William Henry Corbould was a prominent figure in the development of Australia's mining industry, especially in Broken Hill NSW and Mt. Isa Queensland.
His contribution is recorded in the book Broken Hill to Mt Isa^, based on WHC's diaries, edited by Ian Hore-Lacy, one of his grandsons. A copy of the cover of the book is shown at right.
When the first BHP smelter was opened and blown-in on 6 May 1886, WHC was in the company's assay office at the time the furnace discharged its first slag and then the silver bullion. A sample of the silver was rushed to Walter Bechervaise and WHC for assaying. WHC wrote in his diary that he kept a piece of this first bullion and later gave it to William Lawrence Baillieu in Melbourne many years later (see p35^).
Amongst possessions still within the family is a small solid silver badge or brooch with a hand-engraved monogram comprising the initials A, E and C and the words Barrier Silver Christmas 1887. It is possible that the badge (see right) was made from the first silver bullion, and presented by W H Corbould to his sister Ada Elizabeth Corbould b.1873 as a Christmas gift in 1887.
More details concerning the work of W H Corbould can be read at the University of Ballarat website.
William Henry Corbould had four children:
Violet Una Corbould b.1898 London, died in infancy
Evelyn Una Corbould b.1902 in Perth WA
Eric Henry (Bill) Corbould b.1909 in Sydney
Harold Edward (Ted) Corbould b.1909 in Sydney (twin of Eric Henry, and after
whom Corbould Park Raceway is named)
WHC travelled extensively throughout his lifetime, and died in Monaco on 16 March 1949.
WHC wrote to his father William about the death of Edward Henry Corbould RI, who had been the drawing instructor of Kaiser Wilhelm's mother, Princess Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria. The date of the letter is not certain; it was written sometime between 1905 and 1914.
^From Broken Hill to Mt Isa
- The Mining Odyssey of W H Corbould, edited and annotated by Ian
Hore-Lacey - 1981 - ISBN 0 908090 42 0
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