THOMAS LEHANE (1867—1933)

Grazier and Councillor

 Thomas Lehane was probably the only one of the men elected to the first Sutherland Shire Council who was born in what is now the Sutherland Shire. His parents John and Johanna Lehane arrived in Maryborough, Queensland on the 29th of July, 1864 on the ship "Sultana".  John and Johanne were from County Cork in Ireland.

Three years later in 1867 John was working as an overseer for Thomas Holt and in that year, at the first farm on the Holt Estate, Thomas was born on 28 June.^1,2 This farm was later known as ‘Old Farm’ and was situated in present day Miranda. The only birth record found for other family members was Thomas’ younger brother Jeremiah John born 1871.

The family took up land on the south-eastern corner of what is now Kareena Avenue and the Kingsway where the Sutherland District Hospital is located. They lived in a large stone and timber home which had vine covered verandahs. It was called The Homestead but the property was known locally as ‘Lehane’s paddock’ and they planted lucerne there when Holt attempted to raise sheep on his property. John worked for Holt until 1899 and then retired to the property.³ On 23 May 1905 he died aged 65 years and was buried in the Roman Catholic section C of Woronora cemetery in grave 65.

As a young boy Thomas was first sent to school at Kogarah but the distance travelled daily was too long.  He then boarded in the area and was taught by Mr Scott at Peakhurst and later by Major Murray at Blakehurst.⁴

After leaving school Thomas worked on the property and mostly kept cattle which he turned out to graze in remote areas. A vineyard was kept on the part of the land facing Malvern Road (Kingsway).⁵ Thomas also earned a reputation for breeding good horses. These horses were grazed at Kurnell and were much sought after. He would ride out there nearly every day to round them up and was often assisted by groups of young boys from the district.⁶ He also housed the council’s first pound on the property.⁷

At times members of the family lived in various parts of the Shire. His sister Mary is shown as a governess on the 1903 Commonwealth electoral rolls. His mother Johanna is listed in the 1907 Rate Books as having 10 parcels of land in the Shire. She owned four parcels of land at Sutherland, three in the Cronulla area and the remaining are listed in A Riding of the Shire. Thomas’ brother John also appears to own land at Miranda.⁸

His sister Delia (Delma) ran a store on the western side of Illawarra Road Sylvania (Princes Highway). She became the postmistress for Sylvania on 1 April 1909 when the duties were transferred to her store on Honoria Rice’s retirement. Delia remained in the position until 1943 when she and her sister Bridget retired to the Malvern Road property.⁹

When the first council election was held on 24 November 1906 Thomas successfully stood as a candidate for A Riding. He received 71 votes to Edward Hyndman’s 104 but in front of Charles Diston and Edward Thacker securing a place with Hyndman on the Council.¹⁰ Just over a year later the second election was held to bring the them into line with the triennial municipal Council elections and again Thomas was elected. He successfully stood for another five terms in office retiring at the end of 1925 after 19 years serving his community.

During the time Thomas was serving on the Council, the meetings were held in a building on Railway Parade (818-820 Princes Highway) Sutherland between Boyle Street and President Avenue. This building had previously been used as a butcher shop and was owned by Johanna Lehane. It was a built of brick and had a wooden verandah-awning at the front. The Council paid 15 shillings a week rent and the shire clerk paid five shillings a week for the use of the residence at the rear of the shop.¹¹

In 1914 Johanna sent a letter to the Council which instructed them to …take one week’s notice from August 3 to quit premises now occupied by you as Council Chambers. After the impertinent remarks of your president, I cannot tolerate you as a tenant any longer, and I shall require the premises punctually, as I want to turn them into something useful.

Shire President Edward Hyndman was reported as commenting ‘I’d like to know what impertinent remarks I made … it’s got me beat.’ The council decided to instruct their solicitor to apply for a stay of proceedings.

Thomas’ reaction is not reported but by the following year the Council was meeting in new chambers. These were built on the corner of Eton Street and Princes Highway on land donated in 1909 by the Holt-Sutherland Land Estate.¹²

Thomas spent his youth in the district when there were very few roads or houses and no electricity or water. At the age of 65 years when he died on 18 October 1933 at his home in Miranda, he was leaving a different place, having played his part in the advancement of the Shire.

Barry Gallagher

Maree Mckinley

First published in  Sutherland Shire, Some Early Residents, 2006, by Botany Bay Family History Society. Compiled by Maree McKinley and Sue Hewitt.    

Endnotes:

1   NSWBDM Pioneer Index

2   St George Call 25 Nov 1911 [note incorrect year of birth]

3   Daphne Salt, Gateway to the South, 1987

4   St George Call 25 Nov 1911

5   SSHS Bulletin No 3 Jan 1973

6   SSHS Bulletin Vol 9 No 1 Feb 2006

7   SSHS Bulletin No 36 Nov 1981

8   1907 Sutherland Shire Council Rate Books

9   Daphne Salt, Gateway to the South, 1987

10 St George Call 1 Dec 1906

11 Joan Lawrence, A Pictorial History of Sutherland Shire, 1997

12 Propeller 8 Aug 1914