Mr D. McNamara's handsome ornate, and commodious new hotel on the main street, Kooweerup is now completed. It is a two storied brick building, and one of the finest edifices of the kind in Gippsland, being greatly admired by all visitors to the town. It is a monument to the enterprise of the proprietor. (3) It also reported that the hotel has been furnished throughout by Mr McKee, of Royal Arcade, Melbourne, the rooms are fitted up in the most up-to-date and luxurious manner. Visitors to the place state that they have seen no hotel outside Melbourne furnished and equipped in such a finished and elaborate style. (4).
Mr. J. O'Brien is now the proprietor of the Korumburra Hotel, which has been entirely renovated throughout. The much-needed painting of the outside has completely transformed the appearance of the hotel. Mr. O'Brien owns the freehold of the Royal Hotel at Kooweerup, where he spent many years. He was recognised as a good sport, and always worked hard to forward the interests of the district. He took a great interest in the Kooweerup football team, so much so that the members before his departure elected him a life member of their club. The team was premiers two years while Mr. O'Brien was there. He also gave valuable assistance in raising £1000 by a queen carnival and fete for the purpose of building a cottage hospital for the Bush Nursing Association, the Kooweerup branch of which he was vice-president. He was a good supporter of the band, race club or anything that tendered to advance the town and district. He is also the owner of the freehold of the Criterion Hotel, Trafalgar, of which his son-in-law (Mr. J. Daniher) is licensee. (15)
John Patrick Daniher had married Marie O’Brien on August 25, 1920. Their wedding was written-up in Table Talk, a newspaper which covered many weddings, the Theatre, the races and other social activities –
The marriage of Miss Marie (Doll) O'Brien, second (twin) daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. O'Brien, of the Royal Hotel, Koo-wee-rup, to Mr. John Patrick Daniher, younger son of late Mr. J. Daniher, of Euroa, and Mrs. Daniher, of Wyalong, N.S.W., was celebrated on Wednesday, August 25, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Father Keenan (Koo-wee-rup), assisted by Rev. Father Kett. In the unavoidable absence of the bride's father, she was given away by her brother, Mr. James O'Brien, and looked charming in her bridal gown of ivory charmeuse, with over-dress of georgette, trimmed with beads and filet lace; veil of Limerick lace, sumounted by a wreath of orange blossom. A gold wristlet watch was the gift of the bridegroom, while her gift to him was a pair of silver military hair brushes. She was attended by her twin sister, Miss Veronica (Fairy) O'Brien, whose dainty frock of white taffeta was made with a three-tiered skirt and trimmed with filet lace, while her hat of black tulle was adorned with a posy of pink flowers and streamers of black ribbon. The bridegroom's gift to her was a pearl brooch. Mr. J. J. Daniher supported his brother as best man. (16).
The Danihers had purchased the freehold of the Royal Hotel in 1927, as well as holding the license. In September 1934, the licence was transferred to Edith Leahy. This turned out to be a short-term arrangement as in January 1935, the licence was transferred to Marie Daniher. The Danihers operated the Hotel until June 1939, when they left Koo Wee Rup; the licensees in the next three years were H.T. Baker and M.J.Haig. In June 1942, the Dandenong Journal would announce that the Danihers have returned after an absence of 3 years and have resumed control. (17).
Royal Hotel advertisement
Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 27, 1918
In November 1918, Denis McNamara sold the Hotel for £7,000 to John O’Brien of Trafalgar. (5). John O’Brien was an experienced hotel-keeper, but more importantly as the Koo Wee Rup Sun reported -
Mrs O'Brien is a smart and keen business woman, and this combined with a personality that has already won golden opinions, is sure to make a success of the Royal. (6). The smart Mrs O’Brien was born Julia Teresa Moloney and she married John in 1892.
Mrs O'Brien is a smart and keen business woman, and this combined with a personality that has already won golden opinions, is sure to make a success of the Royal. (6). The smart Mrs O’Brien was born Julia Teresa Moloney and she married John in 1892.
Royal Hotel advertisement
Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 4, 1918
After leaving Koo Wee Rup, Denis and his family moved to Hawksburn and he took up the license of the Bush Inn Hotel in Williams Road, Toorak. (7). John O’Brien operated the Royal Hotel until April 1921 when the licence was transferred back to Denis McNamara, although Mr O’Brien retained ownership of the building. (8).
Denis died July 27, 1925, aged 60 years old. The Advocate of August 20, 1925, published this obituary of Denis McNamara (they have his birth date wrong, it was actually c. 1864) -
Keen and widespread was the regret in Koo Wee Rup and district when it became known on July 27th that Mr. Denis McNamara, of the Royal Hotel, Koo Wee Rup had succumbed to his illness, in his sixty-first year. The deceased gentleman had enjoyed good health until about 12 months ago when he suffered an attack of pleurisy, from which he never recovered. Two visits were made to Brisbane in the hope of regaining his strength, but the effect of the visits was not lasting; the heart had been considerably weakened, and cardiac failure was the cause of his death.
