Colonel JEN Bull was one of the most influential people on the Victorian goldfields in the 19th century. He was a real man of the times – Imperial soldier, social reformer, engineer, magistrate, goldfields administrator and civic leader. As a goldfields leader in 1853 he was faced with a rebellion by disgruntled miners. By treating the miners with respect he headed off a Eureka style outbreak, unlike his counterpart in Ballarat. Bull was a major influence on the development of central Victoria and is known as the father of Castlemaine.
Published September 1, 2026