Local District Past Residents
Local Tragedies 1900 - 1949
The Sunshine District, like all districts has seen it's fair share of tragedies.
The most significant accident was the Sunshine Station Railway disaster in 1908. At that time it was Australia's worst railway accident.
But there has been many more tragedies in the local district and whether these have been work site accidents, motor car accidents, level crossing accidents, drownings in the district's creeks & pools and murders. Other tragedies have not happen in the district but the families of the district has had to mourn these events.
A sample of these tragedies have been recorded in various Victorian papers.
1900
A fatal accident, Standard Quarries, James Pearce, About 50
1901
Serious railway accident, Henry Charles Edward 'Eric' Nylen, Aged 19
1904
Suicide at Braybrook, John Babb, Aged 47
Cycling home, A young man's lonely death, James William Dalrymple, Aged 21
1906
1907
The Keilor Motor Fatality - Mary McMahon, Aged 35
1908
Sunshine Railway Station Disaster
1909
Fatality at Sunshine, Edmund Joseph Greenway, Aged 27
1910
Dead on line, fatality near Sunshine, William White
Braybrook hermit's death, Daniel Henkel, Aged 50
1911
Young man drowned, Victor Gilhooley, Aged 23
1912
Drowned while fishing, Edmund 'Ted' Henry Parsons, Aged 22
1913
Railway Line Tragedy, Man and woman run down and killed
1914
Fire at Sunshine, Harvester works ablaze, Outbreak under control
Killed on crossing, Sunshine tragedy, William Charles Batten, Aged 53
Fire at Sunshine State School shelter shed
Fire at Sunshine, McKay's stock room
Mysterious fires, Is it arson or the enemy
1915
Fatality at Brooklyn, Timothy Reardon, Aged 45
1916
Fire at Braybrook, Severe damage done
Sad drowning case, Selina Phillips Aged 30 & Alice Amelia May Phillips Aged 3
1917
Maribyrnong drowning case, Ernest Cecil Bennie, Aged 9
Railway Crossing Accident - Arthur Thomas Gore, Aged 36
1918
Fire at Braybrook, Soap Works Burnt
Wheat sampler killed, Thomas Hugh Potts, Aged 52
Sunshine accident, Herbert Williams
1919
Fatality at Brooklyn, James McDonald, Aged 55
Motor fatality on Keilor Rd, Bet Bet Councillor killed, Frank Herbert Brown
Fatality at Sunshine, Boy cut to pieces, Bernard Brooks, Aged 13
1920
Fall over embankment, Maribyrnong Resident's death, Walter Tasman Moss, Aged 52
Hertford Rd Sunshine house destroyed by fire
1921
Fall over embankment, Maribyrnong resident death, Walter Moss, Aged 52
Another drowning fatality - Vernon James Thomas, Aged 7
Level crossing accident, Drover dies from injuries, James Brennan, Aged 58
1922
Fire at Braybrook factory - G. W. Pennell, Burke St, Braybrook
Big fire at Sunshine, Pottery works destroyed
1923
Terrible explosion in Deer Park - Three young women killed, Mabel "May" Veronica Jackson aged 20, Margaret "Maggie" Nelson aged 21 & Florence "Florrie" Smith aged 42
Man killed at a quarry, Crushed by falling metal, Charles Heyward, Aged 47
Raging mass of flame, Three shops burnt at Sunshine, Fire spreads along street
A tragic discovery, Man's dead body and smashed bicycle, fatality on Keilor Rd
1924
St. Albans Quarry, two accidents in past week
Motor bus accident, Driver Garrett injured
Big fire at Braybrook, William James Chinnery
Burning of the Shire Hall, a mysterious occurrence
Family's luck escape, shop & dwelling destroyed by fire, Mungo Peel
Gatekeeper found dead, Isaac Chapman, Aged 48
Missing woman's fate, Body found in river, Annie Louisa Day, Aged 46
1925
Accident, leg caught in cog, leg amputated, Riversdale Quarrying Co, Braybrook, Albert Bennett
Quarry worker injured, Mr J. Barth
Fire at St. Albans, John Stewart, Aged 11 months
Maidstone house fire, Mr. J. Smith
