Moving to Sailors Gully during the Gold Rush

Family legend has it that John Bassett[Jnr] [my 2nd great granduncle] came out to Australia during the gold rush in the 1850s. After financial success, he went back to England and brought his brothers and their families to Australia.

The Context of the Early Mining Environment in Victoria

There was a lot of regulatory upheaval in the early 1850s caused at first by Victoria's separation from New South Wales, and soon after by the discovery of gold and the subsequent gold rush.

“From early 1852, news reached London of much richer Victorian gold finds at Buninyong, then Ballarat, Mount Alexander and Bendigo. These discoveries triggered a rash of nearly 40 British-based Australian gold mining companies in 1852, twelve in January alone, including the Port Phillip and Colonial Gold Mining Company”[i]

Many miners were brought out to Australia by British-based Australian gold mining companies. The miner’s contractual employment obligations included:

• working for the company for a five-year period.
• not participating in any other business or speculation during their contract.

Once the contract term was completed, many were also entitled to a return trip home to England.

The newly separated Victorian Colony government was accused of being ‘pro-digger / anti-company’ and favouring smaller mining enterprises. [ii] Although many suspected that the companies “failed at this time, as their funds were squandered through poor management or on futile ventures.” [iii] 

Consequently, many contracted miners were let go by the companies that had bought them out to Australia or did not have their contracts renewed when they expired.[iv]

Sorting the fact from fiction - The Reconstructed Story

Before arriving in Victoria, John Bassett, a miner, had been living in Horse Downs, Crowan, Cornwall, in England, with his wife Catherine(27 years) and three children Francis(7), John(4) & Catherine(2).  In the same village next door was his married sister, Anne (24), and her husband Stephen Davey (30, Miner) and their three children Jane(7), Elizabeth (5) and John(2).[v] [vi]

In March 1853 he left England on the SS Marco Polo and arrived at Hobson’s Bay on 29. He was in the employ of The Colonial Mining Company.[vii] [viii] [ix]  [x]

John Bassett and Mr Nicholls, who were both working for The Colonial Mining were “sacked” along with all the other staff, soon after arriving. They were experienced miners, so became business partners, and took out a claim on the reef for themselves. On 20 August 1856, he applied with three others for a lease of 60 yards on a reef at Surface Hill Sailors Hill.[xi] They successfully obtained 30 ounces of gold to the ton of quartz.[xii]

A travelling reporter, William Kelly published a description of his travels through Victoria in 1860. He describes his meeting with two “youthful Cornish, who came out in humble employ, on the staff of the Colonial Gold Mining company, and were sent to Sailors’ Gully … in a partial disembodying of the staff and N—c—s and B—ss—tt commenced on their own hook, making out a claim on the very reef assigned to the company”[xiii]

In 1861 John who “had been in possession of the ground for 5 years” in Sailors Gully applied for a new mining lease on the same land.[xiv]

1855 'Advertising', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 12 September, p. 3. , viewed 09 Sep 202, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88047447

John & his associates “prospered rapidly and steadily. A fine steam-mill soon supplanted the simple horse concern; substantial brick and stones houses arose on the sites of the calico tenements … [John] had come home a richer man than many in that company under whose auspices he emigrated as an articled labourer.” [xv]

Figure 2 1856 'Advertising', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 29 January, p. 3. , viewed 09 Sep 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88048716

After his success, John returned home to England on the “Montmorency” departing on 14 October 1856. [xvi] Eight months later he was on his way back to Australia aboard the “SS Royal Charter”.  He Liverpool, England on the 16^th May 1857 and arrived in Hobson’s Bay on 18 July 1857. [xvii] On board were John Bassett, 36 yrs, Miner, wife Catherine and children Francis, John, Catherine and Martha.[xviii]  Also onboard were William Bassett, 40 yrs, Miner John’s brother and Stephen Davey, his brother-in-law.[xix]  Additional extended family followed later.

After returning to Australia, John applied for several mining leases both in his own right and as a member of The Bassett Brothers joint company. The Bassett brothers included amongst their numbers John Bassett Jnr, Francis Bassett(John’s brother), William Bassett(John’s brother), James Bassett(John’s brother), Stephan Davey(John’s brother-in-law). Note that all, except his younger brother James, were aboard the Marco Polo in 1857.

