Photocopy of a Plan of the Victoria Reef Gold Mines Company, Bendigo. Shaded area is the Victoria Reef Gold Mines Company Lease No. 2 and Lease No. 3. The gullies are named Happy Valley, Long, Derwent, Providence and Ironbark Gullies. The reefs are: Western Victoria, Victoria, Eastern Victoria and Prince Albert Reef. Between the Eastern Victoria Reef and the Prince Albert Reef is the White Lead. Mount Korong Road is at the bottom of the plan. Other Leaseholders are: Burrows, Wybrant, Ballerstedt, Jackson,Roberts & Co, Ashley, Grant, ?rpe, ?eau, Woodward, Coath, Taylor, Cranshaw, Roberts, Gould & Co, Midway, Witscheibe, Endeavour Co, Albert Co, Ballerstedt & Son, Late Iron Bark Quartz Mining Co, McDougall, Specimen Hill Co, Hygrect?, Wheadon, Evans and Bannerman. Signed by H. B. Nicholas. Location of Ballerstedt, Luffsman, Midway Co, Witscheibe and Rae & Co engine locations. Hills are shown as hatch shading. Written at the bottom left ocrner is: Accompanying prospectus issued in Nov. 1859. Signed H.B. Nicholas.plan, bendigo, victoria reef gold mines company, victoria reef gold mines company bendigo - plan, h b nicholas, burrows, wybrant, ballerstedt, jackson, roberts & co, ashley, grant, ?rpe, ?eau, woodward, coath, taylor, cra-shaw, roberts, gou-d & co, midway, witscheibe, endeavour co, albert co, ballerstedt & son, late iron bark quartz mining co, mcdougall, specimen hill co, hyo?, wheadon, evans, bannerman.

Black and white photograph of mine site. Mullock heap in background with various mine buildings. Chimney stack and corrugated iron buildings on right. Mine shaft holes in foreground. Whims centre back. Hand written on back 'Gold Mines Bendigo. Probably New Chum Hill. Looking North. Phoenix, later Old Chum Mine at summit. JB Lazarus' claims in foreground. RT. 'Johnsons No. 2' on back - Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch. Circular stamp. History: Prev. ACC. No. MNG 2Batchelderplace, mining site, new chum

Joan O'Shea Collection. Central Deborah Gold Mine Bendigo. Promotional material. Chronological History, Poppet legs and shaft, Change Room, Caretakers or rag pickers room, Drying room, first aid room, carbide light room, Underground, carpenters shed, ore bins and loading bays, stamper battery, wilfley table, berdan pans, laboratory, display room, boiler, stroke hold, winding engine, boiler feed pump, electric driven compressor, steam driven compressor, blacksmith's shop.Photograph Courtesy Philip Beer.mining, marketing, central deborah mine.

Postcard, Bendigo Photographic Booklet, 15 photographs of Bendigo, including: The Conservatory; Lake Weeroona; Conservatory Gardens; The Mall; Hotel Shamrock; Baths at the Lake; Queen Victoria Monument and Soldiers' Memorial Hall; King George V. Memorial, Conservatory Gardens; Deborah Gold Mines looking towards Bendigo; Queen Victoria Gardens; Alexandra Fountain; Soldiers' Memorial Hall; In the Fernery; Rosiland Park Gardens; Post Office. Published by The Valentine Publishing Co. Pty. Ltd., Melbourne & Sydney. Early 1900'spostcard, photograph, bendigo

Colour photograph: Gold Mines Hotel, Marong Road, Bendigo. Image shows two storey building, verandah top and bottom storey, ornate ironwork on verandah. Single pediment in centre of verandah and also on top of second storey Written on top pediment in gold paint 'Gold Mines Hotel' . Hotel painted white.bendigo, hotel, gold mines hotel

Handwritten one page document. Details about the Hercules Gold Mine, Long Gully which operated from 1911 - 1917 as the Hercules and Energetic Gold Mine. 1917 - 1922 by Bendigo Amalgamated Goldfields Company and 1922 - 1950 as an entirely new company. The Central Nell Gwynne on the Nell Gwynne (central area only) 1932 - 1949.Albert Richardsonbendigo, mining, hercules, energetic, nell gwynne

