George Clarke (prospector)

George Edward Clarke (1846-1895) was a prospector in Queensland, Australia. He was a member of the expedition that found gold at Charters Towers.

George E. Clarke was born near Camden, New South Wales, in May 1846.

Clarke left for the Riverina when he was 17 years old, where he was engaged in pastoral pursuits for five years. In 1868, he left for Rockhampton attracted by the opportunities of a new colony of Queensland, where he engaged in pastoral pursuits until 1871. During these three years, he took considerable interest in the copper mining in the Mackenzie district.

Upon hearing glowing reports of the newly opened gold mining district of Ravenswood, he abandoned pastoral pursuits for mining. Midyear, Clarke met Hugh Mosman (who had been engaged in pastoral pursuits on the Mackenzie River) near Broadsound. Mosman had come down through Ravenswood, and his description of the potential of the Ravenswood district intrigued Clarke, so the two agreed that they should work together and meet at Ravenswood in two months time. This arrangement was made over 400 miles away from Ravenswood. Mosman also wanted to include his friend Frazer from Rockhampton. Clarke travelled to Ravenswood, via Clermont, and met Mosman and Frazer at Mount McConnell, 60 miles south of Ravenswood. The party then went on to Ravenswood and prospected that part of the district, but without finding anything encouraging. After prospecting for some time at Ravenswood, the party went westward, prospecting the country. A little gold was obtained, but not as much as they had expected. Both sides of the Burdekin River were carefully examined to no avail.

In December 1871, the party discovered gold at the then-unnamed Charters Towers, camping on what is now known as the North Australian reef. They found payable gold in this reef. Several other reefs were also discovered: Mary, Wyndham, Moonstone, Ophir (afterwards called Contest), Rainbow, St. Patrick, and Day Dawn. The group then discovered other reefs in the area including Washington, Alexandra, and Old Warrior. After a careful surface examination, the party decided to focus on the North Australian, Ophir, and Washington reefs. In January 1872, they applied successfully to the Mining Warden at Ravenswood for three prospecting claims, thus revealing the discovery of gold in the district and triggering a gold rush. A reward of £100 for the discovery of the field was paid to the group. The area was named Charters Towers, after William Skelton Ewbank Melbourne Charters, the Mining Warden at Ravenswood, and "towers," a corruption of the West English word "tors" meaning "small hills."

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