Chapter 6.1

Hugh Mosman 1843-1909

Hugh Mosman 
(c. Mosman Library)

While Hugh was raised by Archibald and Harriet Mosman, his biological mother was Harriet’s cousin Charlotte Farquharson (see Chapter 4.1). Along with his younger brother Archibald Frederick he was educated at The King’s School, Parramatta. 

As a single young man in his 20’s Hugh joined many others seeking a new life in the unsettled Queensland outback. He was attracted there by the 1860 pastoral boom but lost most of his money in the slump of 1866. At one time he may have jointly owned Tarbruck Station about 1,200km north west of Brisbane with his younger brother Adam and James Frazer.

He turned to prospecting and in December 1871 he was prospecting with others in country west of Ravensbrook about 150km south west of Townsville. His eleven-year-old Aboriginal “horse boy” Jupiter found  a stone with promising traces of gold at a place which Hugh later named “Charters Towers” after the local mining warden and the tall bluff nearby.

Most reports say that George Clarke and James Fraser were with Hugh and Jupiter when the find was made. However, in a personal letter to the Townsville Bulletin in February 1939 when he was about 78, Jupiter describes the party in his letter as “including Adam Mosman and James Fraser. George Clarke was left behind on the day of the discovery with the full camping gear near where Mount Leyshon is now so they could travel light. They left piled stones as markers and Clarke caught up with them the next day”. Adam Mosman was known to be a prospector and one of the early Chartist Towers miners.

Jupiter Mosman in middle age

The discovery started the 1872 Charters Towers gold rush which founded North Queensland’s richest goldfield. Hugh and his partners registered the first goldmine in Charters Towers. Between 1872 and 1886 Mosman floated or participated in several mining companies and he became a wealthy man. 

An underground gold mine at Charters Towers 

Whilst bathing, fishing, and having fun with friends in the Burdekin River near  Charters Towers in January 1882 Hugh was preparing a stick of dynamite to “have some fun with the fish”. He was distracted when he was about to throw the charge and the dynamite exploded prematurely shattering his left hand and forearm. The doctors had to amputate the left hand from the forearm. 

This didn’t deter him and he adjusted to life with one arm. A family friend member still has Hugh’s shotgun that was altered to allow him to shoot with one arm. 

At the beginning his arm didn’t heal properly and a doctor who was a good friend recommended that he should go to England for an operation. Always a generous man with his new wealth, it is rumoured that he travelled to England in 1883 with his mother and 20 year old youngest sister Alice (a present for her coming of age).

A house in Clarges Street, Mayfair 

In the style appropriate for a newly rich gold miner they rented a house in Clarges Street in Mayfair one of the best parts of London. Apparently the operation must have been successful. But it wasn’t a happy time as his mother died in August 1863 and following her wishes Hugh and Alice took her remains back with them to Australia for burial with her husband at St Jude, Randwick.

Hugh remained an important citizen of Charters Towers and the main street was named Mosman Street in his honour. Eventually he moved to Brisbane to be close to his sisters who had both married senior politicians who each became Premier of Queensland.

At that time Hugh didn’t forget Jupiter. He took him to Sydney where he was baptised  as John Julius Jupiter Mosman and enrolled him in a couple of good schools. Jupiter excelled in sport and at horse riding. While Jupiter went back north to work on cattle stations he was reported to be a regular visitor to Hugh when he had moved to Brisbane. 

Hugh Mosman MLC

Although Hugh was politically well connected, he kept out of politics until 1891 when he accepted nomination to the Legislative Council. “His speeches were few and unremarkable.” He resigned in January 1905.

For no known reason, Jupiter’s visits stopped at around the time Hugh entered politics.

Family history tells that Hugh was generous with his wealth to any family member who needed help. One family member recalls that Hugh would provide financial assistance in gold nuggets, and believed that some gold still remained in her dressing table drawer.

Hugh’s greatest enthusiasm was the turf and his highlight was the winning the Queensland Turf Club Derby in 1902. Hugh owned a large racing horse farm in South Auckland, New Zealand. His land covered a large part of the suburbs of South Auckland today.

After a long illness he died  at Easton Gray, Toowong on 15 November 1909. His horses were scratched from races on the day of his death.

Unmarried, he left no acknowledged offspring although family rumour suggests there may have been some. His estate was more than £70,000 divided according to his wishes amongst his several relations.

Jupiter was noticeably absent from the will. There may have been a legal reason at that time preventing endowments to Aboriginals or they had just parted company. We will probably never know why. This is one of the many things that a genealogist has to accept.

Hugh’s will had complex residual funds held long term in trust. In 1968 some family members challenged the legitimacy of residual legacies being made to the part Aboriginal descendants of Archibald Frederick Mosman. The Supreme Court decided in their favour.

Next Chapter - 6.2 Jupiter Mosman 1861-1845