Andrew – The MULQUEEN’s of Bendigo, Victoria Australia

ANDREW MULQUEEN (born. 1/1/1882 Eire)

(Irish records show he was baptised on January 28th 1877)

Born to Michael and Catherine Mulqueeny at Doorus, O’Callaghans Mills on January 1st 1882. He travelled with his sister Margaret (later Davern), to Australia in 1901 at just 19 Years of Age. Andrew made his way to Bendigo in Central Victoria to meet up with his brother’s Michael and John who had established themselves as Livery Stable Proprietors and Michael as an Undertaker, the business known as Fizelle and Mulqueen.

Andrew was employed in the Funeral Business initially as a coffin maker, but was later involved in all the various aspects of undertaking as required.

Eventually Andrew met his wife to be, Miss Lily Margaret Considine, they were married on February 23rd 1916 at St Kilian’s Church, Bendigo.

*BACK – Jack McCarthy, Michael Mulqueen, Mr. Considine, John Davern. FRONT – Catherine’Kit’ Mulqueen, Andrew Mulqueen, Lily Considine, Mary Naughton.*

The Family lived at 28 Mercy Street Bendigo next door to his brother John Mulqueen, (The Homes have since been demolished). In later years Andrew and his family moved to Baxter St. adjacent to St. Kilian’s School, close to the Church and where he could assist the Nuns with works that were needed at the school.

Andrew was a prominent member of the Hibernian Society. He worked in the funeral business for over 50 Years, from his arrival in the early 1900s till the early 1950s.

*L-R Andrew, Margaret (Currie), Kath (Downes), Jack, Dan.*

He and Lily had 6 children – Mary Catherine ‘Kath’ who married Michael Downes and lived in Melbourne. Daniel who fought in the Second World War at Tobruk, he married Alma Stanley. Margaret Theresa married Michael Currie and lived in Essendon. Andrew who married Katherine Tieman, in later years they lived in Wangaratta. Michael Joseph died at just 3 weeks of age. John who married Mary O’Connell and as a Postmaster moved around quite a bit spending some considerable time at Ararat.

Andrew was very much a family man and often reminisced about his early life in Ireland. He loved playing cards and often would have a bet on the horse racing. He also loved smoking his pipe. Andrew died on February 23rd 1956 – aged 74 years, his wife having predeceased him, she passed away on November 17th 1947 aged 54 years.