Frederick Adrian Dwyer was born on 12 May 1862 in
Campbelltown, the son of Thomas and Margaret Dwyer, nee Shannon, who had a large
family. In 1906 Frederick and his wife Mary Ann Minnie resided in Oxford Street
Sutherland with their first three children Ellen, Lillian and Frederick Adrian.
In later years Thelma, William, Minnie, Roe, James Alfred and Ronald Geoffrey
were born. Also residing in 1906 at Sutherland were three of Fredrick’s
brothers, Reginald Gurney, Edward Austin and Stephen Phillip.
In 1907, when the
recently elected Sutherland Shire Council assumed responsibility for roads and
bridges in the area, Frederick Dwyer was engaged at a wage of seven shillings a
day for a 48 hour week. The following year, he was appointed as Assistant
Overseer with a salary increase of sixpence a day. In 1914 he was promoted to
Overseer on a salary of £4 a week.
The Shire Council did
not employ a full time engineer until 1928. However consultant engineers were
engaged whenever necessary. Although he did not have any academic qualifications
in engineering, Frederick Dwyer was responsible for road building and other
functions which were later undertaken by the Shire Engineer. In 1922, the horse
and sulky used by Overseer Dwyer, was replaced by a Ford motorcar at a cost of
£244. This was the first motor vehicle acquired for use by Council staff.
Through his
demonstrated skill in construction and management, Frederick Dwyer earned the
admiration and respect of Councillors, workers and residents alike. It was,
therefore, with regret that Sutherland Shire Council accepted his resignation
early in 1929 due to failing health
Frederick Adrian
Dwyer died on 5 July 1929 aged 67. He was buried in the Catholic portion of
Woronora Cemetery, section1 grave 833, where his wife and son James Alfred were
laid to rest in the 1960s. The headstone reads “for 22 years overseer at SSC”, a
testament to Frederick’s long service with the Sutherland Shire Council.
Colleen M Passfield
First published inSutherland Shire, Some Early Residents, 2006, by Botany Bay Family
History Society, compiled by Maree McKinley and Sue Hewitt.
Click on the name
DWYER, Frederick Adrian (1862 – 1929) at the
heading of thIs story. You will be taken to the database entry for Frederick
Dwyer and his family.
References:
NSW Registry of
Births, Deaths and Marriages
1903 Commonwealth
Electoral Roll
Kirkby, David R,
From Sails to Atoms – First Fifty Years of
Sutherland Shire
First Fifty Years of the Sutherland Shire Council, unpublished
manuscript
