FROM FOSSILBROOK 375 



Partner of R. Towns & Co. in the north) pointed out the 

 claims of a site at the mouth of Ross CREEK, and, in June of that 

 year, organised a party who made it their business to connect the 

 site with the squatting runs of the interior. (See Map O.) In 

 1865, the port of CLEVELAND BAY was proclaimed, and the town of 

 TOWNSVILLE was founded. 1 



The Brothers WILLIAM and FRANK HANN, who had settled at 

 Maryvale, on a branch of the Clarke River, a tributary of the 

 Burdekin, had the honour of being the first to take wool to the 

 new port for shipment. It may be mentioned that Townsville is 

 now a " city " of nearly 28,000 inhabitants. It is also the starting- 

 point of a RAILWAY, through the sugar lands of the Lower Burdekin 

 to the older town of Bowen, of another to the sugar lands 

 at the mouth of the Herbert River (Ingham), and of a main trunk 

 line through the Cloncurry Copper- field (480 miles) and Mount 

 Cuthbert Copper Mine (70 miles), passing through Charters 

 Towers Goldfield and the great pastoral centre of Hughenden, 

 with a branch to Ravenswood Goldfield ; and it must, at no 

 distant date, reach the Gulf of Carpentaria. 



The BROTHERS HANN early developed a passion for exploration, 

 and their friendship and business connection with Richard Daintree 

 had an influence in directing their energies. The achievement 

 of the elder brother, William, who died in the eighties, alone 

 comes within the province of this investigation, but it may be noted 

 that the younger brother, Frank, during a long and adventurous 

 life, has added greatly to our knowledge of the interior of Australia, 

 from the east coast to the west, and until quite recently was still 

 active in exploring the less known lands on the borders of Western 

 Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. 



WILLIAM HANN'S EXPEDITION was, to some extent, assisted 

 by the Government, and had for its object " ascertaining, as far 

 north as the I4th parallel of latitude, the character of the country 

 and its mineral resources, with the view to future settlement and 

 occupation." Its members were William Hann * (Leader), Norman 

 Taylor, formerly of the Geological Survey of Victoria (Geologist), 

 Thomas Tate (Botanist), 1 Frederick Warner (Surveyor), Stewart, 

 William Nation, 4 and Jerry, an aboriginal. 



1 Queensland : Its Territory, Climate and Products. By Richard Daintree, Agent- 

 General. London, N.D. (circa 1873), p. 7. 



2 Born in Wiltshire, England, 26th February, 1837. 



3 Tate (born 25th June, 1842) was one of the survivors of the wreck of the " Maria " 

 brig, bound for New Guinea with a number of gold prospectors. Having previously 

 been a medical student, he was rated on the ship's books as Acting Surgeon, and was 

 generally known as Dr. Tate. He landed at Cardwell in charge of one of the " Maria's " 

 boats in March, 1872. 



4 Nation left Maryvale station on ist September, 1873, as a volunteer member of 

 George de Lautour's party, with cattle for Port Darwin. Fifty-four miles past the 

 Nicholson River, a disagreement with de Lautour led to Nation and Leonard Elvoy 

 leaving the party. Having encountered floods and other difficulties, they were soon 

 reduced to the brink of starvation, and had killed all their horses but one for food. From 

 a camp near the Roper River, in the Northern Territory, Elvoy rode (150 miles SW.) 



