Thomas Hedley was born in Egtown, Ottawa, Canada in 1831. His grand parents had been indentured servants who had arrived in Canada in 1819 from Northumberland, England. He migrated to Australia via the USA and arrived in Port Phillip on the sailing vessel "Sacsusa" on the 4th of April 1853.

Thomas married Catherine Whiteford in Wangaratta in January 1856. Catherine was born in Dublin, Ireland and according to family oral history, arrived in the Colony onboard an "Irish Bride Ship".

Thomas Hedley worked in the Goldfields all his life and became a respected mining engineer and inventor. Thomas and Catherine raised eleven children in and around Stanley and Heathcote in central Victoria.

Catherine Whiteford (1835-1909)                  Thomas Hedley (1831-1916)          

Thomas and Catherine are buried in the Yackandandah Cemetery. 

A very early photograph of the Hedley family which had been sent back to Thomas' parents in Canada. The girl in the photo is possibly Margaret Anne who died of scarlet fever aged seven. This would date this photograph at about 1864.

To see the descendants of Thomas Hedley please click on the link below: