James Regan

Obituary

The funeral of Mr. James Regan, one of the oldest residents of Adamstown, took place yesterday; and was largely attended, the remains being interred at Sandgate. The deceased who was 86 years of age, leaves a widow and grown up family. He arrived in Australia in the early forties; landing in Victoria, and shortly after directed his attention to gold mining, After following that occupation in different centres with varying success, he proceeded, to the Ballarat district with his mate, a Mr. Dunlop, where they struck gold, and take credit of being the first discoverers of the precious mineral in that locality. They made their fortune in Ballarat, and Mr. Regan returned to Melbourne, where he opened a large brickworks. Unfortunately he became involved in in a law suit over the sale of bricks, in which O'Farrell, who shot at the Duke of Edinburgh, was interested, and lost all his money. Shortly after he came to New South Wales, arriving in Newcastle in 1861. The late Mr. Regan took an active part in the historic Ballarat riot, and could tell some interesting stories of the early days in the goldfields of Victoria, Mr. and Mrs. Regan settled down in Adamstown about 35 years ago, and bought a block of land at the eastern end of the township, now known as Reganstown, and the street through the block is named Regan-street. Mr. Regan was well known by all the residents of the district.