Rev Joseph Bunbury
Title:
Rev
First Name:
Joseph
Middle Names:
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Bunbury
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Monasterevan, Co Kildare
Country of Birth:
Ireland
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Rome
Country of Ordination:
Italy
Ordination Diocese:
Seminary:
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Sydney NSW
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Rookwood NSW
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Appointments Table
Diocese | Place | Role | Start Day | Start Month | Start Year | End Day | End Month | End Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Surry Hills | Linane Vol 1 | |||||||
| Sydney | Forest Lodge | Linane Vol 1 | |||||||
| Sydney | Nowra | Linane Vol 1 | |||||||
| Sydney | Camden | Linane Vol 1 | |||||||
| Sydney | Moruya | Linane Vol 1 | |||||||
| Sydney | Parramatta | Linane Vol 1 | |||||||
| Sydney | Leichhardt | Linane Vol 1 |
Biographical Notes
Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 1, 1979, p 37:
Bunbury, Joseph, Irish
Tragic Case of Poisoning
b. 5.10.1865 in Monasterran, Co. Kildare; ed. K'enny and PCR; ord. 1.11.'92. Arr. Syd. '93 and served in turn at Surry Hills, Forest Lodge, Nowra, Camden, Moruya, Parramatta, Leichardt. At Moruya he was involved in a buggy accident with Fr. Oswald Donnelly CM. He developed a heart condition and for some unknown reason was in disfavour with Cardinal Moran. While staying at the Royal Hotel, George St, Syd, he drank an overdose of strychnine to relieve a heart attack. Probably it was thought by Moran and others that he suicided. Hence permission was refused for him to be buried in the Priests' Section at Rookwood. His grave is completely unmarked in Section N, No. 404, d. 31.5.1903; age 38. Very likely an injustice has been perpetuated.
(Footprints, Vol. 1, No. 9)
Ref.: MDHC File, Torquay, per Fr. John Truman, Syd. Archdiocese.
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Findagrave biography as at January 2026: Father Joseph Bunbury, 37, was a young Irish priest known for his highly charged political sermons which upset the establishment of the day, he denounced British imperialism and called for Irish independence. Reprimanded, relieved of his clerical duties he checked into a Sydney hotel and committed suicide by taking cyanide.