Pluto – The unsung aboriginal miner

Whilst doing research for the museum on indigenous cultures and their relationship with fossils and minerals I came across a certain story which grabbed my attention.

William Davis (better known as Pluto) was an indigenous Australian man born in Charters Towers in 1869. After having spent time in jail between 1890 and 1892, he was next seen in 1895 where he was travelling from Laura to Coen in the company of Basalt Earl, a mining entrepreneur. He left Earl’s party to try his luck on the Coen goldfield. It was however a problem for him to be in the north, as this meant he would have come under the jurisdiction of the norther Protectors of Aborigines. This would have meant that he had to be employed by someone in order to work, he couldn’t be self-employed or hire other people.

Despite this, Pluto went on to be become a successful mining entrepreneur. He eventually founded the town of Plutoville, Queensland after discovering a rich alluvial deposit on the Wenlock goldfield in 1910. Between 1910 and 1916 he made several more discoveries of alluvial deposits to be exploited for minerals. There was a small rush to these grounds and it is thought that 213 ounces were found by Pluto and his partner, Anderson, who is reported to have been a European man.

Gold ore from Queensland, Australia, part of collections at Manchester Museum.

Regarding his partner, Anderson, there are conflicting reports as to whether Pluto made his claims with or without him. Evidence may suggest that Anderson was a made up European person to ensure that Pluto had no trouble with officials, as it was illegal for an indigenous man to work without supervision from a white European person. This theory of a made up white employer would also mean that Pluto was able to have his own permit and bank account that he could access. This would have meant he didn’t have to have his money doled out to him by his employer at a rate of 5 shillings per month, as all other Aborigines under permit were required by Queensland law. He also provided work to other Aboriginal miners at a party located 6 miles north of Plutoville and provided fairer wages to his workers.

By the time of Pluto’s death in 1916, there were attempts to write him out of history and discredit his achievements. A European writer known as ‘JK’ wrote “It is no fiction that rich alluvial gold was found in Batavia River by accident. An old Rockhampton blackboy who was with me found the rich patch at Plutoville. He struck it driving a tent peg.”
We know now that this isn’t true and we know Pluto’s real story but it is clear to see how hard the European colonisers tried to dehumanise the indigenous population and discredit any of their achievements.

Although Pluto died over 50 years before the 1967 Australian referendum his story is still seen as inspirational and is one of the early stories of indigenous people standing up for their rights in Australia.

The information on Pluto’s story in this blog comes from ‘The aboriginal miners and prospectors of Cape York Peninsula 1870 to ca.1950s.

Cast of Gold ingot from Queensland, Australia, part of collections at Manchester Museum.

More information on the hidden histories of mining gold and other minerals can be read on the new online mineral display.

References
– Ellwood, H., 2018. The Aboriginal miners and prospectors of Cape York Peninsula 1870 to ca.1950s