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George Barrington, in The History of New South Wales, N. Jones, London, 1803, relates the report, of late August 1788, of the discovery of the ‘first gold mine’ in Australia.
p. 67.
“One of the most artful convicts amused the settlement at Sydney Cove, with an account of a gold mine, he pretended to have discovered, and offered to conduct an officer to the spot. A boat was got ready; but, on landing at the place, he prevailed on the officer to send away the boat, and afterwards left him, and arrived at the colony, some hours before the officer saying, he sent him for a guard; but, before that gentleman returned, he escaped into the wood, and did not return till next day, when he had 50 lashes, for the imposition; however, he persisted that he had discovered a metal, of which he produced a bit. The Governor [Arthur Phillip] returned, about this time, from an excursion, and, on hearing his tale, ordered him to be again taken down the harbour; and told the man, that, if it turned out a deception, he would put him to death. This saved more trouble; for the man confessed he had he had invented the tale, to impose on the crews of the Fishbourn and Golden Grove [First Fleet supply ships], who, under the idea of having gold dust from him, would let him have clothing, &c.; and the specimens exhibited were made from part of a brass buckle and a guinea, the remains of which he produced: for this trick he had one hundred lashes, and wore a canvass frock, with an R cut and sewed on it, to render him a more conspicuous Rogue than the rest but, so ignorant were many, that they believed he had really discovered a gold mine, notwithstanding his confession, and the reward he highly deserved, justly obtained, and still publicly wore.”
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