A little while ago, I wrote about the small metal bust of an unknown man, found some years ago on Baker’s Flat. I had a theory it might be Gladstone. But now there’s another contender. One of the followers of this blog, who lives in France, thinks my mystery metal man might be Charles Gavan Duffy. (Thank you, Ann.)
Duffy was born in Ireland in 1816, studied law, became a journalist and poet, was a well-known Young Irelander and land reform activist, and helped established a weekly journal, The Nation, which supported Daniel O’Connell’s movement for independence. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1852, but in 1855, despairing of Ireland’s chances of independence, he resigned and moved to Australia with his family.
He settled in Melbourne, became a politician, and was the eighth Premier of Victoria. Apparently, he was one of the most colourful figures in Victorian political history. He later retired to France, and died in Nice in 1903. So … a rebellious Catholic Irishman, known for his land reform ideals. A good fit with the people of Baker’s Flat? The photos below show Duffy, and the mystery metal man. Maybe it’s him?
Charles Gavan Duffy, 1850. From the image collection of the National Library of Australia (http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an9482275)
Mystery metal man. Possibly Gladstone? Or even Charles Gavan Duffy?
And because nothing’s ever simple, there’s another mystery – Duffy was buried, according to the records, in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin within the circle of the Daniel O’Connell monument. But Ann (in France) has been part of a group which helped to clean up his grave in Nice. So where is he really?
Don't forget your shovel 
This man is intriguing to my family for 2 reasons. One, he worked with a man called Thomas MacNevin, who was a contributor to “The Nation”. Thomas MacNevin was a maternal 4th Great Uncle to me. Both lived their lives through O’Connell. Thomas’s nephew became a Stipendrary Magistrate/Coroner for Sydney in the late 1800’s. And wrote a book on how to become a Coroner.
Another maternal ancestor, who lived under the Protestant Ascendacy hat of his Irish Parliamentarian GrandFather, worked under Duffy in the Water/Sewage Board. Duffy was jailed prior to the emigration, for uprising nature.
Duffy’s story is almost the same for Peter Lalor, Eureka Stockade man. He also had the “Young Irelander” in him. That’s why the Eureka Stockade was so successful.
I find all these family links very interesting. Also the relationships between Ireland and Australia from very early on. Thanks Brett.