Taken in 1960, depicted is the construction of Lake Sambell, looking west across the lake. Lake Sambell is a beautiful Victorian recreation lake and urban park with a unique history. It was created in the mid-1800s by the Rocky Mountain Mining company during the gold rush era and used as a mining site until the early 1900s, which brought Europeans into the area. It was turned into a reserve for residents in 1920 and is considered an icon of Beechworth as it represents the development of the community, human endeavour, and the spirit of the landscape.This photograph represents additional construction to Lake Sambell as a recreational reserve.Black and white reproduced rectangular photograph print on paper.beechworth lake, lake, lake sambell, construction, #beechworth, australian landscape, beechworth 1960s, victoria

Taken in 1920, depicted are four people in a rowing boat on Lake Sambell, Beechworth. From left to right, it is believed that the names of the people are Eric Beard, Mrs Doris Beard, and S/L to Bert Beard. The last two figures are unknown. Lake Sambell is a beautiful Victorian recreation lake and urban park with a unique history. It was created in the mid-1800s by the Rocky Mountain Mining company during the gold rush era and used as a mining site until the early 1900s, which brought Europeans into the area. It was turned into a reserve for residents in 1920 and is considered an icon of Beechworth as it represents the development of the community, human endeavour, and the spirit of the landscape.This photograph represents the community's social use of the lake in 1920.Black and white rectangular photograph print on paper.Reverse: LAKE SAMBELL/ c 1920/ from LTOR/ 1 ERIC? - BERT'S SON/ 2 MRS DORIS BEARD/ 3 S/L TO BERT BEARD/ 4 #beechworth, lake sambell, lake sambell boating, beechworth lake, social, 1920, victoria

Aerial view of Lake Sambell, Beechworth with town views. Lake Sambell is a beautiful Victorian recreation lake and urban park with a unique history. It was created in the mid-1800s by the Rocky Mountain Mining company during the gold rush era and used as a mining site until the early 1900s, which brought Europeans into the area. It was turned into a reserve for residents in 1920 and is considered an icon of Beechworth as it represents the development of the community, human endeavour, and the spirit of the landscape.This photograph represents Lake Sambell with town views.Black and white reproduced rectangular photograph print on paper.Reverse: Stampbeechworth lake, lake sambell, aerial photo, construction, australian landscape, #beechworth, victoria

Beechworth Town Hall was designed by architects J.J. Coe and Thomas Dalziel and is dated to 1859. The building was made of granite and constructed to local builders Donald and William Fiddes. The original front to the building was replaced by a two story facade in 1889 designed by George Jobbins and built by Thomas Sandham according to a plaque on the front. The Town Hall is remarkable for its vaulted ceilings and columns. Originally the building was used as the Shire Offices but also doubled as a fire station and a courthouse, with still surviving cells underneath. Among the inmates was notorious bushranger Harry Power who was originally transported to Van Dieman’s Land for stealing a pair of shoes. He gained his freedom six years later but spent time in and out of gaol for the rest of his life for a variety of offences including a number of armed robberies. The Town Hall is now home to the Visitor Information Centre which helps visitors with amongst other things, accommodation, tours, event enquiries, and is the commencement point for Precinct walking tours. The Beechworth Town Hall is one of five distinctive granite buildings on Ford Street that comprise the Justice Precinct. It is of considerable historical significance as activity on the site dates from Australia’s gold rush period and was the administrative centre for north-eastern Victoria. The building has seen continual use from 1858 as an important public building and displays many aspects of the history of law enforcement in Victoria. The building is also of substantial architectural significance for its construction from local honey coloured granite, which also showcases early stone masonry techniques and craftsmanship. The Precinct is listed on the Victorian Heritage register and is protected by Heritage Victoria under the Victorian Heritage Act 2017. The buildings are also registered by the National Estate, the National Trust and protected by Indigo Shire Council’s Planning Scheme. Black and White rectangular postcard printed on cardReverse: 1906-1910?beechworth, beechworth town hall, town hall, jj coe, thomas dalziel, granite, beechworth historic building, courthouse, cells, geoge jobbins, thomas sandham, 1859, 1889, walking tours, beechworth historic precinct, historic precinct, harry power, bushranger, australian bushrangers, van dieman's land, transportation, armed robberies

Although it is not known where these specimens were collected, Victoria and other regions of Australia were surveyed for sites of potential mineral wealth throughout the 19th Century. The identification of sites containing valuable commodities such as gold, iron ore and gemstones in a locality had the potential to shape the development and history of communities and industries in the area. The discovery of gold in Victoria, for instance, had a significant influence on the development of the area now known as 'the goldfields', including Beechworth; the city of Melbourne and Victoria as a whole. Agate occurs when amygdales (gas pockets) form in the upper levels of basaltic lava flows. If these pockets or bubbles are iniltrated by water bearing silica in solution, the fluid dries and hardens in layers, forming round or egg shaped nodules or geodes within the rocky matrix. Agate is formed of a silica mineral chalcedony similar to quartz. The term carnelian primarily refers to the reddish shading of the stone; whether the stone is termed an agate or chalcedony type is often influenced by the degree of colour banding the specimen shows. The specimens are significant as examples of surveying activity undertaken to assess and direct the development of the mineral resource industries in Victoria and Australia, as well as the movement to expand human knowledge of earth sciences such as mineralogy and geology in the nineteenth century.Three small geological specimens that appear visually consistent with images of rough or unpolished Carnelian Agate or Chalcedony. geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, north-east victoria, gemstones, agate, carnelian

