A home that has been given both a Scottisha and Irish name it reflects the heritage of those respective owners. The original owner and person responsible for the building of the house Graham David Macfie was a Scotsman who never intended to live in the colonies but saw it as a vehicle for business gain. The Irishman John Leahy who took possession in 1909 did not change the name. It was Irish born Frank McDonnell in 1912 who decided that he could not live in a Scottish named house and it needed an Irish name.
The Brisbane City Council Heritage Register provides the following information.
Research indicates that this property was erected in c1897 for David Graham Macfie, Managing Director of the Australian Mines Agency Company. The property was initially called Kilcreggan, likely after the town situated on the Roseneath Peninsula, Scotland. The residence subsequently had a number of notable occupants. This included John Leahy M.L.A, who rented the residence in c1901. Leahy was the director of Queensland Meat Export Agency Co and Manager of the Australian Estates and Mortgage Company. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and President of the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce in 1907. Leahy was the sitting member of Bulloo during 1893- 1909, Secretary for Railways & Public Works, 1901-03 and Speaker of the House 1907-09. He resided at Kilcreggan until 1907. Daniel Gallgher then occupied the house.
D. G. Macfie was a land and mining speculator as well as a business promoter working on behalf of vested British interests. He arrived in the colonies around 1895 and was back in Scotland by 1905.
Northern Mining Register (Charters Towers, Qld. : 1891 - 1892), Wednesday 4 November 1891, page 19
The Croydon Golden -Age says We understand that Mr. D. G. Macfie, the Anglo Australian representative of The North Queensland Mines Agency Ltd, who, for the last six months, in conjunction with. A. S. Edgecombe & Co., has been taking active steps m estabshing a unity of interests between English capitalists and Australian mine owners, is now satisfactorily concluding his arangements on this field, and proceeds south y the end of month via Charters Towers and Gympie on his way to London. Several valuable properties have been secured by the Company, which should yield large returns on the capital invested. The famous Holland Mary Mine monopolises a major part of the attention of the Company, and should with regard to past results, present returns and future prospects, be a credit and profit to its sponsors. The Croydon Directorate consists of some of our principal mining and commercial representatives, who have the permanent interests of the district at heart interests which are not to be forwarded by the ephemeral promoter of "wild cat" properties. With gentlemen of the standing of Messrs. H.F.Morgan, J. A. MacDonald, W. Savage, J. M. Temple, and Theodore Amsden on the Croydon Advising Board, and equally representative gentlemen on the Charters Towers and Gympie Boards the North Queensland Agency Ltd., should not fail to command support and confidence of both English and Australian investors.
North Queensland Register (Townsville, Qld. : 1892 - 1905), Monday 16 January 1905, page 7
NORTHERN TERRITORY.
ROPER RIVER SYNDICATE
ADELAIDE, January 10.
Mr. D. G. Macfie leaves by the R.M. S. Ophir tomorrow. He arrived at Adelaide a few weeks ago to arrange, on behalf of the Roper River Concession Syndicate Limited, Glasgow (of which he is director), for the transfer to the syndicate of certain property in the Northern Territory. He said to-day that the land concerned, aggregating 4,000,000 acres, situated on the Roper River, was originally owned bythe Northern Territory Syndicate In Melbourne, and his company had obtained it for the purpose principally of cattle raising. He added "The country extends for some distances on each side of the river, and about 90 miles westward. To fulfil the Government's conditions, we are required to place 6,000 head of stock on the land, and with tbis subject I expect to visit the state again in August, at the close of the wet season.
John Leahy and Family 1901 - 1907
To read a complete biography of the life of the politician and business man John Leahy the following link from the Austalian Dictionary of Biography provides this information.
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/leahy-john-7133
John Leahy (1854-1909), politician, was born on 15 July 1854 at Schull, Cork, Ireland, eldest son of Patrick Leahy, farmer, and his wife Mary, née Coghlan. Educated at local schools, in 1875 he migrated to Queensland where he was said to have worked as a rural labourer, then acted as postmaster at Windorah before settling at Thargomindah in 1883. There on 11 February 1886 he married Annie Colbert.
