John Huxham Blatchford (1828-1894) was one of the pioneers of Araluen. A prominent business man and resident for 40 years, John opened a store at Crown Flat in the 1860s before moving to Redbank in 1864. 1Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 – 1940), Saturday 28 April 1894, page 6 For many years he was a key merchant and employer, who established a vineyard and orchards, while investing in the gold mining industry. John H. Blatchford is believed to be the only Araluen gold buyer who had his own private escort.
John was the son of Robert Blatchford (1792-1882) and Ann Huxham (1795-1876), who had four children following their marriage in 1821, in Wembury, England–Robert Huxham (1821-1874), Elizabeth (1825-1897), John Huxham (1828-1894) and James (1834-1892). Robert H. Blatchford, a storekeeper, and James Blatchford, a bootmaker, both resided in Goulburn.
John arrived in Australia on the ship Maidstone, in November 1853, giving his brother Robert, in Goulburn as his contact, and originally settling in Majors Creek. He2Findagrave.com https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/174290903/john-huxham-blatchford. married Thirza Pierce Honey (1831-1905)3Findagrave.com https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/174290905/thirza-pearce-blatchford and Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Wednesday 28 June 1905, p 2. at the Wesleyan Chapel, York St, Sydney on 4 June 1859.4Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Saturday 11 June 1859, p 1.
John and Thirza had seven children–Helena (1861-14 August 1926, married Frank Edmond Mackenzie in 1883),5Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Saturday 27 October 1883, p 1. Vivian (1863-13 October 1919), Annie Thirza (1865-1934, married William H. Kelynack in 1890, in Braidwood), Maud (1867-1868) (twin),6Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Tuesday, 31 March 1868, p 1. Alice (1867-1961 ) (twin), Thirza (1869-1869)7Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Wednesday, 25 August 1869, p 1. and Torrington (1871-1938).
Torrington Blatchford’s death notice was published in the West Australian8West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879-1954), Monday, 30 May 1938, p 1. stating ‘BLATCHFORD (Torrington), formerly Government Geologist, at Roebourne, [Western Australia] died suddenly, beloved husband of Annie Harriet, and father of John (deceased), Colin, Alan and Bob; aged 67 years.’ ‘He went to Western Australia in 1897 and joined the Mines Department as senior assistant geologist… he re-joined the Department in 1911 or 1912 and … in 1928 Mr. Blatchford became Government Geologist and in 1931 he accompanied an expedition to Central Australia “in search of Lasseter’s reef”.’9Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday, 24 June 1938, p 1 DEATH OF BRAIDWOOD IDENTITY.
Historical maps10NSW Land Registry Service, Parish and Historical Maps. Historical Land Records Viewer https://www.nswlrs.com.au/Parish-and-Historical-Maps. Accessed 5 January 2024. suggest the land purchased at Crown Flat, Newtown and Bells Creek, by John Huxham Blatchford, was as shown on the maps below.
In 1859 the Empire11Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Tuesday, 6 September 1859, p 3. reported ‘Mr. Blatchford, of the Major’s Creek, has erected a substantial and neatly built store near the Rose and Crown, [Crown Flat] the best building on the diggings without a doubt. Mr. Hendricks also is erecting a large store nearly opposite, which is to be called the Araluen store of York-street.’ His ‘store at Crown Flat, Araluen, which was for years a great success, the gold buying business being a very large one. In 1864 he re-moved with his family to the extensive premises he had erected at Redbank and for some years held the premier position as a merchant and employer, and was also greatly interested in the gold mining industry; he was the only gold buyer who had his own private escort’.12Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW: 1881-1940), Saturday, 28 April 1894, p 6 Sudden Death of an Old Braidwood Resident.
John’s gold mining operations were impacted by many floods. In 1864 the Empire reported13Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Saturday, 25 June 1864, p 5 THE FLOODS IN THE BRAIDWOOD ‘The Araluen is one mass of confusion. All the claims on the plains are flooded in, and some of the larger claims elsewhere have been frightfully inundated. Mr. Blatchford’s engine house and steam engine have been literally washed from their foundations, and precipitated into the claim.’ In reporting on the 1867 floods, the Goulburn Herald14Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864-1881), Wednesday, 3 April 1867, p 4 THE FLOOD AT ARALUEN (from the Braidwood Dispatch of Saturday) noted ‘The valley of Araluen has been visited with one of those floods which prove so disastrous to its mining operations, and with which it is, for its prosperity, too often visited with. Twenty-four hours’ rain, which elsewhere would prove a blessing, is ruinous to the valley… It has affected the Valley from Upper Araluen to Mudmelong, companies, large claim owners, small claim owners, and those obtaining a livelihood by working old ground, driving and fossicking, have all suffered alike… Blatchford’s claim secure, and the works will not be stopped… Blatchford’s engine at Crown Flat secure’. In 1870 the Empire15Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Wednesday, 30 March 1870, p 4 THE FLOODS. BRAIDWOOD described ‘At Araluen it rained in torrents all day on Monday week, most of the men in the claims making preparations to save working implements, and trying to divert the rushing streams. The following claims are filled at Upper Araluen:-Try Again; Rising Sun, Blatchford’s on the plains, … lt appears there are five engines buried, [including] Blatchford’s, Try Again, Rising Sun, and Dransfield’s.’
