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James Nash Memorial Detail / March 2013
James Nash Memorial Detail / March 2013

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson / Roger Johnson

A sandstone and marble fountain commemorates James Nash, the discoverer of gold at Gympie. Around 1939, the fountain was relocated from the Town Hall to the memorial park, close to the intersection of Reef Street and River Road. At this time the drinking fountain function was lost, and the upper section with sandstone urn and finials was removed.

In 1867, James Nash discovered gold in Nash's Gully, which later became the goldfields of Gympie. By October 31 that year, an area of 25 square miles around Nashville was declared the Upper Mary River Goldfields. Official figures for 1868 show 84,792 ounces of gold was taken out. Nash is said to have earned 10,000 pounds in 12 months on the field in addition to the thousand-pound government reward for finding gold. Unfortunately, he invested in mining companies on the field and lost much of his money. In January, 1912, Mr Nash was granted a pension of 100 pounds per year after retiring as keeper of the powder magazine at Traveston south of Gympie. He died in Gympie in October, 1913.

A meeting of contributors to the James Nash Memorial Fund was held in Gympie on the 20th November 1914. It was resolved to call for plans and prices for the erection of a memorial drinking fountain of freestone or granite on the Town Hall Reserve. It was also decided to ask the public for an additional £50, so that a sufficiently suitable fountain should be obtained.
The Brisbane Courier, 23rd November 1914.

 

Location

Address:Reef Street & River Road, Memorial Park, Gympie, 4570
State:QLD
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -26.190319
Long: 152.660153
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Fountain
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Industry
Designer:A. L. Petrie
Link:http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/adbonli…

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Saturday 6th March, 1915
Front Inscription

Erected to the memory of James Nash who discovered the Gympie Goldfield 
16th October,1867.

Born at Beanacre, Wiltshire, England,  
5th September 1834.

Died at Gympie,
5th October, 1913.

Source: MA,ADB
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au
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