History
Our beginnings can be traced back to 1851 when Patrick O’Rourke was transported from Ireland, to serve a seven year incarceration at the infamous Port Arthur Penal Settlement. Patrick served only two years before his reprieve and relocation to Melbourne.
In the late 1890’s Cornelius, Patrick’s son set up a funeral business in Queanbeyan. Cornelius ran the business from his Mowatt Street residence.
His sons Michael, Joseph and Jack expanded the business in 1910. They became not only Funeral Directors but general builders and contractors.
The O’Rourke brothers moved around the district to places such as Yass, Bungendere, Bynong and Cooma
In 1929 the business relocated to the current address in 113 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, and remains the office and chapel to this day.
Major alterations and modifications by the current owners were completed in 1995, with upgrading the office area, chapel and mortuary facilities.
M.H.O’Rourke Funerals have been part of the John Allison/Monkhouse group since 1987, both companies are proudly Australian owned and have a long history in Australia.