Marriages, Launceston Examiner, 10 August 1858, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38992705:

At Circular Head, on the 4th inst., by the Rev. M. Burke, Thomas Murray, Esq., to, Mary Anne, second daughter of J. Smith. Esq.

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St. Joseph's Church, Launceston, The Courier, Hobart, 31 January 1859, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2466543:

[...] On Sunday, the 9th instant, a neat and commodious church was dedicated by his Lordship at Emu Bay, and confirmation administered the next day. On the Sunday following the Bishop officiated at Circular Head to a large congregation, where confirmation was also held. The new church lately opened by the Bishop at Emu Bay, as well as the renovated state of the church at Circular Head, are worthy memorials of the zeal and energy of the respected pastor of the district, the Rev. M. Burke.-Communicated to Examiner.

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Deaths, Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, 8 August 1868, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66461198:

At his residence, Circular Head, on Sunday, the 2nd inst., the Rev. Michael Burke, R.C.C., of disease of the heart.

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The Late Rev. M. Burke, The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, 8 August 1868, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66461195:

Our obituary records the death of one of the most zealous, benevolent, and unselfish clergymen who has ever labored in the Tasmanian bush, far from the honors and rewards which fall, frequently, to the lot of those whose services cannot be compared in value to those of the late Rev. M Burke. Arriving here about twenty years ago, he was first placed by the good Bishop Willson as Chaplain of Port Arthur, and subsequently sent to the North West Coast, where his valuable life has been shortened by the severity of the labors he cheerfully underwent in order to visit the sick and dying, and to comfort the afflicted. In the pursuance of his duty to the widely scattered flock committed to his charge, he never hesitated to risk health, life, and limb; nor were his benevolent acts confined to the members of the Catholic Church; to those of other persuasions his sympathy and aid were freely ex- tended. He was a man who "did good by stealth, and blushed to find it fame." He was "'a good and faithful servant" to his Church, and towards his fellow man — without distinction of creed — his heart overflowed with kindly feeling. Every day increased the number of his friends; and he had no enemies. Obscure and hidden as his career may have been from the world, it was one which the most brilliant minded men may envy for its peace, purity, and the certainty of its future reward.

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Death of the Rev. M. Burke, The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, 8 August 1868, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66461233:

It is with regret I have to communicate the death of the Rev. M. Burke, who died rather suddenly on Sunday (yesterday) morning. The rev. gentleman had been seriously indisposed and confined to the house for some weeks past, but was much easier and considered to be steadily improving up to Saturday. Disease of the heart was the cause of death.
August 3rd, 1868.

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The Late Rev. M. Burke, The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, 8 August 1868, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66461231:

To the Editor of the Cornwall Chronicle
Sir,— You will please and gratify many of your subscribers by publishing the following brief memoir of the late lamented Rev Michael Burke, who has only a few days back been removed by death, from the scene of his laborious and edifying life on the North West Coast. A cold and passing record of the death of so truly good a clergyman would indeed be a blot upon the gratitude of the Northern people of Tasmania—to hundreds of whom, irrespective of class or creed, the name of the good Father Burke has for years past been deeply endeared.

In the death of this zealous and good priest, the Catholic people of the North West Coast have suffered a deep affliction. The faithful Pastor, who so successfully labored amongst them for nearly twenty years, has been called to his last account. In the death of their beloved priest the Catholic poor of the district have lost a Father and a friend—and the Church a laborious and zealous priest.

The Rev Michael Burke arrived in Tasmania about twenty years back. He was for the first years of his ministry placed by the late lamented Bishop Willson over the Penal Establishment at Port Arthur. After a few years, the crying want of a resident priest for the Catholic people of the North West Coast caused the late bishop to send them a priest. Father Burke volunteered to take charge of that large district, which then included the whole Catholic population from the Mersey to Circular Head, and he was the first priest appointed to that laborious mission. To recount his successful and arduous labors amongst that remote people would indeed be almost incredible to some, but certainly amazing and edifying to all. For years before the dangerous rivers on the North Coast were bridged over and rendered passable this good priest had frequently to travel at imminent risk of his life.

Frequently, when duty called him to attend the sick and dying, has he had to dash into the foaming torrent, to swim on horseback those dangerous rivers, which so often have hurried others to a watery grave. At other limes, when unable to complete his tedious journeys by the light of day, he has spent the night with the lonely forest for his shelter, and the cold ground for his couch. As monuments of his zeal and success, two handsome churches built by his untiring efforts now stand and remind the Catholics of the Coast of the good priest, whom they have lost.

In private and social life, the good Father Burke was endeared to all who had the happiness of knowing him. In the circle of his brother priests by whom he was loved and respected, the prominent features in his character were conspicuous, and rendered him a favorite with all. Ever cheerful—buoyant and elastic in spirit—homely and warmhearted, overflowing with the racy good humor of his native land: he possessed in an eminent degree those qualities which mark the true gentleman and impress the stamp of sterling worth on their possessor.

In conclusion, I hesitate not to say that in the death of the good Father Burke, the Church has lost a good and faithful priest—and the Catholic people on the Coast the best of pastors.

May his soul now receive the reward of his edifying and well-spent life.

SACERDOS.

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 1, 1979, p 37:
Tough Pioneer in Tasmania's North-West
b. Co. Kilkenny in 1813; ed. W'ford; arr. Tas.'48; ord. June '48 in Hobart. Served as Penal Chaplain at Impression Bay. In '49 he went to Circular Head (Stanley),a remote corner in the north-west where the V.D.L Company had their central offices. Erected a church under the title of Mary,Star of the Sea, encountering difficulty in having the land owned by the Company transferred to church ownership. At length he transferred to the nearby Ross, but was able to return to Stanley in '55. Built, among other achievements, a church at Emu Bay and a school at Stanley. d. at Stanley 2.8.1868; age 55 (circa). A fellow priest, Fr. Noone, recounted: "Never shall I forget the fervour and faith with which he received the Last Sacraments".
(Footprints, Vol. 1, No. 9)
Ref.: MDHC File, Torquay per late Mgr. John Cullen, Hobart; and 'Planting a Faith' series by Fr. W.T. Southerwood, Hobart Historian.