Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 2: Biographies of Priests on the Australian Scene up to 1900, 1980, pp 117-118:

Curran, Walter, Irish
His Presbytery at Warren was a Farmhouse
Walter Curran could possibly be described as both a priest and part-time farmer. He owned a farm at Warren as from 1899. The farm house known as 'Red Hill' served as Presbytery. It was a mile out of the town towards Nevertire, just off the Oxley Highway, not far from the scene of George Lambert's well known painting, 'Across the Black Soil Plains'. In recent years the title has been used in a book written by Roland Brennan, extracts of which are quoted below.

Born in 1851 (circa) Walter came from County Waterford. He was trained at Maynooth, choosing to give his services to the Australian Mission and the Bathurst Diocese. He was ordained in Kilkenny Cathedral in 1881 and arrived in Melbourne on the 'Cuzco' on 16 November. Broken Hill or Wilcannia was his first station. He is reputed to have said the first Mass at the Hill about August 1884, the venue being Finn's Hotel in Argent Street. He is also credited with the building of a church at Silverton. Directories of 1888-9 indicate that he was still in the outback, at Bourke — at this stage in the new Diocese of Wilcannia which had been excised from Bathurst in 1887. The next Directory consulted (1892) lists him at Nyngan. Apparently he opted to return to the Bathurst Diocese and we leave it to Roland Brennan (ref. above) to take up the story: "On 13 January, 1882 the land on which the R.C. buildings stand at Warren was dedicated (sic), the trustees being Fr. Quinn, and Fr. John Dunne ... Most of this block was formerly the eastern half of Lawson's stock yards in the first survey of Warren, and was part of a water reserve. Sunday, 12 March 1892 marks the opening and blessing of the Warren R.C. Church by the Bishop of Bathurst, Dr. Byrne, assisted by Fr. Seraphim McIvor CP and Fr. Curran. About 12 months previously Dr. Byrne had established a new parish which included Warren, Nevertire, Trangie, Peak Hill, and Narromine with Fr. Curran in charge. On assuming charge Fr. Curran at once proceeded to collect enough money to build. Support was willingly given by Catholics and non-Catholics alike ... The collectors, led by Mr. J.H. O'Brien of Hatton, were in the unique position of having enough money to complete the church before commencing to build. The plans were prepared by H. Murray of Dubbo and the contractor was James Frazer... The Bishop commented at the opening that he "had larger churches in his diocese, but none prettier than the one here at Warren ..." While Fr. Curran's parish extended to Peak Hill, Trangie was his headquarters. But when the southern half was formed into another parish in March 1899 he moved to Warren ..." During the many years of his residence on the Red Hill farm the parish was spared the expense of building a presbytery. After his death the present building was erected in Lawson Street.."

Nothing more is known of the character and achievements of Walter Curran. A photo of the priest whose days were spent in the far-west can be found in the 'Catholic Press' of 5 May 1921. The C.P. also records his sudden death from a heart seizure on 25 April 1921. The age was 69 and the burial took place at Trangie.
(Footprints, Vol. 3, No. 5)
Information: As quoted & Mgr. J.G. Kelly, Parkes; Sr. Margaret McKay, Braybrook