People Australia

John O’Reilly (1862-1935) dancing teacher, Labor supporter

Birth: 1862 in Cavan, Ireland, son of Peter O’Reilly, carrier, and Catherine, née McDonagh. Marriage: 12 March 1888 at St Michael’s Anglican Church, Surry Hills, Sydney, to native-born Winifred Ward. They had five sons and five daughters. Death: 10 January 1935 at his residence in Goodwood Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW. Religion: Catholic. 

• Arrived in Australia with his parents about 1864. Was working as a coach painter in Sydney in 1888.
• About 1899 took up dancing as a profession and became a dancing teacher at ‘Holmsleigh Academy’, in Pitt Street, Sydney — “ladies, by invitation”. In 1912 he advertised that he managed “Homesleigh Assemblies “every Saturday night at Concordia Hall, Elizabeth Street, Sydney, and also conducted classes every evening at Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills.
• For years officiated as judge of the Australian and NSW dancing championships and also for Radio 2BL old-time dancing competitions. For many years he conducted dance sessions at the IOOF temple, Elizabeth Street in Sydney. “Dancing, till 11. Gloves Imperative . . . hundreds of pupils passing through his hands every Season can testify to his method of instruction in Waltz or Reverse”.
• In later years he ran the Cecil Dancing Academy, Pitt Street. Suffering from an “internal complaint” forced to give up his work, probably about 1931.
• Invited to officiate in the Melbourne Centenary celebrations in 1934, he was prevented by illness from doing so.
• All his life he had “followed Labor’s banner”. Was a member of a number of Australian Labor Party branches. His wife was “a prominent worker in the Labor movement” and their home at Surry Hills “was the meeting place for early stalwarts of that district”.
• Cause of death carcinoma of the colon.
• His son John Francis was secretary of the Hairdressers’ Union, and sometime member of the Legislative Council of NSW.

Original Publication: Biographical Register of the Australian Labour Movement 1788-1975