Florence Elizabeth Lowry 1896 – 1994

Florence Elizabeth Lowry was born in the Lady Musgrave Hospital, Maryborough, Qld on 12 October, 1896, the daughter of Patrick Joseph Lowry and Catherine Elizabeth O’Leary. Catherine Elizabeth O’Leary was the daughter of William George O’Leary and Sarah Jane Elder. William George O’Leary was a noted pioneer of the Wide Bay area. William George and Sarah Jane landed in Brisbane in 1866. After a short stay in Brisbane they went to Toowoomba where they resided for twelve months and then followed up the gold fields – Gympie, Kilkivan, Jimna Blacksnake, Mount Coora and back to Kilkivan, known then as Rise and Shine. About the year 1876 or 1877 they left the latter place to select land on the Mary River now known as “O’Leary’s Crossing. After a period of timber-getting he wandered his way to Gundiah where carried on business as a general storekeeper up until the time of his death. Florence was the second child of Patrick and Catherine, the eldest was a son Ambrose Augustine, and there were eventually 9 children in the family including a boy, Patrick Nolan fostered by the Lowry family. This fostering occurred one day when Florence’s mother heard of a woman who had died at a place called Petrie Creek, now known as Nambour. She had left four children including a baby boy 6 months old. Florence’s mother did not know these people but she sent a message with the mailman that she would take the baby. His father brought the baby to Florence’s mother on horseback with the baby who had very little clothing. His name was Patsy and he grew up as one of the family. After Ambrose and Florence, next births were Kevin, Peter, Thomas, John, Margaret and Catherine with Foster child Patsy placed fourth in line. Tragically Kevin died after eight months and Peter died at birth. In those days life was very getting a living from the land and the men of the family had to leave to get work in other areas. Florence was able to get work in some the small businesses in the area. But after the death of her mother, her father sold up the property.  Florence’s father purchased a hotel in Roma in 1921 and the family moved to Roma. That hotel was sold and another was purchased at Howard. This led to the meeting of Florence and her husband to be, William Augustine Darmody who was a Night Officer in the Railways. They were married in St Stephens Cathedral on the 15th February 1926. Their first home together was at Toogoolawah where William was appointed Night Officer. Next posting was Station Master, Einasleigh 200 miles from Cairns. Florence’s first child, Monica was born 21 March, 1927 in Einasleigh. In late February 1927 a cyclone hit North Queensland and all 8 railway bridges were washed away. Almost all stations were closed and the Station Masters were transferred south. After several postings in South West Queensland William was posted to Kingaroy as assistant Station Master in 1932 and 1933 he was transferred to Imbil. While he was Station Master he took very ill and died 24 October 1935. Florence moved to Brisbane alone with four children and another expected very shortly. Accommodation was a problem in Brisbane but Florence was able to find some relief and moved in with her Aunt, Sally O’leary who ran a boarding residential. Using the money left to her by William she was able to buy a large house at Sweetman Street, Red Hill. 

The Shota Rustaveli in Sydney Harbour

This story was researched by Faye Kennedy and it appeared previously in The Researcher of March 2013 which you can read here.

Sources:  Trove; GFHS Research Collection; Pinterest; FindaGrave;