Dolomite is a mineral, calcium magnesium carbonate, with the chemical formula CaMg(CO3)2. It is a principle component of various rock types sometimes also referred to as dolomite, including dolostone, dolomitic marble and dolomitic limestone (according to the composition of each type). Dolomite rock is found in sedimentary basins throughout the world, comprising approximately 2% of the Earth's crust. It is formed when lime mud or limestone encounters groundwater containing magnesium. Dolomite can contain elements such as lead, zinc and copper. Dolomite and limestone are used in various construction, landscaping and agricultural processes. This specimen was donated to the Burke Museum in 1868 by Alfred Selwyn as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria. It was donated to the Museum in 1868. Victoria and other regions of Australia were surveyed for sites of potential mineral wealth throughout the 19th Century. The identification of sites containing valuable commodities such as gold, iron ore and gemstones in a locality had the potential to shape the development and history of communities and industries in the area. The discovery of gold in Victoria, for instance, had a significant influence on the development of the area now known as 'the goldfields', including Beechworth; the city of Melbourne and Victoria as a whole. Dolomite and limestone are mined at several locations in Victoria, including sites in the North-East of the state in Bindi and Limestone Creek. There are notable dolomite deposits in most Australian states. The dolomitised form of the mineral tends to come from older limestone deposits, formed during the palaeozoic era in marine settings, so this specimen may have come from a deposit located along a coastline in Victoria or another state. The specimen is significant as an example of surveying activity undertaken to assess and direct the development of the mineral resource industries in Victoria and Australia, as well as the movement to expand human knowledge of earth sciences such as mineralogy and geology in the nineteenth century. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.Hand-sized piece of pale pink dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate) with dark grey rim and hollowed centre. geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, dolomite, mineralogy, geological survey, alfred selwyn, limestone, calcium magnesium carbonate

Agate occurs when amygdales (gas pockets) form in the upper levels of basaltic lava flows. If these pockets or bubbles are iniltrated by water bearing silica in solution, the fluid dries and hardens in layers, forming round or egg shaped nodules or geodes within the rocky matrix. Agate is formed of a silica mineral chalcedony similar to quartz. Although relatively common and semi-precious, agate has been prized since at least 1450 BC - an intricately carved agate seal was found in the 2015 excavation of a grave belonging to a Mycenaeum priest or warrior near Pylos in Greece. Agate is also used in jewellery and other decorative or ritual purposes due to its often striking appearance. Quartz is found all over Australia, including Beechworth in Victoria. It is formed in deep-seated igneous rocks and crystallized through hot aqueous solutions. It can have two forms; Microcrystalline quartz or Crystalline quartz. Microcrystalline quartz is a fine grain quartz where crystalline quartz is often a large crystal. The colour of quartz can vary. These specimens were collected in Victoria in the vicinity of the Burke Museum. Victoria and other regions of Australia were surveyed for sites of potential mineral wealth throughout the 19th Century. The identification of sites containing valuable commodities such as gold, iron ore and gemstones in a locality had the potential to shape the development and history of communities and industries in the area. The discovery of gold in Victoria, for instance, had a significant influence on the development of the area now known as 'the goldfields', including Beechworth; the city of Melbourne and Victoria as a whole.The specimens are significant as examples of surveying activity undertaken to assess and direct the development of the mineral resource industries in Victoria and Australia, as well as the movement to expand human knowledge of earth sciences such as mineralogy and geology in the nineteenth century.Geological specimens of Agate and Quartz respectively; the fist-sized piece of Agate has peach/coral colouring with grey concentric patterning and the smaller piece of quartz is a uniform yellow/orange shade. Existing label: Local pebbles / (agate and / quartz / (yellowish) / egg-shaped). / BB geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, agate, quartz, north-east victoria, indigo shire, geological surveys

Agate occurs when amygdales (gas pockets) form in the upper levels of basaltic lava flows. If these pockets or bubbles are iniltrated by water bearing silica in solution, the fluid dries and hardens in layers, forming round or egg shaped nodules or geodes within the rocky matrix. Agate is formed of a silica mineral chalcedony similar to quartz. Although relatively common and semi-precious, agate has been prized since at least 1450 BC - an intricately carved agate seal was found in the 2015 excavation of a grave belonging to a Mycenaeum priest or warrior near Pylos in Greece. Agate is also used in jewellery and other decorative or ritual purposes due to its often striking appearance. These specimens originated in North Queensland, which contains noted agate-fossicking regions such as in the area surrounding Forsayth. They were collected in approximately 1852 as an adjunct to the Geological Survey of Victoria. It was donated to the Museum in 1868. Victoria and other regions of Australia were surveyed for sites of potential mineral wealth throughout the 19th Century. The identification of sites containing valuable commodities such as gold, iron ore and gemstones in a locality had the potential to shape the development and history of communities and industries in the area. The discovery of gold in Victoria, for instance, had a significant influence on the development of the area now known as 'the goldfields', including Beechworth; the city of Melbourne and Victoria as a whole. The specimens are significant as examples of surveying activity undertaken to assess and direct the development of the mineral resource industries in Victoria and Australia, as well as the movement to expand human knowledge of earth sciences such as mineralogy and geology in the nineteenth century. Two solid egg-sized pieces of peach/orange toned agate (a common semi-precious chalcedony, similar to quartz) with a striped pattern, embedded in a light and dark brown matrix. geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, agate, north queensland agate, 1852 geological survey of victoria, l. hufer - donor, mineralogy, agate specimen, indigo shire

