John Hardman Australia Lister, he first person to find traces of gold in Australia, was the son of a retired ship captain, John Hardman Lister (-1850), and his wife Susannah (nee Pymble) who had set up an inn at Guyong, a small town not far from Bathurst, New South Wales. The discovery was made near his home in either late 1850 or early 1851. Credit for the discovery was later claimed by New South Welshman, Edward Hammond Hargraves, however. Hargraves, who had gained his knowledge of gold mining and panning in California, reportedly exclaimed to Lister when he saw the amount of gold that was being trapped in their pans: 'This is a memorable day in the history of New South Wales. I shall be a baronet, you will be knighted, and my old horse will be stuffed, put in a glass case, and sent to the British Museum.'
Lister and some friends, William and James Tom, later worked with Hargraves as partners, but by the time the news of their discoveries had been publicised their part in the affair had been reduced to 'associates' and/or assistants. Hargraves also received the £500 reward from the New South Wales government. He was paid a further £10,000 in 1853 and officially recognised as the first discoverer of payable gold in Australia.
