Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 2: Biographies of Priests on the Australian Scene up to 1900, 1980, p 128:

Davadi, Jerome, Italian
A Father of the Wine and Fruit Industry in Queensland
The caption is somewhat of an exaggeration. Nevertheless it has an element of truth, for Father Davadi encouraged the planting of vines and other fruit trees. He could see the resemblance of soils and conditions in Stanthorpe to those in Italy. It proved to be a diversion from tin mining in the district. There is still a vineyard in Stanthorpe bearing the Davadi name. Alas, he got into trouble with Archbishop Robert Dunne over his land and industry activities, for it's alleged that he bought too many properties in Stanthorpe and Texas in the name of the Church. Other historians point out that there were other factors in the unpopularity with the Archbishop. These included the inadequacy of the priest's English-speaking ability, and the fact that before coming to Australia he was a supporter of the House of Savoy. Anyhow Davadi was very much a part of life in Stanthorpe from 1874 to 1899. He had been recruited by Bishop James Quinn and came to Brisbane with other Italian priests in 1873: Capra (already listed), Rossolini, Ricci (who later tried to shoot Quinn), Scortechini, and Romani. Probably Davadi spent a year in Warwick, before appointment to Stanthorpe. He is credited with the building of a church at Wollongarra. Perhaps there are other achievements to his credit as well, apart from the buying of land and his contribution to industry development under pioneering conditions. The end was somewhat tragic. In 1899 he developed a brain tumor and was sent to Goodna Asylum. And there the end came on 22 January 1900. The age was 54 and burial took place in Stanthorpe. The writer is indebted to the kind researchers whose names follow:
(Footprints, Vol. 3, No. 6)
Information: Sr. Xaverius O'Donoghue, author of 'Beyond our Dreams' and Mervyn Royle, Teacher, Stanthorpe.

---

Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev Jerome Davadi, died 22 Jan 1900

Born in Italy to Pietro and Elizabeth Davadi. Father Davadi became very much a part of the life of Stanthorpe and especially the wine and fruit industry from 1874 to 1899. He had been recruited by Bishop James Quinn and came to Brisbane with other Italian priests (Capra, Rossolini, Ricci, Scortechini and Romani) in 1873. It is possible he spent a year in Warwick before his appointment in Stanthorpe. He is credited with the building of a church at Wallangarra. He is also credited with buying much land in the area and his contribution to the local industry is still remembered through the Davadi Vineyard at Stanthorpe. The end was somewhat tragic, he developed a brain tumour in 1899 and was sent to Goodna Asylum, where he died at age 54. He is buried in Stanthorpe.
(Ref. Linane D21)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.

---

Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, pp 109-110:
Fr Jerome Davadi

Fr Jerome Davadi was very much part of the life of early Stanthorpe especially the wine and fruit industry from 1874 to 1899.

Jerome Davadi was born on 26 April 1845, the son of Pietro and Elizabeth Davadi from Montecarotto Ancona in the diocese of Iesi Italy. Recruited by Bishop James Quinn in 1871 he was one of three priests from that diocese generously offered by its archbishop Cardinal Morichini. Jerome completed his education for the priesthood at the Roman University known as the Sapienza. He was ordained on 19 December 1868 in the Archbasilica of St John Lateran.(1)

With Fathers Rossolini and Scortechini, he went to Ireland to be tutored in English.

On 25th November 1870 they sailed on the Storm King, with other priests, arriving in Brisbane on the 28th February, 1871. On board their tutoring continued under the direction of Jeremiah Long, who was to make a mark as the grand old man of Catholic Education in Queensland.(2)

Fr Davadi was present at the consecration of a new wooden church at Kangaroo Point on 17 March 1871. For the next seventeen months we have no record of his appointments until he arrived in Ipswich on 25 August 1872.(3) In February 1873 Fr Davadi was present at a farewell to Brun and teacher James Breen, returning to Ireland to study for the priesthood.(4)

In June 1873 Fr Davadi was appointed to assist Fr Stephen McDonough in Warwick. Warwick and Dalby were part of the Toowoomba mission then under the charge of Dr Robert Dunne, vicar-general of the diocese. Fr Davadi, like his friend Fr Scortechini, found Warwick a difficult assignment. Fr McDonough, with his sister as housekeeper, appeared to assign little parish work to his assistants.(5)

The mining of the tin discovered in Maryland in 1852 commenced in 1872 with many people flocking there hoping to make a fortune. The town was given a new name, Stanthorpe, the district of tin. It was estimated that the border tin fields had a population of over 3000 by the end of 1872.(6) On Sunday 8 December 1872 Fr McDonough opened a new Catholic church in Stanthorpe. By 1874 Fr Davadi moved to reside in Stanthorpe as a separate mission territory from Warwick. He was registered to officiate at marriages in the colony from 16 April 1874.(7) He took out Australian citizenship in 1876.(8)

