Bridget Goodwin, also known as Little Biddy, Biddy of the Buller and Biddy the fossicker, was born in Ireland some time between 1802 and 1827. She was a goldminer who worked mainly in the Buller area of the West Coast. Only 4 feet tall, she arrived in New Zealand in the mid-1860s, after mining in Australia. She worked at Collingwood for some time then made her way to the Buller area, living and working with two male goldminers. They lived at or near Lyell for some time in the 1880s and early 1890s. She died in Reefton Hospital on 19 October 1899, with her age at death given variously as 72, 86 and 96 years. Death registration gives her age at death as 72 years [Source: Online historical BDM]
Goodwin, Bridget, -1899
Goodwin, Biddy, -1899
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Godfrey, Frederick Frankland :Old Biddy. New Zealand graphic [1891]
Date: 1891
From: New Zealand Graphic. [Auckland, N.Z., 1890-1908]
By: New Zealand Graphic and Ladies' Journal; Godfrey, Frederick Frankland, active 1890s
Reference: PUBL-0126-1891-169
Description: A standing frontal view of a short middle-aged woman, Bridget Goodwin, a pipe in her mouth, a pick in her right hand, a gold pan in her left. Bridget Goodwin, Irish-born, and only 4 feet tall, mined in Australia then sailed for New Zealand, arriving in the 1860s. She mined in the Collingwood area, then the Buller River area, including Lyell in the 1880s and 1890s. She died at Reefton in October 1899. Extended Title - From New Zealand graphic, No. 29, 1891, p. 169 Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s). Physical Description: Wood engraving, on page of newspaper