Employed by the Bulloo Divisional Board, of which he was a member in 1889-93, he also held a partnership in a cordial manufactory, became part-owner of the Thargomindah Herald established by his younger brother Patrick James in 1884, and was proprietor of the Royal Hotel in 1886-89. Secretary of the school of arts in 1886, he was president of the hospital in 1895, the year he and his brother were prominent in making Thargomindah the first town in Queensland with a reticulated artesian water supply. In 1886 John represented Bulloo in a delegation to parliament over crown lands. He has been accredited with originating the system of land classification introduced in 1901.
Succeeding his friend John Donaldson as member for Bulloo in 1893, he entered parliament as an Independent and promptly led the opposition to Sir Thomas McIlwraith's railway border tax. In 1899 he engineered a back-bench revolt against Premier (Sir) James Dickson in favour of (Sir) Robert Philp. He was rewarded by appointment as secretary for railways and public works from 1 February 1901 to 17 September 1903 and was vilified by Labor for his retrenchment policies in the great drought.
Beaudesert Times (Qld. : 1908 - 1954), Friday 29 January 1909, page 4
The "Worker's" Tribute to the late Hon. J. Leahy.
("Worker," Jan. 21st.)
On Wednesday night last the Hon. John Leahy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, died suddenly at his residence at "Careno," New Farm. From the time he entered Parliament in 1893, right up to the end of his career, the deceased took a very active part in the political life in Queensland, and in latter years was undoubtedly the brains of the party he belonged to. A man of wide reading and self-culture, he will be greatly missed in the Parliament of the State. He was a genuine lover of books, and having a memory of unusual capacity was, on the evidence of all who knew him, a keen literary critic, and an imformative and entertaining companion. At the time of his death the deceased, besides being Speaker of the Assembly, was Queensland Manager of tho Australian Estates and Mortagage Company, director of the Queensland Meat Export and Agency Co., and president of the Brisbane Wool-brokers' Association.
James McEncroe and Family 1909 - 1912
The story of James McEncroe is a sad one. He was 32 years of age when he died at Kilcreggan in 1912. Born in Goulburn, New South Wales he is buried in the Nundah Cemetry. He had only been married to Jessie Susan Buchanan for four years when he died. His grandfather Dennis McEncroe was of Irish birth and arrived in Nw South Wales as an assisted immigrant in 1842. Jessie McEncroe remarried and was Jessie Susan McKenna in 1922 when the probate on James will was declared. The medical directory of 1911 has him listed at Eagle Junction. It is therefore possible that he practised from Kilcreggan.
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Monday 8 April 1912, page 9
DEATH OF DR. McENCROE.
It will be learnt with very general regret that Dr. J. M. McEncroe passed away at his residence, Kilcreggan, Eagle, Junction, on Saturday evening after an illness extending over many months. The deceased, who was a graduate of Sydney University and a native of that city, married about four years ago Miss Buchanan, daughter of Mrs J. J. Buchanan, and sister of Alderman C. P. Buchanan. The late Dr. M'Encroe was a kind friend to the poor, and was liked and respected by all who knew him. His wife and one child survive him. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at Nundah cemetery.
Francis (Frank) McDonnell and Family 1912 - 1937
The heritage listed Macdonnell and East building in George Street Brisbane is a permanent reminder to the great department stores of the 20th century. Frank McDonnell is a true Irishman. The man who changed the name of the house to the Irish name Glendalough his story is an interesting one. Starting life in the clothing trade as a draper he progressed through life as a union organiser, politician and business man. Typical of the immigrants who came looking for a better life in the colonies he took a chance and created an empire. His life story is worth reading and can be found at the Australian Dictionary of Biography and at the following web link.
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcdonnell-francis-frank-7343
The following is an extract from this reference.
Francis (Frank) McDonnell (1863-1928), draper and politician, was born on 24 January 1863 at Ennis, Clare, Ireland, son of James McDonnell, farmer, and his wife Elizabeth, née Bradish; his father died when Francis was 7. At 13 he began work in a factory, then returned to school to the Christian Brothers at Ennis. In 1879 he was apprenticed as a draper to Gallagher Bros of Ballina, a fellow employee being T. C. Beirne. Accompanied by his only sister, McDonnell arrived in Brisbane in 1886. On 31 December 1890 he married Mary Heffernan at St Stephen's Cathedral.
