KEENAN FAMILY in Australia

The Keenans of Western Australia

Last updated 10/7/2010

Stewart Keenan (1834 *- 1921) was a brother of Henry John Keenan (1840-1889) (whose descendants are the main subject of this website).  The following extract is  from an excellent book written by Edward Keenan of Perenjori, Western Australia, in 1995:

"On 5 January 1859, in the Registrar's Office, at Magherafelt, in the Glenone Parish of Tamlight O'Crilly, County of Londonderry, Stewart Keenan married Isabella Gamble, daughter of Francis Gamble, farmer of Lisrodden, County Antrim .... the young couple booked their passage to Fremantle (Western Australia) in July 1859."

A copy of the book written by Edward Keenan  in 1995 is being published on this website.  So too are transcripts he made of letters written by members of the Keenan family in Northern Ireland, Western Australia, South Africa and America (1873 to 1955). Edward Keenan was the adopted son of William Stewart Keenan (the last son of Stewart and Isabella Keenan) and Eleanor Jane Curtis.  He was born in 1921 and adopted in 1922.  He was also known as Ray Keenan. Edward/Ray Keenan wrote another book titled "I Shook the Family Tree: the Story of an Adopted Boy".  A signed copy is held in the National Library in Canberra. ISBN 1876760125.  For more information click HERE. In the State Library of Western Australia there are 3 sound cassettes of interviews with Edward/Ray Keenan about his family background and his life as a farmer.  For details go to http://henrietta.slwa.wa.gov.au/search~S2 and search Keenan.

Stewart and Isabella Keenan travelled to Fremantle from London aboard the "West Australian", which arrived on 20 October 1859.

Stewart's brother, Robert Keenan (1836 to 1890), also came to Western Australia and became a farmer at Broadwater, The Vasse.  Another of his brothers, Aaron Keenan (1844 - 1896), came to Western Australia aboard the "Strathmore", arriving at Fremantle from London on 12 June 1864.

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According to a family tree kindly supplied by Anne Waghorn, a descendant of Stewart Keenan and Isabella Gamble, the children of Stewart and Isabella Keenan (nee Gamble) (all of whom were born in Western Australia), were:

• James Keenan (1859 - 1885). Never married.
• Eliza Isabella Keenan (1862 - 1900). Married James William Armstrong in 1886. Five children.
• Robert John Keenan (1863 - 1946). Never married.
• Francis Henry (Harry) Keenan (1870 - 1954). Married Florence Edith Sutcliffe. No children.
• Mary Ellen (Minnie) Keenan (1872 - 1961). Never married.
• Isabella (Bella) Keenan (1874 - 1969). Married James Christopher Hennessey in 1903. Three children: Stewart, Mary (Cissie) and Patrick.
• Anne Jane (Annie) Keenan (1876 - 1960).  Married Jim Betts in 1908.  Three children: Margaret (b.1909), James (b. d. 1911), John Stewart (1915 - 1922)
• Grace Barclay Keenan (1878 - 1950).  Married Neil McLeod in 1912.  Three children: Dudley (b.1913),  married Bernice McEwan and had 4 children; Gamble (b.1915), divorced, no children; Isabel, Married Douglas Bill, 5 children.
• William Stewart Keenan (1881** - 1952).  Married Eleanor (Nellie) Jane Curtis in 1918.  One child (adopted): Edward (Ray)
• Elizabeth married Kyle ....... Six children: Robert, David, Jane, Stewart, Henry and another girl.  ***

Anne Waghorn is a grandchild of Neil McLeod and Grace McLeod (nee Keenan).

For perhaps only the second time in over 100 years, members of the Eastern and Western branches of the Keenan family met in 2006.  (The first meeting since the 1890s appears to have taken place in Sydney in 1996 at the home of Anita Arnold - see below.) The meeting between Peter and Margaret Keenan of Melbourne, Victoria, (the East) and Anne and Terry Waghorn, of Spalding, Western Australia, took place at Peter and Margaret's home on 29 June 2006. [PHOTO]    Anne Waghorn [PHOTO] phoned Peter Keenan a few weeks earlier when she came across this website while searching the internet for references to the Keenans.  Fortunately, she and husband Terry were coming to Melbourne for a few days on 27 June on their way to Sydney.

Many thanks to Anne for making contact and for supplying us with so much rare and interesting material regarding the Keenans of Western Australia.  More of this material will be published on this site as time permits: keep on eye on the News page. This information has been supplemented by information from Mrs Anita Arnold of Engadine, NSW.