St. Albans house fire, Mr. & Mrs. Clarke
Raft sinks in river, Maribyrnong boy drowned, Robert Newberry, Aged 11
Fire at Deer Park, a hall destroyed
Woman killed, car and bus in collision, Mrs Susan Jones
Fire in Sunshine, Footballers' shed destroyed
St. Albans Fire, Grant Street dwelling
1926
Life's tragic side, Mr Thomas Davey, John Darling Flour Mills Pty Ltd, Albion
Great Sunshine Fire, Flour mill destroyed, Building to be re-built
Fatal skid, cyclist killed, David Leslie Robinson
Woman killed, stepped in front of horse, Margaret Alice Corbett, Aged 50
Fatal morning swim, rescue effects fail, Frederick Charles White, Aged 21
Fire destroyed house, Rosamond Rd Maidstone
A Maidstone boy killed, Francis 'Frank Edward Brown, Aged 14
A midnight fire Hampshire Road Sunshine
Tragedy at Brooklyn, Motor cyclist killed, David Lionel Robinson, Aged 20
Fire at Sunshine, one house destroyed two damaged, Mr. Steeples' house Benjamin Street
1927
Fatal motor car accident, Miss Jean Calanchini
Motor cyclist killed, William John Stavely
Shocking accident, Station Rd, Deer Park, Malcolm Cameron
Quarryman dies on the job, William George Slater
Tragic death of school teacher, Cora Dunstan, Aged 31
Grim Tragedy, Little boy killed, Robert Tyson, Aged 6
Fire destroys Sunshine State School's tool & fuel house
Died in Africa, Rev. Charles Pearce
1928
Boy's terrible death at Braybrook, John Lindsay Gordon Hodgetts, Aged 10
St. Albans Quarry, Fall of stone, Man leg amputated, Andrew McKeznie
Death of local resident follows car accident, Ernest William Cummings, Aged 37
Car overturns near Braybrook, woman fatally injured, Mrs Florence Temple, Aged about 40
Lorry driver killed at Deer Park, John Philbin
Fire destroys fourteen Christmas suits
Motor accidents on Ballarat Rd, Mrs Florence Temple, Aged 40, killed
Fire partially destroys Albion home, 10 Bazentine Street
Sunshine man found drowned in Yarra, Leslie Leopold Charlton, Aged 34
1929
Fatal scalding accident, Edna Clarice Carlton
Workman caught in belt, fatality in quarry, Peter Leslie Dickson
Man killed, motor car overturns, Ballarat Road fatality, Joseph Edney, Aged 32
Former soldier's home partially burnt
Immigrant commits suicide in public gardens
Man drops dead at work, James Flinn, Aged 65
1930
Paisley Station level crossing accident, Doris "Elsie" Hodgson
Shocking accident at quarry, Lewis Self
Modeller, out on visits, homeless on return
Two sons killed, Father commits suicide, Inquest on Sunshine tragedy
Keilor Fatality, heavily laden motor cycle, Ronald George Kirk, Aged 26
Died from injuries, Campbell Beck, Aged 21
Man's head cut off near Anderson Road Crossing, Cecil George Smyth, Aged 30
Retired farmer found hanged at St. Albans, Hugh Robertson, Aged 65
Small fire in Hampshire Road, Mr. Thomas Buttimer's property
Service bus kills postman on Ballarat Road, Edward Horwood, Aged 63
Maribyrnong River Drowning, John Francis Ralph, Aged 30
Small fire, Ballarat Rd Braybrook
1931
Little girl killed at Albion, Joan Alexandria Pettigrew
Ballarat Road motor fatality, Inquest on footballer's death, Christopher Irwin, Aged 29
Motor cyclist killed, Thrown under wheel of van, George Henry Hartley, Aged 35
Explosion at Nobels Deer Park, no loss of life
House and contents burnt at Maidstone
1932
Early morning fire, Sunshine Technical School
1933
Run down by Deer Park train, Well-Known resident fatality injured, Mr William Hugh Stavley
Fatal burning accident, James Henry Bunting, Age 11
Bathing fatality at Sunshine - Unknown youth drowns (identified as Edward Percy Parker, Age 16)
Fire at Deer Park, Empty house badly damaged
Horse and dray falls in quarry hole, Horse put down
1934
