The name Australia is said to represent Capt Lister’s admiration for Matthew Flinders, originator of the term Australia.

Farmer. Using advice of Ed. Hargraves, discovered gold at Ophir 1851 with friends James and Bill Tom using a Miner’s cradle made in living room at Springfield with Parson & Hargraves. After discovery of a heart-shaped nugget, Hargraves set off alone for Sydney claiming reward for himself, identifying Lister & Tom boys as his employees.

A NSW Parliamentary committee ruled in the boys’ favour after their deaths. The full parliament, however, voted to reject the findings of the committee.

The association with gold did not help JHAL financially — he was before the Insolvency Court on 29 December 1871.

The Perth Mint says:
In 1851, Edward Hargraves claimed the discovery of the first payable gold in Bathurst, New South Wales. Hargraves was a master of publicity and self promotion. He named the field Ophir, after the biblical source of King Solomon’s gold, secured for himself many rewards and significant government positions and subsequently became known as the first discoverer of gold in Australia. The reality was that his partners, John Lister, William and James Tom, did most of the work and made the real discovery, but the gold industry was and still is, an environment for entrepreneurs and men quick witted enough to exploit their circumstances.


— Margaret Hardwick