Unsung Queensland mining hero on the Palmer River

Retired mining engineer and former mines inspector Ross Thomas nominates the latest in our series of Queensland mining legends. A group of miners, both recognised and unsung, had led the development of the state, particularly North and Far North Queensland, Mr Thomas said. What they had in common was their humility combined with a high ambition. They could live off the land, read the outcropping geology, employ processing and logistics, work with Indigenous people, negotiate with investors and had the intelligence to develop supply lines and international markets in some cases. Tommy Ah Toy. Among the Ernest Henry, John Campbell Miles, John Moffat and Julius Kruttschnitts of the industry was Chinese national Tommy Ah Toy (1855-1933). His story is one of tenacity and tragedy. Tommy was 17 years old when he left his family on the Victorian goldfields, where he worked with his parents in a market garden, and walked thousands of kilometres to the Palmer River in Far North Queensland. In 1875 he won a prospecting permit and stayed on the Palmer for 56 years, retiring to run a market garden. He suffered social injustice, racism and the challenges of living in the Australian outback all the while pioneering a new part of Australia, Mr Thomas said. “Now Tommy married an Aboriginal girl called Topsy,” Mr Thomas said. “And he had to suffer the injustice of his marriage not being recognised. "He fought the Queensland government - him and Topsy - for years to get that reversed. Still never achieved success. “He also had a child, Tommy Junior, and the young lad was picked up under what was called the Protectionist Act. “Ultimately, Tommy totally retired from a mining, went into a market garden on what was called Lone Star Creek in Far North Queensland (and) was struck by arthritis. Tommy eventually was murdered, believe it or not, poisoned by some country folk chasing herbal medicines for his arthritis. “Tommy didn't have enough money to be buried by himself, so he was thrown into a pauper's grave with two others in Cooktown. “Now, that just about epitomises the battle Tommy had from the arrival in this country as a very young lad to his death in far north Queensland.” “While the nation seems to focus on the Gina Rinehart, Robert Champion de Crespigny and the Alan Bonds, these forgotten heroes certainly don't get the recognition I believe is warranted.” To Mr Thomas, Tommy Ah Toy was a legend for having a go and surviving. Photos: Courtesy Ross Thomas

Unsung Queensland mining hero on the Palmer River

Industry Queensland

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