Charles Potter

OBITUARY (Mentions Mr.J.J. Mawson and Mr. D Scarlett)
Charles Potter 1913

“Mr. Charles Potter, of Jones Plain, whose death occurred suddenly on Saturday afternoon,18th October 1913, was the youngest son of Mr. Wm. Potter , 32 Drummond Street , Euston Square London, and here Mr. Potter was born on the 9th October 1830. He and his two brothers, John and William, when old enough served the full term of seven years at their father’s trade, that of stonemason and plasterer and all became proficient.

When a young man Charles followed his brother John out to Melbourne where work was plentiful and where now treble the value for the same work could be obtained. Shortly after his arrival, which was about 1850 the rich gold find at Ballarat occurred and he went thither and for some time neglected his trade in search for gold.. From Ballarat he hurried to Castlemaine and thence to Bendigo when those fields broke out and later when the rush to Rockhampton eventuated, Mr Potter was one of about three hundred who went to Melbourne and made the voyage thither, but being disgusted with the roughness of his fellow passengers on the way, immediately returned without doing a days mining. On reaching Melbourne again he made his way to Bendigo, but not being very lucky as a digger he came across to Deniliquin in N.S.W , and with Mr.J.J. Mawson and the late Mr. D Scarlett were jointly contracted for several buildings.

When the Kiandra Gold field broke out in 1860 the gold fever again caused the trio to seek their fortune there, and after working several claims, one Jacksons Flat, and sinking most of the money they formely made at building , they left together for Bungendore where one of the three had a debtor from whom he expected to collect 36 pounds.

On the way they passed through Cooma when the Royal Hotel was being built and tendered and got the job of plastering it. Being pleased with the Monaro climate they all stayed in Cooma and together erected some of the most substantial buildings in the town and district, amoung them being St. Pauls Church, The Cooma Hospital and the homesteads at Myalla and Dandenong. After finishing the homestead of the late Wm.Jardine, Mr. J.J. Mawson withdrew from the firm but the other two continued erecting numerous stone structures, building Coolrington house, Gegedzerick homestead for the Brooks family, the bank of N.S.W. which was Mr Potter's own plans and was used at that time for the Mercury Office, Messers Hennessy and Spring being the priprietors. It was sold later to form the first Bank of N.S.W . Mr Jardine's cottage in Cooma, the residence of the Sub-Inspector, the Presbytery for the Roman Catholic Church and Dodds Hotel are other buildings erected, and chimneys, plastered walls and ceilings of his work are to be found throughout the Monaro.

In January 1870 Mr. Potter married Miss Catherine Campbell, niece of the late Mr. Wm Jardine of Curry Flat, and for several years thereafter resided in Cooma where his eldest son William was born. When he sold his property in Cooma he selected at Back Flat but soon sold his land there to Mr. J. Cosgrove. He next selected at Bobeyan, but about three years later he sold that property to Mr.A.A.McKeahne and bought Jones Plain where he resided until his death.

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