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2000. Land Bill - The main purpose of the Bendigo Land Bill was to authorise the sale of land at the corner of Mitchell and High streets for 9000 Pounds. In 1870 the site was a gold mine on which a Bendigo councillor, Dr Boyd, had erected buildings, one of these buildings was the City Club Hotel. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Poster of central Deborah Gold Mine, Bendigo Victoria showing in black and white poppet head. Advertising: Bendigo goldmine open for inspection daily 10am - 5 pm guided tours by appointment phone 438070 or 436401. The Central Deborah gold mine, the last to close on the Bendigo field, was purchased early in 1970m by the Bendigo City Council for restoration and preservation as a typical Bendigo gold mine equipped with machinery , most of which was made in Bendigo. The Central Deborah Company was formed in 1939 to deepen an existing shaft sunk in 1912. Underground operations ceased in 1954. from 1942 to 1954 29,460 ounces of gold was won from 63,962 tons of ore.mine, gold, central deborah gold mine

Colony of Victoria No. 22330 Cream & Sepia Paper Miners Right License Central Deborah Gold Mine Bendigo ( copy, not original ) Five Shillings. Issued under the provisions of the ''Mining Statute 1865'', No. 291. 3 Copies. At the top of the license is the Royal Coat of Arms with the motto ''Dieu Et Mon Advance Australia Droit'' which translates to ''God and my right to Advance Australia.'' In the centre of an oval is an image of the queen ruling over Victoria colonists. At the top of the oval is the motto of the Caledonian Mining Expedition Company ''Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense'' which is also the motto of the Order of the Garter and translates to ''Shamed be he who thinks evil of it.''By Authority: John Ferres Government Printerbendigo, mining, central deborah mine miners right, newspaper cuttings folder previous numbers 51-100

The Napoleon (BML) gold mine (1932) was located near McDougall Road, Golden Gully, between Martin and Hattam Street. It had a depth of 921 feet. It was one of the latest and most lavish of Bendigo's mines. Plant and equipment were electrically driven. The four-compartment shaft, extra large by goldfield's standards, measured 17 feet 6 inches by 5 feet 2 inches and was cement lined below 900 feet instead of being red gum boxed as was the usual practice. The workshop was equipped to carry out all repairs for the equally lavish BML mines on the Nell Gwynne and Carshalton reefs. (The Gold Mines of Bendigo, Book 2, Arthur Victor Palmer) 'Napoleon BML Mines No Liability have issued a report for the fortnight ended September 5, where it states that the development scheme has been formulated and necessary equipment is being ordered. The Napoleon main shaft, (about 1700 feet south of the old Napoleon shaft) will be a four compartment shaft (17ft 6 inches by ft 2 inches inside the timber). aLevels will be opened at approximately 100 ft vertical intervals and cross-cuts extended approximately 125 ft each side of centre country to explore a cross-section across the anticline opposite to the shaft. At every fifth level, main drives will be extended north to connect with the old Napoleon shaft and south approximately 1800 ft. At the latter point, another cross-section of the anticline will be explored by rising and cross-cutting. The old Napoleon will be unwatered and on the 500ft and 1000 ft levels main drives will be driven to connect with main levels from the Napoleon main shaft to the south as well as being driven north 1800 ft where another cross-section of the anticline will be explored. Cross-sections further north and south may be developed as desired and also at intermediate points if necessary. Clearing and grading of the main shaft site are now in progress and the erection of the office and store building is proceeding. The design of engine room, change house and machine shops is now in hand and erection will proceed as soon as working plans and specifications are prepared.' The main shaft has been commenced at 3ft and advanced 10 ft. to 13 ft. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10975478?searchTerm=napoleon%20bml (The Argus, 8th. September 1934, 'Mining' page 18) Significant to mining history of Bendigo.Black and white photograph of a stamper head being lowered into position on the battery site of the Napoleon Reef Gold Mine. A wooden gantry supports the battery head as it being lowered. Three large concrete foundations are visible in immediate background, two of which have stampers already in position, the third stamper is being lowered onto the final foundation. In immediate foreground, 'boxing' is erected for future concrete pours. napoleon gold mine, napoleon reef gold mine

Newspaper article, Bendigo Advertiser, Thursday October 13, 1988, page 1. It was said in the 'heyday of Bendigo's gold mining it was possible to walk underground from Spring Gully to Eaglehawk' Article describes a walk done in 1988 from the 8th level of the Central Deborah Gold Mine shaft (270 m) through a series of tortuous and at times hazardous drives, stopes, shafts and cross overs to the 8th level of the North Deborah Gold Mine. Steven Hinde, Bendigo Mining's Chief Geologist lead the trek, which proved it was still possible to go down one shaft and emerge up another. When Bendigo Mining dewatered the Central Deborah shaft it uncovered the old connecting passages.bendigo, mining, central deborah gold mine