There are 17 opal fields in Australia. This opal bearing stone was found in Lightning Ridge, NSW over what is known as the Great Australian Basin. This basin was formed and covers an area of 1.7 million square kilometers in eastern Australia in the Cretaceous period. This basin used to contain an inland sea, which provided an environment where silcrete eventually formed when water levels changed. This eventually seeped into other structures, and eventually hardened and formed opal. Lightning Ridge has a population of around 2000 people, with about 80 000 visitors every year. It is a historic mining town, and is known for its deposits of a rare black opal. Mining started in the area in the late 1800s, early 1900s when the black opal was discovered. This opal-bearing stone is of social and historical significance. It is from Lightning Ridge, which is well-known for being a large producer of opal stones, most famously black opal. The history of the period dates back to 140 million years, with the discovery of black opal in the early 1900s causing interest in the area. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.***A palm-sized solid mineral specimen in shades of beige and light orange*** silica based? burke museum, beechworth, geological, geological specimen, opal, opal fields, australia, lightning ridge, new south wales, great australian basin, cretaceous, silcrete, black opal, mining

This is a certificate of indenture, a legal agreement, between George Beattie of Forest Creek, near Castlemaine in the colony of Victoria, and Peter Christian Smith of the same place. Both were miners. Beattie was the vendor and Smith paid twenty-five pounds for a land parcel. The contract was witnessed by John Hedderwick, a law clerk in Castlemaine. There is a record in the Mount Alexander Mail, dated Wed. 22 April 1857, of George Beattie purchasing land for three pounds, sixteen and sixpence in Castlemaine and that it was withdrawn. Records also show that a Peter and Thomas Smith farmed in Sandon near Castlemaine.This item is a useful research tool as it a hand-written record of part of the history of the gold fields region of Victoria.A white paper certificate of conveyance with black print and hand-written details from George Beattie to Peter Smith. There is a wax seal on the second page.beattie-george smith-peter-christian castlemaine-certificate-conveyance

"The History of Australasia" by David Blair was one of three important publications of the author. Written in 1879, the book relates the history of both Australia and New Zealand from their discovery through to the establishment of self-government in both colonies. Blair was born in Ireland and after studying for the ministry in Ireland came to Australia in 1850. Instead of a missionary career he took up journalism, became a member of the Legislative Assembly in Victoria and published his books on Australasia.A large thick hard leather covered book -History of Australasia by David Blair and published in 1879. The covers are black with a gold pattern border. The front cover shows an embossed Australian crest in gilt with kangaroo and emu and ' Advance Australia'. It is an illustrated edition with beautifully coloured maps for each Australian colony and New Zealand.book blair-david history-australasia

This photograph depicts mining operations within the Beechworth area, in an unidentified valley where sluicing was utilised as a method for extracting gold from the environment. After gold was discovered in the region in 1851, sluicing became a characteristic of gold mining in the region - "Ovens miners carved intricate networks of races" throughout the region - involved the diversion of water in many channels, or water races, which contained inbuilt 'ripple devices' designed to trap gold for later extraction. By 1871, 900 miles of water races had been cut into the Beechworth Mining District. As suggested by the numerous figures involved in labouring along the water race, sluicing was a source of considerable employment within the region. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in the 1850s, and provides clues as to how sluicing and the widespread construction of water ranges changed the environment of the region. This image is important for current research into the history of the Ovens region in Victoria, which played such a prominent role in the early Australian gold mining industry. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold sluicing and and the mining activities in the area more generally, which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.A black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paperbeechworth, mining, miners, labour, water race, sluicing

After gold was discovered to be deposited "for miles along Woolshed Valley" in the early 1850s, the Woolshed became a major site of mining activity in the north-east . This region was divided into large claims of 80 yards long, one of which was the one depicted in this photograph, called 'Big Johnson's Claim'. Claims such as this utilised a range of technology, including water wheels, steam engines, sluices and toms, most of which would not arrive until after 1856 when this photograph was taken. The Woolshed initially became prosperous in 1855, and labourers, such as the ones depicted in this photograph, engaged in sinking work for 7 pounds a week, whilst other mining labourers could earn up to nine. The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about the operations of mining claims, particularly of the Woolshed Valley area that this photograph documents. This image is important for current research into the history of Woolshed, which was a major site of mining significance and operations. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold sluicing and the Woolshed area which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one. A black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Reverse: 7791 / page 34. / 52% / Big Johnstone / Claim on Woolshed Goldfields / 1856 / Note canvas [illegible] building / Burke Museum /woolshed, mining, claims, mining claims, big johnson, gold

This photograph depicts the Great Southern Mine located in Rutherglen as it was during the 1900. After the initial Gold Rush of 1853-1854, Gold was discovered deeper under the surface of the earth in the 1860 after the discovery of another deep lead system. Due to the discovery of Gold in Rutherglen, Rutherglen developed into a community in its own right, possessing a population of 6600 by December 1860 and developed into a municipality in 1862. The Great Southern Mine depicted in this photograph required the use of a range of modern technologies, including the hydraulic pumps, in order to reach gold. This photo depicts the mining operations as they were undertaken around the turn of the century.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray a modern mining operation undertaken in the 1860s, can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about the methods used to extract gold in 1900. It is significant as most mining operations around the region, particularly earlier on in the period, used different technologies such as water races. This image is important for current research into the history of Rutherglen more generally, a town which developed singlehandedly due to the discovery of minerals and mining, as depicted here in this photograph, thus indicating an element of social significance as well as historic. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to mining and Rutherglen which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.A black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Reverse: $ 3.00 19972503 / a02503 / Great Southern Mine Rutherglen 1900rutherglen mine, rutherglen, great southern mine, beechworth, mine, mining, post goldrush, victoria, gold, 1860s, sluicing, hydrolic sluicing

