Francis Raymond Connelly (1895 - 1949)

Born 1 Sep 1895 in East Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

Husband of Lurline Marie (Hennessy) Connelly — married 17 Nov 1927 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Husband of Patricia Annie (Holschier) Connelly — married 29 Apr 1948 in West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Died 4 May 1949 at age 53 in Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

Biography

Francis Connelly is Notable.

Sir (Francis) Raymond Connelly was an Australian businessman and politician, who served as Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 1945-1948.

Francis Connelly was born in the Colony of New South Wales (1788-1900)

Francis Raymond Connelly was born on 1st September 1895 in East Melbourne, Victoria (Australia). Raymond, as he was known, was the fourth child of John Connelly, a butcher, and Susan Rooney. ^[1] He was educated at twelve schools, including Christian Brothers' School, North Melbourne and Xavier College, Kew.

After completing his formal education, Raymond gained experience as a jackeroo in Queensland, before joining the family business, the Moreland Grain & Free Stores Pty Ltd, in Brunswick. Post war, he established La Trobe Motors Pty Ltd, which introduced hire cars to the city.

Raymond married Lurline Hennessy, daughter of Sir David Hennessy, on 17th November 1927 in St Patrick's Cathedral, East Melbourne. ^[2] The Argus published the following wedding notice: ^[3]

"On the 17th November, 1927, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, by the Very Rev. Father Sullivan, S.J., assisted by the Rev. Father Murphy, S.J., Francis Raymond (Ray), elder surviving son of Mr. and Mrs. John Connelly, Larnokk, Balaclava road, East St. Kilda, to Lurline Marie, second daughter of the late Sir David U. Hennessy and Lady Hennessy, C.B.E., Gainsborough, St. Kilda road, Melbourne."

Raymond was elected to the Melbourne City Council and, in 1934, became chairman of the abattoirs and markets committee. When he became Lord Mayor of Melbourne in 1945, being a widower (Lurline had passed away in August the previous year), he nominated his sister-in-law Valerie, Lurline's youngest sister and wife of (Sir) Bernard Heinze, as Lady Mayoress.

In the New Year Honours 1948, Raymond was created Knight Bachelor in recognition of his service as Lord Mayor of Melbourne. ^[4]

Raymond married a second time, to Patricia Holschier, 26 years his junior, on 29th April 1948 in St Mary's Star of the Sea Church, West Melbourne; ^[5] Patricia thereby becoming entitled as Lady Connelly. The Argus once again published a notice of the wedding: ^[6]

"The Lord Mayor, Sir Raymond Connelly, and Miss Patricia Holschier were quietly married at St Mary's Star of the Sea Church, West Melbourne, yesterday afternoon. Only relatives were present, and there was no announcement of the marriage, either before or after the ceremony. Archbishop Simonds, coadjutor Archbishop of Melbourne, officiated, and the bride was attended by her sister, Mrs Robert Meares, of South Yarra. Dr S. H. Marron was best man. The Lord Mayor will attend his usual official duties today."

Shortly afterward, the couple travelled to London as Raymond began the campaign which was to secure the (1956) Olympic Games for Melbourne. Upon their return to Melbourne, they settled into their home in Como Avenue, South Yarra. The couple did not have children.

Aged 53 years, he passed away of coronary vascular disease on 4th May 1949 in Mount St Evin's Hospital, Fitzroy. Two thousand people attended a requiem Mass in St Patrick's Cathedral celebrated by Archbishop Mannix; a mile-long cortège followed the hearse to Brighton General Cemetery in what was reputedly the biggest funeral procession since that of Sir John Monash. ^[7][8] The Argus published the following notices: ^[9]

"On May 4, at private hospital, Sir Raymond Connelly, of 10 Como avenue, South Yarra, dearly loved husband of Patricia.—Requiescat in pace."

"On May 4. at private hospital. Francis Raymond, dearly loved second son of Susan and the late John Connelly, and loved brother of Ita (deceased), Eileen, John (deceased), and Dermot.—Requiescat in pace."

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #31030/1895
2. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index ##11403/1927
3. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Tue 7 Feb 1928, Page 1: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3908987
4. ↑ Australian Honours: Knight Bachelor; accessed 15 Apr 2024
5. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #9339/1948
6. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Fri 30 Apr 1948, Page 1: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22549183
7. ↑ Victoria Death Index #4223/1949; registered at Fitzroy
8. ↑ Billion Graves
9. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thu 5 May 1949, Page 13: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22726616

See also:

• Dunstan, David. 'Connelly, Sir Francis Raymond (1895–1949)'. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13 , 1993.
• Wikipedia: Francis Raymond Connelly; accessed 15 Apr 2024.