Galena is the natural compound of lead and classed as a sulphide, it crystallises in a cubic pattern and its chemical formula is PbS. Galena is a primary source of both lead and silver. This specimen of Galena comes from Broken Hill. Broken Hill has one of the world’s largest and most significant deposit of ore for the production of lead. Mining of Galena at Broken Hill began with the staking of land by Charles Rasp in 1883. By the following year, in 1884, Rasp and six others had formed Broken Hill Mining Company. Broken Hill Mining Company eventually evolved into BHP group limited and is currently the largest mining company in the world and the largest company in Australia. There is archaeological evidence from artefacts discovered in Turkey that humans have been extracting lead from galena by the process of smelting since at least 6500 BCE. This specimen also has quartz on the top surface which is frequently discovered alongside Galena. This mineral specimen is of historic significance as a sample of Galena extracted from Broken Hill during the 19th century. Mining for Galena in Broken Hill begin in 1883 by Charles Rasp and evolved into the world’s largest mining company – BHP Group Limited. Broken Hill is one of the world’s most significant deposits of ore for the production of lead. 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 flat, hand-sized, grey sulphide specimen that is the natural compound of lead with a quartz formation on the top surface. Existing Label: GALENA / (with quartz) / Locality: Broken Hill / N.S.W 120 x 70 x 29geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, galena, galena quartz, quartz, charles rasp, broken hill mining company, bhp group limited, bhp, lead, ore, lead sulphide, sulphide, silver, broken hill

BHS CollectionBlack and white document, on top 'The Bendigo Branch of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria invites you to visit Central Deborah Gold Mine, Victoria Hill, Historical Society Museum and log Complex, Chinese Joss House and an antique fair at Memorial Hall' Image of Central Deborah Gold Mine on top of page. No date on advertising flyer.bendigo, mining, central deborah gold mine

