Old Fossil Downs Homestead

Old Fossil Downs

Michael Barry died 5/10/1893 aged about 26 years on Fossil Downs Station. The informant was Thomas Holmes, Sergeant of Police, Derby. Barry was a staion hand, who supposedly died of influenza fever. Mick Barry was O'Brien's rider at local "picnic" Race meetings. He left town to go back to Messrs McDonald Bros station at the Fitzroy Crossing and two days after he arrived he succumbed. His death was deeply regretted in the district as he was a good friend and an honest man, and in these respects, one would have to go a long way to find his equal;. Further ref: Nor'West Times - 21.10.1893. In June 2015, with the guidence of Mrs Annette Henswood (nee McDonald) a plaque for Mick Barry was installed on a boab tree at the old Fossil Downs homestead site.

Joseph Daroo died 1/6/1910 aged about 25 years on Fossil Downs Station in the Halls creek district - buried on Fossil Downs Station by G Nicholson. Witnesses present at the burial were Edward Delaney and J Campbell. Daroo was a stockman, who died of malarial fever. Born in Tabaralgah Beaudesert, Brisbane, Queensland - son of Edward Delaney (stockman). Author's Note: The surname difference between father and son cannot be explained. In June 2015, with the guidence of Mrs Annette Henswood (nee McDonald) a plaque for Joseph Daroo was installed on a boab tree at the old Fossil Downs homestead site.

John West died 26/5/1923 aged 30 years on Fossil Downs Station, Halls Creek - buried on Fossil Downs Station by J Doyle and WR Bandy. Death certified in writing by FJ Kedell, cook, Fossil Downs Station. John West was a labourer who died of natural causes.

Maud Dunn died 31/10/1904 aged 1 years and 14 days at Fossil Downs Station - buried at Fossil Downs Station by Robert Bell and Ellen Bell. Death certified in writing by John Haukins, father, Fitzroy River. Maud Dunn was born 50 miles from Boulia, Queensland - the daughter of Florence Dunn and John Haukins (kangaroo hunter). Florence had two other daughters, both deceased. She also had a son, Ernest Dunn, who died on 2/3/1906 aged 5 weeks at Noonkanbah Station.

Munro Martin died 8/6/1916, age unknown on Fossil Downs Station - buried on Fossil Downs Station by FJ Keddell and Thomas Farrell. Death certified in writing by WC Burchell, Police Constable, Fitzroy