William Ford (prospector)

[1] William Ford and Arthur Bayley teamed up when they met on the gold fields in what is now the Coolgardie area.

After some initial disappointments, they succeeded in finding a major gold reef that became famous in the mining world.

Bayley, unlike Ford, had little chance to enjoy his new-found wealth, dying within four years of the discovery.

Circa 1903–4, Ford built a sandstone Federation house called 'Wyckliffe' in the Sydney suburb of Chatswood.

Ford lived quietly at 'Wyckliffe' until his death, which was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald; the paper described him as the discoverer of Coolgardie.