The Gem The Poseidon Rush. Tarnagulla, Saturday. Article - The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW : 1871 - 1938)Friday 8 February 1907 - Page 43 The Poseidon Rush. Tarnagulla, Saturday. Several indicators and quartz leaders on the Woolshed Hill have received considerable attention during the last fortnight. In some claims the stone looks very promising, and nice tracings of gold have been obtained. Wragg Brothers struck it rich yesterday. At a depth of 12ft. on the bedrock they discovered a nugget specimen 206oz. in weight, which has been christened the 'Port Arthur. The party also had the good fortune to find two other specimens close, by, one weighing 23oz. 15dwt. and the other 24oz.These were named 'The Twins,' the Wragg Brothers bearing that distinction. In this claim about eight weeks ago the Gem (88oz.) was unearthed. THE POSEIDON RUSH. Article Illustrated - Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918, 1935)Saturday 29 December 1906 - Page 33 THE POSEIDON RUSH. It is only about five weeks since this rush was opened by John Porter, but since that time a marvellous change has taken place. The quietness of the bush has given place to a scene of wild excitement, and each week this is intensified by the discovery of large nuggets. When Smith, Rogers and Stephenson picked out their slug on election day, no one dreamed that larger ones were lying only a few feet away, but such was the fact. On Tuesday afternoon two immense slugs, one of which weighed 960 oz., and the other 373 oz., were found in adjoining claims within a few minutes of each other. The finding of these created a scene which it is difficult to describe. "I've got one, “was shouted from the claim of Bert Williamson and T. Stephenson, two men just entering into manhood. They were seen excitedly digging round a lump of gold, one of them with a double-ended pick, the point-of which he broke in his anxiety to unearth it. This slug is nine inches long by seven inches by 43 inches, and is very similar in appearance and size to the big nugget got previously in the adjoining claim. It has been cleaned and smelted, and has yielded 306 oz. of pure gold of the best sample. Before the excitement caused by the discovery of the last nugget had sub-sided, there was a shout from an adjoining claim. Sam Woodall, a Llanelly miner, felt his pick strike a hard yielding sub-stance, and, satisfied that he had struck a nugget, called the attention of his mates to the fact. He soon levered it out of the ground with his pick. Taking it up in his arms he staggered out of the claim with it, and in a minute or two was sur-rounded by hundreds of men who rushed from all over the field to view it, and to feel its weight. It was certainly a magnificent specimen, and the fortunate miners were congratulated on all sides. Its weight was guessed to be a hundredweight, and probably in its then dirty state it would nave turned the scales at that. In a few minutes the crowd was so dense that it was impossible to get a close inspection. The nugget was first taken to Newbridge under escort, then through Llanelly to Tarnagulla, where it was lodged in the Union Bank. It was found that the bank scales were not sufficiently large to weigh the mass. By tying a number of large weights together, and suspending them from a steel bar, a fairly accurate weight was obtained, and it just balanced 80 lb., or 960 oz. The nugget measures 16 in. x 10 in. x 5 in. The party was cheered as it drove up the main street here, and the sight of an armed escort was quite a novelty. The nugget was held aloft in a tin dish for inspection by the crowd. These nuggets were found in the shallow workings, and neither of them were a foot under the surface. The ground is a black loamy soil; there was no appearance of wash whatever, and no one knowing anything of alluvial mining would think of searching for gold in such a spot. All those who have claims on the hillside are breaking out all the dirt in a face from the surface to the reef, which is a mixture of lime and sunstone, and searching for nuggets. The ground is carefully pulverised so that nothing shall be missed. Some are puddling the whole of it, but it is hardly payable. Where the big nuggets are now being found, the ground has been pegged out and abandoned more than once since the rush started, and shares in the claims have been purchased for small amounts. Smith was given a third share in the claim where the first nugget was found for puddling the dirt big lump was discovered, by Woodall, Condron, Brooks and Eva, two of them sold a sixth share for £5 a few days ago to a man named Woods, who only worked a few days and sold out again for 50/. Some fancy prices are now being offered for shares in the claims in the vicinity. Woodall holds a third share, Condron and Brooks three-quarters of a share each, and Eva a sixth share. The largest nugget has been christened "The Poseidon." The names given to the other nuggets obtained previously are as follow: — Wragg Bros., 88 oz. nugget, "The Gem"; Smith and party's 378 oz. nugget, which was unearthed on election day, has been fittingly named "The Federal"; Jackson and Hughes 152 oz.specimen, "The Little. Beu"; Williamson and Stephenson's 373 oz. nugget is said to be called "The Christmas Box." A representative from the (Mines department has been at the bank during, the week taking models for the museums and schools of mines. )A replica of the "Gem" gold nugget that was discovered on 29.11.1906 on the Poseidon Lead at Tarnagulla at the depth of 9 feet. Found on the bedrock by the Wragge Bros. Weight 88 ozs. Value of $126,358 in 2016. (See additional Research.)mining, models, plaster model of victorian gold nugget

Spirit duplicated timetables for tram tours - handwritten Special Table" or timetable for a charter tram tour and an associated booking form. .1 - Booking Form for the CSIRO Div of Mining Chemistry? Social Club's, "3rd Annual Mobile Luncheon Engagement", photocopied onto a foolscap sheet. Printed for Tuesday 4-12-1973. .2 - Spirit duplicated timetable for tram tours - handwritten Special Table" or timetable for a charter tram tour and an associated booking form, printed on pink card, for John Gardner (CSIRO), dated Friday 14/12/73, Tram 104. .2 - ditto, for 4-6-1975 - Drv. Newland, Cond Armstrong, car 1041 - as above.trams, tramways, charters, special trams, tours, tram 1041, tram 104

Series of 4 black and white photographs of the construction of three tracks or roads at East Preston Depot 7/1955. .1 - Mud mining - earthworks with the Stately Shoe and Wall Bros buildings in the view. .2 - showing one track complete with a second underway, .3 - two tracks complete with a third just in the view. .4 - pouring concrete at the depot - bicycle shed?trams, tramways, east preston, construction, trackwork, tram depot, track materials

