RIORDAN, Mr John

1840 - 1905

John Riordan was born in Snug River Tasmania in 1840, the fifth child of 10 to James Riordan and Mary Ann O'Connell. James and Mary travelled to Tasmania as free settlers in 1837, aboard the Bussorah Merchant.

James and Mary started the voyage with 2 young daughters, Mary giving birth to another daughter on the voyage, but sadly 2 of the youngest daughters died of measles on the voyage.

At age 25 John came to Creswick in 1865, with his younger brother Michael, 2 years his junior. Their intention was to mine. John began purchasing shares in Spring Hill mines starting with 1 share in the United extended Standard Bearer Quartz and Alluvial Gold Mining Co, followed by purchase of shares in numerous other companies. John did very well in mining as a speculator. When researching John Riordon there were numerous references to his hotel hosting mining company meetings and references to him being a director of mining companies,

All these meetings and social activities promoted by John contributed to ongoing employment and social stability in the community. His availing of his premises was consistent and ongoing.

Bridget Ryan was born in 1847 in Limerick, Ireland. She and John were married on 07 Aug 1867 at St. Augustine's Church, Creswick.

In 1868 John and Bridget Ryan had their first son James, who died at 10 mthsof age. John and Bridget had 7 children:-James, John, Mary, William, Thomas, Catherine, Edward.

John’s children attended St. Augustine’s school, Creswick State School and Creswick Grammar School.

Bridget died in 1889 at Creswick and is buried in the Roman Catholic section with three of her children.  After Bridget died in 1889, John married Maggie Herd, on 30th Nov 1891, in Creswick. They never had any children.

In 1868 John purchased the Farmers Arms Hotel in Albert Street, from Catherine Murray. In 1869 he sold the Farmers Arms back to Catherine and built a new hotel next door he called the Harp. He owned the Harp hotel until 1882 when he sold to Mrs. Catherine Douglas, who renamed the hotel “The Australasian” as her late husband was the manager of the Australasian No. 2 mine prior to the disaster of December that year. Sadly just days after renaming the hotel the Australasian disaster happened.

John led a very full and productive life in Creswick. He was one of the original members of the Creswick ANA and was involved in setting up a branch in 1879.  ANA Branch no 11, was successfully launched by March 1880, with John Riordan being elected as Vice President as recorded in The History of the ANA in Australia.

ANA branches were involved in welfare work and delivered educational lectures and debates - one debate held was “Are the Chinese desirable colonists” and another - “Smoking, is it injurious.”

Another first was reported in May 1881 for the formation of a Mining Exchange with John as a member.

John is listed as an inducted member of the Creswick Havilah Lodge in 1879. The lodge met at The American Hotel until they moved to their new building in 1890.

John was a member of the Creswick District Hospital Committee, being active on committees and was a proud member of the Creswick Volunteer Fire Brigade for over 15 years joining in 1867. He was Lieutenant in 1873 and then Captain in 1876 until 1880.

John also made efforts with others in 1875 to establish a Gas Works, to be known as the Creswick Gas, Coal and Coke Company.  Progress was very slow, the Advertiser reporting that the “Proposed Directory being evidently determined to let grass grow under their feet”- by June 1881 the gas works was still under discussion and by November a gas company had been successfully floated at Maryborough – the Advertiser wrote :“ When will Creswick follow? “ 

He was involved setting up and was a member of the Creswick Horticultural Society from 1876.

Reports of cricket matches are numerous in the late 1880’s, though whether this was his son John or Michael cannot always be determined. In 1877 a Grand Cricket Match between the Publicans and butchers, was to be sixpence for admission, to the benefit of the Cricket Club and the Bowling Club, John Riordan being named as a player.

Football was also becoming very popular and we see the Riordan name written as team members in most local events, and John was appointed a vice president in 1878. On two occasions the Advertiser invited interest in a Fancy Dress Football Match at Prince Leopold Park, later Hammon Park. Admission to the ground was again 6 pence.

John was a foundation member of the Creswick Hurling Club, formed in 1878.

