Edward Hargraves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Hammond Hargraves
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Edward Hargraves in 1851
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| Born | 7 October 1816 Gosport, Hampshire, England
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| Died | 29 October 1891 (aged 75) Sydney, Australia
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| Occupation | Commissioner of Crown Lands |
| Known for | Australian gold rush |
Edward Hammond Hargraves (born October 7, 1816 – died October 29, 1891) was a gold prospector. He claimed to have found gold in Australia in 1851. This discovery helped start the exciting Australian gold rush. However, there has been some debate about who truly found the gold first.
Contents
Early Life of Edward Hargraves
Edward Hammond Hargraves was born in Gosport, Hampshire, England, on October 7, 1816. His parents were Elizabeth and John Edward Hargraves. He went to school in Brighton and Lewes.
At just 14 years old, Edward left school to work on ships. In 1832, he arrived in Sydney, Australia. After arriving, he worked on a farm near Bathurst. Later, he traveled north to the Torres Strait. There, he worked in industries that collected sea cucumbers and tortoiseshells.
In 1834, he bought some land near Wollongong. He married Elizabeth Mackay in Sydney in 1836. In 1839, they moved to East Gosford. Edward also ran a hotel called the Fox Under The Hill. In 1843, he took on another property, leaving his wife to manage the hotel.
In July 1849, Hargraves went to the United States. He hoped to find gold in the California Gold Rush. He wasn't successful there. But he learned a lot about how to find gold. He returned to Australia in January 1851, hoping to find gold closer to home.
The Big Gold Discovery
On February 12, 1851, Edward Hargraves, along with John Lister, William Tom, and James Tom, found five small pieces of gold. They found them in Lewis Ponds Creek in New South Wales, Australia.
Hargraves then went back to Sydney in March. He spoke to the Colonial Secretary about the discovery. He also wrote to The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. He described the rich gold fields. However, when he made the discovery public, Hargraves did not mention Lister or the Tom brothers. Because of this, he was given all the credit for finding the gold. He also claimed the £10,000 reward for himself. This made his team very angry.
In 1855, Hargraves wrote a book about his discovery. It was called Australia and its Goldfields.
Others Who Claimed Gold First
Many people said they found gold before Edward Hargraves. Here are some of them:
- James McBrien found gold in 1823.
- Paweł Strzelecki found gold in 1839.
- Reverend William Branwhite Clarke found gold in 1841.
- William Tipple Smith found gold in 1848.
- Enoch Rudder, who worked with Hargraves, felt very upset.
- John Lister and the Tom brothers were with Hargraves when he found gold in 1851.
After the Discovery and Later Life
The New South Wales Government rewarded Hargraves for his discovery. He was paid £10,000. He was also made Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Victorian Government also paid him £5,000.
However, he only received £2,381 before the money was stopped. This happened after John Lister complained. An investigation was held in 1853. This investigation decided that Hargraves was the first to find the goldfield. The goldfield was located at Ophir, New South Wales. It was named after Ophir, a place known for gold in the Bible.
Building Hargraves House in 1856
In 1856, Hargraves bought a large piece of land near Budgewoi. This was on the Central Coast of New South Wales. He then built a house called "Norahville," also known as Hargraves House. Members of the Wollombi Aboriginal Tribe worked on his property. Some stories say that Hargraves became friends with the Aboriginal people.
In 1877, the New South Wales Government gave Hargraves a yearly payment of £250. He received this money until he died.
John Lister and James Tom Recognized in 1890
One year before Hargraves died, a second investigation took place. This investigation found that John Lister and James Tom were the true discoverers of the first goldfield. Lister is buried in the cemetery at Millthorpe. Tom is buried at Byng. Both places are close to Ophir.
Family Life
In 1836, Hargraves married Clara Mackie in Sydney. Clara was the daughter of a Sydney merchant. They had five children together.
Death
Edward Hargraves died on October 29, 1891, in Sydney, Australia. A family story says he died after falling from a horse. But his death certificate states he died from influenza and pneumonia. He had been sick for eight days.
Even though he was famous for the gold rush, Hargraves did not die a rich man. He was buried in the Anglican part of Waverley cemetery. He left behind two sons and three daughters. His belongings were worth less than £375.
See also
In Spanish: Edward Hargraves para niños
- Australian gold rushes
- New South Wales gold rush
- Hargraves, New South Wales
- Ophir, New South Wales
- Hargraves House