A short Geological analysis of the Stawell Gold FieldsFawn Paper cover with two staples along spine1909 Victoria Department of mines (Geological Survey) {in Ink} Brought at Melbourne Mines Museum, Russell St 7.3.78. Ron Wood} The Stawell Gold Field By E.J. Dunn F.G.S Replicated from the Records of the Geological Survey of Victoria, Vol III. Part 1. By Authority J. Kemp, Government Printer, Melbourne. 7290 -2stawell mining

BHS CollectionNine typed pages of notes on a preliminary draft for a brochure on the Bendigo Diggings. First part is the objective which is to preserve the mining history and to have exhibits in the places they were used, e.g. quartz mining machinery exhibited in a quartz mining area, not on an alluvial field. Part B is historical notes on the area. Part C is the Site - Victoria Hill area. Part D is Stage One which consists of carpark area, technological museum, restaurant, mineral haulage line, picnic ground, earthworks and planting over the area. Part E is Stage Two which will consist of the open-air exhibits, in the area surrounded by the mineral haulage line, and the Central Nell Gwynne mine on the west side of the site. Part F is Stage Three which will consist of the winery, the steam tram track, the lake, the wildlife sanctuary and various buildings associated with gold mining. Part G is Costing with the prices to be filled in. Parts H and I are the Appeal and the Committee. Details to be filled in. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.mining, marketing, victoria hill, victoria hill, the bendigo diggings - preliminary draft for brochure, aust national travel association, tullamarine jetport, emu bottom homestead, kyneton historical museum, chinese joss house, eaglehawk museum, whipstick scrub, cairn curran reservoir, castelmaine historical museum and market hall, national trust, ballarat hiatorical park, echuca's hopwood gardens, swan hill folk museum, gibson's mount alexander no 2 squatting run, captain brown, chief commissioner wright, hustler's reef, thomas hustler, mining board, drainage of reefs act 1862, first world war, bendigo amalgamated goldfields, second world war, sandhurst, w c vahland, battery trams, horse trams, steam trams, electric trams, central nell gwynne mine, theodore ballerstadt, george lansell, new chum hill, ballerstadt's open cut, 180 mine, new chum syncline battery, william rae, victoria quartz, wittscheibe's 'jeweller's shop', luffsman and sterry, gold mines hotel, adventure, bendigo and district tourist association, bendigo city council, bendigo branch of the royal historical society of victoria, professor brian lewis, school of architecture and building at the university of melbourne, taylor horsfield, lord robert cecil, south australian gold commissioner

Mick Woiwod of the Andrew Ross Musuem, Kangaroio Ground, speaking with host Marie Ryan of Magazine, on Plenty Valley FM Radio talking about his latest book, "Golden Days on the Caledonian Diggings; the diaries of Thomas Young of Kangaroo Ground, Panton Hill and Christmas Hills." Also discussing some activities at the Andrew Ross Museum.audio recording, mick woiwod, andrew ross museum, thomas young, kangaroo ground, panton hill, christmas hills, caledonia mine, gold mining