The Monument Hill Gold Mine was at the corner of Old Violet Street and Olive Street. It operated until 1947. The shaft was capped, the poppet legs and mullock removed. A house now occupies the site. The Monument Hill Gold mine depth was over 1200 ft. The donor of the photograph is the grandson of Albert Dunstan, and he recalls that 'the mine was fully operational in the 1940's and I was often able to see my Grandfather at work and watched as men stepped into cages to be lowered to their awful occupation'. Donor's great, great grandfather was John Perry Dunstan, a well respected mine manager on the Bendigo goldfield.Two black and white copies of original photograph. Image shows Albert Ernest Dunstan working in the engine room of the Monument Hill Gold Mine, Bendigo. Albert is at the controls of the engine, lowering and raising the mining cage; he is leaning on the support railing around the elevated platform he is standing on. Letter accompanying images describes the donor's family connection to John Perry Dunstan and Albert Ernest Dunstan, he writes that ' the mine was fully operational in the 1940's and I was often able to see my Grandfather at work and watched as men stepped into cages to be lowered to their awful occupation. I was very surprised that today there is a home sitting above what was once a very deep mine'.monument hill gold mine, albert dunstan, old violet street, olive street, engine room, mining cage

Letter and boiler inspection certificate issued to J.J. Stanistreet Esq., Garden Gully & Moon Extended Gold Mines N.L., Charing Cross Bendigo. 'Two certificates for air receiver and boiler received from the Mines Department' written in letter. Note: Only one certificate attached for air receiver. Certificate dated 15th February 1934. Letterhead 'Miller & Co., Machinery Pty. Ltd., Bendigo Branch 10 Forest Street, Bendigo, dated 20th February 1934.Miller & Co Machinery Pty Ltd.gold, mining, garden gully & moon extended gold mines

Three page report on Bendigo Mining NL, 28th October, 1980 prepared by Collect & Co. Credit Management Service. Report provides a credit record of Bendigo Mining NL, the nature of its business, details its directors, background and provides a statement regarding the business. The directors: Clive Singleton, Douglas Cahill, Richard Sandner, Richard Dungey, Desmond Robins, David Andrew. The nominal capital of the company was $250,000 and its nature of business was the exploration and drilling of a gold mine in the Bendigo area. The subject of the report is currently 'involved in a dispute with Western Mining Corporation over control of a gold mining lease. The matter is being arbitrated by the Department of Minerals and Energy'. It was anticipated that 'drilling will commence within approximately six months of the subject being given the go-ahead'.bendigo, gold mining, exploration, bendigo, western mining corporation, bendigo mining nl, drilling, gold mining

Two page document, carbon copy typed on flimsy paper. On first page ' South New Chum Syncline Gold Mine No Liability', Bendigo. January 20th 1934. Mine Manager's report, Jas. Phillips typed on bottom of second page. Content includes: 'The level south at the 110 ft was driven over 35 years ago by the late Geo Phillips who had a 20 head mill on the lease and as far as I can remember its about 200 ft south and of course the reef iow well above a few feet in on account of it rising in that direction and thousands of tons has been taken out of that particular block and crushed.... the writer worked on that reef in his younger days and we connected with some old workings above us known as the German's Workings collapsed and closed up from the 100 ft level to the surface'. Document is part of the Margaret Roberts Mining Collection. south new moon syncline gold mine, geo phillips, james phillips, george phillips, gold mine, reef lines

Black and white photo, faded, pasted onto buff board. Possibly copy of original. Image shows 23 men standing and seated in front of corrugated iron mine shed. Men are dressed in suit coats and trousers, some wearing hats. Two men wearing collar and tie. On back of photo, written in pen : 'The photo of the New Chum Gold Fields Mine, Ddgiamond Hill, Bendigo, was taken about 1911, the Manager (Wilfred Rickards) seated in centre. There was a dozen or more mines in diamond Hill at that time. G.H. Furness, 116 High Street, Kangaroo Flat.'bendigo, mining, new chum goldfields mine

