Bendigo Pioneers - Bendigo Historical Society Inc

Background

This large picture, a collection of some of Bendigo’s pioneers, was produced by the photographic studio of Mr. H. Hanson, of McCrae Street, Bendigo in 1894.

Combined into one photographic picture are 472 photographs of some of the early founders who shaped Bendigo during the gold rush. It measures a whopping six feet by four feet, six inches.

The production of the picture and further details of some of the men included in the picture titled, ‘Pioneers of Bendigo’ were outlined in this article , printed in the The Bendigo Independent on 23 June 1894.

Of the 472 men included in ‘Pioneers of Bendigo’, the earliest arrived in 1851 and most had arrived in the colony by 1860. The majority of the men included were pioneers from 1851 to 1856.

Research

Volunteers from Bendigo Historical Society have undertaken a project to find the obituaries of the 472 men included in the picture.

The list of transcribed names was taken from “A Photographic Record of the Pioneers of Bendigo” compiled by Rita Hull in 2012.

Some additional research has been completed where an Obituary could not be found. Several men could not be traced.

The Obituaries were mostly found in local newspapers and are reproduced as they were published at the time.

Please be aware that there are some spelling mistakes in the list of transcribed names and there may be some inaccuracies in the obituaries.

Further research may be needed to support some statements.

Acknowledgment

This impressive photographic picture represents a selective group of pioneers. Many hundreds of other pioneers during this period are not included in the picture.

There are no women, first nations people or non-european individuals included in the picture.

At the Bendigo Historical Society we recognise the need to research and acknowledge the stories of all of the people who contributed to the city we know today.

We acknowledge the information and research conducted relating to the ‘Pioneers of Bendigo’ picture respresents one version of the history of Bendigo.