Edward Hardman facts for kids

Edward Townley Hardman (born April 6, 1845 – died April 30, 1887) was an Irish geologist. He was very important in finding gold in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. His work led to a big gold rush there.

Edward Hardman's Early Life

Edward Hardman was born in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. This was on April 6, 1845. He studied mining at the Royal College of Science in Dublin. In 1870, he became a geologist. He worked for the Geological Survey of Ireland.

Journey to Western Australia

Why Hardman Went to Australia

In 1882, small amounts of gold were found. This happened in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The government of Western Australia wanted to find more. They decided to hire a temporary geologist. This person would explore the area. The British Colonial Office chose Hardman for this job. He arrived in Perth, Western Australia in March 1883.

First Expeditions in Kimberley

Hardman quickly joined an exploration trip. It was led by Alexander Forrest. This group stayed in the western part of Kimberley. They did not find any signs of gold there. The next year, he joined another trip. This one was led by Harry Johnston. This trip covered most of the Kimberley region.

Discovering Gold in Kimberley

Finding Gold Traces

During his second trip, Hardman found gold. He saw traces of it all over the east Kimberley. This was especially true near where Halls Creek is today. He wrote a report about his findings. In his report, he said he did not get much help. This was because the main focus was on surveying the land.

The Gold Rush Begins

Hardman's report made many people want to search for gold. In 1885, Charles Hall and his team found gold. They found it in a place they called Halls Creek. When people heard about this, a big gold rush started. On May 19, 1886, the area was officially called a goldfield.

Miners greatly trusted Hardman's map and report. Charles Price, who was in charge of the goldfield, said:

• "All the miners are very happy with Mr Hardman."
• "Everywhere he marked on his map where gold would be found, he was right."
• "They found only small amounts of gold anywhere else."

The Gold Reward Dispute

Back in 1872, the government of Western Australia offered a reward. It was £5000 for finding the first useful goldfield. There were certain rules to get this money. In January 1885, Harry Johnston claimed the reward. He said he found a large gold area in 1884.

When Hardman heard about Johnston's claim, he made his own. He said Johnston did not find any gold. Hardman also said Johnston often doubted that gold would be found. He even made fun of Hardman's efforts to search for gold. Hardman said it was very hard to get any help from Johnston. The government decided to wait until May 1888 to think about these claims.

Hardman's Later Life and Legacy

Return to Ireland

Hardman hoped his temporary job would become permanent. But the government did not approve the money for it. So, in 1885, he finished his contract. He went back to Ireland. There, he worked again for the Geological Survey of Ireland. In August 1886, the Western Australian government approved money. This was for a permanent Government Geologist job. Hardman applied for it.

His Final Days

In March 1887, Hardman started working in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland. He was not well, and the weather was bad. There were many snowstorms and rain. In early April, he got typhoid fever. He died a few days later in a Dublin hospital. He left behind his wife and two young children.

The Western Australian government decided to offer Hardman the permanent job. This happened just before they heard he had died. In May 1888, the government looked at the claims for the goldfield reward. They decided the Kimberley goldfield had not met all the rules. So, no reward money was paid out. However, Hardman's important work was recognized. His widow, Louisa Hardman, received a gift of £500.

Places Named After Hardman

Three places in the Kimberley region are named after Edward Hardman:

• Hardman Point
• Hardman Range
• Mount Hardman