He worked as a drapery assistant with Finney, Isles & Co., then with T. J. Geoghegan and, in 1889-96, with Edwards & Lamb. In 1901 he established the drapery firm McDonnell & East in partnership with Hubert East, backed financially by Peter Murphy. He remained with the firm, alternating the managing directorship with East who balanced McDonnell's extroverted public-mindedness with quiet backroom efficiency. They thought highly of each other.
Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld. : 1912 - 1936), Friday 22 August 1913, page 1
Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Tuesday 24 November 1914, page 9
SOCIAL
The Hon. and Mrs. F. McDonnell entertained about 300 guests, mostly from the Wooloowin parish, at their residence, Glendalough, Eagle Junction, last Thursday evening. The entertainment took the form of a coin evening to assist the funds for the erection of a Catholic presbytery at Wooloowin. The evening was most enjoyable. Songs, music, dancing, side shows, shooting galleries, Aunt Sallies, and other forms of a were carriemusements were carried out in the large and spacious grounds, Which were brilliantly lighted. Vocal items were rendered by Misses East, Hughes, Quinn, E, McDonnell, Messrs. J. James, Gilroy, Collom, and F. East, and recitations by Misses E. McMunn and M. McDonnell. The Elite Orchestra rendered selections. Dainty refreshments were served during the evening under the supervision of Mr. D. Webster. The proceeds will mean a very substantial addition to the Presbytery Fund. The Rev. R. Walsh (Wooloowin) expressed his warm thanks and appreciation of the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. M'Donnell. Those present included Revs. R. Walsh, J. Byrne, F. Dorrigan. W. Lee, J. Jordan, Barry, and McGoldrick
William and Florence Hester Young 1937 - 1954
The Young family took possession of Glendalough in 1936. The ownership according to the heritage register was William and Hester Young. William and Florence Hester Young were the daughters of William John and Elizabeth Anne Young. The early death in 1926 of their Irish born father W. J. Young may have provided funds for the purchase of Glendalough. The electoral rolls show that William Young did not reside in Glendalough. Until her death in April 1940 their mother Elizabeth Anne Young lived with her daughter Florence Hester in Glendalough. Florence's older sister Oriel Weir Young married James Adamson Brown and they had taken up residence in Glendalough at the same time as teh ownership passed to Elizabeth Weir Brown's sister and brother. Olga Weir Brown's engagement was announced in October 1940 with the parent's residence being Glendalough, Eagle Junction. The 1949 electoral roll has James Adamson and Elizabeth Weir Brown residing at Glendalough but not Florence Hester. The interesting record that does not fit with the heritage citation for the house is that James Adamson and Elizabeth Weir (nee Young) are recorded on the 1931 electoral roll as living at Glendalough but not Florence Hester Young or Elizabeth Anne Young.
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Tuesday 8 June 1926, page 12
THE LATE MR. W. J. YOUNG
Mr. William John Young, whose death took place at his residence, Bowen Terrace, Brisbane, on Sunday, came to Queensland in 1886. He was born at.Ballymena (North of Ireland) as the son of a farmer, and served for some time there in the linen industry, possibly attracted thereto by the fact, that his mother was a descendant of one of the Huguenots from France; who brought that industry to the north of Ireland. After his arrival In Queensland the late Mr. Young, worked for some time in the timber industry, and In 1888 joined the firm of Messrs. Barton and White, and by this started to establish an electrical service for Brisbane, and so became one of the pioneers in the electrical Industry to Queensland. When In 1896 the firm was floated into the Brisbane Electric Supply Co., Ltd,, the late Mr. Young became one of the three directors, the other two being Messrs. E. J. Holmes and E. C. Barton. Later the name of the company was changed to the City Electric Light Co., Ltd., and Mr. Alfred Ward and Mr. W. M. L' Estrange were added to the directorate, Mr. Young with Mr. L'Estrange being appointed joint governing directors, which position Mr. Young retained to the time of his death. Mr. Young is survived by his widow, two sons, Robert and William, two daughters, Mrs. Brown and Miss Florence Young, and three grandchildren.
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Thursday 31 October 1940, page 10
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Thursday 9 December 1909, page 10
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