John Bingle

John Bingle was born on 15 May 1796^[1] in Gillingham, Kent, England.^[2] He was the only surviving son of John Rayden Bingle.^[1] He was educated at Chatham.^[1] He was employed in the naval dockyard from 1812 to 1817 when he joined the merchant marine, namely the East India Company.^[1][2]

Bingle arrived in Australia at the age of 25 as a second officer on the convict ship Minerva on 16 December 1821.^[3] Soon after, he went to Lake Macquarie with Rev. George Augustus Middleton.^[3]

In January 1822 received instruction from Governor Brisbane to proceed on the ship Sally to Port Macquarie then to sail to search for a large river that was believed to exist between Port Macquarie and Sandy Cape.^[3] He was commissioned by Governor to go as far as Moreton Bay.^[1] He failed to discover fresh water but received permission to build a vessel for trade with Newcastle.^[1]

He acquired 1800 acres of land which he named Puen Buen in 1820s.^[3] He became a squatter on property which is located at Dartbrook.^[2] Drought caused him to sell his land and start businesses in Newcastle.^[2] Later he sold his land to John Robertson.^[3]

He became business partners with Robert Coram Dillon and established a business at No.2 Watt Street, Newcastle.^[3] His business was dissolved in 1824.^[3] Bingle & Co established the first regular trading service between Sydney and Newcastle in 1822, carrying coal, cedar and merchandise in the Sally.^[1] Bingle sold his interest in venture after convicts stole his ship, the Eclipse.^[1] Five years after selling Puen Buen, he became director of two banks, a member of the diocesan committee of Christ Church and chairman of the Exchange.^[1]

After he retired from His Majesty's services he applied for leave to build a vessel for the coal called the Eclipse.^[2] He worked as magistrate and was famous for catching a bushranger in Scone.^[2] He built the first courthouse in 1832 in Scone.^[1] He became the first chairman of the chamber of commerce in 1856.^[2] He designed the coat of arms of the City of Newcastle and had a key role in the adoption of the New South Wales flag.^[2] The first telegraph from Sydney to Newcastle on 11 January 1860 was sent from his office.^[1]