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John Fraser Flockhart (1855–1907)

by Peter D. Gardner

This article was published:

This entry is from People Australia

John Fraser Flockhart (1855-1907) coalminer, trade union leader

Birth: 1855 at Fryers Creek, Victoria, son of Robert Flockhart (1828-1870?), miner, and Mary, née Comrie (1827-1864). His parents had been born in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and married at Wirral, Cheshire, England. Marriage: 1877 Victoria, to Tasmanian-born Susannah Jane Hender (1853-1926). They had no children. Death: 20 December 1907 at his residence in Korumburra, Victoria. Religion: Baptist. 

  • Parents arrived at Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, on 28 May 1853.
  • Lived for a time at Eaglehawk.
  • Miner at Korumburra, Victoria. Founding member of Coal Creek Accident Friendly Society in 1894. And was either secretary or treasurer of the society for the ten years of its life until it disbanded during 1903 coal strike to release funds for miners on strike.
  • Secretary of Coal Creek Miners’ Association from 1902 to 1904. As a moderate, he was involved in the first attempt to have striking miners re-employed at Coal Creek mine. Left district after owners' continued insistence that strikers would not be re-employed until they had signed non-union agreements. Worked in Tasmania or New South Wales for about 18 months.
  • After returning to Victoria he gave evidence to 1906 Royal Commission on miners' wages & conditions. Died following year.
  • Active member of the United Ancient Order of Druids Korumburra lodge.
  • Cause of death: pulmonary tuberculosis and exhaustion.

Sources
Coal Creek Accident Friendly Society Records, Public Record Office, Victoria; Outtrim News; Great Southern Advocate; Korumburra Times; Tocsin (Melbourne); P. D. Gardner, Too old to rat: the radical miners of South Gippsland 1893-1904 (Ensay, Victoria, 1994).

Original Publication

Related Entries in NCB Sites

Citation details

Peter D. Gardner, 'Flockhart, John Fraser (1855–1907)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://labouraustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/flockhart-john-fraser-33626/text42068, accessed 28 April 2025.

© Copyright Labour Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1855
Fryers Creek, Victoria, Australia

Death

20 December, 1907 (aged ~ 52)
Korumburra, Victoria, Australia

Cause of Death

tuberculosis

Cultural Heritage

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