George Redman

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Background

George Redman arrived at Hobson's Bay on 03 January 1853 with his two sons aged 8 and 9 years. His wife and four other children remained in Chichester, Sussex, England. [1], and first dug for gold at Dian Gully.[2]

George Redman signed a Petition of householders of Ballaarat requesting the establishment of a Municipality in 1855.[3]

He was residing at Sulky Gully in the 1880s. [4]

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

Redman was an Eyewitness to the Eureka Stockade of 03 December 1854. He aided the Military, and spoke to Robert Rede the night of 02 December 1854, the eve of the Eureka Affair. [5]

Post 1854 Experiences

Notes

In his final years George Redmond wrote his memoirs in lead pencil on A3 size paper. The following are excerpts from the journal:

I was in the Bank of N.S.Wales at 12 pm when Bentley came and made a large deposit and a lot of Plate and Jewellery. Shortly all my men had gone from the building and I went too. I saw Colonel Rede reading the Riot Act and shortly after saw all the place in flames and Bentley rode off without hat or coat toward the Camp. I soon left for the Camp - not half an hour he rode from the Camp accompanied by two troopers up Mair St and gallop around the swamp to Geelong.
3/ About 1/2 hour there were about 100 men marched on the Camp and demanded the body of Bentley, from that time for some time no work. I had a piece of ground up Webster St. I went and ploughed same and sold oats, peas and barley grown in the Ballarat. I was offered 2/6 a quart in shells. My horses up to the time of riots stood in the Camp stable. I got off Browns Merchant of Ballarat 1 ton of hay 14 - 15 the only hay on Ballaratt. Oats from 15/- to 1 pound a bushel. I had to shift them or turn them but but for there were more than 100 horses of Troop horses and about 10 old Pensioners a f.... old, there was more waste of food than would keep a regiment of Soldiers. I got 2 pigs for 14 pounds, they ran on the Camp until they were fat. I think Mr Bath will remember the affair in 54, they started a subscription for him, I did not respond, that was a loss to Government about 2000 pounds and many other similar things I have seen while living on the Camp. I have seen as many as 40 Prisoners at one time double guard old pensioners and Police for 3 or 4 hours at a time. I have seen the late Judge Trench put pens and books on the court house for Mr W. Akhurst and a dozen lawyers a day asking to help them to a job, not many Coats of or B Hats at that time. I then built for Surplis and on the ground where stands the Bank of New South in Lydiard St a building called the Arcade, similar to the Mining Exchange now. 62 ft long, 25 ft wide, 16 ft walls, a large job at that time. Five offices on each side it d... ... ... I was paid for that then I altered and made large additions to it and fitted out for a first class Hotel. Then got a Mr and Mrs Worth a teller in New South Wales Bank to manage at the rate of 12 per week.
I served from the (time the) Riot Act was read .... nights on the Camp with musket until before the Eureka. I was sent for about 11 pm by Colonel Rede; told me to cut all the tent poles down and let it lay as no mark for rebel to fire on. I severed all tent poles and pegs for the Soldiers on the hill after called Soldiers Hill, fifty posts. I went down the Camp and saw Police and Soldiers muster. No bugle call at about 2 oclock .... there was not more than about a dozen men left on camp. We kept our eye on the spot, we saw all the flashes of guns to far for report. Day dawn, we saw Troopers coming from Bakery Hill. Shortly after all Ambulance Waggons .... of the .... Then about 7, up came about 125 prisioners and the whole force, there was a bitter cold wind from the west. I had 2 poles put up to shade the poor beings some died as soon as they arrived. I then went over to Eureka and had a look. Came back and started to coffins and burying dead Soldiers and rebel in Camp Hospital, all had same care, some died 10 months after. Captain Wise of the 40 Regiment laid in the ....... at the back of the Court House. I used to go every day to see him and all was over. [6]

See also

Eyewitnesses

Robert Rede

Henry Wise

Further Reading

Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.

References

  1. Research by Donald. W. Redman accessed by Ballarat Heritage Services in May 2003.
  2. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
  3. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
  4. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
  5. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
  6. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.

External links



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