Lasseter's Reef
Encyclopedia
Lasseter's Reef refers to the purported discovery, in 1897, of a fabulously rich gold
deposit in a remote and desolate corner of central Australia
. The gold reef's location remains a mystery—if it exists.
claimed that in 1897, as a young man, he rode on horse from Queensland
to the West Australian goldfields, during which he stumbled across a huge gold reef somewhere near the border between the Northern Territory
and Western Australia
. He also claimed that subsequent to this discovery he got into difficulties and was fortuitously rescued by a passing Afghan
camel driver who took him to the camp of a surveyor named Harding. Harding and Lasseter were said to have later returned to the reef in the attempt to fix its location, but failed because their watches were inaccurate.
According to Lasseter, he spent the next three decades trying to raise sufficient interest to fund an expedition into the interior. But at the time the fortunes being made from the gold rush
at Kalgoorlie in Western Australia meant that no-one was prepared to risk trekking into the uncharted desert wilderness of central Australia, even if the supposed discovery was as rich as he claimed.
, the attractions of desert gold were much greater, and Lasseter succeeded in securing approximately £50,000 in private funding towards an expedition to relocate the reef. Unusual for the time, this expedition included motorised vehicular transport and an aircraft. Accompanying Lasseter were experienced bushmen Fred Blakeley and Fred Colson as well as a prospector, an engineer, an explorer and a pilot.
Once they hit the trail, Lasseter proved to be a sullen companion and a vague guide. The group endured great logistical difficulties and physical hardships (including the loss of their plane), and on reaching Mount Marjorie (now Mount Leisler), Lasseter declared that they were, in fact, 150 miles too far north of the search zone. Exasperated, Blakeley declared Lasseter a charlatan
, and decided to end the expedition. The expedition parted with Lasseter at Ilbilba; however, Lasseter insisted on continuing the trek. Accompanied by a dingo-shooter named Paul Johns, Lasseter, whose behaviour was later reported as becoming increasingly erratic, set off towards The Olgas.
One afternoon Lasseter returned to camp with some concealed rock samples and announced that he had relocated the gold reef. He refused, however, to reveal its location. Johns, who by now doubted Lasseter's sanity, accused him of being a liar. A fight ensued, and Johns left Lasseter to his own devices, returning to 'civilization'. Lasseter himself trudged off into the desert sands.
A search for Lasseter was conducted subsequently by a bushman named Bob Buck. Buck succeeded in finding Lasseter's emaciated body at Winter's Glen and, some way away, some personal effects in a cave at Hull's Creek. It later emerged from a "diary" Buck found buried inside the cave, that after Johns had left, Lasseter's camels bolted, leaving him alone in the desert without any means of sustaining himself or returning home. He had then encountered a group of nomadic Aborigines
, who rendered him what assistance they could with food and shelter; but a weakened and blinded Lasseter eventually succumbed to malnutrition and exhaustion, having made a belated attempt to walk from the cave to Ayers Rock or the Olgas.
legend in Australia, and remains a "holy grail" among Australian prospectors. Popular adventure-story author Ion Idriess
, in his book 'Lasseter's Last Ride', gives a very detailed description of Lasseter's time with the Aborigines. His 'diary' notes were hidden under campfires to hide them from the Aborigines who tired of Lasseter after their 'witchdoctor' pointed the bone at him. Once that happened, he was condemned to die and was no longer cared for by the tribe, whose members refused him food and water.
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
deposit in a remote and desolate corner of central Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The gold reef's location remains a mystery—if it exists.
Discovery
In 1929 and 1930 Harold Bell LasseterLewis Hubert (Harold Bell) Lasseter
Lewis Hubert Lasseter, or Lewis Harold Bell Lasseter as he later referred to himself, was born on 27 September 1880 at Bamganie, Victoria, Australia. Though self-educated, he was literate and well-spoken, but commonly described as eccentric and opinionated...
claimed that in 1897, as a young man, he rode on horse from Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
to the West Australian goldfields, during which he stumbled across a huge gold reef somewhere near the border between the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. He also claimed that subsequent to this discovery he got into difficulties and was fortuitously rescued by a passing Afghan
Afghan (Australia)
The Afghans or Ghans were camel drivers who worked in outback Australia from the 1860s to the 1930s. While called Afghans, not all of them were from Afghanistan; some came from the northern regions of British India, areas that now constitute modern-day Pakistan...
camel driver who took him to the camp of a surveyor named Harding. Harding and Lasseter were said to have later returned to the reef in the attempt to fix its location, but failed because their watches were inaccurate.
