Redcastle - Australian Croatian Genealogical and Historical Society

Redcastle Suspected Croatian Community in Victoria Australia - 1850's

The township of Red Castle was predominantly a gold rush town in the 1850's, and many Croatians who resided in this town worked in mine claims, hotels, and shops. One particular gold discovery which was controversial, was discovered by Andrea Franatovich in1859. This particular gold discovery has subsequently been recorded as the first payable gold in the region. This discovery was made at the Balmoral diggings in Red Castle. However, Franatovich was not the only Croatian who had claims in Red Castle. Another Croatian Mate Lussich, had a mining company called Lussic and Co, which was listed on mining company register. He originally came from the island of Brac. Subsequently Lussich went on to name one of his claims as "New Dalmatian Reef Mine". Another prominent resident of Red Castle formerly from Croatia, was Antonio Geronovich who owned a hotel called "All Nations Hotel". He remained in Red Castle until his death, and was buried in the Redcastle cemetery, After his wife’s death she also was buried at the same cemetery. Geronovich's children were all girls who were educated at the Redcastle primary school. One of his daughters married and continued to reside in Red Castle, and sent some of her children to the same primary school.

Some interesting information about the RedCastle primary school is as follows:

School no.1655

In November 1873 on allotment in the township of Redcastle (Population of the district today is 3 ) was set aside for a school which was built and opened in March 1876 by head teacher Thomas Sinclair. By 1880 repairs were urgent according to Chas.E.Baud, who was the head teacher. In 1889 Elizabeth Cheyne who was the head teacher reported Redcastle as "a mining town in the last stages of decay" and later unless transferred, she would have to resign as the hot north dust laden sands were ruining her eyes. W.P. Shanklin while H.T. in 1891 - 92 thought the school could be worked half time with Greytown 1005. In 1893despite being inconvenient for the 6 students, Helen Ebleton was instructed to close the school. In the next three years attempts were made to re - open the school, one suggestion of working half time with Gobarup 2522, which was agreed to when supported by Alexandra Peacock.

In July 1896 H.T. W.A. Empey described the school as to be unfit for use and the residence had been let. In 1898 Di Russell approved Redcastle being made full time again but it was not until 1902 that this was done. The teachers during this period were Francis O'Brien and Edward Fowler followed by A.E. Dehugard who reported the residence as "filthy bug and infested" in 1909, J.Ferley applied for a wash house, and in 1911 such was progress H.M. Christophers applied for wall blackboards. The school apparently continued until the 1930's The old school was sold and became part of the residence of R.Hird in Heathcote.

Redcastle State School Circa 1900

Source McIvor a History of the Shire and the township of Heathcote, J.O. Randell -Begg Family

529 School Redcastle

In July 1861 the local board sought approval of the National board for this school of 40 children being conducted by Miss Julia Payne a young lady of excellent morals and religious character, of engaging manners and of patient preserving habits. In December, Mrs.Mann was appointed School Mistress for the whole day. However in explaining the low attendance levels, it was stated "boys will not attend as the Mistress a young person, would not command attention from our colonial boys." The parents wanted a Presbyterian school and school master. The
National board refused to endow the school, which then closed.

Education Department of Victoria - Vision and realisation Volume 2 - Files for Redcastle Primary.

Here is some further interesting information on the process of Andrea Franatovich applying to have his find in Redcastle recorded as the first of payable gold found in Redcastle. This was held as a proceedings, in front of a board, who then took into account all the information, and then declared the relevant party with the honour and payment for their discovery

Andrea Franatovich - Evidence On the Discovery of A Goldfield

Mr.Andrea Franatovich examined by the board

561 - By the Chairman "Are you a Miner?" I have been a miner for the last eight or nine years.

562 - Where have you been mining? right throughout the colony.

563 - In various places? In Various places.

564 - Do you claim to be the discoverer of a Goldfield? I do.

565 - When did you discover Redcastle? I discovered Redcastle in December 1859.

567 - December? In December 1859 I did not know what the ground might turn out, and I did not apply to the warden.

568 - Were you at that time an alluvial miner or a quartz miner? A quartz miner.

569 - It was quartz you discovered at Redacastle in December 1859? yes

570 - Was their any person their before you? yes.

571 - How do you make yourself a discoverer if their were people before you? For a payable Goldfield.

572 - If other people tell this committee that they had discovered Gold in August 1859, would it not be the case? I did not see the gold nor was I aware of it.

573 - If they tell the committee that payable gold was discovered at Redcastle in August 1859, long before you were on the ground, would it be the case? Not to my Knowledge.

574 - By Mr.Mclellan - Did you know Mr.Clarke, on the Redcastle reef?

575 - At Redcastle on any of the reefs there? I know he had a reef not payable, he was working before I came to Redacastle but 13 miles to the eastward. It was called Spring Creek, and he shifted from their to Redcastle, and had a business place there he used to keep a little bit of a store a country shanty - on the road, to make the best of his living, and when he had nothing to do he used to work prospecting.

576 - Did you ever afterwards inform the warden that you had discovered payable gold there? I did, and that is his certificate{the witness handed in the same which was read as follows}.

31/01/1860 Application made by Andrea Francktovick for increase prospecting claim on Jones Reef for self and three mates, 200 yards granted applicants brought 34 oz and amalgamated gold obtained near surface yards 200X80 signed R.W.Horne Warden.

577 - On what date did you get this 31st January 1860? Yes, when I reported it I got a copy afterwards.

590 - By Mr.Lambert - Have you any witnesses to prove that you were the first to discover a payable gold field? Yes the place was nearly nothing when I came there, Mr.Clarke had a business place, which I could prove by his accounts when I used to buy things from him.

591 - By the Chairman - The committee have evidence that the place was discovered in May 1859 and their were three quartz crushing machines? Everything arose after my discovery.

