William and Mary Bartie letters and textiles
Collection
The letters written by William Bartie to his wife describe his experiences mining: in Ournie, New South Wales; gold and tin in Tumburumba, New South Wales; tin in Koetong, Victoria; tin in Stanthorpe, Queensland, gold in the Palmer River goldfield, North Queensland; and gold in Talgai, Queensland. Other letters from family members before and after these travels are also present, including letters by his wife Mary following his mining accident in 1878 which describe the accident and part of his life there after. The collection also includes 11 items of dress worn by Mary Bartie between approximately 1880 and 1899. The items are mostly black and include 1 bonnet, 1 cape, 1 coat, 2 handbags, 1 head piece, 1 jacket, 1 scarf, 2 shawls and 1 vest.
William Bartie was born in Ratho, Scotland, to Thomas and Helen Bartie (nee Shiels). He migrated to Victoria, around 1855 where he did well on the North East Victorian goldfields around 'Woolshed' and Eldorado. He returned briefly to Scotland in 1856, returning to Victoria the following year. William married Mary Robertson in Melbourne in 1858. The couple ran the Empire Hotel in Eldorado and also had a farm. Within a few years they became insolvent and their properties were sold. William travelled north to various mineral fields eventually arriving in Stanthorpe, Queensland, before travelling to the Palmer River goldfield in 1874. He eventually settled in Stanthorpe where Mary joined him in 1875. In April 1878 he was seriously injured in a mining explosion in which he lost both hands and was left with only partial sight. Friends raised money to support the couple and fund their return to Scotland. William died in 1905 leaving Mary a childless widow.
Multiple copyright statuses.