According to Lasseter, he spent the next three decades trying to raise sufficient interest to fund an expedition into the interior. But at the time the fortunes being made from the gold rush
Australian gold rushes
The Australian gold rush started in 1851 when prospector Edward Hammond Hargraves claimed the discovery of payable gold near Bathurst, New South Wales, at a site Edward Hargraves called Ophir.Eight months later, gold was found in Victoria...
at Kalgoorlie in Western Australia meant that no-one was prepared to risk trekking into the uncharted desert wilderness of central Australia, even if the supposed discovery was as rich as he claimed.
The 1930 expedition
By 1930, when Australia was in the grip of the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the attractions of desert gold were much greater, and Lasseter succeeded in securing approximately £50,000 in private funding towards an expedition to relocate the reef. Unusual for the time, this expedition included motorised vehicular transport and an aircraft. Accompanying Lasseter were experienced bushmen Fred Blakeley and Fred Colson as well as a prospector, an engineer, an explorer and a pilot.
Once they hit the trail, Lasseter proved to be a sullen companion and a vague guide. The group endured great logistical difficulties and physical hardships (including the loss of their plane), and on reaching Mount Marjorie (now Mount Leisler), Lasseter declared that they were, in fact, 150 miles too far north of the search zone. Exasperated, Blakeley declared Lasseter a charlatan
Charlatan
A charlatan is a person practicing quackery or some similar confidence trick in order to obtain money, fame or other advantages via some form of pretense or deception....
, and decided to end the expedition. The expedition parted with Lasseter at Ilbilba; however, Lasseter insisted on continuing the trek. Accompanied by a dingo-shooter named Paul Johns, Lasseter, whose behaviour was later reported as becoming increasingly erratic, set off towards The Olgas.
One afternoon Lasseter returned to camp with some concealed rock samples and announced that he had relocated the gold reef. He refused, however, to reveal its location. Johns, who by now doubted Lasseter's sanity, accused him of being a liar. A fight ensued, and Johns left Lasseter to his own devices, returning to 'civilization'. Lasseter himself trudged off into the desert sands.
A search for Lasseter was conducted subsequently by a bushman named Bob Buck. Buck succeeded in finding Lasseter's emaciated body at Winter's Glen and, some way away, some personal effects in a cave at Hull's Creek. It later emerged from a "diary" Buck found buried inside the cave, that after Johns had left, Lasseter's camels bolted, leaving him alone in the desert without any means of sustaining himself or returning home. He had then encountered a group of nomadic Aborigines
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
, who rendered him what assistance they could with food and shelter; but a weakened and blinded Lasseter eventually succumbed to malnutrition and exhaustion, having made a belated attempt to walk from the cave to Ayers Rock or the Olgas.
Later history
No maps showing the location of the fabled gold reef were ever found, and over subsequent decades the tale of the reef and its discoverer has assumed mythic proportions; it is perhaps the most famous lost mineLost mines
Lost mines are a popular form of lost treasure legend. The mine involved is usually of a high-value commodity such as gold, silver or diamonds. Often there is a map purportedly showing the location of the mine...
legend in Australia, and remains a "holy grail" among Australian prospectors. Popular adventure-story author Ion Idriess
Ion Idriess
Ion Llewellyn Idriess, OBE was a prolific and influential Australian author. He wrote more than 50 books over 43 years between 1927 to 1969 - an average of one book every 10 months, and twice published three books in one year...
, in his book 'Lasseter's Last Ride', gives a very detailed description of Lasseter's time with the Aborigines. His 'diary' notes were hidden under campfires to hide them from the Aborigines who tired of Lasseter after their 'witchdoctor' pointed the bone at him. Once that happened, he was condemned to die and was no longer cared for by the tribe, whose members refused him food and water.
External links
- Account of the possible rediscovery of the reef
- LASSETERIA. The Lasseter Encyclopedia. http://www.lasseteria.com
- Reef Rediscovery & Planned Mining
- Newspaper Report - Replacement Aircraft flies Sydney to Central Australia http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/46583892