The photograph, captured around 1900, depicts a large group of minors located in Beechworth. Importantly, this photograph can provide information into the clothing and fashion of minors during this period of history. These men wear loose fitting shirts which are mostly a pale white colour, several wear vests and/or jackets and loose fitting trousers with boots. The majority of men wear wide brimmed hats to protect their skin and eyes from the sunlight. One man has a wooden pipe in his mouth and a few have ties/neckerchief's tied around their necks. The outfits of these miners has the potential to provide insight into their social status, these men are all dressed equally which provides the notion that they are of equal societal standing. The outfits of these miners dating to the 1900s is not dissimilar to photographs of those captured in the 1880s. The location of this photograph is not easy to interpret, but the photograph is recorded to have been taken in the Beechworth region. Displayed in this image is some wild shrubbery and grass where the men are standing/sitting and behind the group is a tin wall or even tin building. At the end of 1899, companies were continuing to search for gold in Beechworth and the surrounds but these attempts were not overly successful. In the early 1900's Quartz mining was occurring but this was done by individuals or smaller parties. It is unclear if these men are mining for gold or for quartz.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, the study of images like this one which portrays some of the miners who worked behind-the-scenes for these discoveries has the potential to reveal important information regarding society, fashion etc. The date when the photograph was taken is vague but it allows us to form a timeline of mining activities in the North East. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about society at the time, regarding fashion (which can potentially reveal social status) and mining in Beechworth in 1900. Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper mounted on board.Reverse: BMM 8032/ Group(?) Beechworth Mines about 1900/ 80quartz, north east gold, sluicing, gold sluicing, hydraulic sluicing, mining, gold mining, north-east victoria, beechworth, burke museum, 1900, group, miners, hats, vests, ties, wild shrubs, tin, quartz mining

This image is a reproduction of an 1899 original depicting the 'Williams Good Luck Mine' on the Mopoke Reef (also called 'Morepork Gully') in the Dingle Ranges, approximately three miles from Beechworth. The foreground of the image is littered with piles of smashed rock and detritus, known as ‘mullock’, beside a reinforced mine shaft, a vertical access passageway allowing miners to enter the mine and haul ore out using lifting technology such as a poppet heads, whims or windlasses. A group of miners and a dog appear close to an open-sided miner’s hut. Following the discovery of gold at Beechworth in 1852, rushes quickly followed at surrounding creeks and gullies in the district. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, small syndicates of miners continued to work old or abandoned quartz reefs, often persisting without the assistance of heavy machinery to remove the large amounts of rock, in order to obtain yields at ever greater depths. The group of miners in this photograph are Mr. Roger Williams and Sons, who revived operations at the ‘Old Good Luck’ mine on the Mopoke Reef in the Dingle Range near Beechworth around 1892, working the site for more than two decades. An emigrant from Cornwall with experience in the tin mining industry, 19 year old Roger Williams senior sailed to New Zealand in 1840, then to Australia where he spent time in the Bendigo Gold Fields before settling in Beechworth in the early 1860s. Mr Williams senior worked on various mining activities in the district, including the Rocky Mountain Tunnel project. Conversant with the character of gold-bearing reefs in the area, the syndicate dug an eight hundred foot tunnel, digging down as far down as two hundred feet with little capital save their labour, to connect and provide better working access to the mass of reefs and veins in the vicinity. Progress was hampered by poor air quality charged with fumes from dynamite and large quantities of rock had to be crushed to obtain payable yields. The Victorian Goldfields are filled with ruins and remnants of the area's rich mining history, ranging from small alluvial diggings to the remains of huge mining companies. Site names often changed several times throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Some sites were abandoned and forgotten, others were worked continuously over many decades. The names of mines were often repeated at different locations throughout the Victorian Goldfields. For example, there is a Mopoke Gully heritage mine near Fryers Creek, Victoria. 'Mopoke' is a common onomatopoeic name for Morepork and Australian Boobook owls. This image has historical, social and research significance for patterns of emigration during of the Victorian Gold Rush, and the historical, social and environmental impacts of mining at Beechworth at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. As gold became scarce and government support and large company investment waned, poor hard-working miners laboured intensively to make a living through periods of high unemployment. This image can be compared and studied alongside other historical mining photographs and objects in the Burke Museum Collection. It has potential to improve our understanding of miners working conditions and the shifting character of mining in the Beechworth district. Black and white rectangular reproduction photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Obverse: Williams Good Luck Mine Beechworth / Roger! / Reverse: 6858 / burke museum, beechworth museum, beechworth, gold fields, gold rush, victorian gold rush, gold ming history, colonial australia, australian gold rushes, mining technology, beechworth historic district, indigo gold trail, migration, indigo shire, good luck gold mine, victorian goldfields, mining syndicates, gold fever, quartz-mining, small-scale mining, old good luck mine, mopoke gully, quartz reefs beechworth

This photograph depicts a reef mine in Beechworth. Reef mining, or quartz reef mining, was common in 19th Century Victoria. This gold mining technique requires mine shafts to be sunk into underground quartz reefs, with horizontal tunnels dug from the original shaft at differing levels to find the gold-bearing rock. The quartz would then be hoisted to the surface, which would then be pounded to access the gold in its metallic state. Gold was discovered in Beechworth in February 1852, at Spring Creek. Within 11 months of that discovery, over 8000 hopeful prospectors quickly descended on this region, transforming it into a thriving, wealthy township. Reef mining and hydraulic sluicing were gold mining techniques used in this region in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This photograph interestingly contains dogs alongside the miners. While dogs have been recorded as deterrents to thieves in the Victorian goldfields, these dogs appear as companions to these men.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. It also shows a location where reef mining was undertaken which provides insight into the impact on the environment at a time when it was done. Although quartz is one of the most common minerals found in the earth's crust, it does not always contain gold. Those reefs that do are rare and highly sought after by prospectors. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold mining which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.Sepia coloured rectangular photograph printed on gloss photographic paper. Obverse: Reverse: United Shire of Beechworth/ Shire Secretary/ Reef Mining, Beechworth./ 6167.abeechworth, burke museum, gold, gold mining, gold rush, victorian gold rush, reef mining, quartz, companion dog, horse and cart