Typed copies of catalogues of items to be auctioned at the following mines: South Red, White and Blue 12th April 1938 Central Blue 28th October, 1941 at 11 a.m South Virginia Extended (found inside Central Blue catalogue) Big Blue 21st November, 1939 at 10.30 a.m Golden Transverse Bendigo 3rd September 1941Yandoit Co 19th April 1939 Chapman's Gold Mine Chewton 8th February 1939 Ross Creek Extended G.M. Coy 18th August 1938 Ross Creek Extended G.M.Coy Ross Creek Mines Account Mines Dept Pitfield Plains, Glenfine South Shaft Adelong Dredge and leases 10th February 1943 Bright Valley Dredge 9,10th February 1943 Exchequer Extended North Chewton 18th October, 1939 Talbot Alluvials Norbury's No. 2 shaft 5th May 1941 Gordon Gold Mine Inglewood 30th April 1940 Postg Office Hill Mine Chewton 7th February 1940 Carlisle & Whittaker Plant Buninyong Rand Yandoit Mine North Chewton 19th October 1939 Spring Gully Mine Chewton 14th Decembert 1938 Eureka Central Chewton 26th February 1941The Golod Mine Clunes 15th March 1941 Guildford Plateau 20th Novemer 1940 New Long Tunnel Walhalla 12th February 1941 Napoleon BML 28th October 1941 Alfords Battery Hercules No. 1 Mine 12th February 1942 Ramrod Gold Mine Bendigo 19th March 1942 Bendigo Amalgamated Goldfields Limited 10th and 11th August 1938 Virginia South Extended 1st June 1938

Engineering feasability study, 24 pages and diagrams dated November 4th 1982, to dewater Central Deborah Gold Mine. On front cover 'Bendigo Mining NL, Central Deborah Goldmine Dewatering, Engineering Feasibility Study, Caldwell, Connell Engineers Pty Ltd.' 'Draft' watermark on each page. Areas discussed in study: the mine dewatering proposal; minewater quality, minewater disposal options and criteria; minewater volumes; volume of workings; volume of fissures; groundwater inflow; pump equipment; wastewater disposal options; discharge to sewerage system; discharge to Bendigo Creek; treatment and odour control; treatment of minewater; foul air treatment; proposed treatment systerm; summary of conclusions.bendigo, mining, central deborah gold mine

6 page indenture, plus plan, between King George V and North Deborah Mining Company in the Parish of Sandhurst, dated 29th August, 1950 to operate a gold mine. Indenture numbered 11231 Bendigo, Vol 331 and Folio 36457. Plan shows Hargreaves Street, Violet Street, Lily Street, Sullivan Street railway line, and leases numbered, 11230; 2107; 11062, 11033, 11013, 11219, 11175. Shafts and tracks indicated. Dam shown on lease 11013. Scale 8 CHAINS TO A INCH. Coloured key to plan shows depths, Crown Land, and surface excised. Total area of lease 48 acres, 3 roods, 22 perches.bendigo, mining, north deborag mining company, north deborah mining company, hargreaves, violet, lilly, sullivan streets.

