Family of Bill and Liz Lanham of Wellington St., Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
William Stephen Stamford Martin Lanham son of William Stephen Martin Lanham and Maria Leviston
12 Jun 1858 Smythes Creek, Victoria, Australia - 17 Jul 1930 Fitzgerald, Tasmania Australia
Index to Births, Deaths & Marriages in "The Examiner", Volume 4, 1926-1930 , Age given as 72); Husband of Elizabeth LANHAM, 18th & 19th July 1930 Editions.
Carr Villa Memorial Park Trust, Burial & Cremation Records 1905 - 2001 , Age given as (72), B7/234 - [1/2].
married 17 Apr 1886 in Launceston Tasmania Australia
Tasmanian Pioneer Index 1803 - 1899 , Groom's age given as (26), Bride's as (21), 1886/604/37.
Elizabeth Susan Williams daughter of John Williams and Elizabeth Gooding
17 September 1866 Campbelltown, Tasmania, Australia - 14 Jan 1968 at Cosgrove Park, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Barney, Tom, Ron, Clarrie and Nell Lanham
Bill and Liz Lanham
Alfred John "Barney" Lanham 9 Dec 1888 in Lefroy Tasmania Australia - 1956 in Victoria Australia
Thomas Stephen "Tom or Paddy" Lanham 19 May 1889 in Lefroy Tasmania Australia - 24 Jun 1964 in Launceston Tasmania Australia
William David Stamford Lanham 9 Sep 1891 in Lefroy Tasmania Australia - 18 Mar 1892 in Lefroy Tasmania Australia
David Stamford Lanham 19 Mar 1893 in LefroyTasmania Australia - 11 Aug 1893 in LefroyTasmania Australia
Clarence George Lanham 25 Sep 1898 in LefroyTasmania Australia - 1965 in Collingwood Victoria Australia
Ronald William "Ron" Lanham 21 Jul 1902 in Lefroy Tasmania Australia - 7 May 1953 in Launceston Tasmania Australia
Ellen Elizabeth "Nell" Lanham 17 Sep 1906 in Launceston Tasmania Australia - 29 Mar 1973 in Melbourne Victoria Australia
Prior to his death Bill Lanham had been living and working alongside his son and daughter-in-law, Tom & Bella Lanham at Adamsfield, Tasmania
In July 1925 the local paper announced the Stacey Brothers of the Tasman Peninsula had discovered Osmiridium at Adams Rivulet in the south-east of Tasmania. So began the story of Adamsfield, a mining camp that soon became home to over 2000 workers and yet was abandoned within thirty years of settlement.
The towns of Adamsfield and Gordonvale were built to house the miners, their families and associated businesses resulting from the discovery and mining of Osmiridium, a mineral worth approximatley seven times that of gold in the decades leading up to the second world war. Osmiridium, a naturally occuring mineral, was used to manufacture fountain pen nibs, poisonous gases and jewellery. It was also used for medical and dental purposes and later in the electronics industry.
At the time of Bill's death the population of Adamsfield was about 1500
The stroy of Adamsfield may be found on the Adamsfield pages still under construction
Adamsfield, Tasmania, Australia,
Latitude/Longitude: -42.855342/146.234039
To travel in and out of Adamsfield it was necessary to go by horse. Very small carts but the way was very rough and not well defined. When an inhabitant was hurt they were carried out on gurneys by a team of men. So it was with Bill Lanham.
The following verse was penned by M. J. O'Reilly "Mulga Mick" and is included in his book "The Pinnacle Road" printed by The Monotone Art printers Pty Ltd. Liverpool St, Hobart Tasmania in 1936
An Old Prospector Goes West
(the following lines have ben penned in memory of Bill Lanham, a genuine old prospector who died on the track while being carried out from Adamsfield)
Vale, old friend we sadly miss you, and your cheery smiles;
We little thought the Reaper was so nigh,
As e trudged along behind you through those long and weary miles
From Adamsfield along the corduroy.
For forty years or longer you have chased the rainbow's end,
In mining fields you've borne an honest name;
and thousands of us Diggers were ever proud to call you friend
Because we knew you always played the game
Now we know St Peter will greet you and be glad your face to see,
In that land where all are happy gay and bright,
As he greets all dinkum diggers, whate'er their creed may be,
and their only passport is their Miner's Rights.
When Old Admsfield is finished and the pioneers are gone,
and we Ossie Diggers all have passsed away;
Our children's childrens voices will be raised in praise of one
Whom with aching hearts we mourn for, here today.
(the corduroy track was created by lining logs up over the swampy road
Digger is a name coined after 25 April 1915 to refer to the bravery and intrepedness of Australians )
The years after her husband's death Liz, Mar as she was known to not only us, her descendants but all who knew her thorugh her gracery store in Wellington Rd, Launceston. (nowadays a Coles supermarket is on the corner of Balfour St and Wellington Rd). She kept herself busy taking into her care my mother Betty Lanham and brother Mick (Ivo) Lanham. They lived with "Mar' for six years while their parents, Tom and Belle Lanham continued at Adamsfield.
Elizabeth Susan Lanham nee Williams a Great grand-daughter to First Fleeters Andrew Goodwin and Lydia Munro died in Jan 1968 at 102 years 'young' . She continued being 'busy', crocheting and knitting
She celebrated her 100th birthday at a party with relatives from all over Australia at Cosgrove Park, Launceston Tasmania Australia
Elizabeth Susan Lanham nee Williams on the 17th September 1966
with 5 generations of women
Great grand-daughter Cheryl Ellis (nee Moore) nursing great, great grand daughter Michelle Ellis (daughter of Alan & Cheryl Ellis), grand-daughter Betty Moore (nee Lanham), great grandson Mikael Moore (son of Bert & Betty Moore) , daughter-in-law Isabella Lanham (nee Crawford)
This page is created by Gailea
Po Box 2368, Ascot, Qld, 4011
