Australian Dictionary of Biography entry: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/curran-john-milne-michael-3302

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 2: Biographies of Priests on the Australian Scene up to 1900, 1980, pp 115-116:

Curran, John Milne, F.G.S., Irish
Top Scientist and Geologist in N.S.W.
New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia each contributed a priest to the ranks of scientists in the last century and what mighty men they were, despite opposition on the level of church authority. Victoria had its Bleasdale (see illustration), South Australia its Julien Tenison-Woods, and New South Wales its Milne Curran. Perhaps their only rival at a later time was the wireless and X-ray experimenter, Joseph Slattery C.M. There is an excellent resume of Curran's life and activities in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, (National University Canberra), Vol. 3., by Mgr. C.J. Duffy, Sydney Archivist and leader of the Catholic Historical Society. Curran was born in 1859 at Clonmel, County Tipperary, and volunteered for service in the Bathurst Diocese. He arrived with Bishop Matthew Quinn in 1875 and has the distinction of being numbered among the first students at St. Charles' Seminary. He was ordained in 1881, having had the advantage of coming under the tutelage of Father J.T. Woods during his six year seminary career. Appointment to Dubbo from 1881-5 and to Cobar in 1885 gave him the opportunity of making geological studies, papers on which were published at intervals by Linnean Society. These are listed in detail in Mgr. Duffy's article under reference. He was allowed by his bishop to continue research on rocks, precious stones, water springs etc. and to live in Sydney in the early 1890's, accepting also a lectureship at the Sydney Technical College. While capably pursuing his teaching assignment and supplying on Sundays in the Bathurst Diocese, he continued his field work of researching, collecting, and writing. His 'Geology of Sydney and the Blue Mountains' was published in 1899 and ran to two editions. He remained on the staff of the Technical College until 1902 and was then appointed Government Geologist. Bishop Byrne was anxious to employ his literary talents and hence made him Editor of the 'Record' (a diocesan magazine that is still printed). Unfortunately the printery was destroyed by fire and the scientist lost a large part of his collection of specimens. Mgr. Duffy points out that his relations with Cardinal Moran were far from cordial. The latter suggested to Bishop Dunne, successor to Byrne in Bathurst, that the scientist should return to pastoral duties, but Dunne replied "that after so many years of scientific activity he would have difficulty in adapting himself to parish duties". Perhaps an assessment has already been made of the Curran contribution to the value of our artesian resources and mining deposits. Certainly during his lifetime the mining fraternity appreciated his advice. He died at the age of 69 on 29 June 1928 in Moore Park Road, Centennial Park, and was buried in Rookwood. Like his mentor, J.T. Woods, the priest-scientist of N.S.W. was better appreciated by the public and the scientific world than by church authorities afflicted with a myopia for the world of science. A further study of his achievements, taking Mgr. Duffy's article as a basis, is highly recommended.
(Footprints, Vol. 3, No. 4)
Information: As quoted.