australian bush. He died shortly after his retirement, in 1962 at his seaside cottage at Mooloolaba, where he was busily writing yet another book. Content to Lie in the Sun was completed and published by his friend Douglas Lockwood. Other books written by Bill Harney include: Tales from the Aborigines, reprinted 1970; To Ayers Rock and Beyond, 1969; Songs of the Songmen: Aboriginal myths retold by Bill Harney [and] A. P. Elkin, 1969; Yarns From an Aussie Bushcook (Cook book), 1979; The Significance of Ayers Rock for Aborigines, 1968; Bill Harney's War; Taboo, 1943; North of 23, 1946; and Life Among the Aborigines, 1957. Bill is also mentioned and quoted in the article "The Lighting Brothers" published in The Australian Way, Feb 1988. - Thanks to Dora Harney Maguire,Canberra, for sending information and photos on Bill Harney. He is also mentioned in Aust. Werner's Weekly, 3 Jan 1966, p.7; Age, 17 Jan 1959, p.1; and Bohemia (new series), v.14, No.16, Feb 1963, p.1 (obit).
WILLIAM "BILL" HARNEY JR (V) (1931-
Bill Harney is the son of William E. "Bill" Harney, the radio commentator and
author mentioned above, and Ludee Eborlooma of the Oowadaman community in the Northern
Territories. Bill Harney, born 12 January 1931, at Willroo Station, pioneered Aboriginal
cultural tours in the Katherine region in 1988. He has been featured in many magazine and
newspaper articles about the region and about the Lightning Brothers rock paintings. Bill
has married four times: first to Gladys, by whom he has a daughter, Kathy, (b.1965);
second, to June, by whom he has a son, David (b.1968); third, to Ida, who is the mother of
Young Billy Jr. (b.1971), and Roderick (b.1972); and fourth, to Dixie Crocker, daughter of
Ted & Nellie, who is the mother of Sarah (b.1974) and Edderick Harney (b.1984).
Bill Harney's Land of the Lightning Brothers has year-round tours, departing twice weekly from his bush camp near Katherine, Northern Territories. Chart reference: QUWCN.AUS.
DORA HARNEY MAGUIRE, Canberra
The story of the Harneys in Australia could not be told without paying tribute to Dora who
initiated the research. Dora began tracing her own Harney roots, and wondered how the
other Harneys in Australia were related. Dora is the daughter of Joseph O. Josephson and
Mary Ellen "Molly" Fitzpatrick (Harney being her middle name, not her maiden
name). She was given the name Harney after her great-grandmother, Mary E. Harney, who
immigrated to Australia from Burncourt, County Tipperary, and married William Carew. Mary
and William were wed in Mansfield, Victoria on 15 Feb 1866. Dora married Desmond W.
Maguire on 18 Apr 1942, and their children are Lynette (Mrs. Keith) EVEREST; Denis; Cathy
SKINNER STILES; and Terence Maguire. The tradition of naming children after their
great-grandmother continues in this family. Dora's great-granddaughter is Nichole Harney
Geary. Chart AUJAT.AUS.
References: As mentioned above, and: Australia, Victoria, Biographies- FHL film #1,363,976. The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians, 1829-1888. Compiled by Rica Erickson. - Excerpts from Dora Harney Maguire. Notes of Mary Harney, Hawthorne, Australia. Newspaper articles about Sean Harney trainer of the winning horse 'Jack Morris', 1993. Newspaper and magazine articles about Bill Harney of Katherine, Northern Territories, and personal correspondence with same.
Return to Harneys in Australia and New Zealand
Link to:
INDEX to Harney web pages
Harney Home Page
Last updated 04 Nov 2004
Advertisements below are not part of this website.