A cut glass and embossed sterling silver serving dish (known as an epergne) presented to Mrs. Mary Williams at a banquet held at Knuckey's California Gully Hotel in October 1889. The banquet was held to honour Mr. Richard Williams, who had been the Mine Manager of the Johnson's Reef Gold Mines for the past 24 years. Mrs. Mary Williams (nee Thomas) was born in St. Austell, Cornwall in 1830. She migrated to Australia with her husband in two children in 1857, arriving on the 21st December on the 'Shakespeare'. The family lived in California Gully. Richard Williams was a mine manager, firstly for George Lansell and then for thirty seven years at the Johnson's Reef Gold Mines. Mary received the epergne at a presentation banquet for her husband in October 1889. She received the accolade as 'she was a kind and charitable lady, a genuine wife and a good mother'. Transcript of address presented to Mr. R. Williams, Mine Manager, Johnson’s Reef Gold Mines, Bendigo at a banquet held at Knuckey’s California Gully Hotel, California Gully, Bendigo. Description of presentation of epergne to Mrs. Mary Williams at the same function. “To Richard Williams, Esq., J.P., Fenton Gove, California Gully. Dear Sir, We, the undersigned, on behalf of the employees of the Johnson's Reef Gold Mines Company, California Gully, Bendigo, desire to place on record the very high esteem which we have always entertained for you in your responsible position of General Manager of the above company for the past 24 years. During the whole of that time the relations which have existed between you and those under your supervision have been of the harmonious kind. You were ever ready to appreciate and acknowledge our efforts in carrying out your orders, thus making it a pleasure for us to possess your confidence and to give satisfaction to our employers. We trust that you may long continue to maintain the position which you now occupy, feeling assured that in the future, as in the past, you will render faithful service to the company whom your instructions represent, and that we, by our efforts in following your instructions may succeed in retaining the good feeling which has hitherto existed between us. In presenting you with this small token of our esteem, we sincerely trust that Mrs. Willliams and yourself may be long spared amongst us to continue in the good works in which you are so thoroughly appreciated by those with whom you are intimately connected. With every feeling of respect to yourself and family, we subscribe ourselves, George Roberts, Andrew Leahy, Robt. Thomas, Geo. Smith, John Holt, Henry Tonkin, and 220 others. The chairman then presented Mr. Williams with a very handsome diamond locket, manufactured at the establishment of Mr. J. Moody. The large gathering of employees that night showed a genuine feeling of gratitude for past kindness, and was a means of keeping up the kindly feelings which always ought to exist between employers and employees. Much what is said with regard to there being no gratitude among workmen was false, as gratitude will be shown where fair play is given, which could always be relied on from a large-hearted man like Mr. Williams, was received with loud applause”. ‘Banquet to a Mining Manager’ Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), Tuesday 29 October 1889, page 3 The epergne comprises of a silver and mirrored glass base, a decorative silver centrepiece, a cut glass bowl with a conical base, and a small silver plaque. The silver centrepiece features two twining palm trees with a stag deer at the base. Epergne is from the Tui Mitchell Collection. Separate shield shaped silver coloured plaque.Presented to Mrs. R Williams By Her Friends As a slight token of esteem California Gully. October 28/89epergne, tui mitchell collection, richard williams, mary williams, california gully, knuckey's california gully hotel, johnson's reef gold mines

McColl Rankin & Stanistreet, Prospectus of South Deborah Gold Mines NL. 5 Copies. A/ Complete with map, application for Shares still intact. Excellent condition. B/ Complete, application detached, excellent condition. C/ Complete, application form detached, excellent condition. D/No map, Application Form still intact. Has been folded down middle. Good condition. E/No map or Application Form, Good condition. Markings/inscriptions: Prospectus of South Deborah Gold Mines No Liability, Deborah Reef, Bendigo. 8 pages.organization, mining, south deborah gold mines nl, mccoll rankin & stanistreet, prospectus of south deborah gold mines nl

Documents: McColl, Rankin and Stanistreet: - documents in brown folder, label on top LH corner of manila folder : 'A.J. Moore - Reports etc. South Deborah Gold Mines' Folder contains: a). Report on proposal to form the South Deborah Co. signed by A.J. Moore, b) prospectus of South Deborah Gold Mines NL Deborah Reef, Bendigo, 1938, c). Letter to Secretary, Deborah Mines Co. d). Letter to E. Arnold, Manager, Deborah Gold Mines, e). Letter to A.J. Moore, f). Letter to A.J. Moore, g). Letter to James Mackay, h). Document headed South Deborah GM Co, I). Letter to A.,J. Moore Esq., letter to E,. Arnold, Manager Deborah Gold Mines NL, j). Letter to E. Arnold, Manager, Deborah Gold Mines NL. k). map of South Deborah Gold Mine NL.A.J. Mooreorganization, mining, south deborah gold mines nl, mccoll, rankin and stanistreet: south deborah gold mines nl, a.j. moore mining engineer, gold mining

