{{Short description|Prospector in Tasmania, Australia}} {{About|the Tasmanian prospector|the American writer|Frank Belknap Long}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2022}} '''Frank Long''' was a trackcutter and prospector. In 1882 he discovered the [[Zeehan]]-Dundas silver-lead field on the [[West Coast, Tasmania|West Coast]] of [[Tasmania]].
==Life and career== Frank Long was Tasmanian, born to ex-convicts in [[Launceston, Tasmania|Launceston]] around 1844. He spent his early years in [[Campbell Town, Tasmania|Campbell Town]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Nic |last= Haygarth |title=The Companion to Tasmanian History - Frank Long |url=https://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/L/Frank%20Long.htm|website=[[University of Tasmania]] |access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref> Long was a member of Charles Sprent's [[Mount Heemskirk]] expedition in 1876 and was known as a hardy and strong bushman.
===Discovery of the Zeehan-Dundas Silver-Lead Field=== Long discovered deposits of silver and lead in the Zeehan-Dundas silver-lead field. A nearby encampment grew, and the Mount Zeehan Post Office opened on 1 August 1888. Although Long's mineral discoveries generated wealth for many people, his later years were affected by [[rheumatism]] and [[alcoholism]]. The community of Zeehan helped Long secure a government pension so he could live out his days in dignity.<ref>{{cite news |first= Lachlan |last=Bennett |title=Saving the Silver City: Zeehan's plan to survive and thrive |url=https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/6867054/saving-the-silver-city-zeehans-plan-to-survive-and-thrive/ |publisher=[[The Advocate (Tasmania)|The Advocate]] |date=10 August 2020 |access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref> Long was known as "the father of Zeehan" when he died in 1908.
==Legacy== The Frank Long Memorial at Zeehan received $5,000 upgrade in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |first= Lachlan |last=Bennett |title=Frank Long memorial at Zeehan receives $5000 upgrade |url=https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/5464349/memorial-for-the-father-of-zeehan-receives-5000-upgrade/ |publisher=[[The Advocate (Tasmania)|The Advocate]] |date=12 June 2018 |access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref>
==Further reading== * {{cite book| author=Blainey, Geoffrey| title=The Peaks of Lyell | edition=6th | publisher=St. David's Park Publishing | location=Hobart| year=2000| isbn=0-7246-2265-9}} * Haygarth, N. ''Frank Long'' in Alexander (ed.) The Companion to Tasmanian History. 2005. {{ISBN|1-86295-223-X}} p. 220
==See also== * [[Thomas Bather Moore]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Long, Frank}} [[Category:Colony of Tasmania people]] [[Category:Zeehan]]