In relation to meetings between the two branches of the family, Mrs Arnold says "Ray Keenan's (Edward) son David visited me in 1996.  I've enclosed a photo of Ray and Margaret Blond (nee Betts) daughter of Anne Jane Keenan and James Betts; also one of David taken at my place.  See how much he looks like his Dad." These can be seen at Photographs.  [I should also mention here that in the early 1890s Grace Catherall (nee Keenan) - the daughter of Henry John Keenan and Nancy Jane Keenan - and her husband lived in Western Australia with Grace's uncle Stewart Keenan and aunty Isabella Keenan (nee Gamble)].

* Mrs Anita Arnold states that Stewart was born on 16/2/1836.  ** Anita states that William was born in 1877. *** This information supplied by Anita only.

Those interested in knowing more about the Keenans of Western Australia should also go to the website established by Gil Hardwick of Margaret River, where they will find books, photos and family trees.

"Glenbourne" Homestead

The following is an extract from a document produced in 1998 by the Heritage Council of Western Australia regarding Glenbourne Homestead, which was built by Stewart and Isabella Keenan:

"Glenbourne Homestead, a small farmhouse situated on the northern bank of Ellens Brook, Margaret River, was built by Stewart and Isabella Keenan in the late 1880s. 

 

In early 1859, Stewart Keenan, a farmer, and Isabella Gamble were married in county Derry, Ireland. In July of that year, they sailed from Plymouth on the West Australia’s maiden voyage, arriving in Fremantle on 20 October. After a short period in Fremantle, during which time their first child was born, the Keenans sailed to Busselton, arriving in early January 1860.
 

Stewart and Isabella spent the following two years working on dairy farms in the Vasse, firstly for the McCourts and then for the Lockes. In 1862, the Keenans took out a seven year lease on Reinscourt, the property of Mrs Vernon Bussell. Under the terms of the lease, the Keenans acquired a portion of the stock.

 

In the 1860s, the Keenans left Reinscourt to lease a dairy cattle property at Cape Naturaliste, which they later named Glenone after Stewart’s family property in Derry.  At about the same time, Stewart took out a lease on 3,000 acres at Margaret River in partnership with James Forrest and Thomas Abbey. The property, named Rosa Glen, was used as a summer cattle run, and the families drove their stock between Margaret River and their Cape Naturaliste/Vasse properties each year. In the late 1860s, this land was leased by Keenan and Abbey, and later yet the Keenans held the lease alone. . . .."

To see the full document CLICK HERE.

The Heritage Council of Western Australia has listed Glenbourne as a significant site and has provided funds for its upkeep.  The small farmhouse situated on the northern bank of Ellens Brook, Margaret River, Western Australia, was built by Stewart and Isabella Keenan in the late 1880s.  I have obtained two photographs of Glenbourne from the website of the Heritage Council of Western Australia (see the first two photos below).   

Glenbourne Homestead is place number 00116 on the Heritage Council's database, and its exact location, title, description, images, etc., can be viewed online.  Click HERE.  Most of the information on that site is repeated below:

NOTE: The co-builder named here, James Armstrong, is the son-in-law of Stewart Keenan.

Heritage Council Photographs

Recent Photographs

I am extremely grateful to have received the following photographs of  Glenbourne from Anne and Terry Waghorn, taken by them in August 2008.  Anne writes:

"Hi Peter, Margaret and all the family. Hope this finds you all well. Terry and I were down in Margaret River weekend before last and went out to see the old Keenan house. Thought you might like a photo of it. Was wonderful to go and see, you could stand back and imagine them walking around. My cousin Keith took us out to it and also pointed out the out door oven they used to use.  They are still working on the restoration and are hoping to be able to get some shingles for the roof so it will be as it was. There are still some old fruit trees and a huge old mulberry tree they planted. Keith says the mulberry tree has a huge crop around January, so may have to take a trip down in Jan 09. Just a short note for now hope you like the photos, Cheers Anne & Terry. 18/8/2008"

Based on place names used in describing the location of Glenbourne Homestead (Caves Road and Ellens Brook), I have narrowed its location down to the area shown on this map:

See also: 

•  The site of the Busselton Family History Society.

•   Heritage Trail: Margaret River.  Page 2 of this brochure makes brief reference to the settlement by Stewart Keenan.

•   Passenger ships arriving in Fremantle 1829-89 (the Strathmore).

•   Wreck of Strathmore ship in 1875.  See also New Zealand Maritime Index 1 and NZ Maritime Index 2.

Anyone who wants more information is invited to contact us.

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