This reproduced photograph depicts a reef mine in Beechworth. Reef mining, or quartz reef mining, was common in 19th Century Victoria. This gold mining technique requires mine shafts to be sunk into underground quartz reefs, with horizontal tunnels dug from the original shaft at differing levels to find the gold-bearing rock. The quartz would then be hoisted to the surface, which would then be pounded to access the gold in its metallic state. Gold was discovered in Beechworth in February 1852, at Spring Creek. 8000 hopeful prospectors quickly descended on this region within the year, transforming it into a thriving, wealthy township. Reef mining and hydraulic sluicing were gold mining techniques used in this region in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This reproduction photograph interestingly contains dogs alongside the miners. While dogs have been recorded as deterrents to thieves in the Victorian goldfields, these dogs appear as companions to these men.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. It also shows a location where reef mining was undertaken which provides insight into the impact on the environment at a time when it was done. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold mining which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.Black and white rectangular reproduction photograph on gloss photographic paper. Obverse: Reverse: L is miners 26%/ 10 x 8/ 6167.bbeechworth, burke museum, gold, gold mining, gold rush, victorian gold rush, reef mining, quartz, companion dog, horse and cart

This postcard shows a group of men standing outside of the Everton mine alongside a mining trolley sitting on tracks. The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. It also shows a location where reef mining was undertaken which provides insight into the impact on the environment at a time when it was done.A sepia toned rectangular postcard printed on photographic paperpost card/correspondence address only/ Kodak Australia/1914everton mine, mining, goldrush, postcard, burke museum, black and white, photograph, mining trolley

This reproduced photograph is of Pennyweight Flat near Beechworth, a notable area of the 1850's gold rush in Victoria. Donald Fletcher, migrating to Beechworth from Scotland in 1855, had substantial claims at Pennyweight Flat and was amongst the first in the district to utilise hydraulic sluicing and water diverting methods.The flat is said to have seen a flurry of 200 miners to the area around 1857, and by 1861 when work commenced on extending Fletcher's tail race the census recorded 644 people residing there (European males, females and Chinese). Pennyweight Flat is also significant for the cemetery that resides on the hilltop and which noted approximately 200 burials from the gold rush period 1852-1857, known for a long period as a children's cemetery due to the number of children's graves present.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in 1910. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertaken which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done. This image is important for current research into the history of Beechworth and surrounding area including Victoria's North East. The Rocky Mountain Extended Gold Sluicing Company was a long running and very active mine that was one of the most successful and largest in the district. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold sluicing which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one. When the mine closed in 1921, in a liquidation sale, Zwar purchased the tunnel and clear water supply that ran under the town of Beechworth. He directed the water to his tannery and over time built a major industry in leather works that was a major employer in Beechworth. In growing his leather business, Zwar installed crude oil engines for electricity in his factory. He oversaw working with local council to introduce electricity to Beechworth via a sub-station on Albert Street. In 1927 Electric street lamps replaced gas lamps in the streets of Beechworth. Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on glossy photographic paperObverse: Reverse: 84.222.5/ digital print/ rocky mountain extended gold sluicing company, gold, sluicing, gold sluicing, hydraulic sluicing, gold mine, open cut mining, mining, gold mining, north-east victoria, beechworth, burke museum

This image shows an unknown location in the area of Beechworth that was possibly used as a sluicing mining site for gold during the Victorian Gold Rush. This era saw an influx of Chinese immigrants and Australian prospectors hoping to strike it rich on the fields. Many companies such as the Rocky Mountain Extended Gold Sluicing Company Ltd and the Cocks Pioneer Gold &Tin Sluicing Company also set up mines in the area. This site may be the location of one of these company's mines. The wooden logs are reminiscent of known sluicing operations in the era from that time. Sluicing involved the use of high-pressured hoses to clear away soil from earth that had been dug up by miners and was a popular method of excavation in the area, although it had severe impacts on the environment.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertook which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done.A colour rectangular photograph printed on glossy photographic paperReverse: 6855 /beechworth, gold rush, sluicing, mining

The photograph printed on this postcard comes from the collection of the Mitchell Library in Sydney. It is sepia in tone and depicts seven men standing and sitting around a mine shaft in the Beechworth region. The photograph has been dated to approximately 1872. This period in history post-dates the Victorian gold rushes which occurred 1852-1853 in Ballarat, Bendigo and Beechworth. During this period, in the 1870s, the surface alluvial gold had been discovered and removed from location. Therefore, in order to reach the deeper and less accessible alluvial gold, diggers began to dig shafts into the earth. These shafts sunk below the ground level by 20 to 30 feet and required timber structures around the entrance and winches to bring the paydirt to the top. The top of this wooden structure is visible behind the man standing in the upper right of the image. This type of mining was highly dangerous as mines often caved in which injured the minors and often resulted in death. Thus, following this period, in the early 1900s, miners opted instead for hydrolic slucing which cut away the earth without the devastating consequences of a mine cave in. This particular group of miners appear to have been unable to afford a horse (then worth around 50 pounds) which were generally used at mines like this to help pull buckets attached to ropes up and down the mine. Instead, this group brought the buckets up and down by windlass. The windlass was a wooden structure mounted over the mining shaft and fitted with a hand-cranked winch which enabled the bucket attached to the rope to be brought up and down.Gold was first discovered in Beechworth in Spring and Reid's Creek in the summer of 1852-1853. At its popularity, this region had approximately 8000 people on the gold fields searching for gold on the banks of these creeks. These periods did not require the use of heavy machinery or the digging of deep mining shafts like the one depicted in this image. Therefore, this image has important connotations for the technologies associated with mining during the approximated 1870s when gold was harder to access. This is a later period in gold history which does not fit into the "gold rush" period. Instead, it occurred after the surface gold had disappeared and therefore, is essential for researchers who are investigating the mining techniques and structures used to reach the alluvial gold which was located deeper under ground in the 1870s. This period predates the use of big heavy machinery used to mine in the 1900s which include dredges. Images such as this one can also impart essential information as to the wardrobe and fashion of men during this period. It also imparts knowledge about the landscape of Beechworth which is useful for people researching the environment and impact of gold mining in the north-east region of Victoria. In addition, since this image is a postcard reproduction of an early Australian image which may date to approximately 1990 it can impart knowledge as to the interests of people during this time period when there may have been an increase into Australian history.A sepia tone facsimile of an early Australian photograph (circa 1872) printed as a postcard.Obverse: BEECHWORTH / Victoria, Australia / Reverse: GM 2 3275 / CORRESPONDENCE / AUSTRALIAN / YESTERYEAR / CARDS / ADDRESS / Published by George Symons (057) 65 3240 / THE MINEHEAD C. 1872 / The easily gleaned gold of the early fields did / not last very long. In order to reach less / accessible alluvial gold diggers began sinking shafts as much as twenty to thirty feet down / and the mines required timbering and winches / to bring the paydirt to the top. / This syndicate has been unable to afford the / luxury of a horse (about 50 pounds) and so everything / must go up and down by windlass and rawhide / bucket. / Photo: Mitchell Library, Sydney / A sepia tone facsimile of / an early Australian photographmining album, gold mine, beechworth, burke museum, mine shaft, postcard, australian yesteryear cards, george symons, the minehead, gold fields, alluvial gold, early australia, c.1872, 1872, gold diggers, north east victoria

