John Connolly (prospector)

John Francis Connolly (1860–1928) was an Australian prospector and mine owner. Born in Victoria, he prospected and owned mines in New South Wales. He discovered a platinum field at Fifield before joining the gold rush to Cossack, Western Australia in 1889. He discovered the Nannine gold field the following year, and was rewarded by the Government of Western Australia with £500. Later, he prospected in New Guinea and New Zealand. He died in 1928, and is buried in Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australia.