Hargraves was an agent for the General Steam Navigation Company and also established the Fox Under The Hill Hotel.

He was unsuccessful but returned to Australia in January 1851 with knowledge of prospecting techniques and hopeful of discovering gold closer to home.

William Tom's father named the area 'Ophir', after a region in the Old Testament noted for its fine gold.

Hargraves made no mention of Lister, or the Tom brothers when making the discovery public and therefore was credited as the sole discoverer of gold.

[4] Hargraves was rewarded by the New South Wales Government for his find – he was paid £10,000 and was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands.

A year before Hargraves death in Sydney on 29 October 1891, a second enquiry found that John Lister and James Tom had discovered the first goldfield.