In 1850 Patrick Michael Skehan left his native home, at Fahy Beg, Bridgetown (near to O'Briensbridge), Co Clare, Ireland and emigrated to Australia with his wife Catherine (nee Barry) and infant daughter Mary.  They arrived at Sydney Australia on the 29th. of July that year aboard the Tipoo Sahib. After working in the farming industry around Woollengong NSW. for a few years they moved to Melbourne and possibly Ballarat for some time. He eventually found work on the construction of the Hume Highway between Melbourne and Sydney.
A tent fire at Greens Pinch, just to the North of Kilmore, 35 miles North of Melbourne, left them without shelter and precious few personal belongings, the family relocated to Kilmore where they settled permanently. Succeeding generations reside there to this day.