This photograph depicts a man in dark clothing, standing in front of a cut away section of earth. He is undertaking hydraulic sluicing, which involves the use of high powered hoses, in order to cut away the earth which can then be sifted for gold. There is a single tree in the background and the earth contains numerous signs of damage because of the mining. Beechworth become a mining settlement after the discovery of gold in 1852. Gold fever had already spread across Australia's colonies and the American states. Sluicing the landscape for gold, as shown in this photograph, was done by diverting water and washing away the lighter dirt, allowing the gold particles to sift down in to catchments for collection. In Beechworth, there was considerable discontent caused by attempts to restrict water use for sluicing to those with certain 'water rights'. The extensive use of hydraulic sluicing, and the washing away of top soils has continued to impact the surrounds of Beechworth in to the present day. Sluicing as a method for gold mining which was widespread across Victoria during the 1870s. The erosion of the top soil in search of gold has a continuing environmental impact on the landscape and this photograph depicts but one example of this occurring and can provide much information to a researcher interested in understanding the history of gold mining in Victoria. This image of the miner and hose is historically important because it demonstrates the methods of goldmining employed in the later years of the goldrush at Beechworth. It shows how much land is washed away by the use of this technology. The image has good interpretive capacity because it allows researchers to see a different mining technique to what is usually presented. Black and white square photograph on card.reverse: 84-50-3 / 1997 3141 / smdsluicing, goldmining, beechworth, burke museum, miners, gold miners, gold sluicing, environmental impact

This photograph depicts mining operations (in particular, hydrolic sluicing) at Three Mile Mine, Barramutha, during the later periods of mining, 1920s-1950s. Three Mile Mine was a major site of mining activity sating back to the 1850s, although was often not as prosperous as other sites such as those situated on the Woolshed Valley. Many miners would leave Three Mile Mine for better prospects on other claims. The main, most successful 'rush' at Three Mile Mine occurred during and immediately following September 1855. This photograph, however, depicts a much later period.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray a miner at a sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image, and its related images, it important for its historical significant of labour and mining extraction used for gold during the latter gold rushes in the 1900s. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold mining in the region which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.A black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paperreverse: 7597.4 / copied from original on loan from Webb (Qld) / Donated Nov 2009 / Baarmutha Three Mile Mine 1920-1950 / Owned by Plain Bros then Parkinsons / John Weir or Jack Cox / Sluicing /mining, barramutha, three mile mine, sluicing, mine, beechworth

This photograph depicts four men standing near a large unidentified building. This building is the entrance to a deep lead mine shaft. There is a bridge entering the building, which was used to access the elevator to the shaft. Deep lead mining involved placing large shafts into the ground which miners use to access deeper locations in order to excavate the rocks in the search for lead. Deep lead mining was highly dangerous as roofs could cave in of the soil was loose. Therefore, this particular mining considered to be highly undesirable profession as many miners did not want to work long hours nor risk their lives in the search for lead. Indigo Shire was a large area where deep lead mining took place, and thus the landscape and environment was largely impacted by these mining businesses. The Indigo Shire grew in population and wealth in the early 1850s when people came into this location in the hopes of finding gold and making a fortune. Ultimately, the accessibility and availability of gold and precious metals decreased once the gold reserves dried up and alongside this, the large population moved away. The Ovens was also heavily impacted environmentally as deep mining resulted in the change in land formation.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about the methods used to find gold in Indigo Shire. It also shows a location where deep mining was undertook which provides insight into the impact of deep mining on the environment at a time when it was done. This image is important for current research into the history of Indigo Shire, a region in Victoria's north-east. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to deep lead mining and Indigo Shire which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.Sepia coloured retangular photo printed on gloss photographic paper.Reverse: 1997, 2510/ A02570/ Deep Lead Mining/ page 94/ 65%/ Burke Museum, Photo 44beechworth, burke museum, indigo shire, deep lead mining, mining, gold, gold mining