Andy Clapham owned and operated a boat yard on the Maribyrnong River in Footscray, Victoria. The river runs into Port Phillip Bay (sometimes known as Hobson’s bay) at Williamstown, an area with a history of trades associated with the shipping and construction industry. Andy Clapham’s photographs include those of the Reginald M and one of Polly Woodside, another vessel restored and used as a maritime exhibition. Andy Clapham’s letter of 1972 was posted in a and envelope with an early Australian decimal currency stamp showing the profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, and valued at 7 cent. Andy offered invaluable advice to the Flagstaff Hill Historic Park Planning Board regarding the purchase a vessel suitable for use as an exhibit once Flagstaff Hill was opened. The Planning Board was set up by the Warrnambool Chamber of Commerce and approved by the City Council and State Government. Flagstaff Hill was investigating vessels in Adelaide and Tasmania as well as Melbourne. Andy looked at several vessels in 1972-1973. He also serviced the Reginald M among other vessels belonging to Captain Julian Dyson of Yarra Ferries, who had casually offered the vessel to Flagstaff Hill as a price that was unattainable at the time. Flagstaff Hill later requested photographs of the hull to discern the dimensions and also the condition of the timbers as well as wanting advice on its seafaring capability. In 1972 the Flagstaff Hill Historic Park Planning Board – Chairman J. (John) S. Lindsay (1972-1980), Secretary J. (James) Mark – wrote a letter of appreciation to Mr A. (Andy) Clapham of 3 Charles Street Footscray ... “Dear Mr. Clapham, The Board has asked me to write to you to express our appreciation for the assistance you have offered us through our Chairman John Lindsay. The information you have already given us has been invaluable, in that is shows us that we have not been setting out to do something that is impossible. We look forward to receiving further information from you as it becomes available and we appreciate that you must be busy enough without our problems. Members of our Board hope to call and see you on a trip to Melbourne in the near future. The Board is optimistic about the future of Flagstaff Hill as a Maritime Museum and look forward to you visiting Warrnambool to examine what we believe will be an ideal site. Yours faithfully, James Mark.” ABOUT the vessel “Reginald M” The vessel “Reginald M” was a two-masted, timber coastal vessel built by John Henry Murch in Birkenhead, Port of Adelaide, South Australia. It was named after Reginald Murch. (It was occasionally referred to as the Reginald “Emm”). Its construction took approximately 6 months using many materials and fittings from salvage yards. It is believed that the keep was hewn from two telegraph poles! Reginald M was launched at Largs Bay in 1922. Reginald M was approximately 30 metres long and was fore-to-aft ketch rigged with an ‘auxiliary’ motor to support any loss of sail power. The Reginald M was built to service the coastal ports of South Australia to Port Victoria on the York Peninsular, Spencer Gulf. It freighted cargo from port to port cheaply and efficiently. It had a very shallow draft and a flat bottom, enabling it to come close to shore and sit high and dry at low tide, or to be beached on the sand. It could easily skim over reefs due to its flat bottom. Wagons could be loaded and unloaded directly from the side of the vessel. Over the years her cargo included guano, barley, wool, horses, cattle, timber, explosives, potatoes, shell grit and gypsum. The Murch brothers from Port Adelaide were owners of the Reginald M and Richard Murch as the Captain. On April 9, 1931, Reginald M weathered a large storm in St. Vincents Gulf, SA, suffering much damage; the mast snapped and the crew laboured for four hours to free it up by severing the mast and rigging. The crew patched it up and slowly returned to Port Adelaide with only a portion of the insured cargo being damaged. The crew members at that time were owner Mr John Henry Murch of Wells Street Largs Bay, Skipper Mr R Murch – John’s brother, Murray – son of Captain Murch and Seaman John Smith. At some stage it seems that the Reginald M was used as a Customs vessel “H.M.C. No. 3, Pt Adelaide” as shown in a photograph in Flagstaff Hill’s collection. In 1969 Reginald M’s last freight trip left Marion Bay, carrying grain, wool and explosives. In late 1970 it was sold to the Mount Lyall Mining and Railway Clompany and used as a barge to carry explosives. In 1972 The Navy League of Strahan, Tasmania, purchased the vessel for use by the Strahan Sea Cadet Unit at Macquarie Harbour; it was renamed “T.S. Macquarie”. (This plan did not come to pass.) In 1974 Mr Andrew Rennie of East Brighton, Melbourne, brought Reginald M for shipping purposes, He sailed it from Strahan to Melbourne, planning to use it for pleasure sailing. The Reginald M was later sold at auction to Captain Julian Dyson, owner of Yarra Passenger Ferries in Melbourne. Later in 1975 funds became available to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village to purchase the Reginald M. It was then restored and used as an exhibit here for many hears. Flagstaff Hill’s collection also includes various objects related to the Reginald M: - Photographs of Reginald M over the years in various aspects of its use - a life buoy with the inscription of “Pt. Adelaide” - helm section that was removed and replaced during restoration - a bullet found in pieces of timber during the 1979 restoration ABOUT THE POLLY WOODSIDE On the bow in the Polly Woodside's photograph is the word "RONA". the Polly Woodside was built at Belfast in 1885. In 1904 the vessel was sold to A.H. Turnbull of New Zealand and renamed "RONA". The letter and photographs are significant for their association with the Reginald M, an Australian built coastal trader now on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels (number HV000562). The letter and photographs are also significant as part of both the history of Flagstaff Hill and the history of the vessel “Reginald M” that has been on display in the lake for many years. Objects retained from this boat are included in Flagstaff Hill’s collection of maritime history.Packet with photographs and negatives in a KODAK envelope. The photographs are of two sail and steam vessels; twelve (12) black and white photographs of the 'Reginald M', and one (1) colour photograph of the Polly Woodside, plus six (6) negative strips. Included int he packet is a letter in stamped and postmarked envelope addressed to Mr A Clapham of Footscray. The envelope postmarked 9 Dec 1972, with the Warrnambool postcode 3280, A 7c Australian postage stamp in attached to the envelope. They are associated with Flagstaff Hill’s acquisition of the vessel “Reginald M”. Envelope "9 DEC 1972 / 3280" Postage stamp "7c" "Australia" Inscriptions on one Reginald M;; "REGINALD M" and "Pt ADELAIDE H.M.C. No. 3" Inscriptions of the Polly Woodside; "RONA / MSC" "MHI / NO. 1" Ball point ink, reverse of photograph "POLLY WOODSIDE"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, vessel reginald m, reginald emm, t. s. macquarie, h.m.c. no. 3, pt adelaide, australian register of historic vessels (number hv000562), boat building trade, jack murch, john henry murch, birkenhead, port adelaide sa, largs bay sa, coastal trader south australia, 1920 ketch reginald m, marion bay produce, mount lyall mining and railway company, navy league of strahan, tasmania, melbourne ferry company, flagstaff hill historic park planning board, john lindsay, james mark, andy clapham of footscray, andy clapham boat builder, kodak photograph packet envelope, kodak super-size prints, kodak australia pty ltd, australian postage stamp 1972 - 7c

