Person
Hughes, Walter Watson (1803 - 1887)
- Born
- 22 August 1803
Pittenweem, Fife, Scotland - Died
- 1 January 1887
United Kingdom - Occupation
- Grazier and Mine operator
Summary
Sir Walter Hughes was a highly successful grazier and copper mine owner who patented an 'Improvement in the Process of Melting and Refining Copper' (15 January 1867). He arrived in Australia in 1840 and almost immediately took up sheep farming. From humble beginnings Hughes ended up owning several properties across South Australia. In 1854 he and his family leased the vast Wallaroo station. This property not only provided excellent grazing territory for his sheep but it was also the site of a major copper deposit. Wallaroo Mine Co. was established and Hughes became the largest shareholder and company owner.
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Details
Chronology
- 1840
- Life event - Migrated to Australia (Adelaide)
- 1840 - 1843
- Career position - Sheep farming near Macclesfield, South Australia
- 1851
- Career position - Took over The Peak grazing property at Hoyleton
- 1854
- Career position - Leased Wallaroo station
- 1864 - 1870
- Career position - Worked in England
- 1867
- Career position - Patented Improvement in the Process of Melting and Refining Copper
- 1873
- Life event - Migrated back to England
- 1880
- Award - Knighted for his services to South Australia
Published resources
Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions
- Collins, David, Chemistry in 19th Australia - Select Bibliography, An exhibition of the Encyclopedia circa 2005 with assistance from Ailie Smith and Gavan McCarthy., eScholarship Research Centre (original publisher), Melbourne, 2009, https://eoas.info/exhibitions/ciab/ciab_ALL.html. Details
Book Sections
- Van Dissel, Dirk, 'Hughes, Sir Walter Watson' in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Douglas Pike, ed., vol. 4 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1972), pp. 440-441. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A040496b.htm. Details
Journal Articles
- Hughes, Walter Watson, 'Improvement in the Process of Melting and Refining Copper, &c. (Patent, 15 Jan., 1867)', Specifications of Letters of Registration of Patents for Inventions - South Australia, 1 (77) (1848-68). Details
Resources
- Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q16062790. Details
- 'Hughes, Walter Watson (1803-1887)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1474227. Details
Annette Alafaci
Created: 18 October 2006, Last modified: 7 February 2011