This photograph dating between the 1850s and early 1900s depicts an open cut sluicing site located in Allan's Flat looking upon the open cut from Staghorn Flat Number 1. Sluicing was undertaken in the area from 1850 to 1904. The image depicts a location mined by Yackandandah Sluicing Co. It portrays and open space with pipes laying on the ground and connected to pipes leaving the barge. These pipes were used to wash and seperate the qaurtz. There are two small buildings on high ground over looking the barge. Yackandandah Sluicing Co. was created by J.A. Wallace in the 1880s. The Yackandandah Sluicing Co. operated from the mid-1880s to the early 1900s, when resources eventually ran out. Open cut sluicing involved the use of high-powered hoses which used the centrifugal sand pump system (known as hydraulic sluicing) which broke down the soil which was then processed for quartz, gold and other materials. After the resources where drained, Wallace reaped the benefits of his mining business. Allan's Flat is located on the Yackandandah Creek, and is 10km north-east of Yackandandah and 20km south of Wodonga in Victoria's regional north-east. Allan's Flat was initially used to mine gold through alluvial methods, however that came to an end with little results. The mining business was then revived by J.A. Wallace with the introduction of hydraulic sluicing.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold and other minerals in the lat 19th Century. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertook which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done. This image is important for current research into the history of Allan's Flat, a small regional location near Yackandandah in Victoria's North East. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold sluicing and Allan's Flat which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.Sepia coloured retangular photograph printed on gloss photographic paper mounted on board.Revers: Sluicing at Allan's Fortallan's flat, north east gold, sluicing, gold sluicing, hydraulic sluicing, mining, gold and quartz mine, beechworth, burke museum, yackandandah

This photograph dating to the late 1900s depicts the entrance to a reef mine the in Beechworth division. The image depicts two men outside the entrance, which is covered by a hut, where one is standing near a mine cart. The mine car was used to haul soil from the mine. The Beewchworth divison consisted of 5 locations: Beechworth, Stanley, El Dorado, Hurdle Flat and Stony Creek. These locations were set up due to speculative fever that more gold could be found. In places such as El Dorado, Beechworth and Stanley there was profit, however Hurdle Flat and Stonry Creek, gold could not be found in the quantities that was required. By 1880 the Beechworth division was in depression due to the reserves being used up. However, in spite of the depression mining was continued until the late 20th Century.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about reef mining in the late 1900s. It also shows a location where reef mining was undertook which provides insight into the impact of reef mining on the environment at a time when it was done. This image is important for current research into the history of Beechworth , a town in Victoria's north-east. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to reef mining and Beechworth which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.Sepia coloured retangular photograph printed on newspaper.Reverse: 7813beechworth, beechworth division, mining, reef mining, gold, gold mining, 1990

The photo from 1907-8 is a sepia print, depicting a small valley with building at base. There are flumes visible above areas of water, trees on hills and a few small cottages on the hillside. Cock's Pioneer Gold & Tin Sluicing Co NZ No 2 Site. The photo was taken of Matthews Gully looking west. Sluicing was undertaken in the area from 1900 to 1942 with some short breaks between these periods. The image depicts a location mined by Cocks Pioneer Gold and Tin Sluicing Company (as recorded on the annotation on the card mount) The Cocks Pioneer Gold and Tin Mines N.L was one of El Dorado's two largest open cut sluicing mines of the 20th Century. The other was named the Cocks El Dorado Gold Dredging Company. The Cocks Pioneer Mines operated from 1901 until 1941 and found a total of 117,378 ounces of Gold and 1,673 tones of tin concentrates over these years. The Cocks company was formed in 1898 and operated until 1941. Open cut sluicing involved the use of high-powered hoses which used the centrifugal sand pump system (known as hydraulic sluicing) which broke down the soil which was then processed for gold and other precious metals. From 1914 , four years after this image was captured, the company reformed to Cocks Pioneer Gold and Tin Mines NL (previously it was known as Cocks Pioneer Sluicing Co) and undertook large scale sluicing operations until 1929 and then 1934-1941. El Dorado is located on Reedy Creek and is surrounded by forested country to the north and east. It is 20 km east of Wangaratta in Victoria's regional north-east. John Cock was the son of a Cornish minor who arrived in El Dorado in 1858. Cock founded his gold and tin mining company which ran successfully for many years in the El Dorado region. It was an open cut sluicing company because of the abandonment of underground mining after this was deemed too dangerous. In 1935 Cock's El Dorado Company commissioned the floating dredge which is still visible in El Dorado today. The dredge was built by the Thompson engineering works, Castlemaine, and weighed over 2,000 tones and today has a place on the Victorian Registers of historic buildings. Interestingly, the name El Dorado does not derive from the gold in the region, but from the Barambogie pastoral run completed by William Baker in 1840-1841. Gold was discovered in El Dorado 1854 but the gold was too deep for individual prospectors to find, it required the use of heavy machinery.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in 1910. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertook which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done. This image is important for current research into the history of El Dorado, a small regional location near Wangaratta in Victoria's North East. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold sluicing and El Dorado which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.Sepia coloured rectangle photograph printed on gloss photographic paper Reverse: 1997. 2613/ A02613/ No2 site/ Matthews Gully/ Cocks Pioneer G&T. ?? Co NZ/ No2 Site looking West/ 1907-8/ (7)sluicing, hydraulic sluicing, 1907, 1908, mining, cock's pioneer gold & tin sluicing co nz, nz, site no 2, matthews gully, west, valley, building, cottages, hillside, trees, water, gold and tin mine

