Kennedy Heritage

My Dad, and his brother, were raised more by their grand parents, Oswald and Sarah Kennedy (nee O’Brien), than their parents. Oswald was posted to Launceston as a CPO during the 1st World War, Sarah joined him there.

Whilst there, they bought first the Launceston Hotel and then the Orient Hotel - running both until they left Launceston in 1922.   Oswald ran the bar and cellar, Sarah ran the rooms and kitchen - and the books overall.  Whilst living in Launceston their eldest daughter Iris married George Stewart Sheehan in August 1919.  George Stewart was a patron of the pubs, a bootmaker and a general handyman.  After marrying Iris he became a “Useful” as they were called - a general hand around the pubs.

It’s worth noting that pubs in that era were different businesses to what we know as pubs today.  Then, they were focussed on accommodation and meals for people who worked in the area.  Today, in my view, many pubs are just drinking and gambling barns.

After the war ended the Kennedy’s et al moved back to Sydney in 1921 and continued operating pubs up until 1934-5 when Oswald retired.   Some of the more famous pubs they operated included:

  • Australia Hotel - Pitt St, City
  • Royal Antler - Narrabeen
  • Prince Albert - Northy Sydney
  • Bat and Ball - Moore Park
  • The Star - Hunter St, Newcastle
  • Many others … especially around Newtown, Camperdown and Surry Hills.

Family anecdote tells that Oswald, known as “Da”, both bought and sold the Royal Antler Hotel in Narrabeen for a hefty profit on the one day as he relinquished the lease on the Prince Albert and retired.

Oswald was the son of John Darling Kennedy (b:1852 Scotland) and who was said (SMH Death Notice) to be the 2nd son of the 5th Marquis of Ailsa; Archibald Kennedy … this is not the real story.  John Darling Kennedy was a remittance man and the son of Frederick Kennedy of Edinburgh a Hop Merchant. His father provided him the ticket to Australia and some money on the proviso that he never return.  He was also in the possession of a family “fob” watch and case that has since disappeared.  John Kennedy kept a diary of his journey from Southampton to Sydney which is on the possession of Norman Sheehan Sr..

Oswald died quite suddenly in 1939 after complaining of a pain in his left shoulder. He died the next day and was given a Naval Funeral a week later. The SMH carried the story and pictures of his ashes being cast over the Tasman Sea. He had the reputation as a “Sydney Identity”.

Oswald’s father, John Darling Kennedy married, by posting the Banns, Mary Hannah Jane Shaw in 1870. They had 5 children:

  • Oswald Edward: 1871
  • Florence Emma: 1873
  • John Francis: 1875
  • Francis Marion: 1877
  • Edith St. Andrew: 1882

Oswald and Sarah (”Da” and “Big Mum”) had 3 children:

  • Iris: b:1900
  • Elizabeth (”Noel”): b:1903
  • John (’Jack’): b:1905

When Oswald died he left a country pub to each of his 3 children and they each received the lease fees from its respective proprietor.  Oswald had intended for each pub to remain in the family as a legacy to each new generation of “Kennedy” children.  This meant that each child was meant to bequeath to their children the pub that had been bequeathed to them.  The pubs were:

  • Iris: Cooma
  • Jack: Cowra
  • Noel: South Grafton

All the pubs was sold soon after Sarah Kennedy died in in 1969.