John Bingle

John Bingle was born on 15 May 1796[1] in Gillingham, Kent, England.[2] He was the only surviving son of John Rayden Bingle.[1] He was educated at Chatham.[1] He was employed in the naval dockyard from 1812 to 1817 when he joined the merchant marine, namely the East India Company.[1][2]

Bingle arrived in Australia at the age of 25 as a second officer on the convict ship Minerva on 16 December 1821.[3] Soon after, he went to Lake Macquarie with Rev. George Augustus Middleton.[3]

In January 1822 received instruction from Governor Brisbane to proceed on the ship Sally to Port Macquarie then to sail to search for a large river that was believed to exist between Port Macquarie and Sandy Cape.[3] He was commissioned by Governor to go as far as Moreton Bay.[1] He failed to discover fresh water but received permission to build a vessel for trade with Newcastle.[1]

He acquired 1800 acres of land which he named Puen Buen in 1820s.[3] He became a squatter on property which is located at Dartbrook.[2] Drought caused him to sell his land and start businesses in Newcastle.[2] Later he sold his land to John Robertson.[3]

He became business partners with Robert Coram Dillon and established a business at No.2 Watt Street, Newcastle.[3] His business was dissolved in 1824.[3] Bingle & Co established the first regular trading service between Sydney and Newcastle in 1822, carrying coal, cedar and merchandise in the Sally.[1] Bingle sold his interest in venture after convicts stole his ship, the Eclipse.[1] Five years after selling Puen Buen, he became director of two banks, a member of the diocesan committee of Christ Church and chairman of the Exchange.[1]

After he retired from His Majesty's services he applied for leave to build a vessel for the coal called the Eclipse.[2] He worked as magistrate and was famous for catching a bushranger in Scone.[2] He built the first courthouse in 1832 in Scone.[1] He became the first chairman of the chamber of commerce in 1856.[2] He designed the coat of arms of the City of Newcastle and had a key role in the adoption of the New South Wales flag.[2] The first telegraph from Sydney to Newcastle on 11 January 1860 was sent from his office.[1]

In August 1824 in Hobart Bingle married Mary Cross.[1] They had a son and two daughters.[1] He gave many donations to church and hospital funds.[1] He moved his family to England in 1837,[1] but returned to Australia in 1842.[3]

Bingle died on 10 April 1882 at age 80.[3] He was highly respected in Newcastle and flags were flown at half-mast in his honour.[3] He was buried in the Christ Church graveyard.[1]

• Colonial Secretary's papers 1822-1877, State Library of Queensland- includes digitised letters written by Bingle to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales