Two months after arriving in New South Wales, his father, Michael was accidentally killed. He settled his mother and siblings, and moved to Victoria, he returned 18 months later with ₤1000. On 31 July 1862 he married Mary Costello, only daughter of Michael Costello, a native of Company
Tipperary and his wife Mary Tully, a native of Company
His family were struggling tenant farmers from Magherareagh near Scarriff in County Clare, Ireland who moved from Ireland to New South Wales in 1853. Patrick and Mary had eight children (two of whom died in infancy), including Michael Durack. Goulburn provided insufficient outlets for Durack"s energy, land hunger and organizing powers.
Drought conditions almost killed the men, but they continued around the country pegging claims to some 17,000 square miles (44,030 km2).
The men established both Kyabra and Thylungra Station in 1868 with 100 cattle. By 1877 the Duracks had a herd of approximately 30,000 head of cattle.
The 3,000 miles (4,828 km) journey of cattle to stock Argyle Downs and Ivanhoe Station is the longest of its type ever recorded. In 1885, he retired to Brisbane.
Later that year he purchased gold-crushing machinery from Sydney and began mining on the Kimberley goldfields.
In 1889 he learned that financial disaster had overtaken his Queensland interests. He died in Fremantle on 20 January 1898. lieutenant was the subject of a television mini-series.
