William Coupland
| First name | William |
|---|---|
| Last name | Coupland |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 1837 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1859 |
| Submitted by | William Coupland |
Story
William Coupland was featured in a commemorative volume “The Aldine Centennial History of New South Wales” compiled in two volumes by W.Frederic Morrison in 1888. At that time William was a storekeeper in Tamworth.The History reports that William Coupland was born in York, England in 1837. He was educated there and learned his business of an ironmonger there. He married Sarah Harrop, daughter of John Harrop of Liverpool in 1858.
In 1859, under an engagement to Iredale and Co., he came to Sydney to take charge of their furnishing department. He stayed with this firm until 1866 when he opened his own business in West Maitland which he carried on successfully until 1871. He then sold out and devoted himself to investing in Mining and in particular the Mount Sheba Co. which mined for gold at Nundle and built dams for sluicing of gold at Hanging Rock. The Dam there is still called the Sheba Dam.
In 1877 he established a store in Tamworth, became active in Public affairs, and was elected an Alderman of Tamworth in1888. He remained active in Mining and invested at Woods Reef near Barraba and explored Diamond mining near Inverell. In The Aldine History of New South Wales it is stated that “he has done a great deal towards developing the mining resources of the district, and is honorary secretary of a number of important mining associations.”
William and Sarah Coupland lived on in Tamworth, had five children, two girls and three boys. Sarah died in 1906 and William is thought to have died in 1909.