Born in County Clare, Ireland in 1864 [sic], Mr. McNamara was a young man when he came to Victoria. He engaged in business in Melbourne before coming to Koo Wee Rup in 1891, where he opened a store. In 1901 he returned to Melbourne, and was in turn the licensee of the Carlton Club Hotel, the United States, the Albury hotels. In 1902 he married a Miss Mary Ann Manney, from his home country, and had as family May (Sister Denise, O'Neill College) and Frank. He suffered an early bereavement in the loss of his young wife. Returning to Koo Wee Rup in 1904, he bought O'Riordan's store, which he successfully conducted. In 1908 he married Miss Alice Morris, his bereaved wife , and later took out the first licence in Koo Wee Rup, building the substantial Royal Hotel.
He was esteemed by all who knew him. His kindly smile, his cheerful word, and his open-handed generosity were enjoyed by many. He was a prominent member of the Irish National Foresters, Carlton branch, which on his return to Koo Wee Rup, presented him with a group photo of members. He was closely identified with every progressive local activity, and contributed in no small measure to its success. He was president of the St. Patrick's Day sports and the football club, and was a member of the church, the hospital, and the recreation reserve committees. He was attended in his last illness by the Revs. T. O'Callaghan and L. C. Hartnett. The latter celebrated the Requiem Mass. The funeral, one of the largest seen in the district, was representative of every class and creed. Pakenham Cemetery was the place of burial. The Rev. L. C. Hartnett, assisted by the Revs. T. O'Callaghan and M. Keenan, officiated at the grave. With the bereaved wife there is left to mourn their sad loss his children - May (Sister Denise, Garden Vale) and Frank, Alice, Jack, Margaret and Colleen; his brothers, Pat (Koo Wee Rup) and John (Limerick, Ireland), and his sister Mary (Scariff, Ireland). R.I.P. (9).
Denis’ first wife, Mary Ann, had died on October 15, 1905 aged 29. She left behind two little children - Mary Bridget, born 1902, also called May. Mary became a Nun, Sister Denise of Presentation College in Windsor and she died in 1989; Francis Michael, born 1904, also called Frank. Francis, married Elizabeth Reynolds in 1935 and died in March 1983. (10)
After the death of Mr McNamara, the Hotel continued to be operated by the McNamara family until 1927, with Alice McNamara (Denis’ widow) as the licensee and Frank McNamara (Denis’ son) as the manager. For some time, around 1930 - 1932, after they left Koo Wee Rup, Alice was the licensee of the London Tavern, 58 Moray Street (corner Grant Street), South Melbourne. (11).
Royal Hotel advertisement
Koo Wee Rup Sun, January 6, 1927
Alice McNamara died on June 28, 1937, and as her obituary in the Koo Wee Rup Sun relates, her sister died the same day -
It is with the deepest regret that we record the death of an old and highly respected resident of Kooweerup, in the person of Mrs Alice McNamara, wife of the late Mr Denis McNamara, at the age of 57 years. When word reached Kooweerup on Monday morning of her sudden death in the city quite a gloom was cast over the township, for through her ever-ready aid in the past in all cases of distress she was honored throughout the whole district, and owing to her unbounded hospitality when with her late husband they were in charge of the Royal Hotel, Kooweerup, her generosity will long live among many throughout the whole State. She was a daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. Morris, of Kilmore..... On Friday last the deceased received word of the illness of her sister and only relative, Mrs Jane Scott, wife of the late Mr G. Scott (late A.I.F.), of South Melbourne, and she hurried to the city to render what aid she could on her behalf. Leaving her son Frank's suburban residence for the railway station on Monday morning to visit the hospital where her sister was an inmate, the deceased suddenly collapsed in the railway yards and passed to the Great Beyond. Strange to relate, within three hours her sister had joined her in the Great Adventure. (12).
The McNamara Family, c. 1921.
Standing at back - Alice and May
Seated - Denis with Colleen, Alice (nee Morris) John and Frank. Margaret is at the front.
Photographer:Yeoman & Co. Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society collection.
