John Atherton (explorer)

John Atherton (born August 9, 1837 in Lancashire , England , † May 16, 1913 in Mareeba , Queensland , Australia ), was a landowner, sheep farmer and explorer in early Queensland.

youth

John Atherton was the second son of Edmund Atherton, a farmer, and his wife Esther, nee Ainscough. John arrived in Sydney in 1844 with his family of nine children . He grew up with Armidale in New England and took home lessons.

Next life

When John Atherton was 20 years old, he and his brother James drove a flock of sheep into the newly explored Rockhampton district . His brother settled there. John convinced his father to give up the property at Armidale and settle in this new area as well. John then led another group of 22 people northward on horses and ox carts. After a journey of six months, his father settled at Mount Hedlow and John near Bamoyea on Limestone Creek. In September 1862 John married in Rockhampton, immediately after the wedding went with his wife near Emerald and settled in an area that he called Corio.

In 1864 he and his brother built a coastal road from Broadwater to Mackay . John Atherton was the first to drive cattle to the gold fields on the Palmer River and Hodgkinson River in 1875 , and sold them for a profit. He was also active as a prospector . John then drove his herds of cattle to the Burdekin River , where he had little success. Eventually, he finally settled on the banks of the Barron River . From there he drove his herds to Cairns , from where he shipped them. Atherton discovered a tin deposit at Herberton and also copper in 1879 .

Aftermath

The Gillies Highway on the coast to Cairns, the only road over the mountains to Herberton, follows his route and numerous places are named after him. He named the Tinaroo Creek , is the founder of the town of Mareeba and the name of the Atherton Tableland and the town of Atherton go back to him.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Lucy Atherton: Atherton, John (1837–1913) on adb.anu.au, in English, accessed November 7, 2012.