118 year-old letter uncovers memories and old mining routes

The echo of mining past is reflected on the future for barrister and solicitor John Crosby. Mr Crosby has found a 1906 letter describing the old copper trading route from Cloncurry to Normanton. Mr Crosby is a fourth generation North Queenslander whose heritage harks back to Yankee unionist and first mate Edward Andrew Crosby fleeing persecution on a confederate merchant ship docked in Melbourne in 1861. The western Brisbane suburb of Mount Crosby, where they interluded before following the gold rush north, was named after him, his great-grandson said. John Crosby They pre-empted the 1872 formation of Charters Towers to settle on Cape River goldfield near Pentland. The family spread around the north with eight girls and two boys to carry on the name. One was John’s grandfather, William, whose 1906 letter to a nephew was discovered with delight by him among some old family records. Like his father, William was a ‘carrier’ who among others, sold merchandise station to station. Mineral consignments were common, Mr Crosby said. “He was carrying copper from Cloncurry to Normanton for export, which is quite astounding now that copper is a very big thing, copper exploration in the Cloncurry area. “Normanton used to be a big riverport and there was a massive Burns Philp wharf on the banks of the Norman River, which I think was the destination, if not Karumba, which of course is further down the mouth of the river.” Related: Ernest Henry announcement the stuff of ‘super giants’ Mr Crosby is a keen observer of the development of the North West Minerals Province and takes comfort knowing his family contributed in some small way, particularly to mining around Cloncurry. “Well, I'm very interested. Renegade and True North Copper, various other (junior miners), the Ernest Henry project, et cetera is very active. I think building of the new (Copperstring 2.0) power line in that area to support the mining industry gives great confidence. “This is another indication of just how much interest there must be in and the prospects for copper.” “I didn't realise it until I connected that letter about carrying the copper, although I always knew about that. “That just seemed to me to support the sort of efforts that are being made. Some of them are very small companies that are trying to raise funds at the moment to support their activities out there.” Mr Crosby has contributed to developing the mining industry throughout his working life. He worked for the Mines/Justice Department in Charters Towers and Mount Isa, and then later in private practice as lawyer consulting to QN (Queensland Nickel), Freeport in Indonesia and with Shell Oil & Gas in Australia and Brunei, among others.

118 year-old letter uncovers memories and old mining routes

Industry Queensland

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