Robert Ewart (1858 - 1929)
The following newspaper reports have been collected from The Mercury and give a description of Robert and the work he carried out.
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MERCURY NEWSPAPER 12TH AUGUST 1929
Noted Prospector Dead - Mr Robert Ewart Pioneer of the West Coast - Signal Service for State
Signal service to Tasmania in the work of opening the mining fields of the West Coast was pioneered by Mr Robert Ewart, 70, whose death occurred in the Zeehan District Hospital on Saturday.
The early exploration of that little known and most inhospitable portion of Tasmania, the West Coast, called for men of the highest calibre, men of stamina and exceptional physique combined with an unswerving determination which nothing could daunt. Fortunately for the state, these men as Frank Long, T.R. Moore, Owen and George Meredith, Steve Erland and Alan Karlson, Tom Farrell and Robert Ewart - were to be found, and were willing to carry out the pioneer work which made available to a large extent the mineral wealth of the West Coast, and so played their part in the development of Tasmania. Most of these men have gone, and it is regrettable that very few have come forward to take their places, even though there are yet large belts in Western Tasmania practically unexplored, but nevertheless known to be favourable to the existence of minerals. And so, in the death of Mr Bob Ewart there has passed away one of the best bushmen that Tasmania has ever seen and known. His many friends in the state and on the mainland will regret his demise after five months in hospital. It is said by the matron that she has never known a man with such a heart, nor one to fight against the inevitable, as he did. Everything possible was done for his comfort by the hospital staff and by a man with whom he has been closely associated for many years, Mr Selby Wilson.
Seeking Adventure
"Bob" Ewart was born at Longford in 1858, his father then being head shepherd for Mr Joseph Archer, of Panshanger. There his boyhood was spent but early in life the roving spirit showed up and with some other youngsters, all about 15 years of age, he made his way to Mt Bischoff. They obtained work at 3s. 6d. a day. This they found would not pay for their food, so Bob drifted along the North West Coast, where he worked on road construction for Ss. a day. He then went to Mt Arthur where he put in two years fossicking at alluvial diggings, erecting post and rail fences and anything else that came along. His luck then turned, he becoming associated with Mr CW Lord, an uncle of the present Commissioner of Police, who was then district Government surveyor for the Lefroy district.
The Gold Boom
For eight years he acted as chainman for Mr Lord, and assisted in the survey of the whole of the leases in that and other districts, among them being the Pinafore, Shamrock, Banner Cross, Land of Lakes, New Chum, Volunteer etc. This was at the time of the gold boom in that locality. Having saved some monev here, Bob went to the mainland, but soon returned to Tasmania, and went to Mt Victoria, now called Alberton. His first job there was assisting in a search for a missing prospector named JJ Hunkin, who was a married man, and had disappeared in mysterious circumstances. He was never found. This district proving a disappointment, and knowing that the shearing season was to commence shortly, he left and shore in various sheds, finishing at Swansea. His mate on the job was named Bob Hewitt, and to distinguish them they were called "Black Bob" and "White Bob". Deceased mentioned some of the escapades in which he and his partner were mixed up, and from what could be gathered thev held their own, both men being of exceptional physique. The shearing season over, he returned to the North West Coast, and did more road work at the rate of 5s a day. It was at this time that he met Mr John McKenna, who now resides at Sulphur Creek, and with whom a lifelong friend-ship has existed.
Blazing West Coast Track
Bob returned to the Midlands untill 1887, when, with John McKenna and Dan Griffith, on behalf of the Public Works Department, he started to blaze a track from Chudleigh to the West Coast. The indicator of the great Mt Lyell mine, the Iron Blow, at that time had been recently discovered by Steve Karison. Ewart's party had no charts to guide them, and after swimming rivers and living principally on badger for three weeks they found themselves on Pelion West; that is on the south spur of Mt Tyndal, where they experienced the worst night of their trip. When morning dawned they saw the welcome camp smoke to the south, and breaking through arrived at Harvey's Hotel, Queen River. This point is about three miles south of what is now the prosperous town of Queenstown. It can be well imagined what that camp smoke meant to them, as each man was then reduced to his last 1/2 lb. of flour, and in an exhausted condition. After a short spell, the party walked to Old Strahan, and waited for three weeks in the hope that a vessel would come in. No boat arrived, so they resolutely turned their faces up the coast, and walked to Trial Harbour, and then followed the route of the old Corinna track to Waratah. It may be mentioned that this trip cost the party over 50 pound more than they received from the Government.