So what is “Hurling”?  - A traditional Irish sport, Hurling is one of the oldest field sports and has been played in Ireland for more than 800 years. It has been described as a mixture of hockey and war! A Curved wooden stick with a flat end is known as a Hurly or Hurley, and the ball or sliothar is about the size of a tennis ball. 15 players on the field aim to get the schliother through a goal or a net and scores are made accordingly. The sport in Creswick was played on the football ground, when practice would occur during the evening. Modern Hurling players are required to wear helmets, as the game is fast and dangerous.

What a good Sport – John Riordan is also reported in the Creswick Advertiser on numerous occasions as playing lawn bowls for Creswick, many social events recorded and always there was the return game mostly with Buninyong, Allendale and Learmonth

In 1893 a committee meeting was held of the Creswick Amateur Turf Club which was arranging a race meeting, for which a number of entries had already been received, and arrangements had been made for the train to stop on the course on that day, Johns involvement is also mentioned here

In 1878 an advertisement requested tenders for the erection of a large brick Hotel at Creswick to replace Anthony’s American Hotel, which was then renamed The American Hotel as we still know it.

John was thoughtful to others also and was an annual subscriber to the Creswick Hospital, Creswick Benevolent Society and donated to the Indian Famine Relief, Distress in Ireland, Jubilee Brass Band, Ballarat Benevolent Asylum to name a few, and every year helped with the annual sports, raising money for the Hospital.

He was an entrepreneur, a mining speculator, an active business man and Creswick citizen, also living in Ballarat and Tasmania for short periods.

Moving away from Creswick, John became a “Gentleman” and resided in Ballarat in Doveton Street Nth., owning and running hotels.  While there his son William died of a heart complaint and was buried with his mother in Creswick. By the early 1890’s John had moved to Portland and taken on the license of the Portland Inn and became a councillor of the Borough of Portland. John lived there until his death in 1905 and is buried in the South Portland Cemetery.

When John Died in Portland, in September 1905, his death was reported in Portland, Ballarat and Creswick Newspapers,

We would like to acknowledge the comprehensive research and contribution submitted by Wendy Ohlsen

An energetic and involved citizen, John Riordan’s contribution to the community development of Creswick is worthy of acknowledgement

John Riordan was born in Snug River Tasmania in 1840, the fifth child of 10 to James Riordan and Mary Ann O'Connell. James and Mary travelled to Tasmania as free settlers in 1837, aboard the Bussorah Merchant.

James and Mary started the voyage with 2 young daughters, Mary giving birth to another daughter on the voyage, but sadly 2 of the youngest daughters died of measles on the voyage.

At age 25 John came to Creswick in 1865, with his younger brother Michael, 2 years his junior. Their intention was to mine. John began purchasing shares in Spring Hill mines starting with 1 share in the United extended Standard Bearer Quartz and Alluvial Gold Mining Co, followed by purchase of shares in numerous other companies. John did very well in mining as a speculator. When researching John Riordon there were numerous references to his hotel hosting mining company meetings and references to him being a director of mining companies,

All these meetings and social activities promoted by John contributed to ongoing employment and social stability in the community. His availing of his premises was consistent and ongoing.

Bridget Ryan was born in 1847 in Limerick, Ireland. She and John were married on 07 Aug 1867 at St. Augustine's Church, Creswick.

In 1868 John and Bridget Ryan had their first son James, who died at 10 mthsof age. John and Bridget had 7 children:-James, John, Mary, William, Thomas, Catherine, Edward.

John’s children attended St. Augustine’s school, Creswick State School and Creswick Grammar School.

Bridget died in 1889 at Creswick and is buried in the Roman Catholic section with three of her children.  After Bridget died in 1889, John married Maggie Herd, on 30th Nov 1891, in Creswick. They never had any children.

In 1868 John purchased the Farmers Arms Hotel in Albert Street, from Catherine Murray. In 1869 he sold the Farmers Arms back to Catherine and built a new hotel next door he called the Harp. He owned the Harp hotel until 1882 when he sold to Mrs. Catherine Douglas, who renamed the hotel “The Australasian” as her late husband was the manager of the Australasian No. 2 mine prior to the disaster of December that year. Sadly just days after renaming the hotel the Australasian disaster happened.