This photograph is taken from the original engraving the plate of which is held by the Clunes Museum.1 ORIGINAL SEPIA PHOTOGRAPH MOUNTED ON BROWN MATT BOARD CHINESE MINERS ON LEFT, POLICEMEN MOUNTED AND ON FOOT ON RIGHT MINERS AND LADIES IN BATTLE .2 PHOTO COPY OF ABOVE IMAGEOn Front; PRINTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE IMAGE; "DISTURBANCE AT CLUNES - MINERS RESISTING THE INTRODUCTION OF CHINESE LABOR. 9-12-1873" On Reverse; Handwritten in black ink W. J. Champion Clunesmining, disturbance at clunes, chinese labor

LITHOGRAPH PHOTOCOPY DONATED TO CLUNES MUSEUM BY CRESWICK MUSEUMPHOTOCOPY OF LITHOGRAPH - TOP HALF - SURFACE WORKS PORT PHILLIP AND COLONIAL GOLD MINING COMPANY LIMITED AND CLUNES QUARTZ MINING COMPANY, CLUNES. LOWER HALF - INTERIOR OF MACHINE HOUSE. 4 COPIESlocal history, lithograph, photocopy, mining, clunes

Designer of original building A F Kramer built 1892 School founded by George Bearham teacher from Scotts College as Bairnsdale College. By 1900 became St. Andrews College with Herbert S Legg as HeadmasterBlack and white copy of photograph of St Andrews College Bairnsdale now East Gippsland Historical Society Museum situated at 40 Macarthur Street Bairnsdale VictoriaSt Andrews College Bairnsdalemines and mining

