About James Nash
Lived 1834 – 1913 (aged 79). James Nash was an Australian explorer.
James Nash (5 September 1834 – 5 October 1913) is popularly acknowledged as the first person to discover gold in 1867, in the area of Queensland, Australia now known as Gympie. thumb
Nash was born in Beanacre, Wiltshire, England, and migrated to Sydney, New South Wales, at the age of 23. In 1863 he moved to Queensland, working at Calliope and Nanango. Nash found rich gold deposits on an extended prospecting tour in 1867 near the Mary River, and his report on 16 October started 'one of the wildest rushes in Queensland history'.
Nash died in Gympie, Queensland on 5 October 1913.
Legacy James Nash State High School in Gympie (opened in 1977) and the Electoral district of Nash (in the Gympie area) are named for him.
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Important facts
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped James Nash's
Frequently asked questions
Who was James Nash?
Australian gold discoverer
When was James Nash born?
James Nash was born on 5 September 1834.
When did James Nash die?
James Nash died on 5 October 1913.
What was James Nash's occupation?
James Nash was an explorer.
What nationality was James Nash?
James Nash was Australian.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: James Nash (prospector)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Nash. https://biography.guide/james-nash-explorer/
MLA: "James Nash." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-nash-explorer/.
Chicago: "James Nash." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-nash-explorer/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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