Christopher Peters

Background

Credited with discovering gold with John Worley.

Worley Letter

The following item was published in the Argus on 8th September 1851:

"NEW GOLD FIELD. - We have received the following letter announcing the discovery of a new gold field at Western Port:

Dear Sir, - I wish you to publish these few lines in your valuable paper, that the public may know that there is gold found in these ranges, about four miles from Doctor Barker's home station, and about a mile from the Melbourne road; at the southernmost point of Mount Alexander, where three men and myself are working. I do this to prevent parties from getting us into trouble, as we have been threatened to have the constable fetched for being on the ground. If you will have the kindness to insert this in your paper, that we are prepared to pay anything that is just when the Commissioner in the name of the party comes. John Worbey [sic] Mt Alexander Ranges Sept 1st, 1851"

The writer was actually John Worley who, along with Christopher Peters and two others, was credited with the discovery of gold at Mt Alexander, by the Rewards Board in 1864.

They had first found gold at Specimen Gully, Barker's Creek, to the north of present-day Castlemaine.