Arthur Akehurst
Contents
Background
Mentioned on Rev. T.J. Linnane's List.[1]
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
Akehurst was the only Ballarat official tried, and was acquitted on a technicality. In 1854 Akehurst was a clerk of the Ballarat Bench, and participated in the Eureka Stockade battle. Akehurst gave evidence that he had been sworn in as a special constable at Ballarat for 18 months preceding the Eureka battle. Akehurst was found guilty by a Coroner’s jury in Ballarat for killing Henry Powell. A Melbourne jury later acquitted him. Akehurst was Chairman of the Board of Health in 1887.[2]
Akehurst was a witness examined during the report of the Board appointed to enquire into circumstances connected with the riot at Ballarat, and the burning of James Bentley's Eureka Hotel. [3]
Post 1854 Experiences
Obituary
- On Friday afternoon Mr. Arthur Purssell Akehurst died suddenly at his residence, 'Kianga,' Byron-street, St. Kilda. The deceased gentleman was born in 1836, and took office under the Government in November, 1852. Shortly after wards he became clerk of petty sessions at Ballarat, where his father practised as a solicitor, and in December, 1854, he served under arms with the other officials of the 'camp' against the 'rioters' of the famous Eureka Stockade. Later on, after passing through different grades of the service, he became a police magis trate, in which capacity he was frequently called upon to undertake special work of importance, particularly in reference to the remodelling of different Government departments for economical purposes. In 1890 he was appointed secretary of the Law Department, at a salary of £1000 a year, from which office he retired some four or five years ago. Since then he had led a very retired life.[4]
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
References
- ↑ List of names of people who figured in the life of Ballarat before and during the Eureka Rebellion of 3 December 1854, unpublished.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Report of the Board appointed to Enquire into Circumstances Connected with the Late Disturbance at Ballarat, John Ferres, Government Printer, Melbourne, 21 November 1854.
- ↑ Albury Banner, 04 July 1902.
External links
biography/akehurst-arthur-purssell-12769/text23033