It was 165 years ago that the most publicised elopement in Australian history came to a heart-breaking end. I told a version of this story live on Ipswich’s West Bremer Radio.

On the 22nd of May 1861, Mr Henry Wells died in his lodging-house on Charlotte Street, Brisbane, Queensland. Today he’s buried under Lang Park, but back then it was the old Paddington Cemetery.

His DNA that dissipated into the Lang Park grass is all that remains, because until now his story hasn’t been told since.

Mr Wells was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England in 1813, came to the Australian colonies and lived in Tasmania for about 20 years. He was well-known as a coach driver and proprietor.

In Launceston in 1860, a little boy was run over by a coach driven by Mr Wells and was killed on the spot. Controversy raged when it was revealed that when the child was run over, Mr Wells pulled up just enough to see the child was picked up and then went on without waiting to see the condition of the poor child. Mr Wells said couldn’t see what good he could have done if he had stopped.

Mr Wells had his mind on other things. He was driving coaches for a Mr William Spearman who was the licensee of the Union Inn in Launceston, which necessitated spending time at the inn. A little too much time it seems, because he got to know Mrs Mary Ann Spearman quite well.

When Mr Wells died suddenly in Brisbane in 1861, there was an incredible amount of public interest. That’s because he was one half of an elopement that had made headlines in four Australian colonies for the previous four months. He was really big news.

Mr Wells had a wife, family, and property at Deloraine in Tasmania. His parents-in-law were a former convict and a part-Aboriginal woman, the daughter of the local chief Mannalargenna. He eloped with his boss’s wife, and as the woman also had a family, the betrayed boss and husband Mr Spearman was so enraged that he took measures with authorities to have the pair apprehended.

Mr Wells and Mrs Spearman, travelling under the assumed names of Mrs and Mrs Smith, eloped from Launceston to Melbourne and onto Sydney. It was in Sydney that Mr Wells was apprehended but was allowed out on bail. He promptly skipped bail and the couple continued onto Brisbane and opened a boarding house on Charlotte Street.

But Mr Wells was haunted by fears of apprehension by a detective he had heard was sent after him. He came to profoundly regret the disgrace he had brought on his children, and on Mrs Spearman. Then one day after returning from outside in the yard at Charlotte Street, Mr Wells spoke to Mrs Spearman, fell down on the sofa, and died without a struggle.

An inquest was held by Moreton Bay’s first coroner Dr Kearsey Cannan. The verdict was that Mr Wells had died from disease of the heart that was brought on by a nervous excitement, disgrace he had placed on his children and Mrs Spearman, and fear of arrest preying on his mind. In other words, of a nervous and broken heart, at the age of 48.

Mr Wells needn’t have worried about Mrs Spearman because the following year, Mrs Spearman’s daughter travelled up from Launceston to take her home. She promptly resumed her marriage and running the family businesses. Her shrewdness as a manageress and skill as bookkeeper were well-known. After her husband’s demise, Mrs Spearman continued as landlady of the Racecourse Hotel in Launceston until her retirement.

When Mary Ann Spearman passed away in 1892, her obituary made no mention of her elopement, or the heart-broken death of her lover – the whole romantic episode was simply forgotten.

Much like Henry Wells himself who is still buried under the turf of Lang Park today. The place is now Brisbane’s world-famous rugby league ground (pictured top of page).

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A VERSION OF THIS STORY TOLD ON WEST BREMER RADIO

Photo credits:
Suncorp Stadium- AUSTADIUMS website.
View over Paddington Cemetery towards Milton, Brisbane, c1870 – State Library of Queensland.
Portrait of Mannalargenna – National Library of New Zealand.
Charlotte Street from the corner of George Street, Brisbane, during the 1864 flood – State Library of Queensland.
Dr Kearsey Cannan – State Library of Queensland.