Alice had four children with Denis, whom she married on August 9, 1909 - Alice, born 1909, who married Daniel Parks in 1929, they had three children and she died in August 1951; John Patrick, born 1910. He was ordained as a Priest in 1935, was an RAAF Chaplain during the Second World War, and died in 1986. His obituary noted that the year of his birth and the year of his death coincided with the appearance of Halley’s Comet; Margaret Frances, born 1914, nicknamed ‘Blue’. Married Cecil Ernest Murray, in 1941, and died October 2004; Colleen Josephine, born 1917, did not marry, and died February 2004. Denis and Alice are buried at the Pakenham Cemetery. (13)
Royal Hotel advertisement
Koo Wee Rup Sun, September 8, 1927
It was in August 1927, that John Patrick Daniher took over the licence from Alice McNamara (14). He was the son-in-law of John O'Brien. However before we look at the Danihers, we will look further at the life and business interests of Mr O’Brien with this August 1925 article from the Korumburra newspaper the Great Southern Advocate –
The wedding of Marie O'Brien to John Daniher.
The best man, J.J. Daniher; the bridesmaid , Veronica (Fairy) O'Brien; the groom John Daniher and the bride, Marie (Doll) O'Brien.
Table Talk, September 16, 1920 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146691528
John Patrick Daniher had married Marie O’Brien on August 25, 1920. Their wedding was written-up in Table Talk, a newspaper which covered many weddings, the Theatre, the races and other social activities –
The marriage of Miss Marie (Doll) O'Brien, second (twin) daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. O'Brien, of the Royal Hotel, Koo-wee-rup, to Mr. John Patrick Daniher, younger son of late Mr. J. Daniher, of Euroa, and Mrs. Daniher, of Wyalong, N.S.W., was celebrated on Wednesday, August 25, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Father Keenan (Koo-wee-rup), assisted by Rev. Father Kett. In the unavoidable absence of the bride's father, she was given away by her brother, Mr. James O'Brien, and looked charming in her bridal gown of ivory charmeuse, with over-dress of georgette, trimmed with beads and filet lace; veil of Limerick lace, sumounted by a wreath of orange blossom. A gold wristlet watch was the gift of the bridegroom, while her gift to him was a pair of silver military hair brushes. She was attended by her twin sister, Miss Veronica (Fairy) O'Brien, whose dainty frock of white taffeta was made with a three-tiered skirt and trimmed with filet lace, while her hat of black tulle was adorned with a posy of pink flowers and streamers of black ribbon. The bridegroom's gift to her was a pearl brooch. Mr. J. J. Daniher supported his brother as best man. (16).
The Royal Hotel in the December 1934 flood
Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society
The Danihers had purchased the freehold of the Royal Hotel in 1927, as well as holding the license. In September 1934, the licence was transferred to Edith Leahy. This turned out to be a short-term arrangement as in January 1935, the licence was transferred to Marie Daniher. The Danihers operated the Hotel until June 1939, when they left Koo Wee Rup; the licensees in the next three years were H.T. Baker and M.J.Haig. In June 1942, the Dandenong Journal would announce that the Danihers have returned after an absence of 3 years and have resumed control. (17).
The Daniher family owned the Royal Hotel building until the 1960s, maybe longer. Marie Daniher died July 27, 1989, aged 89 and John had died June 15, 1972, aged 80. John’s death notice list their children as Julie, Margaret, Pat, John and Lorraine. Marie and John are buried at the Cheltenham Memorial Park. Marie’s father, John O'Brien, died in 1946, aged 82 and her mother, Julia, died in 1959, aged 92. They are buried at Boroondara Cemetery. (18).
Trove List - I have created a list of articles relating to the McNamara, O'Brien and Daniher families at the Koo Wee Rup Hotel, access it here.
Trove List - I have created a list of articles relating to the McNamara, O'Brien and Daniher families at the Koo Wee Rup Hotel, access it here.
Footnotes
(2) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, March 11, 1915, see here.
(3) Lang Lang Guardian, September 8, 1915, see here.
(4) Lang Lang Guardian, September 15, 1915, see here.
(5) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, November 7, 1918, see here.
(6) Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 4, 1918, see here.
(7) The Argus, April 5, 1921, see here.
(8) Ibid
(9) The Advocate, August 20, 1925, see here.
(10) The Argus, October 17, 1905, see here; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
(11) The Age, November 4, 1930, see here; The Age, January 21, 1932, see here. the London Tavern was demolished in 1980 for the Westgate Freeway - http://www.skhs.org.au/SKHShotels/
(12) Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 1, 1937.
(13) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; family notices from the newspapers; Father McNamara's obituary The Advocate, May 22, 1986 (copy at the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society). I have written more about Alice McNamara (nee Morris) here - https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2024/09/alice-morris-1852-1912-and-sarah.html
(14) Koo Wee Rup Sun, August 11, 1927
(15) Great Southern Advocate, August 13, 1925, see here.
(16) Table Talk, September 16, 1920, see here.
(17) Koo Wee Rup Sun, August 11, 1927; various Licensing Court hearings in the newspapers, see my Trove list, here; Dandenong Journal, June 10, 1942, see here.
(18) Various family notices in the newspapers.
John Daniher's death notice
The Age June 17, 1972, p. 104 newspapers.com
