Lonely Grave of Thomas Whyte

Thomas Whyte - Miner

Thomas arrived in Melbourne during September 1850 and become a shopkeeper at 6 Collins Street presumably selling gift-ware including clocks, jewellery and smokers' pipes which is brother shipped out to him. From letters he wrote to his wife, 2 children, his sisters and brother in Edinburgh the business was suffering because of the exodus of people going to the gold rushes at Bathurst, Ballarat and Bendigo. It was not known when Thomas reached Wedderburn but it is known that his grave was dug very close to his tent. 

William Cosh signed an Affidavit in the presence of Hal Webster JP which stated that he noticed Mr. Whyte was ailing and passed away on July 21, 1855, he was buried the next day with the help of Richard Donaldson and William Martin.

The Affidavit also contained the observation that Mr. Whyte was 5 ft 7 inches tall, had a ruddy complexion and a prominent nose.