From the Traralgon & District Historical Society Inc. bulletin May 1994

POLICE CONSTABLE JOHN O'CONNOR

The following is an extract from a talk given by Mr. Don Macreadie at a meeting of the Rosedale Historical Society :

John 0'Connor was the first policeman appointed to Traralgon. He was born at Chonmel, Tipperary, Ireland, on 31st January, 1834, the son of John and Catherine 0'Connor (nee Wren). Don believes that he arrived in Australia at the age of 23 years, on the "Ocean Chief", in July 1857.

On 22nd November, 1858, he was appointed a Constable. Previously he had been working as a stock-rider.

He married Ellen Hughes, at Sale, on July 14, 1860. She was born in London c. 1838, the daughter of Hugh and Hannah Hughes (nee Tremlet). They had a family of 9 children? the first two, Ellen (1861) and John (1862) were born in Traralgon.

Constable 0'Connor was transferred to Rosedale in 1863 and while there he selected land at Thornfield, near Rosedale. He was a highly intellectual man and took a leading part in the social life of the district. He was a promoter of the Common School and a prime mover in the Mechanics Institute. He was a member of the debating society and apparently had a good voice as his singing at concerts was always much applauded.

In 1874 the well-known English author, Anthony Trollope, visited Rosedale and Constable 0'Connor was appointed to escort him to Walhalla. To use Trollope's own words - "We were here furnished with a mounted trooper or policeman to show us our way and generally take care of us on our expedition. Had I not known the fact, I should have taken him for a gentleman. Even as it is I rather think that I regard him in that light. He was a fine powerful fellow, well mannered, able to talk on all subjects, extremely courteous and he amused us greatly by explaining to us why it was that a policeman must be always more than a match for at any rate two rogues. He was an Irishman, of course."

In the 1870s. Constable 0'Connor was appointed a Crown Lands Bailiff and, later, an Inspector of Nuisances, at Rosedale.

In 1874 he was promoted to Senior Constable. In that year he attended to a badly injured boy when Dr. Simmons was away. It was thought that he had been a medical student in Ireland.

On 30th June, 1878, he left the Police Force and was appointed Inspector of Public Houses, and on 1st July, 1878, Inspector of Licensed Premises and Liquor under the Licensing Act. On 1st July, 1882 he became Senior Inspector of Licensed Premises and Excise. On 1st January, 1886, he was appointed Inspector of the Central Board of Health and left Rosedale for Melbourne. In about 1891 he sold Thornfieid.

In 1906 his wife, Ellen, died at South Yarra, aged 68 years. In 1909 he married a widow, Marion Wedward, a boarding-house keeper, of Grey Street, East Melbourne, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne. John later lived at Tomley West, Arcadia, south of Shepparton, but he died on 25th June, 1911 at the age of 79 years. He was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Boorandarra Cemetery. The informant was his son, John, of "Merridale" Rosedale Avenue, Glenhuntly. He left an estate of £7,462.2.9d. including land in County of Moira (this would be Arcadia, Ed.) and at Wodonga.