▁gold ▁r ush , ▁arriv ing ▁in ▁Victoria ▁in ▁ 1 8 5 2 . ▁They ▁were ▁partners ▁in ▁a ▁gold ▁claim ▁in ▁Be ech worth , ▁Victoria . ▁ ▁Bu ilder ▁and ▁contract or ▁ ▁They ▁formed ▁a ▁partners hip ▁" Smith ▁& ▁B anks ", ▁build ers ▁and ▁contract ors ▁of ▁Wang ar atta ▁and ▁Be ech worth ▁in ▁ 1 8 5 7 , ▁eng aging ▁in ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁public ▁contract s ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁bridge ▁over ▁the ▁Edward ▁River ▁at ▁Den ili quin , ▁extensions ▁to ▁Be ech worth ▁prison , ▁and ▁built ▁the ▁hospital ▁and ▁Pres by ter ian ▁church ▁in ▁Be ech worth . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 7 2 ▁they ▁purchased ▁a ▁saw mill ▁at ▁Bar na w ath a ▁to ▁supply ▁sleep ers ▁for ▁the ▁rapidly ▁adv ancing ▁railway . ▁The ▁saw mill ▁was ▁destroyed ▁by ▁fire ▁in ▁ 1 8 7 5 . ▁ ▁River bo ats ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁partner ▁in ▁Smith ▁& ▁Harris ▁( 1 8 6 3 – 1 8 6 6 ) ▁then ▁Smith ▁& ▁B anks ▁( 1 8 6 5 ); ▁they ▁acted ▁as ▁a ▁local ▁agent ▁for ▁Murray ▁& ▁Jackson , ▁two ▁Americans ▁who ▁ran ▁the ▁stern - w heel ▁p addle - ste am ers ▁S ett ler , ▁Lady ▁Dal y ▁and ▁Lady ▁Dar ling , ▁in ▁which ▁he ▁had ▁a ▁financial ▁interest . ▁Smith ▁& ▁B anks ▁then ▁built ▁their ▁own ▁ste amer , ▁the ▁Te vi ot ▁at ▁W ah