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James Venture MulliganPrint Page Print this page

The tombstone erected by friends commemorates James Venture Mulligan who was a prospector. Mulligan's grave is at the south-east corner of the cemetery and a  bronze plaque, embedded in concrete and surrounded by white quartz pebbles, sits below the headstone.

James Venture Mulligan (13 February 1837 - 1907) was a bushman and prospector. He was born in Drumgooland, County Down, Ireland and emigrated to Australia in 1859.

Mulligan set out to find gold on the Palmer River in Far North Queensland that had been reported by William Hann. On 30 June 1873, Mulligan discovered gold on the Palmer River, and, on 24 August of that year, he reported his find at Georgetown. The Palmer area was soon overrun by more than 30,000 prospectors, and Mulligan continued to search elsewhere. In 1874 he was to discover gold at Pine Creek.

In 1875 Mulligan became frustrated that his finds were creating great wealth for others, but were barely financing his expeditions. Unable to secure his services for free, the Queensland Government paid him £500 to find further gold fields. Instead of gold, he was to discover the Barron River and find tin that year on the current site of Herberton. In 1880 he discovered silver in the Silver Valley west of Herberton.

In 1903 he purchased the Mount Molloy Hotel and died on 24 August 1907 from injuries received as he tried to stop a fight.

Location

Address:Bakers Road, Mount Molloy Cemetery , Mount Molloy, 4871
State:QLD
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -16.685833
Long: 145.325
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Grave
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Exploration
Link:http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/heritage…

Dedication

Front Inscription

          Sacred 
            To 
      The Memory Of   
JAMES VENTURE MULLIGAN
Prospector And Explorer, 
Died At Mount Molloy 
    Aged 67 years.
           R. I. P.
Erected By A Few Old Friends.

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