Who's who
Among those Australians of Northern Irish descent, certain individuals stand out. Ned Kelly and Henry Osborne have already been referred to but a few others also deserve a mention.
D'Arcy WENTWORTH, born in Portadown in 1762 was one of the earliest settlers in NSW, he rose to become Surgeon General and Colonial Treasurer before his death in 1827.
William Charles WENTWORTH, 1793-1872 (son of the above) was a statesman, and the founder of the system of colonial self-government. In 1813 he joined with Blaxland in finding the much sought passage over the Blue Mountains. The discovery released Sydney from its barrier of encircling hills, and opened the rich pastoral plains beyond to a population ready for adventure. It brought Wentworth to the notice of Macquarie as a man of exceptional ability. Wentworth set himself the task fighting for the rights the emancipists. His reward came in the granting of self-government and a new constitution in 1855. He earned the title 'The Australian Patriot' and he is honoured in the town of Wentworth, Wentworth Falls near Katoomba, and by his statue within the walls of Sydney University - of which he was founder and patron.
Alexander Hamilton HUME was born in Hillsborough, Co. Down, in 1762. Hume had his commission in a Moira regiment by 1782 and had obtained a post in the commissariat in Norfork Island five years later.
His explorer son, also named Alexander Hamilton HUME, born at Paramatta in 1797, became one of Australia's most experienced bushmen, learning to find his way without a compass. His greatest journey over-land was that of 1824 when, in company with Captain Hovell, he crossed the Murrumbidgee and struck south to find firstly, the Australian Alps and secondly, the Murray (initially called the Hume). They continued on to open up much of Victoria and the rivers, Tumut, Mitta, Mitta Ovens and Hovell, on the way. This great pioneer trek is commemorated in the Hume Highway - the 600 miles of bitumen that links two capital cities - and there is also the Hume Weir, Hume County, and the obelisk at Albury.
Other notable Ulstermen include:
Gilpin was born in 1842 in Co.Tyrone and for some years assisted his father on their farm there. In October, 1864, he set sail for Australia, settling originally in Kilmore, were he was engaged in harvesting for a month or two. From there he travelled through the northern-eastern and Beechworth districts of Victoria, crossing the Jamieson River near Wood's Point.
Early in 1867 he made his way to Bendigo, and there followed mining in all its branches. Two or three years were passed in his work, and during the latter part of them, he and a few others saved enough out of their wages to employ two men to prospect in the surrounding country. They were all well remunerated, for some valuables finds were made. Towards the end of 1870 Gilpin gave over active mining and speculated on the exchange, then known as the "Verandah". Until 1879 he continued on the exchange, and held appointments on the directorate of several mining companies. About that time he was interested in the Madame Berry mine at Creswick, and, foreseeing a great future for the Ballarat district, he settled there. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace, a Government position he filled with a good deal of credit.
Gilpin had eight children, two of whom are pictured below.
T.J Gilpin & Alex G. Gilpin
John HARRIS, 1838-1911, b. Maghera, Co. Londonderry, elected Mayor of Sydney in 1881. He was re-elected five times and pursued a reformist anti-corruption campaign.
Sir William Hill IRVINE, Premier, Attorney General and, later, Governor of Victoria.
Sir Samuel McCAUGHEY, who ensured his place in Australian history through his technical farming innovations and his philanthropy. He died in 1919, leaving nearly £2 million to various charitable causes.
Henry (nicknamed `Money') MILLER, 1809-1888, b. Co. Londonderry, financier and politician. His wills, gauges of his wealth, were probated, in New South Wales and Victoria, at £163,817 and £1,456,680 respectively.
George MOORE, Pioneer settler and judge in West Australia.
Sir Arthur PALMER, Permier of Queensland, President, Legislative Council and sometime Governor.
Sir Samuel WILSON, 1832-95, Pastoralist and philanthropist, endowed Melbourne University.
(Taken from 'Ulster personalities' PRONI ref D/2207/10)
These few examples serve to illustrate the contribution made to the development of Australia by famous men of Ulster birth. But as well as the celebrated, there are also the unsung pioneers; the ordinary men, women and children who made up the families that populated Australia ... here are just a few.
Kathleen and Violet Cochrane Annie, Maggie and Connie Cooke
Mr Garland and Adam McNeil
Rev Lansford and Miss Mitchell
Those early emigrants from Ulster, and their friends and family who followed after, helped to make Australia what it is today. And there are few Australians who cannot, somewhere in their linage, boast of an ancestor from Northern Ireland.
