John Free

Obituary

EUREKA’S FIRST SHOT

Death of Old Colonist Who Heard It Fired

MISSED FORTUNE BY FEET

By the death at 96 May street, Fitzroy, yesterday, of Mr. John Free, a link with the early days of Victoria was broken.

Mr. Free, who had reached his ninetieth year, arrived in the colony by the ship St George, which was wrecked at the Heads many years ago.

After working for some time in Melbourne, carting firewood for bakers, at £5 a load, Mr. Free went to Ballarat and engaged in mining.

Although not among the diggers at the Eureka Stockade, he heard the first shot fired in.^[1]