A Respective for Black Louey

According to the North Eastern Advertiser on Friday August 9 1963 Black Louey was well affectionately respected because:

1. He was not a Tasmanian Aboriginal or Negrite (sic) despite being referred to as a darkie by the Zeehan and Dundas Herald (19 Oct 1909)
2. No-one seems to know exactly what was his name.
3. He may have been a cook on an unspecified number of unnamed boats prior to coming to the North East of Tasmania.
4. He had a six foot iron rod which he used for prospecting, but people were convinced it was a spear and sent it to a museum where the highly treasured artefact was mislaid.
5. He cut some wood for a local school, for some part of one year of his life
6. He had a cheeky snake in his hut
7. He was buried in a pauper’s grave at Branxholm, and if someone feels moved they could mark the location which is unknown due to neglect.

The testament above leads to a question of what exactly is meant by respect? This must be considered in the perspective of the times of Black Louey and over 50 years later when the article was written. Times that were ruled by a paternalistic culture where behaving and being seen not heard was expected.

Black Louey dying alone in a forgotten hollow log fits that picture of benign neglect, but there’s more to be said. Despite this deep respect, more can be said of Black Louey’s achievements beyond chopping some wood, cooking some unspecified meals and prospecting for something or other.

For a start, was he a great chef specialising in Mauritian cuisine or did he simply take on the mantle of ship’s cook as a way of working his passage to Tasmania?

Perhaps it was the opposite and his cooking achievements lead to him being expelled from the windjammers by disgruntled whalers used to a simpler fare? They might have made him walk the plank to become the colourful landlubber described.

In any event Black Louey came to North East Tasmania and lived in the area where he discovered the Warrentinna Goldfield ( Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. Tue 24 Nov 1914 ). Around thereabouts he lived for many years, and continued prospecting for a more fortunate life. However this outstanding achievement is respectfully not mentioned. Instead we have more respect for the traditional ‘spear’ he carried to aid his fossicking, and are puzzled that a spear made of pure iron spear is unwieldy and primarily a ceremonial artifice to demonstrate a power that seems to have eluded Louey (or a prized object in online games whose existence may be a bit premature for this conjecture).

Contemporaneous with the discovery of Warrentinna gold was the construction of the water race from Fenckers Creek to North Brothers Home tin mine. A six foot iron rod might be a handy instrument for surveying the level course and useful as a pry bar for moving rocks and logs in the construction. Perhaps the implement also aided the surveys for the proposal to parliament for a Ringarooma High Level Canal to Gladstone?

In any event an ever observant Louey could have noticed the glimmer of gold whilst performing his duties. Surely it is not a coincidence that the gold he discovered was at the location of Pearce’s mine? A mineshaft which is located underneath the Brother’s Home Water Race and near the mooted Ringarooma Canal.

It is known that the local politician Mr Pearce promoted the goldrush, but not his relationship to Black Louey and the discovery. Why was the mine named after him and not Black Louey? Did Black Louey announce the discovery at the Branxholm Hotel or as a respected darkie was he barred from drinking in the public house?

A hint may lie in the name of the nearest goldmine to Pearce’s. The Rebel Mine. Is this name related to a falling out between the pair? As a rebel Black Louey might have mined nearby as the Co. with Mr O’Kelly and Riley?

Whatever occurred it didn’t last. The site of the Rebel mine became part of another white man’s farm and, as a reward for his discovery the black man was respectfully moved on to what was described as a hut or a camp where he performed as a recognisable local curiousity with his six foot spear, and given no credit for finding the gold that made fortunes for others.

Similarly there is no mention is made of Louey’s opinions. I wonder how Black Louey felt about the race riot at Branxholm?

The true details this giant of Warrentinna folklore are as scant and ambiguous as the respect that has been reported. Our Rebellious correspondent has filled in some gaps in the story with conjecture based on the facts as he imagines them, this has lead him to speculate on another coincidence in the circumstances of Black Louey’s demise.

He died just before the Golden Mara Mining Company commenced operations at abandoned leases. Perhaps Louey was poisoned as part of a conspiracy to clean out the goldfield?

Without knowing the location of Black Louey’s hovel we may never know, but we can show our respect and ensure the name lives on by recognising Black Louey Lane.