Eugene von Guerard
Contents
Background
EUGEN VON GUERARD
DIARY AND SKETCHES
1853/1854 BALLARAT[1]
The writer of the diary form which the following pages are taken, was of French extraction, and was born in Vienna in 1811, his father being Court painter to Francis the first. Having studied art in the schools of Rome and Dusseldorf, he decided in 1852 to go to Australia, and try his luck there as a landscape painter. Before leaving London he was introduced to some members of a French company, then forming, who were preparing to go the new, although already well know, gold fields of Victoria. He was persuaded to join this company, and on payment of £50 as a first instalment towards expenses of passage, purchase of implements, provisions, etc, was enrolled as a member. The company consisted of fourteen men and one woman, (Catherine, “bonne” of one of the members) who was to act as manageress and housekeeper. The members were apportioned office as director of works, treasurer, foreman, master of commissariat, doctor, etc ---many of them were exiled, or fugitives from their own country. Among them were a lawyer, a merchant, a tax-collector, a conductor of orchestra, a gendarme, a doctor, and artist, a director of the Gas company at Lyons, etc etc. the greater number were well educated men but all were emigrating with the one object of becoming rich without much trouble. The fortnight between the time of joining the company and the day of departure, was filled with the necessary preparations, and the purchase of stores, pumps, borers, tents, etc etc. All members of the company being men without means, second class berths were taken in the 1000 ton emigrant sailing ship “Windermere”, for the very moderate sum of £20 per head, inclusive of bard, from the London docks to Melbourne, sailing on August 17th. Extracts from E. de G.’s follow.
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
January 1st. 1854
Sold our gold this morning an paid off our extra mate. We have had much amusement over Catherine’s love affair. Noel, a sailor and former mate, has been courting her, much to Guillerot’s annoyance. There have been the most entertaining scenes between the three, poor C. frankly confessing that it was most distracting not knowing what to do. In the end G. has won, keeping his housekeeper, while Guibert is doing his best to comfort the inconsolable Noel.
Jan. 2nd.
The heat is intense, and bushfires very bad. All night a wide expanse of fire has been visible in the direction of Warrenheep Hill. The Leigh is entirely dried up, and only a couple of holes remain with tolerably bad water. The heat, the flies, and the smoke-laden atmosphere make existence almost intolerable.
Jan. 3rd.
Not far at the rear of G.’s tent the bush fire is raging. Many tents are being rapidly taken down, while some have already been caught by the flames. It is a grand, but terrifying spectacle, hundreds of trees with the flames rushing up their trunks, the foliage being consumed like fireworks, and the huge giants crashing to the ground on all sides, with a thundering noise, the sky red, with clouds of smoke flying upwards.
Jan. 4th.
The Guillerot menage is coming to an end. G., and Catherine with him, are preparing to return to France. For some time news has reached us here of the wonderful gold mines in Peru, and there has been quite an exodus to that part of the world, several of my old mates going to try their luck there.
Jan. 9th.
Going to Ballarat Flat today, I saw cricket being played for the first time out here. Heavy rains and thunder-storms have cooled the air, after a long spell of intense heat.
Jan. 17th.
Just a year since my arrival at Ballarat, and how changed it all is in that short time. Stretches of fine forest transformed into desolate-looking bare spaces, worked over and abandoned. In many part, where a year ago all was life and activity, there is now a scene of desolation. At the same time the population has enormously increased, and there is less and less chance of having a lucky find, as at every new place that shows any promise, swarms of diggers settled down like flies on a midden.
Post 1854 Experiences
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
References
- ↑ Microfilm Mitchell Library