Killed while cranking lorry, George Taylor, Aged 23
Motor cyclist's death, Conflicting evidence, Richard Raymond 'Ray' Dodd, Aged 27
Brooklyn Murder Charge, Accused allowed bail
1935
Two men killed in explosion at Deer Park, James Robinson & Henry Powell
St. Albans tragedy, murdered of Alfred O'Neil by his wife
Greyhounds killed by car, two men injured, James Edward Gahan & Joseph Gahan
Died while riding bicycle, Francis 'Frank' Seymour, Aged 14
More grass fires and a pyrotechnic display
Fatal motor accident, Young man dies, Jack Downes, Aged 21
Youth killed, George Edward O'Boyle, Aged 17
Cyclist killed by car, John Lindsay Goodall, Aged 35
Motor train catches fire at Deer Park Station
1936
Council accused of negligence in Sand Pit fatality, Percival George Rye
Serious accident, Lady who was riding pillion was fatally hurt
Fire at St. Albans, building, contents totally destroyed
Two accidents this week at P.O. Place
Boy dies after being crushed by roller, Albert George Landers, Aged 16
Second death, Overturning of motor car, Albert Eliason, Aged 49
Fire at Deer Park, Mr Nylen's house totally destroyed
Mr J. Dickson trampled on and dies
Fire tragedy at Braybrook, Edwin Joseph Nicholls, Aged 4 months
Keilor bus accident, driver injuries prove fatal, John Duffy, Aged 35
1937
How Sunshine spent the holidays, Two Residents Killed, Mr Robert Holland & George Herbert Dickie
White City, Mr. J. McCarney, Killed
Deer Park - Burton Hunter falls from father's cart and is killed
Two brothers drown in dam, Sad fatality at Deer Park, Keith Mousley 21 and John Wilfred Mousley 18
Popular citizen dies after accident, William Trueman 38
Holiday accidents, death in hospital, Kenneth James McKay
Australian jockey killed, Raymond "Ray" Leslie Hibbs
Man killed at concrete works, James Henry Banfield, Aged 37
Accident at quarry, man seriously injured, James Henry Miller, Aged 51
Rubbish tip explodes at Deer Park, Many homes shaken, Worker's home damaged
Local man killed on Ballarat Rd, John James Le Sueur, Aged 65
Three men killed in road crashes
1938
Employees injured at Cracker Works, J. Farrar, Amy Bunting & Annie Burt
House Fire, 43 Graham St, Sunshine
Unusual accident cause of man's death, William Henry Wanders
Man killed at Keilor, Francis Goudie O'Neil, Aged 36
Employees injured at Cracker Works fire
Horse bolts, John Perrett killed, Aged 75
Fire at rear of 43 Graham St Sunshine
1939
Youth killed on Ballarat Rd, Sidney Robert Gill
Sad fatality, John N Duncan (Brunswick) killed at Deer Park Railway Crossing
Three killed in Deer Park Explosion, Lillian Gordon, Ethel Foster, Michael Francis O'Gorman
Two Sunshine men killed in shocking accident, First Constable Phillips & William Stewart Ferguson
Fire destroys church, Our Ladies Catholic Church
Result of motor accident, Eric Charles Clooney dies, Aged 25
Resident killed on Ballarat Rd, Mrs Minnie Evelyn Dickie, Aged 56
1940
Fatal accident Ballarat Rd Cnr Adelaide St, Thomas Bromiley (Sunshine)
Fatal motor accident Geelong Rd, Miss Eva Chappell (Sunshine) & Mrs Hazel Day (West Footscray)
Football match fatality, Wilfred David Wunhym (Braybrook) goes home after match and dies
Sad drowning, Beatrice May Walter, Aged 3 1/2
Deer Park Store destroyed by fire
Second tragedy at crossing, Man killed going to meet his wife, John Ferris, Aged 59
Local cricketer drowned, Horace 'Horrie' Henry Stevens, Aged 27
Local resident killed, Robert Gordon Hislop
Charged-man killed in arms factory explosion, first Maribyrnong fatality
Explosives hut fire, man dies, four hurt, Royston F. Jenson, Aged 25
Man killed in Victorian Explosive factory Melbourne, Francis John Ray Newton, Aged 33
Young woman killed, Maidstone fatality, Eileen Doyle, Aged 25