A Record Walk
After spending some time at Emu Bay, Bob decided to walk back, and on this trip he was accompanied by a well know Zeehan resident, Mr John McDermott. This journey occupied three days - that is from Emu Bay to Waratah, thence to Corinna, and the third day carried them to Zeehan, surely a record performance with weighty swags up. Bob then joined Mr J. Power, a Government surveyor, and for a few years assisted in surveying township allotments and mineral leases in the various coastal centres, also at the Long Plains gold rush. In 1892, when the Zeehan field slumped so badly, he went prospecting for gold at the Ring River, and then for tin at South Heemskirk, where in one place now known as Mayne's, with Mick Curtin as a mate, he washed from 81b to 9 lb to the dish of dirt, This proved to be onlv a patch, and on the revival of mining at Zeehan in 1899, his outstanding qualities as a bushman and prospector, prompted the Government to entrust him with the carrying out of important exploration work in the district. In this work he located and cut a track from Lake Selina to Lake St Clair for the purpose of making that line of country accessible to prospectors. He also cut a track to connect with the overland track and in the vicinity of the recent discovery.
Unenviable Experience
About the last work of this nature carried out by him was done in conjunction with Alan Pybus and W. Buddon in 1900. This was a pack-track from Mt. Pelion to Mole Creek and proved to be a very rough job. On one occasion the party were snowed in, and were without food for two days, until the inevitable badger turned up to relieve their hunger. Another track was started from the upper reaches of the Gordon River to Adamsfield, but this was not completed. Some time later, during 1909, he prospected at Mt. Balfour and on the Norfolk Ranges for tin and copper, and on that occasion was accompanied by the late Mr Harry Judd, the "Mercury" representative for the West Coast, who is remembered as one who did much towards advancing the immense possibilities of mining in Western Tasmania. He and Bob Ewart were close personal friends and shared many a rough trip. From that time Mr Ewart resided mostly on the West Coast, and was one of its best-known and respected men. He was a member of the Mersey Masonic Lodge, No 21, T.C.
Mr Selby Wilson's Tribute
Probably the most interesting feature of his life was his long association with Mr Selby Wilson, who, when spoken to on the matter, stated that they had been associated for long intervals since 1893, and in the passing of Mr Ewart he felt he had lost a real friend. During their work together in the bush he had every opportunity of studying his character, and in him he had found a man to be admired, and Bob admired his foreman as a man whose knowledge of the West Coast mineral belt was unique. Mr Wilson lamented the passing, one by one, of the big-hearted pioneers, who were truly giants in every sense of the word - the Merediths, Tom Moore, the Karlsons, "Taranki, Frank Long, Jim Crotty, Tom Farrell, Jack Harris, Con Curtain and now Bob Ewart. What signal service they have given to their State and to the present and future generations! For themselves, in almost every case, they received no reward, but the knowledge that they had done something worth while.
THE MERCURY Thursday 15TH AUGUST 1929 p8
The funeral of Mr. Robert Ewart which took place on Tuesday afternoon at Zeehan, was largely attended by all classes of the community. Among those present were the Warden (Councillor Kean), several councillors, and the council clerk, also members of the Masonic Order and the A-N.A. The burial service was conducted by the Rev. R. T. Alexander, and P.M. Bro. W Thomas, read the Masonic service at the grave- side. There were many wreaths from Zeehan, Queenstown, and Melbourne. A telegram was received from Mr. Selby Wilson asking that a wreath be placed on the grave in his name.
THE MERCURY 19TH AUGUST 1929
The Late Robert Ewart - His Worst Experience
J.E.P. writes - The Mercury's tribute to the late Bob Ewart (12/8/29) omitted mention of what was probably his most trying experience. The writer, was in 1909, engaged with Ewart and "Dick" Rumney in cutting an exploration track from the Gordon River towards the Prince of Wales Range, in conjunction with a track put through to that point the previous summer.
Ewart and Rumney left our camp on Sunday, March 14, taking a tent fly and two days tucker to break through to this track to get some idea of the country that lay out our route. On the third day, as they had not returned, I began to get anxious, The weather was very unsettled - rain and fog each day. Taking some food, the writer broke through to get some high ground in the direction taken, but had no marks to show precisely the line they had taken, With field glasses the country was searched with not even a smoke sign. I had finally given up all hope of seeing them alive when on March 22, they struggled into camp, pretty well at the last stage. For six days they had no food, but had taken the precaution to heat all the water they drank. They were not bushed, but both described the belt of country traversed as the worst they had encountered on any part of the West Coast. They carried on in expectation of reaching a depot of stores left by the writer's party at the Prince of Wales. They failed to find this or the track, and battled back on a compass course. Considering the weather conditions, they were extremely fortunate to have weathered out such a stressful hazard. Luckily we had some extract of beef amongst our stores. This and careful dieting for a few days soon pulled them around, but it was a close shave. I may add that the tracks have never been junctioned. Poor old Bob!
On page 10 of The Mercury of Thursday 1st September 1932, there appears a full page story "Direct Communication with West Coast Initiated. It outlines the opening of the road service between Queenstown and Hobart, removing fifty years of isolation to the West Coast.
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