Majority of Galena in Australia is found in hydrothermal deposits emplaced around 1680 million years ago which have been heavily metamorphosed. Galena is the natural mineral form of lead sulfaide. It occurs generally as fine to large crystals due to syntectonic remobilization at low temperatures and moves to a suitable location. The colour is a shining lead and silvery gray with high specific gravity between 7.2 and 7.6 gms/cm3 and contains 86.6 lead sulfaide in its purest form. Its cyrstal system is cubic with perfect cleavages, and contract penetration and lamellar twinning. This particular specimen is from the Broken Hill mine, it is one of the largest lead mines located in Western New South Wales and still has ore reserves amounting to 20.9 million tonnes of ore grading of 7.4% lead, 9.4% zinc, and 61.5 million oz of Silver. Throughout its history, it has produced over 200 million tonnes of ore throughout its 127 years of mining history dating back to 1885. Galena mineral ore found in Australia is considered rare, as it is only currently found in the Broken Hill Mine of Western New South Wales. It represents heritage value through the systematic collecting of the geological surveyers in Victoria and Australia during the early to late 19th Century. The fact that it is only found in one mining area of Australia, shows that this specimen is rare for examples of Australian Galena. This mineral specimen is one part to a larger collection, aquistion, and distribution of Garnet in Galena around Australia and parts of the world and donated to the Burke Museum between 1860-1880. While this specimen was not found by the Victorian Geological Survey, it shows the historical need for mapping geological areas around the Gold Rush region to further identify areas of precious metal and gem aquisition. Additionally, collecting these specimens was an important part of mapping the scientific make up of the earth's surface. Many were sent to institutions for further contribution to research and scientific knowledge of the specimens. A solid coin-sized lead and zinc sulphaide and zinc silicate ore mineral in shades of black and red with shiny black points. GARNET CRYSTALS in / GALENA (lead sulphide), / SPALERITE (zinc sulphide), / WILLEMITE (zinc silicate) ore. / Locality: Broken Hill, NSWburke museum, #beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, mineral, galena, galena quartz, broken hill mine, broken hill, nsw

Pyrite also known as iron Pyrite or fools gold is an iron sulfide with a chemical formula of FeS2 and is the most abundant sulfide mineral. Its metallic luster and pale brass-yellow hue give it a superficial resemblance to gold for which its nickname of Fools Gold comes from. There are a number of iron pyrite mines in Victoria and many would have been mined during Victoria's Gold Rush revolution in the 19th century. As it's lustrius yellow metallic look closely resembles gold, it is likely that it was often mistaken for gold as real gold was also often found in similar metamorphic and sedimentary rock. 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 collections were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush). Collecting these specimens was an important part of Australia's early Geoplogical scientific discovery for mapping the earth's surface. It is unknown where in Victoria this specimen was mined from however; it shows strong provenance connections to Victoria's gold mining history and represents through larger economic and cultural structures the impact the Gold Rush had on Victoria during the 19th century. A solid coin-sized Pyrite crystal in black slate in shades of beige with tiny crystal structures. Pyrite / crystals / BB / in black slate / probably / victoria / (nice specimen)geology, geological specimen

The 1:32 scale model was built by Swedish model maker Carl Nordstrom and is now part of the Museums Victoria collection (currently not on display). The 1:48 scale model was built for display at the International Exhibition in London in 1862. It is now part of the British Science Museum, Wroughton, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. These models were part of a commission by Nordstrom who depicted a series of different gold mining extraction methods in Victoria from 1856 to 1859.Two photographs 1 x colour and 1 x Black and white in a dark wooden frame Showing models of Port Phillip Mine, Clunes, Victoria, Australia. Models are 1:32 scale constructed in 1858 using local materials and 1:48 build for possible display at the International Exhibition London 1862scale model, nordstrom