This photograph depicts Cock's Pioneer G & T Sluicing site No. 4 in El Dorado. Looking eastwards, the photo captures a wooden and tin building with various mining equipment strewn in the foreground. Underneath the verandah, figures can be seen. These are believed to be a Mr. Hollister (left), Mrs. Breustedt (4th from left), children Min and Chris Breustedt, and Kate Timmons holding a girl's hand. The Cocks Pioneer Gold and Tin Mines N.L was one of El Dorado's two largest open-cut sluicing mines of the 20th Century. The other was named the Cocks El Dorado Gold Dredging Company. The Cocks Pioneer Mines operated from 1901 until 1941 and found a total of 117,378 ounces of Gold and 1,673 tones of tin concentrates over these years. The Cocks company was formed in 1898 and operated until 1941. Open cut sluicing involved the use of high-powered hoses which used the centrifugal sand pump system (known as hydraulic sluicing) which broke down the soil which was then processed for gold and other precious metals. From 1914, four years after this image was captured, the company reformed to Cocks Pioneer Gold and Tin Mines NL (previously it was known as Cocks Pioneer Sluicing Co) and undertook large-scale sluicing operations until 1929 and then 1934-1941. The Cocks Pioneer was an extremely successful mining company during the 20th century. In the Annual Report of the Secretary for Mines for the year 1915, the Cocks Pioneer was the largest producer of gold and tin collecting 5,535 ozs. of gold and £7,500 of tin. Twenty years later in 1935, Cocks Pioneer was still one of the most profitable mines in Victoria, ranking as the second-highest dividend paying mine. The company produced a total of 3,650 kg of gold. El Dorado is located on Reedy Creek and is surrounded by forested country to the north and east. It is 20 km east of Wangaratta in Victoria's regional northeast. John Cock was the son of a Cornish miner who arrived in El Dorado in 1858. Cock founded his gold and tin mining company which ran successfully for many years in the El Dorado region. It was an open-cut sluicing company because of the abandonment of underground mining after this was deemed too dangerous. In 1935 Cock's El Dorado Company commissioned the floating dredge which is still visible in El Dorado today. The dredge was built by the Thompson engineering works, Castlemaine, and weighed over 2,000 tones and today has a place on the Victorian Registers of historic buildings. Interestingly, the name El Dorado does not derive from the gold in the region, but from the Barambogie pastoral run completed by William Baker in 1840-1841. Gold was discovered in El Dorado in 1854 but the gold was too deep for individual prospectors to find, it required the use of heavy machinery.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in 1910. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertook which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done. This image is important for current research into the history of El Dorado, a small regional location near Wangaratta in Victoria's North East. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold sluicing and El Dorado which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.A black and white copy of a sepia coloured rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper mounted on boardObverse: COCKS PIONEER G + T SL CO, N.L. / 1910 - 11 / NO 4 SITE LOOKING EAST / 4 Reverse: 1997.2508 / AUG 29 1909cocks pioneer gold and tin sluicing company, el dorado, mining, sluicing, hydraulic mining, hollister, breustedt, timmons, gold, tin, gold rush, victoria

This photograph dating to 1910 depicts an open cut sluicing site located in El Dorado captured looking east up the open cut from the number 3 Barge site. Sluicing was undertaken in the area from 1900 to 1942 with some short breaks between these periods. The image depicts a location mined by Cocks Pioneer Gold and Tin Sluicing Company (as recorded on the annotation on the card mount). It portrays open cut rocks with a crevice in the center of the image where the sluicing was being undertaken. There is a small timber structure on the right of the image which could be an entrance to a mine or supports made of wood to prevent a cave in at the open cut site and above the cut rock there is bush. The timber structure has rail tracks on top of the bridge which could suggest the identification of this structure as a mine entrance. The rail tracks were used for little carts which hauled soil from the mine. The Cocks Pioneer Gold and Tin Mines N.L was one of El Dorado's two largest open cut sluicing mines of the 20th Century. The other was named the Cocks El Dorado Gold Dredging Company. The Cocks Pioneer Mines operated from 1901 until 1941 and found a total of 117,378 ounces of Gold and 1,673 tones of tin concentrates over these years. The Cocks company was formed in 1898 and operated until 1941. Open cut sluicing involved the use of high-powered hoses which used the centrifugal sand pump system (known as hydraulic sluicing) which broke down the soil which was then processed for gold and other precious metals. From 1914 , four years after this image was captured, the company reformed to Cocks Pioneer Gold and Tin Mines NL (previously it was known as Cocks Pioneer Sluicing Co) and undertook large scale sluicing operations until 1929 and then 1934-1941. El Dorado is located on Reedy Creek and is surrounded by forested country to the north and east. It is 20 km east of Wangaratta in Victoria's regional north-east. John Cock was the son of a Cornish minor who arrived in El Dorado in 1858. Cock founded his gold and tin mining company which ran successfully for many years in the El Dorado region. It was an open cut sluicing company because of the abandonment of underground mining after this was deemed too dangerous. In 1935 Cock's El Dorado Company commissioned the floating dredge which is still visible in El Dorado today. The dredge was built by the Thompson engineering works, Castlemaine, and weighed over 2,000 tones and today has a place on the Victorian Registers of historic buildings. Interestingly, the name El Dorado does not derive from the gold in the region, but from the Barambogie pastoral run completed by William Baker in 1840-1841. Gold was discovered in El Dorado 1854 but the gold was too deep for individual prospectors to find, it required the use of heavy machinery.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in 1910. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertook which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done. This image is important for current research into the history of El Dorado, a small regional location near Wangaratta in Victoria's North East. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold sluicing and El Dorado which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.Sepia coloured rectangular photograph printed on gloss photographic paper mounted on board.Obverse: COCKS PIONEER Q + T SL CO, N.L. / 1910 / LOOKING EAST UP OPEN CUT / FROM NO3 BARGE SITE / Reverse: 1997 . 2611 / A02611el dorado, north east gold, sluicing, gold sluicing, hydraulic sluicing, 1910, gold and tin mine, open cut mining, mining, gold mining, north-east victoria, beechworth, burke museum