THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Belfast brothers make new lives for themselves in Australia

From the News Letter, February 16, 1859
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The News Letter on this day in 1859 published extracts of an article which had been published in the Bendigo Mercury in Australia about two Belfast men named Whisker who had become prominent millers in Eaglehawk Gully in the state of Victoria.

The paper was proud to boast of the Whisker brothers: “In this we have another instance of the skill and perseverance of Belfast men.”

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The News Letter also noted that the engine and machinery that the brothers were using in Australia had been “made by Messrs Rowan and Sons of York Street, and sent out direct from this town”.

Brassey Square, the civic centre of Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australlia. The complex includes the former post office on the left, the former town hall in the centre and the Mechanics Institue on the right. Behind the buildings, out of shot, is the former court house. A war memorial is in the foreground. Picture: WikimediaBrassey Square, the civic centre of Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australlia. The complex includes the former post office on the left, the former town hall in the centre and the Mechanics Institue on the right. Behind the buildings, out of shot, is the former court house. A war memorial is in the foreground. Picture: Wikimedia
Brassey Square, the civic centre of Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australlia. The complex includes the former post office on the left, the former town hall in the centre and the Mechanics Institue on the right. Behind the buildings, out of shot, is the former court house. A war memorial is in the foreground. Picture: Wikimedia

The report about the brother’s successes in Australia read as follows: “The Messrs Whisker have started their crushing batteries, which possess features of novelty, and are found very efficient. Their lifts are of wrought iron, cast into the head of stamps, and into the base of weights, of similar shape and dimensions, on top of each lift. They are lifted by cams furnished with friction rollers cleverly designed and the mode of supplying water has a merit if its own. The crushed quartz passes down stationary rifles, furnished with mercury in the usual way at each top, whence it falls into a vertical spout or funnel the lower of which is immersed, to a certain depth, in a bed of mercury contained in cylindrical vessels of iron.”

The report from Australia concluded: “Messrs Whisker’s establishment was recently visited by an eminent iron founder and machinist from Melbourne who expressed himself highly gratified with the inspection.”

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