It was not until new lease regulations were issued in 1859, that a lease was secured by the Bassett Brothers.[xx] Records show that the original lease application was received by the Mine’s Warden on 24 August 1854, although it is not clear why the lease was not granted or acted upon. Perhaps this was the Colonial Company's original application, which John Bassett took over when the Colonial Company failed in their bid to secure the land for mining.[xxi] 

By 1858, John and his former business associate Nicholas were operating independent Steam Mills, on the opposite side of Sailors Gully.[xxii] [xxiii]

John became ill in 1861 and passed away on 17 November 1865 from “miner’s complaint” after going bankrupt in the same year. [xxiv] [xxv]

Useful Links and Background

WikiTree profile for John Bassett (1820 - 1865) 

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Sources

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[i] Woodland, R. H., 2002, Bland and the Port Phillip and Colonial Gold Mining Company, PhD Thesis, School of Historical and European Studies, La Trobe University, (https://doi.org/10.26181/21841971.v1  : accessed 6 September 2023) page 8

[ii] Woodland, R. H., 2002, Bland and the Port Phillip and Colonial Gold Mining Company, PhD Thesis, School of Historical and European Studies, La Trobe University, (https://doi.org/10.26181/21841971.v1 : accessed 6 September 2023) page 19

[iii] Woodland, R. H., 2002, Bland and the Port Phillip and Colonial Gold Mining Company, PhD Thesis, School of Historical and European Studies, La Trobe University, (https://doi.org/10.26181/21841971.v1 : accessed 6 September 2023) page 19

[iv] Kelly, W, 1860, Life in Victoria, or, Victoria in 1853 and Victoria in 1858 : showing the march of improvement made by the colony within those periods, in town and country, cities and diggings, London : Chapman and Hall ; Melbourne : George Robertson, (https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Life_in_Victoria/N84NAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP2&printsec=frontcover : accessed 6 September 2023)

[v] 1851 England Census; John Bassett (30, Born in Breage) head of household in Crowan in Helston registration district in Cornwall; Class: HO107; Piece: 1913; Folio: 486; Page: 26; Household schedule number: 97; (Ancestry.com :accessed 9 September 2023)

[vi] 1851 England Census; Stephen (30, Born in Gwinear) head of household in Crowan in Helston registration district in Cornwall; Class: HO107; Piece: 1913; Folio: 485; Page: 25; Household schedule number: 5; (Ancestry.com :accessed 9 September 2023)

[vii] Schedule A Passenger List for “Marco Polo” signed 12 March 1853 VPRS 947/P0000, Apr - May 1853    https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3402227A-F96C-11E9-AE98-FF6251ADC8F4?image=272  accessed 6 September 2023 Images 266 to 275 [of 387]

[viii] 1853 'VESSELS AND PASSENGERS REPORTED.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 30 May, p. 4. , viewed 09 Sep 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4793045

[ix] 1853 'SHIPP[?]', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 30 May, p. 4. , viewed 09 Sep 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4793048

[x] Kelly, William, 1860, Life in Victoria, or, Victoria in 1853 and Victoria in 1858 : showing the march of improvement made by the colony within those periods, in town and country, cities and diggings, London : Chapman and Hall ; Melbourne : George Robertson, (https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Life_in_Victoria/N84NAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP2&printsec=frontcover : accessed 6 September 2023) p.199

[xi] O’Donohue, A & Hanson, B.,1995, Eaglehawk & District Pioneer Register 1850-1880 Vol A, B & C., Publisher Annette O’Donohue, Bendigo

[xii] Birrell, Ralph Winter, 2005, The Development of Mining Technology in Australia 1801 - 1945, PhD Thesis, Department of History, The University of Melbourne, University of Melbourne. (http://hdl.handle.net/11343/36521: accessed 2023) page 56

[xiii] Kelly, William, 1860, Life in Victoria, or, Victoria in 1853 and Victoria in 1858 : showing the march of improvement made by the colony within those periods, in town and country, cities and diggings, London : Chapman and Hall ; Melbourne : George Robertson, (https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Life_in_Victoria/N84NAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP2&printsec=frontcover : accessed 6 September 2023) p.199