The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Stanthorpe on 9 February 1875. Fr Davadi vacated his small cottage near the school and made alterations so that it could be a convent for the sisters. By 1875 the school attendance was 150 children.(9)

On Thursday 24 June 1880 the press reported that John Lynch, working as a sub-contractor on the railway extension nine miles from Stanthorpe, was shot. A doctor and a priest were called to the scene; Fr Davadi anointed the dying man.(10)

In 1881 Fr Davadi had to defend himself against implied criticism that he was anti-Irish. He asserted that he always had a good relationship with his many Irish parishioners.(11)

Archbishop Dunne expressed concern over Davadi's purchase of land and industry activities for it was alleged that that he bought too many properties in Stanthorpe and Texas in the name of the church.(12)

When the productivity of the tin mines declined the massive influx of people left and the town once again became small. Locals looked for a new industry for the district. They were motivated by what had happened in Gympie; when that district's gold mining was seen to be unprofitable the dairying industry brought new life to Gympie.

The story of how the suitability of Stanthorpe for fruit growing was first realised reads like a chapter from some old romance. It appears that in the early seventies Stanthorpe had a clergyman named Fr Davadi ministering to the spiritual needs of the Roman Catholic population in the parish. Father Davadi was a native of Italy, and had personal knowledge of the big part played by fruit growing as an industry in that and other European countries where the soil and climate were favourable. (13)

Fr Davadi planted grape vines around his home to make his own altar and table wines. This inspired others to look at this industry as the climate and the soil seemed to be something akin to his native Italy.

In April 1888 the press reported a farewell to Fr Davadi as he set out to visit his homeland:

Rev Father Davadi, of Stanthorpe, has left that town on a year's leave of absence to visit Italy, his native land. On the 4th inst., his parishioners presented him with an address and purse containing 74 sovereigns. The reverend Father is much beloved by his Stanthorpe flock, with which he has laboured for fifteen years. Besides Italy, he purposes visiting England, and intends to spend some little time among the Cornish tin mines. He also intends to visit Ireland.(14)

The year's leave was shortened. Newspapers reported that he left Plymouth for Australia on 27 October 1888, aboard the RMS Orient, to arrive home in December. It appears that that the visit had been to see his aged dying mother who died on 29 July.(15)

Fr Davadi was the celebrant of the Requiem High Mass for his fellow Italian priest Fr Rossolini in Bundaberg on 6 December 1893.(16)

Late in 1896 it was reported that Fr Michael McKiernan was going to Stanthorpe to relieve Fr Davadi.(17) This indicates that Fr Davadi's illness was showing signs of deterioration. In 1899 it was reported that he had been suffering severe headaches and insomnia for three years. He was treated in Brisbane and at St Vincent's hospital in Sydney and diagnosed with a brain tumour. He was admitted to Woogaroo Asylum at Goodna which was at that time the only hospital for people with psychiatric illnesses. He died thereon 22 January 1900, aged 54, with his funeral and burial in Stanthorpe.

In 2020, Ian Bonacorso published an interesting biography of Fr Davadi and his impact on the wine industry in Stanthorpe.

Footnotes
1. Ian Bonaccorso, "Jerome Davadi: Priest and Orchardist", Proceedings of Brisbane Catholic Historical Society, Vol 14, p. 9.
2. Patrick J Tynan, Constantine Rossolini, Pioneer Priest of the Burnett, 2002, p. 16.
3. Ian Bonaccorso, op. cit. p.12.
4. Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, 5 Feb 1873, p. 3.
5. Neil J Byrne, Robert Dunne, Archbishop of Brisbane, 1991, p. 78.
6. Patrick J Tynan, Op. Cit. p. 16.
7. Brisbane Courier, 20 Apr 1874, p. 3.
8. Queensland Government records, 1876, 22203 – 882262.
9. Ian Bonaccorso, op. cit. p. 17.
10. Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser, 28 Jun 1880, p. 3.
11. Warwick Argus, 12 Nov 1881, p. 2.
12. Fr Linane, Footprints, Abel to Zundolovich, AD 21, Nov 1980.
13. Queenslander, Brisbane, 7 Jan 1922, p. 14.
14. Queensland Figaro and Punch, Brisbane, 21 Apr 1888, p. 9.
15. Ian Bonaccorso, op. cit. p. 22.
16. Queenslander, Brisbane, 9 Dec 1893, p. 11-12.
485 Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 21 Nov 1896, p. 16.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.