The Old Identities Association was the forerunner ofThe Old Colonists' Association. This particular medal was presented to R.W. Wright who arrived in Ballarat in August 1853. It was purchased by the Old Colonists' Association in 2014. Other known medals were presented to :- * Arthur Croft who arrived in 1852 (Museum of Victoria) * Isaac Croft who arrived in September 1851 (Gold Museum) * Ben Story (Ballarat Historical Society) * John Brokenshire (Private Collection)Ballarat Old Identities medal in a box. The medal shows a gold cradle and other mining tools, and was presented to members of the Old Indentities Association. To qualify as a member you had to have arrived in Ballarat between 1851 and 1854. "Mr Welch, jeweller, of Sturt street, has just manufactured 60 medals, for issue to the members of the Old Identities' Association of Ballarat. Each is suitably inscribed and ornamented. The medals will be on view to day in Mr Welch’s window. " (Ballarat Star, 11 October 1884)The Old Identities Association 1851-1854 Arrived Aug 1853 R.W. Wrightballarat old colonists' association, ballarat old colonists' club, old colonists' association, ballarat, ballarat old identities, r.w. wright

Azurite is a secondary copper mineral made by the weathering of copper sulphide ore deposits. Azurite is formed from copper, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. There are over 45 forms of azurite that are more well-known, however over 100 forms have been found. Azurite is also commonly found together with Malachite, and Azurite is often psuedomorphed to Malachite. This specimen was found at the Great Cobar Copper Mine in New South Wales, which was founded in 1870. At the time it was one of the largest mining operations in the world. It was the largest copper mine in Australia and housed the southern hemisphere’s tallest chimney stack. The international price of copper collapsed at the end of World War 1 which led to the closure of the Great Cobar Mine on March 16th 1919. A year later on March 10th 1920 an underground fire in the CSA (Cornish, Scottish, Australian) mine started and burned for 16 years. The closure of the mine and the fire left thousands jobless and many people left the area. These were factors in Cobar facing a long stretch of poverty, until a boom in the 1960s led to the reopening of the mine. The mine still operates today, obtained by Metals Acquisition Limited in June 2023. Azurite is considered an uncommon mineral. Named for its deep blue colour, azurite was historically used for pigment making and as a gemstone, despite its softness. This specimen was donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880 as part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens. Many of the specimens in this collection were obtained as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria, which started in 1852. The Survey aimed to map the scientific makeup of the earth.A solid copper mineral with shades of darker blues almost covering it.burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, mineralogy, cobar mines, great cobar copper mine, cobar mining, new south wales, azurite, azurite specimen

Feldspar, derived from the German word feldspat, is a group of minerals which is the most common mineral group found on Earth, making up more than half of the planet's crust. The major rock-forming minerals in the Feldspar group include albite, anorthite, orthoclase and microcline. (Mindat, Feldspar Group). Orthoclase is part of the Feldspar Group subgroup, Alkaline Feldspar, which are known to be poor in calcium, and mostly rich in potassium. It is further also considered to be a K Feldspar, a subgroup of Alkaline Feldspar that are Potassium-dominant with variable crystal symmetry and Al-Si ordering state. Orthoclase are most commonly Colorless to white, Greenish white, Grayish yellow, or Pale pink and transparent to translucent with slightly pearly cleavage. The mineral rates at a 6 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. (cannot be scratched with a knife, but scratches glass with difficulty). The stronger green colour of this particular specimen is distinctive to the Broken Hill region (where it was found), and due to a small amount of lead. (BB) Its qualities find it misidentified at times as as microcline variety amazonite. Broken Hill is one of the world’s richest lead-zinc-silver deposits. The huge, 300-million-tonne orebody was discovered in 1883 and the superb mineral specimens attract collectors from around the world. (Australian Museum, Minerals from Australia: Australian mining regions)While feldspar is not by any means rare, this particular specimen has qualities distinctive to the Broken Hill mining district, with these properties leading at times to the mineral's misidentification. This creates potential for further study and identification of these mineral deposits through methods such as microscopic twinning, or using the position of certain d values in XRD patterns to calculate the degree of disorder of a K-feldspar, as discussed on the Mindat website (Mindat.com, Orthoclase:About Orthoclase). 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 solid small aluminosilicate mineral composition which is primarily pale green and blue-grey in colour with traces of beige and white throughout. Note: green plumbian orthoclase (aka green feldspar) is an indicator mineral for the Broken Hill style lead-zinc deposits.N/Abroken hill mine, geological specimen, minerology