In 1859 the Empire16Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Tuesday, 2 August 1859, p 2 ESCORT FROM THE DIGGINGS reported ‘The danger of carrying gold from the diggings has been felt for some time, as the buyers proceeding separately with large amounts of gold in their possession, offered, great facilities for un-principled parties to rob them, exposing them to the loss of life and property … An agitation was commenced with a view to remedying this state of things some time back, and we are happy to learn it has at last succeeded, owing in a great measure to the exertions of Mr. Blatchford, of Major’s Creek, whose exertions are worthy of the thanks of the mining community. The first escort will start on Monday next, when the troopers from the Araluen will proceed in company with the Araluen gold buyers to Major’s Creek, timing their proceeding in such a manner as to arrive at that place by 10 a.m. The troopers of that place will then take up the duty and proceed to “Braidwood, returning from thence so that they will arrive at Major’s Creek by 5 p.m”.’
The Sydney Morning Herald17Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Tuesday, 21 March 1865, p 9. in March 1865 records the attempted robbery of the Gold escort ‘on the road between Araluen and Braidwood [Majors Creek], which occurred on the morning of the 13th instant [March 1865] … The Araluen escort left Redbank, as usual, between, eight and nine o’clock on that morning; … driven by Mr. Blatchford … The conveyance was accompanied by Constable Burns, [Daniel Byrne] who preceded the cart some distance, Constable Kelly [John Kelly] alongside the cart, Stapleton and another Constable [MacEllicott] … a short distance in the rear… The escort proceeded, as usual, along the track leading to the Major’s Creek Mountain road… within half-a-mile of the top of the mountain and not many yards from where it was attempted to stick up the escort two years and a half ago, Kelly was observed to suddenly raise both arms, and immediately fall from his horse… instantaneously with this the report of a gun was heard, …four men, described as [Ben] Hall, Gilbert, Dunn, and the fourth… Mr. Blatchford then ran down the mountain to Norman’s public-house, [Mountain Inn] and getting a horse, rode to the police camp, and reported the circumstance, and afterwards to Redbank, and sent the telegram to the police authorities at Braidwood … the bushrangers retreated up the range, mounted their horses, and were making off.’
In 1868 the Albury Banner18Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW : 1860-1938), Saturday, 1 August 1868, p 4 THE CULTIVATION OF THE VINE IN ARALUEN reported ‘Mr. Blatchford is about to go extensively into the cultivation of the vine, and thus lead the way in the establishment of another industry, for which the climate and soil of the valley has been found to be wonderfully well adapted. He has for some time past paid great attention to this pursuit. During his recent visit to Victoria, he passed through the “celebrated vine district, Albury, with the view of obtaining a proper insight into all matters relating to the growth and cultivation of the vine. He is now therefore about to put his experience into practice in Araluen, and intends to plant about 4,000 vines this year”.’ In 1874 the Bega Gazette19Bega Gazette and Eden District or Southern Coast Advertiser (NSW : 1865-1899), Thursday, 15 January 1874, p 2. advised that ‘Mr. Blatchford’s vineyard at Crown Flat, Araluen, is for sale. 18 1/2 acres estimated to produce £400 worth of grapes.’
John H. Blatchford moved to his mountain home, ‘Tor Cottage’ at Bell’s Creek, in 1870, located at ‘the steepest part of the mountain, where … he, though not a miner himself, could watch through powerful glasses the progress of the work on his claims below’20Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday, 17 December 1926, p 1 and Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Wednesday, 28 June 1905, p 2.
In 1894 the Goulburn Evening Penny Post21Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881-1940), Saturday, 28 April 1894, p 6. Sudden Death of an Old Braidwood Resident. described ‘Up till seven or eight years since he [John H. Blatchford] carried on a large claim at the foot of Dirty Butter Creek, where he had some 40 or 50 men at work, pumping the ground with a large engine, and keeping the place going when mining operations had almost ceased, after the disastrous losses by the series of floods which devastated the valley from time to time up to 1880.’ The Braidwood Dispatch22Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Wednesday, 28 June 1905, p 2. noted in 1905 that J.H. Blatchford ‘introduced the most up-to-date labor saving appliances, and for years prior to his death was the largest employer there, and almost kept the Valley going’. John H. Blatchford ‘owned a rich claim in the Golden Valley, and built himself a fine mansion right on top of the mountain overlooking Araluen. In the olden days this old-world home, with its drive from the road round the hill side to the house, bordered by majestic English elms, and its fine orchard and surroundings, perched far out on a jutting spur of the mountain, must have been one of the beauty spots of the State. This home was called “Tor”, after the son’.23Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday, 24 June 1938, p 1.
In January 1916 the Braidwood Dispatch24Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday, 7 January 1916, p 5. reported ‘On New Year’s Eve [1915] a fire occurred, which resulted in the removal of an ancient landmark overlooking Araluen in the shape of a large two-storied building, known throughout the district as “Blatchfords”. Built to remain, the structure was of well-seasoned red gum, for which the Valley was famous before the dredges consumed such enormous quantities of wood. It was in a fair state of repair. The position of the structure was fine, being built on a peak overlooking the whole of Araluen Valley. It was surrounded with what was once a well laid out orchard and vine-yard, the fruit from which was famous for miles around. About eleven o’clock on the evening in question residents noticed flames flying skyward, and as they increased in volume it was at once known where the fire was situated. It took a good few hours to complete the destruction of the old place, which contained some 12 or 14 rooms… Some splendid cedar fittings, as well as a handsome staircase of considerable value, was consumed.’