Obituaries Australia

Mrs. Mary Anne Dempsey, a very early Victorian colonist, died at her home, Highbury Road, East Burwood, yesterday, at the age of 98; Mrs. Dempsey who was born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1819, sailed for Victoria with her parents, Mr. and Mrs  P. Cleary, in 1840, and married shortly after her arrival. The family settled at Burwood, which in those days was known as Greenmount, and has resided there ever since. The country was then densely covered with bush, and aborigines were numerous. It was difficult to purchase stores and, for marketing, Mrs. Dempsey was obliged to walk to North Melbourne, a distance of 10 miles, through thickly timbered country. She has had 80 descendants — three sons, six daughters, 42 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren. Four of her grandsons are serving with the Australian Imperial Force abroad. Her husband died 29 years [ago].