Hello,
I found your site via a Google search.
I am researching my family history and am trying to find any information about steamship companies that set up gold mines in Gympie during "the rush" of the 1870s.
Would you or any of your naval contacts know of such events?
I would appreciate any information you might be able to pass on.
Regards,
Gerard Crawford
Gerard,
I really do not have any evidence that early Australian Steamship Companies set up Gympie gold mines.
James and John Burns arrived in Brisbane in 1862, and John set up a store there, whilst James worked on a pastroral run.
In 1867, James established a store at Gympie starting a long commercial association with mining fields.
In 1872 he moved to Townsville to set up business there, in 1874 he joined with Robert Philip who had worked for shipping agents in Brisbane.
Come 1877 Burns moved to Sydney to become an importer and shipping agent, then in 1883 Burns and Philip formed Burns Philip and Company Ltd, registered in Sydney, and within a decade the company dominated trade in Northern Queensland, and thence in the Pacific and New Guinea.
They went on to run a host of ships trading in the area.
Here is some detail from Gympie that you may wish to follow up.
Sorry, I am not a great deal of help for you Gerard.
Gympie and district historical organisations/libraries/museums and internet links:
Gympie Historical & Mining Museum
215 Brisbane Rd
GYMPIE QLD The Museum houses a vast collection of documentation, artefacts and photographs from the discovery of gold in 1867 by James Nash.
Gympie Library
8-14 Mellor St
GYMPIE QLD
Phone: (07) 5481 0859
Fax: (07) 5482 1205
Email: library@cooloola.qld.gov.au
The Gympie Library is the central branch, responsible for the purchasing, processing of collections, and coordination of services for all of the Cooloola Shire Libraries. The local history collection includes:
- The Gympie Times on microfilm from 1868
- Local District and school histories
- Genealogical research materials
- Copies of over 6000 historical photographs
- Gold mining historical information
- Material on local indigenous history
Best wishes,
Mac. Gregory.
Gerard,
Two references for you.
As you can see, the Queensland Steamship Company amalgated with the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company in 1887.
No doubt that makes it tougher to find references about the original Company which only lasted in its own right for 6 years.
Queensland Steamship Company Ltd (1881 - 1887)
Related Entries
Function: Maritime Industry and Sea Transport
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
The Queensland Steamship Company Ltd was established in Brisbane in 1881. In 1887 the Company amalgamated with the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company.
Queensland Steamship Company Ltd (1881 - 1887)
Related Entries
Function: Maritime Industry and Sea Transport
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
The Queensland Steamship Company Ltd was established in Brisbane in 1881. In 1887 the Company amalgamated with the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company.
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Details
Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Related Entries for Queensland Steamship Company Ltd
Previous and Subsequent Entities
1881 - 1887 Queensland Steamship Company Ltd
1887 - 1960s Australasian United Steam Navigation Company Ltd
Journal Article
Author:Pixley, Norman StewartTitle:The history of the A.U.S.N. Co Ltd and its predecessors: the Hunter River Steam Navigation Co, the Australasian Steam Navigation Co, the Queensland Steam Ship Navigation Co.In:Journal of the Historical Society of QueenslandImprint:vol. 5, no. 2, 1954, pp. 969-1003Related Entities:Australasian Steam Navigation Co (? - 1887) | Australasian United Steam Navigation Ltd (1887 - ) | Hunter River Steam Navigation Co Ltd | Queensland Steamship Company (? - 1887) Prepared by:Bruce A. Smith
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Regards,
Mac.
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