Constable Michael Dwyer - Stratford, Queensland - Out of Place Graves on Waymarking.com

This out of place grave headstone marks the resting place of the remains of Constable Michael Dwyer, a 26 year old Irish born Constable of Escort.

Although the sandstone headstone is now rubbed smooth with time the inscription once read, "Sacred to the memory of Michael Dwyer, Constable of Escort, Died 19 July 1877, Aged 26 years".

Dwyer was employed in the “Special Division” which safeguarded gold transportation from the Hodgkinson Goldfields down the newly discovered Douglas and Smith Tracks to the coast.

It is alleged that after shooting targets near the Halfway Hotel (on the Barron River). Dwyer advised that he intended to enter the nearby scrub to shoot turkeys. Shortly after, apparently as he returned. Dwyer tripped and shot himself.

He was taken badly wounded to the Hotel where he was attended by Mr Rutherford, the chemist from Smithfield and Dr Myers from Cairns. Dwyer died from his wounds some six hours later on the 19th July 1877. He was buried the following day.

Works to exhume his remains from the original site on the banks of the Barron River commenced on 20th July 2003, exactly 126 years following his burial. Motivation to exhume and relocate the remains was triggered due to the continual erosion of the embankment where the original grave was located.

Remains discovered during the archaeological dig were re-interred at the site on 19th September 2003 in conjunction with the 2003 Police Remembrance Day activities.

First Name: Michael Last Name: Dwyer Died: 07/19/1877 Born: Not listed

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   04/16/2013 lison55 visited it