Thomas Wanliss
Contents
Background
Thomas Wanliss sailed to Australia on the Castle Eden.[1] He was associated ith the Star newspaper.
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
- Ballarat 23rd Oct 1854
- To His Excellency
- Sir Charles Hotham K.C.B.
- Lieutenant Governer of the Colony of Victoria
- We the Committee for the prosecution of the inverstigation into the death of the late James Scobie, duly appointed at the public meeting held here on the 17th inst do beg to forward to Your Excellency the enclosed petition.
- Your Excellency having anticipated the object of the petition, we, desiring as much as possibly to allay the excitment at present insisting on these diggings have thought it unneccessary and impolitic to have signatures attached to the Petition.
- We beg to tender our sincere thanks to Your Excellency for the promptitude and vigour with which the case has been taken up by Your Excellency's Government, and which is rapidly restoring the confidence of the community in that due administration of the law, whih is necessary to the preservation of society.
- In any investigation which Your Excellency may be pleased to institute into the matter, may be pleased, and especially that of the Coronoer, will appear to Your Excellency in its true light.
- We beg to subscribe ourselves Your Excellency's most devoted and obedient servants.
- James Russell Thompson Chairman
- Peter Lalor Secretary
- Thomas D. Wanliss
- John Weightman Gray
- William Corkhill
- Alexr M. P. Grant
- Archibald Carmichael[2]
Post 1854 Experiences
Thomas Drummond Wanlass was a member of the Jury at the Inquest into the death of William Hardie on 04 December 1854.[3]
Post 1854 Experiences
Obituary
- Regret was expressed in Ballarat on Fri day at the announcement in "The Age" of the death in Scotland of Mr. Thomas Drummond Wanliss, a journalist, who was associated with the Ballarat press in the early gold digging days. He was an eye witness of many of the occurrences that led to the revolt at the Eureka stockade, including the burning of Bentley's Hotel on the field by the aggrieved diggers. Lady Irvine, the wife of the Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Governor, is a daughter of Mr. Wanliss.[4]
- DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENT OF BALLARAT, May 20.
- Mr J. Russell Thomson died at his residence, Ballarat West, to night, of liver complaint. He was 64 years old Mr Thomson was always greatly liked and esteemed here, his courteous bearing and his integrity commanding for him the respect of all who knew him. He will be remembered by old residents as a member of the firm of Thomson, Walsh and Moore, sharebrokers. He was in Ballarat before the Eureka Affair, and was in the police court when Bentley was charged with the murder of the digger James Scobie, and acquitted by the magistrate Mr Dewes. On that occasion Mr Thompson narrowly escaped committal for daring to urge that Bentley's was a case which should be sent to a jury; but his expression of opinion was popular. At an indignation meeting close to where Scobie was killed, 'Mr.Thomson, with Messrs T.D. Wanliss, P. Lalor, J.W. Gray, W. Corkhill, A.McP. Grant, and Archd. Carmichael were appointed to collect money to defray the cost of a further prosecution of Bentley. In the early days here Mr Thomson amassed a fortune, and has of late lived retired, He still supported mining, but latterly with little success. He has, no relatives in the colony. [5]
In the News
- EUREKA STOCKADE MEMORIAL.
- A meeting of the executive committee was held on Tuesday evening; Mr R. Lewis in the chair. Present,— Messrs Ferguson, Bechervaise, Josephs, Williams. Roff, Spain, Morrison, Hall, Dyte, and Wilson. Donations were received from the following mining companies: Royal Saxon, Maxwell’s, New, Britannia, Kong Meng, and Imperial; also; Australian Natives' Association, Ballarat, Creswick, and Stawell branches; Buninyong Miners' Association, St. John's Church Improvement Society, Tinsmiths’ Society,: Typographical Society; from Messrs Wanliss, Wilson, Serjeant, McGovern, M’Donald, Salter, Oddie, Russell, Glenn, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, Hickman, Ferguson, Hill, Fincham, and others. Poetic contributions from J. W. Mills and William Walker, of Ballarat; and William Rankin, of Craigie, were received with thanks. Seven designs for the memorial were submitted; those marked “Piper," King," and “Pioneer" were highly approved of, and ultimately the design of Mr H. A. King, of Ballarat East, was accepted. It was decided that specifications be prepared, with the view; of calling for tenders forthwith. The committee meet on the ground, in company with the Town Council on Friday, 25th-instant, for the purpose of selecting the site, as there appears a conflict of evidence as to the actual position of the Stockade.[6]
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
