Eugene Owen McCarthy

Eugene Owen McCarthy, known as Owen, was an early resident of the Dalby district. He came to Brisbane in 1869 with the three Davis brothers, who opened a meat preserving works on the Bremer River, near Bundamba. Upon the death of the sole partner, Owen McCarthy joined E. C. Blaxland at his boiling down and meat preserving works at Blaxland.

When Mr. Blaxland died, Mr. McCarthy took charge of the interests of Sir J. P. Bell, and managed them for 20 years, subsequently entering into business in Dalby.

In 1888, Owen McCarthy gave up management of Blaxland Station to become the owner of the Criterion Hotel in Drayton Street, having purchased the hotel from P. Ryan.

Owen McCarthy took an active role in the life of the town, and was for many years an Alderman, and Mayor of Dalby Town Council from 1889 to 1890.

After Owen McCarthy's death in 1912, the hotel was taken over by his son, Frank McCarthy, who renovated the building in 1925.