The Untold Story of the Australian Gold Rush

About the author

Geoff Hargraves

Geoffrey Raymond Hargraves discovered the family connection after doing a family history and finding a connection with Henery Hargraves, Edwards older brother, one of two who joined the East India Company. He lived and died in India as a gunner in the Madras artillery. What annoyed me was there was no biography written on Edward Hammond Hargraves, and in the books which were written there were indirect references to him and on the whole of a poor standard.

As I looked into the gold rush there was claim and counter claim, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it. There are many people who have made claims, some were possibly truelike William Smith in 1848 who claimed he did not pursue the gold as he had a stroke after his discovery. I followed the evidence and if it was bad, then so be it, but what I found was evidence that supported Edward’s case and I have come to the conclusion that justice was served with Hargraves receivingthe bulk of the reward and the Listers only receiving a small amount. In short, he deserves his place on the 1950 stamp remembering the gold rush.

All I want to achieve with this book is to clear up a lot of loose ends in the history books and false ideas. I have panned for gold in some of the places mentioned and it would have been a hard life. My hat is goes off to those pioneers who made Australia.