Henry West

Henry West., Sun News Pictorial, 08 September 1923.

BACK IN ’53

Old Pioneer Tells of Early Victoria

CAME OUT WITH MARY ANN

Seventy years ago a youth tramped through the mud of Elizabeth-street to find his first job and his fortune. That youth, now an old, but not inactive, man, lives in North Fitzroy. and is known as Mr. Henry West, old colonist and good citizen.

From his storehouse of memories he tells tales of the Eureka Stockade, Crimean war, the great gold rushes, and the growth of Melbourne.

Mr. West was born at Worle, Somerset, and came to Australia on board the 1200-ton ship Mary Ann. Its master was Capt. Harrison, and the ship left England on November 29, ’52, arriving here, after a five months’ voyage, on April 25.

Promptly upon anchoring, ship’s crew and passengers joined the gold rush. With but 10s in his pocket, when cartage to Ballarat exceeded £100 a ton, Mr. West was of necessity stranded in deserted Melbourne. But not for long. Hardly had he turned the corner of Elizabeth and Collins streets when a road contractor, contracting near Kyneton, employed him at 12s 6d a day. Since then Mr. West said his hands have never been idle, and he is 90 years of age.

December 3. The wage was not munificent, and the H.C.L. was troublesome then as now. Cabbages sold at 7s 6d each, bread was rushed at 5s a loaf. Like others, Mr. West's Mecca was Ballarat. Though not a participant, he witnessed the storming of the stockade, and remembered the famous Peter Lawlor.

Mr. West believes that only other person of the Mary Ann's company is alive to-day — a man named Rymill, who was a baby when on the boat.

If in those days a ship's register had been kept, such well known names as Langdon, Gaunt, Clevedon, and Puddy would have stared on the log of the Mary Ann on voyage long ago in '52.

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