First priest buried in Geelong.

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Shipping Intelligence. Arrived (Hobson's Bay), The Argus, Melbourne, 25 May 1857, p 34, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161172311:

May 23.—Salem, ship, 906 tons, M. Flynn, from Liverpool 5th February, via Queenstown 3rd March. Passengers—Cabin: [...] Rev. Mr. O'Brien,[...]

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Died, Geelong Advertiser, 22 August 1859, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146564426:

At St Mary's Presbytery, Yarra-street, on the 21st instant, the Rev. Michael O'Brien, in the 31st year of his age, and the 7th of his sacred ministry. R.I.P. The requiem office and High Mass will commence at half-past 10 o'clock on to-morrow, Tuesday, immediately after which the funeral will take place.

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Deaths, The Argus, Melbourne, 23 August 1859, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5686746:

On the 21st inst., at St. Mary's, Geelong, the Rev. Michael O'Brien. After the office and high mass at half-past 10 o'clock this morning, the funeral procession will move from St. Mary's to the New Cemetery.

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Current Topics, Geelong Advertiser, 22 August 1859, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146564419:

The death of the Rev Michael O'Brien, which took place yesterday morning, has deeply affected the members of the Roman Catholic Church, and caused much regret to all who enjoyed his friendship. For more than two years he has been laboring in the mission of Geelong, where his charity and zeal, his care of the prisoners, and of the sick in the hospital, have been conspicuous. He was the founder of the Young Men's Society, and has in many other matters, shown his solicitude for the welfare of the people. He was born in Cork in the year 1828, studied for six years in the missionary College of Carlow, was ordained for the mission in India; spent the years 1853, 54, and 55, in the diocese of Hydrabad, chiefly among the natives, and acquired a knowledge of the Hindostanee and Telegoo languages. His health was injured by his devoted attention to the duties of the ministry; and he removed to this district in the hope of recruiting his strength; but the ravages of pulmonary consumption carried him off yesterday morning at half-past seven o'clock. The funeral obsequies will take place at St Mary's, on Tuesday morning at eleven o'clock, and the funeral will leave for the old cemetery at about noon.

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Current Topic, Geelong Advertiser, 24 August 1859, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146567331:

The remains of the Rev Mr O'Brien were followed to the grave yesterday by a vast concourse of people, the funeral cortege extending at one time from St. Mary's Church to the Market-square. It was preceded by a hearse containing the coffin, then two mourning coaches. To these followed the various ecclesiastics of the Church, and after them the intimate friends of the deceased gentleman. Afterwards came the pupils of St Mary's School, followed by the members of the St. Patrick's Society. The line of carriages was immense, and the concourse of people who followed their late pastor to the place of interment, showed the intensity of feeling they possessed for one who was not only considered an ornament to the church, but a man who had only to be known to be esteemed.

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Geelong, The Argus, Melbourne, 27 Aug 1859, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5687023:

There is one matter connected with the public affairs of the West which has inadvertently escaped my notice, that is, the death of the Rev. Mr. Michael O'Brien, a very popular young clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church here. Mr. O'Brien had been suffering for a length of time from pulmonary consumption, brought on by a persevering attention to his duties as a clergyman. He spent three years of his life in the diocese of Hyderabad, in India, and removed from thence to this colony in the hope of recruiting his failing strength. He was a native of Cork, having been born there in 1828, and was consequently but 31 years of age. He died on Sunday morning last, and from the esteem in which he was held by the members of his church, and from the fact of his being the first Roman Catholic clergyman who had bid adieu to the world in Geelong, his decease and funeral attracted a good deal of the public attention.

On Monday evening his remains were conveyed from the Presbytery of St. Mary's to the church, and at half-past 7 o'clock the first vespers of the dead were chaunted. Numbers of his flock kept visiting the church till after midnight. On Tuesday morning the first Mass commenced at 7 o'clock, and as one priest left the altar another supplanted him, so that there was continual service till 10 o'clock. At half-past 10 the Solemn Office and High Mass commenced. The Right Reverend Dr. Geoghegan, Bishop elect of Adelaide, being the celebrant; the Very Rev. Lawrence Shiel, of Ballaarat, deacon; and the Reverend Francis Hayden, of Melbourne, subdeacon; and the Reverend Eugene McCarthy, of Ballaarat, was master of the ceremonies. The chaunters were—the Rev. James Bernard Hayes, Dean of Geelong; and the Reverend Lorenzo Joseph O'Mara, also of Geelong. The other clergymen were—the Very Rev. Dr. Fitzpatrick, Vicar-General; the Very Rev. Dr. Barry, President of St. Patrick's College; the Rev. J. J. Bleasdale, J. Morre, and R. Brannagan, of Melbourne; the Rev. J. H. Kennedy, and Patrick Madden, of Ballaarat; the Rev. John Hayne, of Heidelberg; and the Rev. Michael Farrell, of Mount Moriac.

Numbers of the people sought in vain for admission to the church. The service ended about noon, and then the procession formed. First came three carriages containing the priests, in their surplices and caps; then the clerks of the altar, also in surplices; next the hearse, after which came the Young Men's Society (of which the deceased gentleman was the founder), the foremost of them bearing the coffin. Then came a long line of mourners in carriages, on horseback, and on foot. Crowds of people walked at either side of the solemn procession; and as it advanced through the town many of the inns and shops kept by Roman Catholics were closed. In spite of some heavy showers, the people kept together till the coffin was deposited in its last resting place.

A meeting will be held this evening for the purpose of erecting a monument to the deceased, to commemorate the esteem in which he was held.