Dodd, Thomas Rylands

DODD, Thomas Rylands (1832–1896) was born in Abbeylara, Longford, Ireland, second son of Thomas Dodd and Elizabeth Rylands. He married Frances Victoria Harris in Dublin on 5 September 1859. After emigrating to Queensland, Dodd was working as a carpenter at Warwick by December 1868 when, with James Dougall (1841–1934) as Dodd & Dougall, contractors, they built Charles TIFFIN’s courthouse and RG SUTER’s school and teacher’s residence, of which the Queenslander reported: “It is constructed of hardwood studding, with pine chamfer boards; the former being placed on the outside are painted a dark brown colour, while the boards themselves are of a cream colour, the whole having a very nice effect. The roof inside is open timbered, stained and varnished; the windows also are handsomely finished in the same style. The teacher’s residence alongside, is constructed on a similar plan, with equal success. As this is the first building of the sort in this district, we think it well worth a look, as it reflects no little credit on both architect and builder”. Dodd remained at Warwick as a carpenter and joiner at least until 1874 but by February 1876 he had moved to Brisbane where he worked as a carpenter and joiner. He was employed casually by the Queensland Public Works Department from January 1877 until 1878 including as a temporary foreman of works in Maryborough; and overseeing the erection by day labour of the Telegraph Office and Courthouse at Blackall; and a Post & Telegraph office at Hawkwood. His subsequent career is not known but when his wife died in 1887, he was living at Spring Hill, Brisbane but in 1889 was not listed in the Post Office Directory. In 1893 he was admitted to the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum. He was released in 1894, re-admitted in 1896 and dying there in December.