Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Wednesday 31 May 1882, page 9


THE FIRST NATIVE GOLD IN MEL-

BOURNE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.

Sir.—I can confirm "Garryowen's" letter in this morning's Argus, and I also well re-member the incidents so well recorded by Mrs. Brentani ; but that gold in more or less quantities was brought into Melbourne before the time Mrs. Brentani states. I had good oppor-tunities for knowing, by my frequenting a watchmaker's shop, which stood where the Commercial Bank now stands, and was kept by the late T. J. Thomas in 1843 and after-wards. Several times have I seen "bush-men" come there with samples sometimes of mica, and at other times with gold specimens, but no further interest was taken in the matter, the specimens being looked at merely as curiosities. "Old Yorky," a man well known in the early days on the Plenty, de-clared often enough that he knew where gold was to be found, and had found it, but he again was looked upon as somewhat of a visionary, but I have no doubt now that he

was perfectly true in his account.—Yours, &c

GEORGE WHARTON.

May 30.