Daniel Kelly : Short Biography

The birth of Dan KELLY to Tom KELLY and Ellen CURTIN on 15 Mar 1846 is recorded in the Baptism Register of the Ennis Parish (Drumcliff) in the Killaloe diocese.  The sponsors were Patrick KELLY (probably Daniel's eldest brother) and a Mrs Flanagan.

Drumcliff (or Drumcliffe, Dromcliffe (Irish: Drom Cléibh)) is a civil parish in County Clare, Ireland. It includes the village of Inch and part of the town of Ennis.  The parish of Drumcliff is in the barony of Islands, and lies on the River Fergus on the road from Limerick to Galway.  It is 5 by 4.5 miles (8.0 by 7.2 km), covering 9,968 acres (4,034 ha).

Daniel KELLY and Catherine KELLY (nee DONNELLY) lived at Wattle Flat, Bungaree, near Ballarat, Victoria.  [Their home was later submerged under the White Swan Reservoir].  The birth certificate for their youngest child, Edmond Kelly, born 4 Sep 1886, states that he was born at Wattle Flat, Bungaree.

Daniel KELLY was a miner in the goldfields and a farmer.

'KELLY, Daniel, Jeremiah and Patrick - Present at Eureka' 'Eureka Stockade: a pictorial history' by Geoff Hocking 2004.  

At the time of his marriage (16 Jun 1870), Daniel, aged 23 years, farmed at Bullarook, Victoria.  The death certificate for Daniel Kelly records that he was in Victoria about 70 years.  This indicates that he was about 4 years old when he came to Victoria with his parents, Thomas KELLY and Ellen KELLY (nee CURTIN/CURTAIN).

In 1891 Daniel and Catherine successfully applied to the first Land Board in Warracknabeal, Victoria, for allotment number 6 in the parish of Watchupga.  Daniel's sons (Tom, Jack and James) took possession of the allotment in 1893 and the rest of the family later moved from Ballarat to Watchupga and continued farming.  On the way, their youngest child, Edmond KELLY, 7 & 1/2 years, was killed after falling from a horse.  He was buried at St Arnaud in 1894.

Daniel KELLY died at Watchupga in 1920 and is buried at the Woomelang Cemetery.  An obituary for him appeared in the Woomelang Sun on 2 July 1920 as follows:

'Mr Daniel Kelly dies in his sleep

A very old resident of the Woomelang district in the person of Mr Daniel Kelly passed peacefully away at the residence of his daughter and son-in-law, Mrs & Mr FJ Doran of Watchupga sometime between the hour of his retirement on Saturday evening last and Sunday morning.  Mrs Doran on going to the room to awaken her father, failed to arouse him, and it was soon found he had passed into the great beyond.  Dr Holland who had been attending the deceased for some time pronounced death due to heart failure.

The late Mr Kelly came to Australia at the very early age of 4 years with his parents who joined the rush to the Ballarat gold diggings, later on Mr Kelly engaged in farm pursuits at Wattle Flat near Ballarat, and was the owner of a large threshing and chaffcutting business.  Some 27 years ago he took up land in the Mallee and was one of the district's earliest pioneers. He was universally respected throughout the Ballarat district and the North, and was 74 years of age at the time of his death.

There is a grown up family of sons and daughters namely - Mr Thomas Kelly of Yornaning, WA, Mr John Kelly of Woomelang, Mrs Rae of Narromine, NSW, Mr Daniel Kelly of Wagin, WA, Mrs O'Callaghan of Ouyen, Mr Jas Kelly of Woomelang, Mrs FJ Doran of Watchupga and Mrs Cresp of Sea Lake.

A large funeral cortege followed the last remains to the Woomelang cemetery on Tuesday.  Fr Ryan conducted the service at the grave.  Mr Kelly was buried beside his beloved wife who predeceased him 7 years ago.  The mortuary arrangements were carried out by Mr John Brock and the pall bearers were Messrs John and Jas Kelly, FJ Doran, M Cresp and John Jess.'

According to Nancy Schuman's 'Land Worth Saving' [ISBN NO 0 9588772 0 3] at p 304:

'At the first Land Board in Warracknabeal for the Parish of Watchupga, in 1883-84, Daniel Kelly was the successful applicant for Allotment 7. [Under the Mallee Pastoral Leases Act 1883, the Mallee was divided into blocks and allotments, the latter being the extreme fringe.]  His sons Jack, Jim and Tom took possession of it, the rest of the family coming later, by bullock waggon, buggies and horses. ...

The first home was a pine log cabin, lined with hessian or bags sewn together.  This was either white-washed or papered with newspapers, to add to the decoration and warmth, covering up the holes in the lining.  This was built on the south side of Allotment 6, which Daniel had bought soon after his arrival, from a selector who had never taken possession.'

The original Watchupga property is still farmed by the KELLY family and several descendants farm in the area.