Scales were used in the Tarnagulla area of Central Victoria by Albert Charles Nicholls, who was a licensed assayer. This information comes from David Gordon of the Tarnagulla.com web-site. “The Nicholls family were very well known and highly respected at Tarnagulla in the 1800s. Albert's father, William Nicholls, was a leading figure in the gold mining community, and he both managed and owned quartz processing facilities for decades. He was probably the leading mining expert at Tarnagulla in a town full of mining experts, and it was said that no man at Tarnagulla had handled more gold over the years that him. (think in terms of tons of gold!) I would imagine the assaying equipment was probably passed in due course by William to Albert Charles. There are records of Albert Charles mining at Tarnagulla with his father as a young man, but AC apparently came down to the city when the gold began to fade. There are records of him living in Kew up until his death in 1932. He was employed as a draper for a long period.” This item is a significant item which is part of the history of gold mining in Victory.Gold assayer's scales, a very sensitive balance used in the assaying of gold, silver, etc.The scales are comprised of two circular brass pans suspended via brass chains to a metal balance.scales gold technology assayers tarnagulla

This object is a photographic postcard showing some of the above-ground structures of the Golden Bar mine in Chiltern, including a building with a smokestack and the poppet head which is used to haul equipment, materials, and men above or below ground. The Golden Bar site, mined by the Golden Bar Mining Company which was formed in 1901, managed to yield approximately 12,453 oz of gold before work stopped in 1912 - it was one of the principal mines in the area, as well as the deepest and one of the richest. The text on the postcard was handwritten by H.Gordon (?) to Issy (?), to show the mine where he presumably worked as he promises to take them 'above and below'. The postcard can be approximately dated to between 1901-1912. It is stated that after 1902 Kodak added the line on the postcard backs to divide into correspondence and address sections as seen on the reverse of this object. In addition, there is also a similar Kodak photographic postcard in the Burke Museum collection that is dated to 1908 and has the same specific font type and manufacturer markings (see references for link). Lastly, the Golden Bar mine ceased operations in 1912 so the photograph was likely taken prior to this. This photographic postcard is a rare and fair conditioned representation of one of the most significant gold mines in the Chiltern area, showing the above ground structures at the time it was being actively mined. This postcard also holds social significance as a snapshot of working life in the gold mining rush of Victoria, and a personal record of one of its miners. A sepia rectangular postcard printed on card.Obverse: Dudley Studio / Golden Bar. Chiltern Reverse: BMM 8034 / Post Card. / Correspondence. / Address Only. / Kodak. Austral. 110 / My Dear Issy (?), / A card only, to show (?) the mine / and when you come down I will / take you above and below, / All (...) love, me to. Has the baby / gone home yet Heini (?) wants to know / give my love to Syd when next you write / Your loving (...), H. Gordon (?)photographic postcard, postcard, chiltern, golden bar mine, golden bar mining company, dudley studio, kodak

This postcard depicts the set-up of an abandoned gold mine. This includes a water wheel and other mining implements next to a creek. The postcard inscription indicates that this image is of the remains of the Wallaby Reef battery and water wheel. Wallaby Reef was discovered in 1864, and a prospecting claim established a four head battery and water wheel. Quartz was mined there, with gold also discovered at this location at a later date. By 1878 the mine was no longer resulting in rich deposits, this resulted in the miners moving their search for gold closer to the river where they were able to access more gold. This was in approximately 1879. In 1882 a rich deposit was found. In 1908 the battery was closed, and the mine finished. This photo was taken in 1920 and shows the deterioration of the site since its closure. Gold mining was crucial to the development of the Beechworth area. It has strong research and historical value because the clarity of the photo shows all the minute details of the mining equipment. The text on the back also indicates the mine is the Wallaby Mine, which was used for 45 years to find gold and quartz. Therefore, due to the location being quickly abandoned, this site is a rich location for historical study on gold mining during the 1900s. It can provide important information on the types of tools utilised and the impact of the mining on the environment.Black and white postcard photograph on card.8169 Be / Also near Wallaby Reef Workings / Relics of Rechabite Reef (locality) workings. / Shaft in bed of creek. Wheel used to drive sheadd (?) / stamp battery too I believe near B'worth 1920?beechworth, mining, gold mining, quartz mining, wallaby reef mine, mine battery head

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

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photograph1989, bruce ness, central park, eltham festival, jack hodson, opal smith, shire of eltham historical society

A pictorial history of Gippsland's Jordan goldfieldHardcover. Gold dust cover. Front cover has a photograph of two miners carrying mining equipment.This work is dedicated to the people of the Jordan Goldfields,/ the Pioneers who worked, lived, loved and died in the moun-/ tains of Gippsland, giving us a rich and varied heritage. It is especially dedicated to Mr William Rae, Gentleman, Late of/ Jericho, without whose assistance this work would have/ remained a dream. Stamp of the Marysville & District Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779gold, gold mining, gold mines, victoria, gippsland, history, bosa, marysusan, tomlin, owen f., chamberlain, peter g.

Photo shows horse connected to gold crushing equipment A circular pit with log braced over centre Two men in foreground1 copy B/W 1 copy Sepiamining, gold mining, mafeking

The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, main road, victorian folk music club, joh ebeli, 1989

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, bruce ness, jack hodson, opal smith, peter bassett-smith, youth road, doug orford, russell yeoman

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, youth road

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, youth road

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, youth road

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, main road, sue law, doug orford

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, main road, russell yeoman

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, main road, opal smith

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, main road, jack hodson

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, main road, joh ebeli

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, main road, jock read

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, joh ebeli, central park

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, jack hodson, opal smith, central park

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, central park, jack hodson, opal smith, bruce ness

Prize was a plate. Bruce Ness made the house on his truck. Joh Ebeli holding the sign. [from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, central park, bruce ness, joh ebeli

Society President, Sue Law, and Junior Vice-President Doug Orford carry the Society Banner leading the parade float. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's parade float featured a gold mining theme - "The Eltham Goldrush" Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

Society President, Sue Law, and Junior Vice-President Doug Orford carry the Society Banner leading the parade float. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's parade float featured a gold mining theme - "The Eltham Goldrush" Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

Society President, Sue Law, and Junior Vice-President Doug Orford carry the Society Banner leading the parade float. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's parade float featured a gold mining theme - "The Eltham Goldrush" Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

This was the finishing point for the parade. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's parade float featured a gold mining theme - "The Eltham Goldrush" Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

This was the finishing point for the parade. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's parade float featured a gold mining theme - "The Eltham Goldrush" Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

Society President, Sue Law, and Junior Vice-President Doug Orford carry the Society Banner leading the parade float. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's parade float featured a gold mining theme - "The Eltham Goldrush" Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float