[xiv] Bendigo Lease Register, Department of  Energy and ……. Registery of Applications, photocopy provided by Noelene  Wild

[xv] Kelly, W, 1860, Life in Victoria, or, Victoria in 1853 and Victoria in 1858 : showing the march of improvement made by the colony within those periods, in town and country, cities and diggings, London : Chapman and Hall ; Melbourne : George Robertson, (https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Life_in_Victoria/N84NAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP2&printsec=frontcover : accessed 6 September 2023) p.201

[xvi] Outward Passengers to Interstate, U.K. and Foreign Ports, Sep - Oct 1856, Passenger List “Montmorency” , bound for Liverpool, London; VPRS 948/P0001, Sep - Oct 1856, ( https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/236E662A-F7F0-11E9-AE98-71788719474E?image=237 [Images 237-240 of 271] accessed 13 September 2023) Unnumbered page [image238]; ]; [research note: this is a passenger departure list-created in Australia] Passenger entry for John  Bassett, aged 36

[xvii] 1857 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 20 July, p. 4. , viewed 19 Jul 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7135589

[xviii] Inward Overseas Passenger Lists, British and Foreign Ports, Jul - Sep 1857, May 1857 , Passenger List [Schedule B] “Royal Charter”, bound for Melbourne, Australia; VPRS 947/P0000, Jul - Sep 1857, (https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3B05F129-F96C-11E9-AE98-27F6998F8082?image=107  [images 107-115 of 342]: accessed 13 September 2023) Unnumbered page [image 113]; [research note: this is a passenger departure list-created in England] Passenger entry 256 for John  Bassett, aged 36, miner and family, Catherine(33), Francis(11), John (10), Catherine (8), Martha (6) travelling 2^nd Class

[xix] Inward Overseas Passenger Lists, British and Foreign Ports, Jul - Sep 1857, May 1857 , Passenger List [Schedule B] “Royal Charter”, bound for Melbourne, Australia; VPRS 947/P0000, Jul - Sep 1857, (https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3B05F129-F96C-11E9-AE98-27F6998F8082?image=107 [images 107-115 of 342]: accessed 13 September 2023) Unnumbered page [image 109]; [research note: this is a passenger departure list-created in England] Passenger entries 152 for William  Bassett, aged 40 & 1853 Stephen Davey, aged 36, miner, travelling 3rd class

[xx] Birrell, Ralph, Anatomy of a Failed Miner – The Colonial Gold Company 1852-1857, Journal of Australasian Mining History, Volume 9, September 2011; (BirrellFinal (mininghistory.asn.au) : accessed 6 September 2023) page 136

[xxi] Leases 102 & 103 in 1859 in the Registrar of Applications for Gold Mining Leases Unit 195 Sandhurst Bendigo, 1-200 VPRS 7842/0002

[xxii] Tulloch, Thorold (Compiler); 1859, The Bendigo district general directory : with calendar (1859), Melbourne, W. Fairfax  & Co., (FamilySearch Film # 008138964 [Images 150 - 180 of 621] ); Street Listing, Sailor’s Gully – Right Side:- Bassett, and Bros., John, crushing; & Davy, Stephen, engineer, steam crushing mills, & Left Side:- Nicholas and Co., steam crushing mills, Page 37; (Image 170: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK3-6TRJ?cat=219278  : Accessed 13 September 2023)

[xxiii] Tulloch, Thorold (Compiler); 1859, The Bendigo district general directory : with calendar (1859), Melbourne, W. Fairfax  & Co., (FamilySearch Film # 008138964 [Images 150 - 180 of 621] ); Avocation[Trade] Listing, Bassett, and Bros., John, crushing, Sailor’s Gully, Page 50; (Image 177: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK3-6TG6?i=176&cat=219278 : Accessed 10 September 2023)

[xxiv] Insolvency Proceedings for John Bassett, PROV VPRS759/P Insolvency's, Unit 91 Documents relating to John Bassett's Insolvency Proceedings

[xxv] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Death Certificate of Stephen Davey, Registration number 9587/1865