Joseph Harris

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Bendigo Goldfields Petition Cover, August 1853. State Library of Victoria (MS 12440)

Background

Arrived in Victoria in the early 50s. He reached Bendigo when the rush broke out at Epsom. He subsequently became a successful quartz reefer at Eaglehawk, holding an interest in many mine and being a mining manager of the Old Argus Company.

Goldfields Involvement, 1853-1854

Signed the 1853 Bendigo Goldfields Petition. Agitation of the Victorian goldfields started with the Forest Creek Monster Meeting in 1851, but what became known as the Red Ribbon Movement was centred around the Bendigo goldfields in 1853. The Anti-Gold License Association was formed at Bendigo in June 1853, led by George Thomson, Dr D.G. Jones and 'Captain' Edward Browne. The association focused its attention on the 30 shillings monthly licence fee miners were required to pay to the government. They drew up a petition outlining digger grievances and called for a reduced licence fee, improved law and order, the right to vote and the right to buy land. The petition was signed by diggers at Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine, McIvor (Heathcote), Mount Alexander (Harcourt) and other diggings. The 13 metre long petition was presented to Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe in Melbourne on the 01 August 1853, but their call for a reduction in monthly licence fees and land reform for diggers was rejected. The diggers dissatisfaction erupted into the Red Ribbon Rebellion where agitators wore red ribbons on their hats symbolising their defiance of the law and prohibitive licence fees.

Post 1854 Experiences

During the 60s he went to New Zealand and returned in time to participate in the mining revival of 1872-73. In 1874 he became a member of the Eaglehawk Borough Council and occupied the Mayoral Chair from 1877-78. In 1885 he went to Queensland to manage some important mining ventures. He returned in 1891 and assumed the management of the Victoria Constock Mine, St Arnaud. In 1894 his health became impaired and he returned to Bendigo taking up residence with his son-in-law Dr Quick. His death occurred in Geelong where he went to recuperate.[1]

See also

Bendigo Goldfields Petition

Ballarat Reform League Inc. Monuments Project

Further Reading

References

  1. Bendigo Advertiser, 28 July 1914

External links

https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/family-matters/collections/did-you-ancestor-sign-the-bendigo-goldfields-petition/


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Further Reading

References


External links

https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/family-matters/collections/did-you-ancestor-sign-the-bendigo-goldfields-petition/


If you can assist with information on this person, or a related image, please email eurekapedia@yahoo.com.au


To CITE this page click Cite This Page on the link to the left of this page.