Coloured booklet of various scenes and buildings in and around Bendigo, titled Bendigo Victoria's Golden City. The front cover has a scene of Charing Cross looking towards Pall Mall. Inside the front cover is a very brief history and some Historical Buildings are mentioned. They are: Fortuna, Shamrock Hotel, Gold Mines Hotel, City Hall, Post Office, Law Courts, the Home for the Aged, Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Paul's, Specimen Cottage, Log Lock-up and the Chinese Joss House. The coloured pictures inside are: The Central Deborah Gold Mine, Fortuna, Miner's Cottage, The Gold Mines Hotel, Victoria Hill, Bendigo Law Courts, Eaglehawk Log Lock-up, Look-out Tower Rosalind Park, Alexandra Fountain - Charing Cross, Conservatory Gardens with Law Courts in background, Inside the Conservatory, Bendigo Home & Hospital for the Aged - Victoria's 'White House', Sacred Heart Cathedral, Chinese Joss House, Chinese Joss House - Interior of the Main Temple, Bendigo Pottery - Potter at work, Bendigo Municipal Offices, Bendigo Institute of Technology at Flora Hill, Mt. Alvernia Hospital, Cobb & Co Coach, R Class Locomotive, Bendigo Tramcar, Lake Weeroona and Lake Eppalock Pumping Station. Some more attractions are mentioned inside the back cover. On the back cover is the Cenotaph - the only scale replica of the Whitehall Cenotaph - and Alexandra Fountain by night.Nucolorvue Productions Pty Ltdbendigo, tourism, photographs of bendigo icons, bendigo - victoria's golden city, fortuna, shamrock hotel, gold mines hotel, city hall, post office, law courts, home for the aged, victoria's 'white house', sacred heart cathedral, st paul's, specimen cottage, log lock-up, chinese joss house, charing cross, cenotaph, alexandra fountain, centra deborah gold mine, army cartographic unit, miner's cottage, harvey town, victoria hill, look-out tower rosalind park, conservatory gardens, conservatory, bendigo pottery, bendigo municipal offices, bendigo institute of technology, mt alvernia hospital, cobb & co coach, r class locomotive, bendigo railway station, bendigo tramcar, lake weeroona, lake eppalock pumping station, art gallery, historical museum eaglehawk, melville's caves, whitehall cenotaph, nucolorvue productins pty ltd, national library of australia

This photograph dates to 1899, towards the end of the gold rush in the Mopoke Gully area. 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. Mopoke Gully mines came under the 'Fryer's Creek' division of the Castlemaine District during the Gold Rush. After the Gold Rush began in Victoria with the discovery of gold at Ballarat in 1851, Gold was found in Castlemaine by December of that year. 20,000 diggers were spread across the Castlemaine region, and the area was yielding about 23,000 ounces of gold per week. Mopoke Gully was the site of the Mopoke Gully Water Wheel, operating under the Bendigo and Fryers Goldmining Company from 1887 until 1900. This Water Wheel was used in the gold mining technique of 'sluicing'. Hydraulic sluicing uses high pressure water jets to blast away the earth, which runs through a sluice box, catching the gold with all remaining slurry washing away. This Water Wheel was built the same year as the more famous 'Chewton Water Wheel', but was smaller in diameter (60ft as opposed to Chewton's 72ft). The Mopoke Water Wheel ruins are quite intact today, and are a registered archaeological site. 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. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in 1899. This photograph reveals important information on the use of dogs on Victorian goldfields in 1899. Dogs were used both as companions, such as this photograph depicts, as well as deterrents to thieves. 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. beechworth, burke museum, gold, gold mining, 1899, castlemaine, mopoke gully, good luck mine, fryer's creek, gold rush, victorian gold rush, water wheel, sluicing, chewton

This photograph dates to 1899, towards the end of the gold rush in the Mopoke Gully area. A slurry of rocks after they have been broken up is depicted, and this is part of the hydraulic sluicing mining process. Four men are relaxing under a wooden structure, with a fifth bearded man standing near a stone wall. 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. Mopoke Gully mines came under the 'Fryer's Creek' division of the Castlemaine District during the Gold Rush. After the Gold Rush began in Victoria with the discovery of gold at Ballarat in 1851, Gold was found in Castlemaine by December of that year. 20,000 diggers were spread across the Castlemaine region, and the area was yielding about 23,000 ounces of gold per week. Mopoke Gully was the site of the Mopoke Gully Water Wheel, operating under the Bendigo and Fryers Goldmining Company from 1887 until 1900. This Water Wheel was used in the gold mining technique of 'sluicing'. Hydraulic sluicing uses high pressure water jets to blast away the earth, which runs through a sluice box, catching the gold with all remaining slurry washing away. Hydraulicking is the process of breaking up the rocks and suspending it in a slurry. This Water Wheel was built the same year as the more famous 'Chewton Water Wheel', but was smaller in diameter (60ft as opposed to Chewton's 72ft). The Mopoke Water Wheel ruins are quite intact today, and are a registered archaeological site.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray a 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 1899. 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 photograph reveals important information on the use of dogs on Victorian goldfields in 1899. Dogs were used both as companions, such as this photograph depicts, as well as deterrents to thieves. 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. beechworth, burke museum, gold, gold mining, 1899, castlemaine, mopoke gully, good luck mine, fryer's creek, gold rush, victorian gold rush, water wheel, sluicing, chewton, slurry