Another grass fire, Corner of Cornwall Rd & Ballarat Rd
1941
Drowning fatality at Deer Park, Three children of Mr James Burnside drowns in the Kororoit Creek
Fatal accident at Quarry, Alexander Campbell (Richmond) was killed at the Stanley Quarries, Sunshine
8 Year old sees his brother drowned, Harold Mervyn Barnett, Aged 9 year
Fatal motor accident, former Minyip man killed, Henry Archibald
Motor cyclist's death - Lawrence "Laurie" Chapman
Accident victim dies, Leslie George Smith
Seized with cramp, Youth drowned, William 'Billy' Graham, Aged 19
Pedestrian fatally injured, Robert Richardson, Aged 50
1942
Obituary - Mr W. Bradford (Braybrook) killed on birthday, Ballarat Rd Cnr Melon St
Council employee injured and dies, Michael James Pickett
Men crushed by steel door, James Bird & William Lodge
Accident at Deer Park, Jack Fisher, Aged 44
Roger Bros Dairy Farm Fire, St. Albans
Two killed in explosion, Clyde James Ries Age 31 & Benjamin Walters Robert Aged 36
1943
Monsanto fatal accident, Desmond Farrell (St. Kilda)
Accidents, Boy fatally injured, Raymond John Cameron, Aged 11 Years
Mr Tom Hiskins dies after accident while changing truck tyre at work
Boy killed in action, 6 persons injured, Eric Tribe, Aged 9 years
Deer Park school destroyed in big blaze
Man killed at Brooklyn, Joseph Henry Bridges, Aged 60
1944
Man killed in accident, Two seriously Injured, William Livingston Ingram
Accident causes death, Mervyn Leslie Dickson passes
Domestic discord, husband fined for assault - Harold Herbert Traynor
Fire after explosion at porcelain factory
Car victim, Thomas Edward Dillon, Aged 37
Explosion victim dies, Robert Taylor, Aged 68
1945
Fatal smash at Level Crossing Anderson Rd, Ian MCDougall (Sydenham)
Struck by a motor cycle, William George McIntyre
Died as result of injuries, Gwendolyn Johnson, aged 20
Explosion injuries fatal, Keith Wilkinson, Aged 23
Seriously injured in explosion, Keith Wilkinson, Aged 23
Fire, Factory of H.V. McKay-Massey Harris
1946
Fatal hit and run accident on Ballarat Rd, Vincent Kearney
Killed by service ambulance, John "Jock" Cairns Paterson
Ballarat Rd accident, Ernest Henry Alexander Beever
Body of rating found in harbour, Charles William John 'Jack' Blight
Two killed, five hurt in level crossing smash, Florence McKenner & son Garry William McKenner
Seven bodies recovered, tragic aftermath of air disaster, Mr C. H. Grant
Man burned to death after wedding party, Donald Pilkington, Aged 38
Boy killed, Frederick Desmond Keilor, Aged 11
1947
Local resident killed in ANZAC Day collision, Richard Henry Edwards
Sunshine family in shooting affair
Schoolgirl killed, Shirley Margaret Gunner, Aged 13
Sunshine Porcelain Pottery fire
Man's hand crushed, Charles Bone, Aged 42
Body found in drain, Charles Raymond Gibbens, Aged 62
House damaged by fire, 46 Sydney St Albion
1948
Murdered youth was well liked, Norman Hurley (Sunshine Harvester Employee)
Youth drowns West Boort, David John Polan
Died from burns received at home Northumberland Rd Sunshine North, Margaret Adeline Russell
Tragic accident, Doris Elizabeth Hiskins
Former Shire Engineer & Secretary dies from injuries received in car accident - Walter John Andrew
Boy killed by bus, David Richards, Aged 4
Sunshine man murdered, Norman Hurley, Aged 19
Motor cycle accident, Master Albert George Robinson, Aged 19
10,000 Pound fire at File Works
1949
Man shot dead testing rifle, George Henry Innocent
Plane blows up in main street, two die in blazing wreckage, Clarence Hugh McBean
Station master killed in tragic accident, Albert George Brown
Fire destroys home, 145 Devonshire Rd Sunshine, Ormond Doak
Plumber killed in fall, James Drane, Aged 26