CAPTAIN JOHN EGGE
FROM SHANGAI TO THE DARLING RIVER
WENTWORTH PIONEER
John Egge
was born in Shanghai, around 1830, at the age of 16 came to Australia as a crew
member of the vessel. In1856 Egge bought land at Goolwa in SA and leased property on
Hindmarsh Island and here he met Mary Perring and he and Mary married at St
Jude's Church of England, Port Elliott, on 8 April, 1857. In 1859 John and Mary
came to settle in the new town of Wentworth and had eight children. In 1861, he
opened a bakery and in 1863 a butcher shop, and had a boarding-house
constructed, which proved a sound investment. Around 1866 he chartered his
first river-boat, the PS Treviot, and began his successful venture into
river-trading. He acquired the two further vessels and by the early 1870s Egge
was established as one of the biggest traders on the Murray-Darling and his
onshore business interests had expanded at the same rate as his river trade. At
various times he ran a general store in town as well as a store on the wharf,
which supplied station properties with bulk goods and served as a depot for his
boats. he leased or owned four hotels over the years, and owned residences and
property as well as holding shares in various companies. In 1891 John Egge
reconstructed SS Murrumbidgee as a floating departments store. Egge
was hugely popular and highly respected all along the rivers. His integrity,
generosity and business acumen inspired admiration even at a time of
anti-Chinese feeling in Australia. He did adopt totally the European ways,
clothes and was known as a hard
Wentworth is 30 km from Mildura and where the Darling River meeets the Murray River. It is a historic old town and worthy of a visit.. Mildura is a good base and it is recommend that you stay at.
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