Carte de visite photograph of gold miners with nugget
Object No. 2001/24/3
This photo, recreating the discovery of the famous 'Welcome Stranger' gold nugget, was taken in 1869 by William Parker, a photographer from the Victorian gold-mining town of Dunolly. The nugget was discovered by prospectors, John Deason and Richard Oates, on 5 February 1869 at Moliagul, Victoria, not far from Dunolly. At 210 pounds in weight, it was then the world's largest alluvial gold nugget ever found. Located at the base of a tree with roots growing around it, some of the roots can be seen in this photograph. Shown from left to right are John Deason, his wife Catherine Deason, and his mining partner Richard Oates, who helped him dig the nugget up and take it home by horse-drawn vehicle. Debbie Rudder This photograph is an iconic image of the success that hundreds of thousands of men -- and some women -- sought on the Australian goldfields in the 1850s and 1860s. Once the discoveries of gold by John Lister and the Tom brothers in 1851 outside Bathurst were broadcast, thousands rushed to the diggings, leaving their homes, families and jobs behind in their enthusiasm. All hoped to make their fortune yet few did. Kimberley Webber Curator
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Summary
Object Statement
Photograph, carte de visite, depicting gold miners recreating the discovery of the 'Welcome Stranger' gold nugget, paper, photograph by William Parker, possibly Dunolly, Victoria, Australia, 1869
Physical Description
A carte-de-visite print which is glued to a rectangular piece of cardboard. It depicts two miners standing with picks on either side of a huge nugget. A smartly dressed woman is kneeling behind the nugget. The nugget has been coloured in gold. Written in ink under the nugget is the inscription '210 lbs'. Further details are written on the side and base of the card. Most are unreadable except 'W.Parkes Artist'. On the reverse is stamped the inscription: 'PRESENTED BY -.W. DUNCAN, 'GLENHOPE', Sth. LOCKWOOD.' Written in ink underneath is the inscription 'Apr.1921'.
DIMENSIONS
Height
104 mm
Width
67 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Photographers were common on the goldfields, ready to record success or simply produce a reminder of husbands and sons for loved ones left behind. This photograph would have been taken by a professional photographer, either with his own studio in the town or with a travelling darkroom.
HISTORY
Notes
The reverse of the photograph is stamped with the name of the donor: '-. W. Duncan, 'Glenhope', Sth. Lockwood' and the date when presumably it was donated to the Royal Australian Historical Society, April 1921.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of the Royal Australian Historical Society, 1981
Acquisition Date
8 March 2001
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
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