The Late Rev. W. Bowe, The North Australian, Brisbane, 5 July 1864, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77436556:

Brisbane has never witnessed an assemblage as long and respectable as that which on Sunday afternoon collected in the vicinity of St. Stephen's Church, to pay the last marks of respect and affection to a true pastor. Late on Saturday night it began to be known through the city, that the Rev. William Bowe, for the past year, Roman Catholic clergyman at Dalby, had breathed his last in his temporary residence in Fortitude Valley. Ailing for a week or ten days, his death was, during Friday and Saturday, hourly expected. One or more of his fellow clergymen were in constant attendance on him. Drs. Heeney and Mullen exerted every nerve to save him. But on Saturday evening about seven o'clock it pleased God to take His faithful minister to Himself. On Sunday morning his death was made known to the Catholic congregations at the early masses in both churches. In the forenoon his remains were conveyed by a number of the Catholics of the Valley, from his residence to St. Stephen's Church. Here the Solemn High Mass and obsequies prescribed by the church were performed, the Bishop presiding. The celebrant at the High Mass was the Rev. Paul Tissot, of Maryborough, the deacons, Rev. Messrs. Brun of Ipswich, and Murlay of Rockhampton. His Lordship, who appeared very deeply affected, spoke a few words to the people on their common bereavement, and announced the funeral procession for half-past three o clock.

After the Mass, the large multitude crowded in to get a last look at their beloved priest: for though but six months residing in Brisbane, and even then in a very delicate state of health, he had often broken to them the bread of life within those same walls, with eloquence and zeal not often known even in older churches. With difficulty the church was cleared, but later on in the day, when the sad necessity of fastening down the coffin-lid came, previous to forming the funeral procession, the same thing occurred, and we could see several petitioning for one last look at poor Father Bowe. He was, of course, placed in the coffin habited in his sacerdotal vestments. At four precisely the sad cortege commenced moving. First came a cross bearer, in sutane and surplice, supported on each side by acolytes, with censer and asperges. Next came the children of some of the Catholic schools, the boys numbering 180, and the girls considerably over 500. The mothers and grown sisters of those children, and many ci-devant pupils of the female schools next walked. We had not an opportunity of estimating their number, but those who had assured us it was close on 500. But the main body of the procession was naturally composed of the male members of the Catholic community. They walked in files four abreast, and we counted over 120 of these files. A large multitude, estimated at four or five hundred filled up the space between this last body and the clergy. Three of the latter walked in surplice and stole, chanting in alternate verses with the choir the Sequentia and office for the dead. Immediately after the clergy the coffin was borne. It was first proposed that this latter should be carried in the hearse as usual ; but, when leaving the Church door, a large number of the congregation gathered round and urged in strong terms their wish and right to bear on their shoulders the precious remains to their last resting place. This was conceded to them. So the hearse followed empty behind the fifty warm-hearted men who had succeeded in pressing themselves into the sad but pleasing office. The vast majority of the mourners walked, still there was a long line of carriages, and a large assemblage of horsemen bringing up the rear of the melancholy cortege.

The route taken by the procession was, turning to the right from St. Stephen's Church down Elizabeth-street, Eagle-street, and then through the full length of Queen-street, George-street, &c. Though packed pretty closely, it stretched well nigh a mile in length—from the Australasian Bank to the new Town Hall. In its progress we noticed the number quickly increasing; some hundred horsemen from the neighboring farms, to whom the news had been just borne by the members of their families returning from early Mass in town, joined the funeral at the cricket ground. Nothing struck us more than the order observed as the procession entered the Catholic Cemetery, and though over four thousand persons were kneeling round when Father Tissot came forward to intone the last blessing over the grave and its tenant, a pin might have been heard to drop. It appeared as if the one deep, all-absorbing feeling held paralised everyone present, from the little school girl of six to the grey-bearded old man of eighty. The prayers being said, the first shovel of clay was cast in by the officiating Priest, and the multitude dispersed in a manner which bespoke a feeling deeper than our pen would describe. In every group their was some whispered instance told of poor Father Bowe's warm-hearted and really charitable spirit while he resided in the Valley at the close of last year.

There will be many at home to whose eyes this issue of the North Australian will bring tears, for this was not Father Bowe's first mission. He was a native of the King's County in Ireland, and studied his ecclesiastical course in Paris; ordained in the year 1860 for the Diocese of Down and Connor, his first Mission was Belfast; often have we heard of his labors there from those who were the witnesses of them. But, as was remarked on Sunday at his funeral, "he worked the work of ten priests." His health rapidly gave way, and soon it became a question with the good priest, whether he should remain and die in a few weeks at home, or try to preserve himself to Christ's flock for a few years in another climate. He removed to Queensland, and reached here in the Flying Cloud about the last days of 1862. Before leaving Plymouth, and several times during the voyage, it seemed that Providence did not mean to give Queensland the benefit of his labors. But it was otherwise, and the attention of kind fellow-passengers and dear old friends brought him safely among us. Six months at Brisbane made quite a change in his appearance, and he left for Dalby, last August, seemingly a strong man. During his year there he collected a large Catholic congregation around him. Buildings were bought or erected for Church or School purposes, and the new Mission was opened with a vigor and in a spirit which showed what true Christian spirit can do when even physical strength is all but gone. He endeared himself to his flock; interest he took in them and them alone. Respected and loved in every station around Dalby, his loss will long be felt from Toowoomba and the Condamine. May heaven send us a few clergymen of his spirit and warm heart.

We are glad to hear that some of those warm friends, have been speaking of erecting a monument to mark where sleep the mortal remains of Father Bowe.

We hope to see it — though we know the monument he will prize most, is that which the good affectionate Catholics of Brisbane have erected to him in their hearts.

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 1, 1979, pp 29-30:

Bowe, William, Irish
Queensland Immigration Society Chaplain
b. in Northern Ir.; ed. ICP. Served in Belfast. Came in delicate health as chaplain to the 'Flying Cloud' in 1864. d. shortly after arrival. He was buried along with two other priests in a cemetery, now dismantled, close to the Paddington-Rosalie area.
(Footprints, Vol. 1, No. 6.)
Ref.: MDHC File at Torquay (compiled through the courtesy of Sr. Anne McLay RSM, Rosalie.

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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 William Bowe, died 2 July 1864

Born in Northern Ireland and educated at the Irish College in Paris. He came in delicate health as chaplain on the ‘Flying Cloud’ in 1864. Fr Bowe died shortly after arrival. He was buried along with two other Priests in a cemetery, now dismantled, close to the Paddington/Rosalie area in Brisbane. He is listed in Pugh’s Almanac as serving in Dalby in 1864.
(Ref. Linane B84. Pugh’s and Southerwood)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.

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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, p 3:
Fr William Bowe

Fr William Bowe was the first priest in the new diocese of Brisbane to die. He was buried in the Old Paddington cemetery, now the site of Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park).

William Bowe was born in Kings (Offaly) County, Ireland and educated at the Irish College in Paris. In 1860 he was ordained a priest for the diocese of Down and Connor. After serving two years in his native diocese he arrived in Moreton Bay, in delicate health, as a chaplain on the Flying Cloud on 15 January 1863. Upon arrival he volunteered for the Brisbane mission. He ministered in Brisbane and then in Dalby until his death in Brisbane on 2 July 1864.

The press report of his death and funeral is an example of newspaper articles of those days. [Then follows the report from the North Australian reproduced above.]

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.