Obituaries Australia

Henry Gore, n.d.

photograph privately sourced

Deep regret was felt by the many friends of Mr Henry Gore, CE, Ex M.L.C., in the Creswick district, and in mining circles generally, at the announcement of his death, which occurred at Northcote on Sunday, after a long and painful illness. The deceased was 68 years of age.

The late Mr Gore was especially well-known and esteemed in the Creswick district. As a youth he was in the Government Roads and Bridges department, and was subsequently appointed engineer to the Creswick Shire. In this position he was brought into contact generally with the residents of the district. He was a popular and efficient officer, and did good work for the shire. His son, Mr William Henry Gore, was appointed to the position on his father’s retirement, and has since worthily carried out the duties.

The late Mr Henry Gore was very widely known owing to his extensive mining connection. He was one of the pioneers when the great rush broke out at Spring Hill, and was prominently identified as a shareholder or director in many of the leading mines on the famous Berry lead. Some few years ago he was associated professionally with the attempt made to open up the northern section of the Berry gutter at Moolort by the Victorian Gold Estates Limited. The deceased gentleman also interested himself in mining in the Ballarat, Maryborough, Rutherglen, and Gippsland districts, and at various times acted as a director upon the boards of many companies, both alluvial and quartz. He maintained in later years his keen interest in the industry, and at the time of his death was a leading member of the Victorian Council of Mines.

The late Mr Gore throughout his career kept in touch with public affairs, and in consequence secured election to the Legislative Council for the Wellington Province (since merged into the Nelson Province), a district which he represented for many years [1886-92]. One of the most notable incidents of the career of the deceased was his famous election contest with Mr T. W. Wanliss about 22 years ago. Mr Gore and Mr Wanliss stood for the Wellington Province in the Legislative Council, and a close contest resulted in Mr Gore being elected by one vote. The late Mr Gore was a member of the first Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, and his engineering knowledge proved a great assistance to that body. He was also appointed with Mr Stuart Murray, late Chief Engineer of Water Supply, a royal commissioner to inquire into the condition of the water and irrigation trusts of Victoria and the national head works, and in that capacity he performed valuable work for the State.

By the death of Mr Henry Gore the sport of coursing in Victoria has lost one of its oldest and most prominent patrons. The deceased sportsman was intimately identified with the leash since its initiation in 1873, and at the time of his death he was treasurer to the Victoria Coursing Club. Mr Gore enjoyed a large share of success as a public courser. His first important victory was in the Victoria Waterloo Cup (of 500 sovs, and silver collar to the winner) of 1877, when the event was run over the boulder strewn paddocks at Diggers’ Rest; and Gitana, a first season bitch, proved her superiority over 63 opponents. That was in the halcyon days of open coursing, before it degenerated into a 'parlour' sport and the heavy gambling associated with the 'plumpton' style of dog racing. The blue ribbon triumph which Mr Gore achieved on the open was repeated on the famous oval at Diggers’ Rest with Good News in 1889, when the winner’s share was 400 sovs. Good News made a bold bid for the Waterloo Cup the year following, when she ran up to the Western district dog Referee. Only a week previously she ran third to Red Hind II, at Moonee Valley in the Australian Champion Stakes of 1320 sovs, the richest greyhound event ever run for in Australia. It was for 80 all ages at 10 guineas each, with 625 sovs added by the late Mr W. S. Cox. The winner’s share was 700 sovs.; the runner up 220 sovs; and the third dog 100 sovs. Coursing was at that period at the high mark of its prosperity. Of the many good greyhounds owned by Mr Gore, Gitana and Good News were the best. The deceased sportsman’s familiar personality will be greatly missed at the Moonee Valley meetings of the approaching season. Although he took a keen interest in the old-fashioned sport right up to the last, Mr Gore discontinued breeding greyhounds some years ago, but occasionally he nominated at Moonee Valley, one of the last dogs to run for him being Delegate, who ran up to the great Bulwark in the Waterloo Cup at Moonee Valley in 1906.

The funeral took place on the arrival of the midday train from Ballarat on Monday afternoon, the remains being interred in the Creswick Cemetery. The coffin-bearers were Messrs W. B. Grose, J. Oxley, T. Cushing, A. G. Wallace, A. Johnson, and H. Stahmer; and the pall-bearers were Sir Alexander Peacock, M.L.A., Cr T. Parkin (President of Creswick Shire), and Messrs D. Steele, G. Maughan, J. Parkin, and T. M. Haines. The funeral was a private one. The grave is close to those of Cr John Parkin and Mr W. P. Jones, the well-known mining manager, with both of whom deceased was so intimately associated. The Revs. Arnold (Creswick) and Snell (Kingston) officiated at the grave.