New information emerges

from north east study

- 1700 names identified in research of mainly American men,
their wives and families

Research into Americans and Canadians who came to Australia during the gold rush era, 1850-1870, have been uncovered in Victoria's Northeast, once the jewel in the State's fortunes.

The study which took over five years to complete has been compiled by veteran researchers Denise McMahon and compatriot, Christine Wild who both have claims to American heritage in the region.

The work focuses on miners, shopkeepers, entrepreneurs, and workers who spent time in the northeast of Victoria. The study identifies and reveals the lives of over 170 men, describing the ups and downs of their often precarious lives as they sought their fortunes from the ground or from various businesses. Some remained in the Northeast while others moved out across Australia, while some Americans returned to the USA. One thing they all had in common was their contribution to the development of the Australia.

This is a fascinating account not previously seen about the men and women excluded in history books, now part of a painstaking analysis of primary and secondary data, a testament to the meticulousness of the authors. The publication has over a 1,100 pages of information, a tome in anyone’s language.

Mr Keith Smiley, who is executive officer of the Australian Society of American Descendants, says he believes this to be a significant find for American Australian history: "I laud the efforts of the pair, and the presentation of a fine piece of work about American cultural heritage in Australia. While the Society is busy searching for historical artefacts and the hitherto unseen yet important historiography of this lesser known of cultural groups in Australia, Denise and Christine are helping to illuminate the relevance of the contribution of Americans here, through identification and story telling," said Keith.

“American Fever, Australian Gold, as the study has been named, sets a tone of confidence in our cultural past, where the authors have left no stone unturned. The cooperative and selflessness of this research is adding to our knowledge base of multicultural Australia. I recommend this analysis to anyone who has an American forebear or who is interested in a rare insight to a lesser known group of Australians.”

Pictured is Denise McMahon, co-author with Christine Wild

Commenting on the difficulty of the research, author Christine Wild said: “Many men tried to escape us and brought us so much frustration, but not writer's block or even, for example, the tangled life of Harry or his surname, his ship listing, change of name, love affairs, illegitimate children and unfaithfulness, or imprisonment for forgery, would be allowed to escape our attention."

The authors cite the assistance of other historians and genealogists, along with data from personal letters and diaries of the time, keeping the surprises abounding. This fascinating account also reveals those who were criminals, bigamists, farmers, shopkeepers, coach proprietors, hoteliers, miners, entrepreneurs, adventurers, public-minded citizens and hard-working family men struggling to feed their families. Close to seventeen hundred names are mentioned in the narratives, where the reader is led to understand how these men were bound together by various forms of relationships, family, friendship, and business.

Acknowledging the important value of this study, Miami historian, Ms Arva Moore Parks commended their work. "Thanks to the internet, Australians, Denise McMahon, Chris Wild and I have become collaborators and friends. Because of their meticulous primary research and willingness to share, we have incredible, and heretofore unknown, information about one of Miami’s oldest families. Their William Barnwell Brickell in Australia was the lead story in the 2007 Tequesta, Journal of the Historical Museum of Southern Florida," said Arva. Arva is the author of more than a half-dozen books on South Florida, including Miami, the Magic City. She has produced films on Miami and Coconut Grove and has received several honours, including an Emmy from the Florida Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Arva is also a well-known American councillor of historical preservation.

‘American Fever, Australian Gold’ is available from the authors on CD or in PDF format. It is fully searchable, having a comprehensive list of surnames which appear in the Contents. The work is aptly cited with an array of photographs complementing the text.

For further details, contact the authors, Denise McMahon or Christine Wild at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Or you can phone Denise on 0413 792 384 or Christine on 0400 524 864; or contact can be made through the ASAD's email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or its website www.americanaustralians.org

Anniversary of Civil War Veteran

- John Fearn Francis

Australian-American war veteran from Tasmania and Victoria who served gallantly and died a hero while saving the lives of both his comrades and his enemies. He is a real Australian hero. John Fearn Francis left Victoria and took up residence in the state of Louisiana in the United States. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War (1861-1865) he followed his neighbors and joined the Confederate States Army, fighting to protect Louisiana from destruction. He was participating in the Battle of Vicksburg when he was captured, later paroled and returned to Mansfield, Louisiana. When the Union Army launched the Red River Campaign and attacked Mansfield, where he lived, John again took up arms in defence of his home. During the battle, with numerous casualties on both sides, John being the only one available having battlefield medical experience, he took over the care of the wounded in churches turned into hospitals. During the battle, the church was burned to the ground and John Francis and five others died trying to save the worst of the wounded from the flames. He was buried in the Mansfield Cemetery in an unmarked grave. This month, 143 years after his death, the American Civil War Round Table of Queensland, with the assistance of compatriots in Louisiana, acquired John Francis a military headstone which is soon to be erected on his grave in a dedication ceremony by the Sons of Confederate Veterans of Louisiana. On the back of his headstone will be inscribed his story and the fact that John Francis was a gallant heroic Australian. His story and pictures relating to it are attached for your examination and use. He may not have defended the shores of our Australian homeland, but he was an Australian, he was a war veteran and he was an Australian hero; and should be remembered as such.

February 3rd, 2006

The American Heritage in Australia exhibition at

Museum Victoria successfully concludes

Thirty thousand visitors, many of whom are descendants of Americans, had an opportunity of seeing their forebears and others on display. Families with their children, old and young, came to the exhibition and the feedback was very positive. American immigrants finally receive the recognition they deserve in Australia, alongside other ethnic groups.

At the Launch of the Exhibition which was titled 'Cowboys, Church Bells and Curtain Calls', Dr David Greene, declared a milestone had been reached by acknowledging the contribution of Americans in general and the fact that Museum Victoria was the first to run an Exhibition about Americans. The US Consul General, David Hopper, spoke about the special relationship America has had with Australia over the past 230 years and officially opened the Exhibition of American heritage in Australia which contained; photographs, artifacts, clothing, letters and other memorabilia. The Project coordinator, Keith Smiley, in his speech, brought together all the American descendants in the audience and provided a history of settlement, influence and impact that Americans have had in Australia since they arrived aboard the Captain Cook's, Endeavour ship. To cap off the event, American-Australian actor, writer and boxing legend, Gus Mercurio, spoke of his love for Australia, the country he calls home.

The media ran several articles in the press and radio coverage highlighted the exhibition through interviews and community spots.