George Clarke (prospector)

Midyear, Clarke met Hugh Mosman (who had been engaged in pastoral pursuits on the Mackenzie River) near Broadsound.

In December 1871, the party discovered gold at the then-unnamed Charters Towers, camping on what is now known as the North Australian reef.

Several other reefs were also discovered: Mary, Wyndham, Moonstone, Ophir (afterwards called Contest), Rainbow, St. Patrick, and Day Dawn.

After a careful surface examination, the party decided to focus on the North Australian, Ophir, and Washington reefs.

[1] Clarke remained in Charters Towers for several years after its discovery, holding considerable interests, but in the 1880s he shifted his focus to mining in the Herberton district.

About 1896, he was part of group (which included Willie Joss, the discoverer of gold at Eureka Creek) to take up the first claim on the Russell River goldfield.

This was very difficult terrain, rough and broken with almost impenetrable scrub with almost continuous rain, but Clarke persisted.

Clarke then dove off the boat to escape, but was hit over the head with a paddle and then speared through his body.