Ernest Henry papers

Typescript copies of letters dating from 13 October 1869 - 28 January 1884, written by Ernest Henry to his parents, from Taroom, Warwick, Cloncurry, Normanton and Brisbane. 

Subjects include the ownership and working of mines, mineral exploration, descriptions of Aboriginal people, and the Transcontinental Railway Survey. 

The pages are numbered 179-320.

An account of exploration by Ernest Henry; including the first discovery of copper at Cloncurry; and a memoir by Ernest Henry of a mineral exploration trip. Included are accounts of Aboriginal people; the pastoral stations he visited; a journey with William Landsborough to islands in the Torres Strait; the capture of O'Dowd who had been accused of wounding an overseer; and his methods of prospecting.

Notes re 21 April to 20 May relating to the 'Account of exploration' by Ernest Henry. These pages which are numbered 152j - 156v appear to be a letter-book or journal on which part of the account of exploration may be based. The dates are 21 April - 20 May [no year]. Two miscellaneous pages are included; a fragment of a letter to his father, and a page dated the 20th.

'The true story of finding and opening up of Mount Oxide Copper Mine'. These pages describe Ernest Henry's discovery of Mount Oxide and a include a brief account of his early mineral finds.

'The Prospector of Argylla' - being an account of the life of the late E. Henry, by S.E. Pearson, Camberly, Greenmount, Queensland.

The manuscript consists of typescript copies of chapters I-VII; a letter dated 28 January 1930 to Ernest Henry's daughter from Pearson regarding the publication of the manuscript, and manuscript copies of chapters II-VII.

Diary and field notes of some exploratory journeys in the Cloncurry district by Ernest Henry, notably from Argylla to Mount Oxide, 14-26 February 1882, and return to Cloncurry, 2-26 March 1882.

Included are notes in red ink made by George Phillips, C.E., Brisbane dated 14 September 1920. The notes include dates, direction taken and mileage travelled. Also included are sketch maps of the areas travelled.

George Phillips (1843-1921) was a civil engineer and noted authority on the Gulf country, having laid out the town of Normanton and explored the country southward as far as Cloncurry. From 1893 to 1896 he represented Carpentaria in the Legislative Assembly.

Typescript obituary of Arthur Douglas Henry (1874-1954), Ernest Henry's son. Includes is biographical notes on Ernest Henry.

Biographical notes on Edward Campbell Earl (1874-1930). Earl who was born at Yacamunda Station, NSW became a prominent sugar-cane grower in the Cairns district in north Queensland.

Biographical notes on Arthur Douglas Henry (1874-1954) son of Ernest Henry, who followed mining and grazing pursuits.

Copied newspaper clippings from the Sunday Truth, dated 15 August 1965; and the Queensland Register, dated 20 February 1971, on Ernest Henry.

Copied typescript which is an account by Ernest Henry of an exploring trip resulting in the taking up of Hughendon Station. The memoir records his trip with a Mr Devlin to take up land. Included is an account of a clash with Aboriginals, and the taking up and stocking of the land.

Copy of Mr I.S. Sleep's journal recording the genesis of copper mining at Cloncurry, Queensland. 

Copy of Ernest Henry's journal with entries between 28 November 1880 - 19 March 1881; 8 September - 11 October 1881 which includes a sketch map.

Correspondence regarding the murder of Sub-Inspector Marcus Gervais De La Poer (Mark) Beresford, of the Cloncurry Native Police by Aboriginals in 1883. The death took place in the Selwyn Ranges north of Boulia whilst Beresford was on patrol, and his grave by was discovered by Constable Brennan in 1902.

Letters and notes:

• 1 February 1883
• 2 February 1883
• 1 March 1883
• 24 April 1883
• 23 April 1902

'The Kalkadoons - a brief history. Outlining tribal area, weapons, district, characteristics and contact with whites'. Compiled by S.E. Pearson and presented to the Royal Historical Society of Queensland in 1949.

Maps of pastoral holdings which include the following blocks: Graman; Gullengutta; Margaret Vale No's. 4 and 2; Morella No's. 9, 10, 3, 4 and 11; Alscade No's. 3, 2 and 1; they are housed in a pocket at the rear of Volume 2.