Heber Going Loten

Heber Going Loten is buried in Taree Estate Private Cemetery. He claimed a family connection to Dutchman Joan (John) Gideon Loten,¹ a long-time friend of the eminent botanist Joseph Banks.²

Heber was born into comfortable circumstances in Essex, England in June 1824. By 1842 he had become a sailor like his elder brother, John, who was much travelled.³

In 1847, in London, Heber married Katherine Darling Burgh: the couple lived in a residence attached to their shop in London’s Albany Street, selling Berlin Wool. This venture ended badly the following year when a gas explosion destroyed the building.⁴

In 1854, with brother John now in Australia, Heber was lured by the gold rush. Arriving in Sydney in October 1854, he and John tried their luck (unsuccessfully) at the Tuena diggings.⁵ Katherine and two children joined Heber the next year to learn the sad news of John’s suicide.⁶

Both Heber and Katherine found work in the school system and, in 1861, Heber transferred to Purfleet hoping the country air would benefit his wife’s health. Tragically, Katherine died in 1862 leaving Heber a widower with five children.⁷

He later purchased land on Cabbage Tree Island,⁸ worked as a doctor, told stories of his past (somewhat exaggerated) and wrote poetry. He eventually moved to his daughter’s house on Mitchells Island where he died in 1917.⁹

Author: Penny Teerman