592 - No, you say you discovered Gold in December 1859 this is in May 1859? No in May there were no crushing machines, nor anything else at the place.

593 - Do you know a place called Staffordshire Flat Near Redcastle?

594 - Is that quartz or alluvial? It has been alluvial there was a little bit of a rush.

595 - Just answer the question, is it quartz or alluvial? Quartz at the present time.

596 - was Staffordshire Flat discovered before Redcatle? No not on the reef.

597 - Was it discovered as a Goldfield, do you know when it was first discovered? I do.

598 - When was it? If I do not mistake in May or June of 1859.

599 - Do you know who discovered it? No, I have been at the place and Mr.Clarke at the present place was keeping, I believe, a blacksmith shop.

600 - In may 1859? May or June.

601 - Were there a number of diggers there? About 160 digging there and nothing payable found afterwards everybody deserted it and Mr.Clarke came into the locality of Redcastle.

602 - Are you aware that there are diggings all the way from Staffordshire Flat to Redcastle, that it is all one goldfield? At present.

603 - What is the distance? 2 or 3 miles.

604 - Are you aware that there was a prospecting claim given out for Staffordshire Flat? Their might, If I go to the warden and tell him tomorrow he might give me a prospect claim, if I tell him I have found gold, at the same as for gold their never has been.

605 - By Mr.Mclellan - Do you know if Mr.Clarke ever had a prospecting claim on a reef near Redcastle? Not to my knowledge, he was working a reef.

606 - At the time you went? Yes, he had a reef, he says he could get nothing and the best of the claim that he has got is part of my own claim, my grant for 200 yards.

607 - What he has got now? Yes, and he has been paying for the last two years 6 or 7 ounces.

608 - Did he come and take it up then after you - Did he leave the claim he had and come to the one next to you?
Yes.

609 - Have you got a plan of the district? Yes {the witness produced and explained same}This we got because we had a dispute in the court of mines in November last and their {pointing to the plan} is the signature of his Honour Judge
Skinner.

610 - Was it after you took possession of this claim, that Mr.Clarke came to this one{pointing to the plan}?The very same day on the 28th December 1859.

611 - He came exactly on the same day? On the same day.

612 - Were you partners at the time? No I found a specimen the day before I told him, and the next day he asked me if I would show him where I found the specimens, and he came with me and my three mates next morning, and Mr.Clarke took that claim. I had 140 yards and Mr.Clarke said it was too much, and so we took less, and then we did not report it to the warden because we did not know that it would turn out, and we did not want to make the people rush, and we took a ton of quartz which cost us 32lb and then Mr.Clarke had abandoned his claim and when we
crushed it I told everybody who came, and then someone told Mr.Clarke to come and take up his claim and he did so.

614 - Who was the party that first had quartz crushed out of these reefs? Myself.

615 - How long after your crushing did Mr.Clarke's Crushing take place, was it a week? More than that 5 weeks at least.

616 - 5 weeks before Mr.Clarke crushed any quartz elapsed after you first crushed yours? Yes.

617 - Before Mr.Clarke took the claim by you where was he working? I do not know.

618 - Was he working on another Reef in the locality? He might of been, I'm not sure.

619 - Is their any other payable reefs near there? Now, not then.

620 - Wherever he had been working before he came here, he threw it up and came to where he is now working? Yes and is working their to this day.

621 - Have you any statement to make to the committee? Yes, I wish to state distinctly that when I opened my claim first{My present claim} Mr.Clarke moved at the same time, and then he abandoned his claim, then worked a few days then he abandoned it for a few days, then we had the first crushing and then when he was told what our claim turned out of the first crushing of quartz, he came and took possession of the same ground again, and kept it in full work to this day.

622 - By Mr.Mclellan - How long did he abandon it for after the first working, a week? More than that very near a fortnight.

623 - By Mr.Lambert - At the time of you’re first crushing at Redcatsle, how many people were at work at Staffordshire Flat? Nobody.

It seems from the evidence at this enquiry that John Clarke, who had a hotel at Seymour, did in fact find the first Gold at Redcatsle, at Staffordshire flat, 3 miles east of the later town, early in 1859. Many others came, but the whole field was unpayable until Franktovich discovered the first rich gold.

The first published reports of Redcastle goldfields did not appear until July 1860 and by September their were 280 men on what was called" {Balmoral Diggings Staffordshire Flat}. There was then a crusher and various reefs being worked Clarke was getting 3 ozs per ton and Antonio{who was without a doubt Franktovich} was getting 4ozs 7dwts per ton.

||CLICK HERE TO GO TO HEADQUARTERS||FREE ON LINE MEMBERSHIP||

||CROATIAN GENEALOGICAL CLUB,CHAT & MESSAGE BOARD||

||REDCASTLE SUSPECTED CROATIAN COMMUNITY IN VICTORIA AUSTRALIA IN THE 1850'S||

||Croatians Naturalized in Victoria Australia from 1855||

||links||main||society||CROATIAN NAMES REDCASTLE||FAMILIES||

||HRVATSKI VIJESNIK AUSTRALIA - CROATIAN HERALD AUSTRALIA WEEKLY COLUMN||

||RADISICH GENEALOGY PAGE||CROATIANS IN MARYBOROUGH VICTORIA||

In the coming weeks more information about Redcastle and other Croatians will be posted on this site. So keep watching this site for exiting Australian Croatian Genealogical and Historical Facts, Presented by ...

"The Australian Croatian Genealogical and Historical Society"

All information and/or images and graphics on this Site is protected under worldwide copyright law.
No portion of this site, may be copied and or infromation used without the prior
written consent of the Author and or the Owner Amanda L Fonti.

Ivica Fonti Is a Member of.....

All Material on this page is under