[Editor: This letter was published in The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, NSW), 5 May 1851. The author of this letter counters the assertion that Edward Hargraves was the discoverer of gold in Australia. Indeed, it is true that gold was previously found in Australia; however, Hargraves was the first discoverer of a payable goldfield, or at least the first to have such a find successfully publicised.]
The gold discovery.
To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald.
Gentlemen, — In this morning’s Herald I find the following statement:— “It is no longer any secret that gold has been found in the earth in several places in the western country. The fact was first established on the 12th February, 1851, by Mr. E. H. Hargraves, a resident of Brisbane Water, who returned from California a few months since. While in California, Mr. Hargraves felt persuaded that, from the similarity of the geological formation, there must be gold in several districts of this colony, and when he returned his expectations were realized.”
Here are two asseverations — one as to the date of the first discovery of gold in this colony; the other as to the method by which Mr. Hargrave is asserted to have made that discovery.
The object of this letter is to deny to Mr. Hargraves the merit of the first discovery, or that he is the first person who was led to the conclusion that the similarity of formation in California and New South Wales indicated the presence of gold.
I almost wonder how you could have forgotten the many articles connected with this very subject which you have published long ago, even, I believe, before Mr. Hargraves went to California, in which a comparison is instituted between that country and this respecting this very matter of gold-finding. The Maitland Mercury bears testimony of a distinct date to the same fact.
Now, as to the assertion that it was on the 12th February, 1851, that the said fact was established, if you will turn to your own files you will find that on 28th September, 1847 the geological formation of this colony is investigated, and mention distinctly made of the existence of gold; and the article I allude to states, that from “facts communicated” (long before) to the Geological Society, Sir R. J Murchison had already in a letter that had then been published in the Philosophical Magazine, addressed to Sir C. Lemon, his advice that “a person well acquainted with the washing of mineral sands, be sent to Australia, speculating on the probability of auriferous alluvia being abundant” and suggesting “that such will be found at the base of the western flanks of the Dividing Ranges.”
The “facts communicated” were that gold had so been found; and some of that gold is still in my possession. Mr. Hargraves has therefore, merely acted upon suggestions thrown out years ago, and he has, therefore, no claim as a “discoverer.” The discoverer is he who first proclaims a fact. The fact in question was not first proclaimed by him. If any merit exists deserving reward, why should the cultivators of the science that leads others to riches be set aside? There are numerous localities in which gold has been found in this colony; but is the Government to pay every individual who picks up a handful of it? However, to confine myself to my immediate object, I deny again that either gold was first found in alluvia in this colony in 1851, or that Mr. Hargraves is the first person who indicated its existence from geological principles.
May 3.
Source:
The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, NSW), 5 May 1851, p. 2
alluvia = plural of “alluvium”: loose or unconsolidated sediment or soil (consisting of clay, dirt, gravel, sand, silt, etc.) left behind by the movement of water (creeks, rivers, floods, streams, etc.)
See: “Alluvium”, Wikipedia
Hargraves = Edward Hargraves (1816-1891), gold-seeker, was born in Gosport (Hampshire, England) in 1816, he came to Australia in 1832, went to the Californian goldfields in 1849-1850, returned to Australia in January 1851, and died in Sydney in 1891; he was widely regarded as the first discoverer of a payable goldfield; he publicly claimed the discovery of the Ophir goldfields in 1851
See: 1) Bruce Mitchell, “Hargraves, Edward Hammond (1816–1891)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Edward Hargraves”, Wikipedia
[Editor: Changed “deny to Mr. Hargrave” to “deny to Mr. Hargraves”, “discoverer,” to “discoverer.” (replaced the comma with a full stop).]
The Editor is part correct – there had been many Gold finds in Australia before 1850, but nearly all were in Matix and was considered to hard to mine and were dismissed.
Because of his trip to California he knew of the cradle and the ability to wash larger quantities of Gold he came back knowing where to find Gold and went to Lewis Ponds creek, an area he knew well. Hargraves was not a geologist and did what others had not done and remains Australia’s Gold discover.