John led a very full and productive life in Creswick. He was one of the original members of the Creswick ANA and was involved in setting up a branch in 1879.  ANA Branch no 11, was successfully launched by March 1880, with John Riordan being elected as Vice President as recorded in The History of the ANA in Australia.

ANA branches were involved in welfare work and delivered educational lectures and debates - one debate held was “Are the Chinese desirable colonists” and another - “Smoking, is it injurious.”

Another first was reported in May 1881 for the formation of a Mining Exchange with John as a member.

John is listed as an inducted member of the Creswick Havilah Lodge in 1879. The lodge met at The American Hotel until they moved to their new building in 1890.

John was a member of the Creswick District Hospital Committee, being active on committees and was a proud member of the Creswick Volunteer Fire Brigade for over 15 years joining in 1867. He was Lieutenant in 1873 and then Captain in 1876 until 1880.

John also made efforts with others in 1875 to establish a Gas Works, to be known as the Creswick Gas, Coal and Coke Company.  Progress was very slow, the Advertiser reporting that the “Proposed Directory being evidently determined to let grass grow under their feet”- by June 1881 the gas works was still under discussion and by November a gas company had been successfully floated at Maryborough – the Advertiser wrote :“ When will Creswick follow? “ 

He was involved setting up and was a member of the Creswick Horticultural Society from 1876.

Reports of cricket matches are numerous in the late 1880’s, though whether this was his son John or Michael cannot always be determined. In 1877 a Grand Cricket Match between the Publicans and butchers, was to be sixpence for admission, to the benefit of the Cricket Club and the Bowling Club, John Riordan being named as a player.

Football was also becoming very popular and we see the Riordan name written as team members in most local events, and John was appointed a vice president in 1878. On two occasions the Advertiser invited interest in a Fancy Dress Football Match at Prince Leopold Park, later Hammon Park. Admission to the ground was again 6 pence.

John was a foundation member of the Creswick Hurling Club, formed in 1878.

So what is “Hurling”?  - A traditional Irish sport, Hurling is one of the oldest field sports and has been played in Ireland for more than 800 years. It has been described as a mixture of hockey and war! A Curved wooden stick with a flat end is known as a Hurly or Hurley, and the ball or sliothar is about the size of a tennis ball. 15 players on the field aim to get the schliother through a goal or a net and scores are made accordingly. The sport in Creswick was played on the football ground, when practice would occur during the evening. Modern Hurling players are required to wear helmets, as the game is fast and dangerous.

What a good Sport – John Riordan is also reported in the Creswick Advertiser on numerous occasions as playing lawn bowls for Creswick, many social events recorded and always there was the return game mostly with Buninyong, Allendale and Learmonth

In 1893 a committee meeting was held of the Creswick Amateur Turf Club which was arranging a race meeting, for which a number of entries had already been received, and arrangements had been made for the train to stop on the course on that day, Johns involvement is also mentioned here

In 1878 an advertisement requested tenders for the erection of a large brick Hotel at Creswick to replace Anthony’s American Hotel, which was then renamed The American Hotel as we still know it.

John was thoughtful to others also and was an annual subscriber to the Creswick Hospital, Creswick Benevolent Society and donated to the Indian Famine Relief, Distress in Ireland, Jubilee Brass Band, Ballarat Benevolent Asylum to name a few, and every year helped with the annual sports, raising money for the Hospital.

He was an entrepreneur, a mining speculator, an active business man and Creswick citizen, also living in Ballarat and Tasmania for short periods.

Moving away from Creswick, John became a “Gentleman” and resided in Ballarat in Doveton Street Nth., owning and running hotels.  While there his son William died of a heart complaint and was buried with his mother in Creswick. By the early 1890’s John had moved to Portland and taken on the license of the Portland Inn and became a councillor of the Borough of Portland. John lived there until his death in 1905 and is buried in the South Portland Cemetery.

When John Died in Portland, in September 1905, his death was reported in Portland, Ballarat and Creswick Newspapers,

We would like to acknowledge the comprehensive research and contribution submitted by Wendy Ohlsen

An energetic and involved citizen, John Riordan’s contribution to the community development of Creswick is worthy of acknowledgement