Cape York Goldfields

Local historian John Hay, best known for his many years of work and research on the history of the Palmer River Goldfield, has just released his seventh book.  Entitled 'Cape York Gold; The New Chum', this new publication concerns the gold fields of the Cape York Peninsula and is based on the life story of the later-day miner, David Cragg who arrived on the Cape in 1938 to manage the mines of his father's company.  The Nesbit River gold reefs were situated in rough and isolated rainforest covered hills where nothing resembling a road existed.  It took great courage for this middle-aged man from Sydney to come in and replace his older brother who had been beaten by the hardships.  It is almost heart-breaking to read this story of commitment and exhausting hard work which put David into an early grave some three thousand kilometres from his home.  The book also tells the story of the author's interest in these brave gold miners and the rediscovery of the area's heritage.  John has also interwoven into the story the details of the Cape York's history from the early explorers to the original prospectors and miners.  This book is a grand addition to the poorly recorded history of these small goldfields.