Tourmaline is a group of minerals belonging to the complex borosilicate mineral class. These minerals are known for their striking and varied colours, making them prized gemstones. Tourmaline crystals can come in various shades, including pink, green, blue, brown, black, and colourless. They are often transparent or translucent. Tourmaline's chemical composition is complex, but it typically includes elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, and potassium. The specific arrangement of these elements in the crystal lattice gives rise to the different colours and properties of tourmaline specimens. Tourmaline specimens from Beechworth, Victoria, Australia, are a notable part of the region's mineral heritage. These tourmalines are of interest to mineral collectors and enthusiasts. While the tourmaline found in Beechworth is not as well-known as some other tourmaline varieties, it has unique characteristics and a historical context associated with the gold mining areas in Beechworth.The significance of tourmaline in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia, lies in its unique geological and historical context, contributing to both scientific and cultural aspects. The tourmaline mined in Beechworth is a rare and unique variety of tourmaline that is primarily found in the historic gold mining areas surrounding Beechworth. Its occurrence is closely linked to the geological processes that shaped the region during the Gold Rush era. The discovery of tourmaline in Beechworth adds to the rich mineral heritage of the area, which was historically known for gold mining. The specimens serve as a tangible connection to the region's mining history and contribute to preserving its geological legacy. The presence of tourmaline in Beechworth showcases the mineralogical diversity of the area. Tourmaline is known for its wide range of colours and unique properties, making it a valuable subject of study for mineralogists and geologists. Tourmaline specimens from Beechworth have educational significance, providing opportunities for research and study. They offer insights into the geological processes and mineral formation in the region, contributing to a better understanding of Earth's geological history.A hand-sized solid mineral specimen in shades of brown, green, light grey and dark greyTOURMALINE (schorl) / (Silicate of boron and aluminum) burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, geological, geological specimen, mineralogy, tourmaline

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. A large opening to a mine can be seen behind the men in the photograph, with a wheeled cart on a track leading to the men's position, where the soil and rocks have been hauled away. 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. 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.Sepia coloured rectangular photograph printed on gloss photographic paper mounted on card. Obverse: Williams/ Good/ Luck Reverse: A02498/ 1997. 2498/ Good Luck/ Mine/ 1899/ Mopoke. 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 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.Sepia coloured rectangular photograph printed on gloss photographic paper mounted on card.Obverse: Reverse: A02497/ 1997.2497/ 'Good/ Luck/ Mine'/ Morepork/ Gully/ Mrs Joyce/ Bright/ Tunnel/ 800 ft/ 1899. 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

FRAMED PHOTOGRAPHS OF MODEL OF PORT PHILLIP & CLUNES MINE AND SIGN USED WHEN ON DISPLAY .1 PHOTO OF FULL MODEL .2 PHOTO OF BACK OF MODEL .3 PHOTO OF CLOSE UP OF BUILDING WHICH HAS NO OUTER WALLS OR ROOF TO ENABLE VIEW OF INSIDE. .4 HAND WRITTEN SIGN, FRAMED MODEL MADE IN 1858 BY CARL NORDSTROM ON SITE . MODEL NOW IN STORAGE AT SCIENCE MUSEUM OF VICTORIAlocal history, photographs, mining