Bill passed away peacefully on 10th April 2026 at Ellery House, Castlemaine aged 96 years.
Dearly loved husband of Marjorie.
Loving father of Anne, Adrian, Fiona and Melissa,
and father-in-law of Peter (dec), Christine, Lawrence and Damian.
Much loved grandfather of Emma (dec), Paula, Sarah, Stephanie, Louise, Jacqueline, Andrew, Isabella, Meghan, Hayley, Gabrielle and Lily.
Great-grandfather of Willow, Poppy, Ruby, Daniel, Eve, Rupert, James, William and Harvey.
Remembered for his gentle and loving nature, Bill will be deeply missed.
Rest in peace.
Funeral Mass to celebrate Bill’s life will be offered in St Mary’s Catholic Church, Hargraves Street, Castlemaine
on Monday 20th April at 11.00am.
Following this service you are warmly invited to join Bill's family for refreshments
at the Castlemaine Bowling Club in Berkeley Street.
If you wish to join us at the service via livestream,
please return to the home page of this website and click on the livestream button.
The service will be live approximately 5 - 10 minutes prior to commencing.
A private burial will be held.
20th April 2026 at 11:00 AM
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Dear Uncle Bill was the kindest and strongest man I ever knew.
I respected and admired him so very much. As a boy I have many many fond memories staying at the farm, waking up to the sound of magpies and being welcomed by Bill’s loving family. I also well remember a very memorable holiday in Manly, Sydney, with the whole family to which I was invited.
Many afternoons working in the shearing shed with him, where I learned all the intricacies of crutching and working with sheep to be rewarded by beautiful afternoon teas prepared by Bill’s mother.
Bill kindly let me drive the tractor – of course under his supervision – a big thrill for a young boy.
Adrian and I would spend many days galavanting around the farm trying our very best to not wake up Bill too early in the morning with all our carryings on.
I went away to usa for a long time but always visited Uncle Bill when I came home to Australia.
I remember Bill being totally fascinated with space shuttle launch photos I had taken- he always spent time talking to me and always made me feel positive and good.
Learning some wine secrets from him was lots of fun.
To me Uncle Bill was a monument of a man – setting a superb example for us all to follow, and I will always miss him so very much.
From Bill’s loving nephew John
Australia’s most famous poem – I always think of dear Uncle Bill – From Bill’s loving nephew John.
My Country by Dorothea Mackellar —
The love of field and coppice
Of green and shaded lanes.
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins,
Strong love of grey-blue distance
Brown streams and soft dim skies
I know but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror –
The wide brown land for me!
A stark white ring-barked forest
All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon.
Green tangle of the brushes,
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops
And ferns the warm dark soil.
Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When sick at heart, around us,
We see the cattle die –
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady, soaking rain.
Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow Gold,
For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold –
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.
An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land –
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand –
Though earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly
Sending our love to all the Byrne family.
Lots of memories of visits to the farm when I was young. Mr Byrne was a lovely gentleman and kind hearted.
He will be missed .
Derene, Ross, Alan and Angela Newton
Remembering Bill
You were such a gentleman, who had a laugh that lit up the room.
We so fondly enjoyed spending long summer days at the Sutton Grange property as young kids – swimming, yabbying and walking up Mt Alexander .
Sending our love to Marj, Anne, Adrian, Fiona, Melissa and families, as you celebrate a life well lived of your husband, father and grandfather.
The Harrington boys – Martin, Paul, Brendan, Chris, Mick and Matt.
I was born in 1947, and at my Baptism, my parents chose Bill to be my Godfather.
Doing the sums, Bill would only have been 18 years old then, and presumably knew my Dad George as the water bailiff in charge of the local water races.
Possibly also as a parishioner of St.Mary’s in Castlemaine??
During the intervening 78 years, I have caught up with Bill at various functions in Castlemaine where we would always good-humouredly refresh our ‘Godfather’ connection. Bill’s infectious smile is my strongest memory of these catch ups and his genuine enquiry about my family and my work etc was always appreciated.
Sincere condolences to Bill’s family and may you rest peacefully Godfather 🙏
Peter McManus
Deepest sympathy to Marje and Family on the sad loss of Bill.
He was an excellent member of the Sutton Grange school council and a valuable member of the local community.
Bill was an excellent husband and father, and a hard working farmer.
We enjoyed sharing stories with him regarding his relations from Pyramid Hill. He will be sadly missed.
Best wishes to Adrian, Anne, Fiona and Melissa, who I taught and were all well mannered and excellent students.
Condolences from John and Elspeth Darling
Apologies that we couldn’t make the service.
Our thoughts are with all of the Byrne family at this time.
Many fond memories from a lifetime of being neighbours.
Sincerely, Bradley, Natalie, Reagan & Eli Broad.
I’m very sorry to hear about the passing of Bill.
I know how much of a big role Bill played in my Dad’s life, especially growing up.
Thinking of you all and sending my love during this difficult time.
Stacey Norbury
My sincere sympathy to Anne, Adrian, Fiona, Melissa and families. Bill was certainly a beautiful soul and growing up, I have many fond memories of him. A humble man, hard working and loving father and husband – with a great sense of humour. Very much along the same lines as my Dad (Ken Cassidy).
Much love to you all
Helen Wilson (Cassidy)
Sincere condolences to Marjorie, Anne and extended family, including all of Bill’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bill was our mother’s first cousin and despite living most of their lives on opposite sides of the country, maintained a warm and loving relationship.
We know that he will be missed but remains in our hearts and memories forever.
Martin, Hugh, Bernard and Richard Le Tessier
Sincere condolences to Marjorie and the Byrne family.
Bill and Marjorie were great friends of the Lyons family in Castlemaine.
My dad, Pat Lyons told me that when he lost his job at the Wattle Gully goldmine, he had two babies at home and no job to support them. Bill gave my Dad two weeks work on the farm to help Mum and Dad out until he got a job, which he did!
Thank you, Bill, for being the person you were.
We had amazing chats about dogs and animals in general.
Rest in peace Bill …and Godspeed to heaven.
Michelle Lyons Miley