Who was Edward Hargraves?
Edward Hargraves was born at Gosport, Hampshire, England, third son of Lieutenant John Edward Hargraves and his wife Elizabeth Hargraves. He was educated at Brighton Grammar School in England and Lewes. He travelled to California during the Californian Gold Rush but his prospecting in California was not successful. On 12 February 1851 he, with John Lister, found five specks of gold in Lewis Ponds Creek. Enlisting the help of others to continue the search, he later returned to Sydney in March to interview the Colonial Secretary, and, encouraged by word from his friends at Bathurst, wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald describing the rich fields.
Hargraves was rewarded by the New South Wales Government for his find – he was paid £10,000 and was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Victorian Government paid him £5,000. He only claimed £2,381 before the funds were frozen after James Tom protested. An enquiry was held in 1853 which upheld that Hargraves was the first to discover a gold field. The goldfield was then named Ophir.
In 1856, Hargraves purchased a 2.6 km2 landing at Budgewoi on the Central Coast of New South Wales. He went on to build "Norahville" at Noraville. Wollombi Aboriginal Tribe members are known to have worked on the property. Sources state that Hargraves had "be-friended" the Aboriginal tribe members. In 1877, Hargraves was granted a pension of £250 per year by the Government of New South Wales, which he received until his death. Shortly before his death in Sydney on 29 October 1891. A second enquiry found that John Lister and James Tom had discovered the first goldfield.
Hargraves wrote a book about his discovery titled Australia and its Goldfields: a historical sketch of the Australian colonies from the earliest times to the present day with a particular account of the recent gold discoveries. The book was published in 1855.
Hargraves was rewarded by the New South Wales Government for his find – he was paid £10,000 and was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Victorian Government paid him £5,000. He only claimed £2,381 before the funds were frozen after James Tom protested. An enquiry was held in 1853 which upheld that Hargraves was the first to discover a gold field. The goldfield was then named Ophir.
In 1856, Hargraves purchased a 2.6 km2 landing at Budgewoi on the Central Coast of New South Wales. He went on to build "Norahville" at Noraville. Wollombi Aboriginal Tribe members are known to have worked on the property. Sources state that Hargraves had "be-friended" the Aboriginal tribe members. In 1877, Hargraves was granted a pension of £250 per year by the Government of New South Wales, which he received until his death. Shortly before his death in Sydney on 29 October 1891. A second enquiry found that John Lister and James Tom had discovered the first goldfield.
Hargraves wrote a book about his discovery titled Australia and its Goldfields: a historical sketch of the Australian colonies from the earliest times to the present day with a particular account of the recent gold discoveries. The book was published in 1855.