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The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr Charles Ladson, 7 December 2000
Charles Ladson in 1926 in Beechworth. The recording details Charles' life growing up in Beechworth, his working life as a carpenter and as woodworking teacher, and later his marriage. Charles grandfather arrived in Beechworth following the gold rush and set up shop as a trader. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.The recording of Charles Ladson's life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural, historical, social, and religious heritage of the region. Charles details important historical events, local life, and hardships in the region's history that had a lasting local, regional and national impact. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mr Charles Ladsonteacher, burke museum, beechworth, charles ladson, ladson, religion, listen to what they say, gold rush -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, 1928
Taken in Beechworth at an unknown date, this photograph depicts the east side of ford street looking north from the Church of England Tower.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper. Obverse: NO INSCRIPTION Reverse: 1997.2853 A03104 ph 4 3 1928 beechworth, ford street, church of england, christ church -
Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society Inc.
Photograph, School Camp, 1988
The children from Bulla and MIckleham schools were attending a school camp at Beechworth and one of the activities was hiking in one of the nearby hills. While hiking they came across a tunnel which captured the attention of these children.A non-digital coloured photograph of four children looking into a tunnel, which is under an embankment.school camps, hiking, beechworth -
Beechworth Honey Archive
Map- Everton
Map compiled from 1975 aerial photography. Printed in 1979.Map shows Everton, Ovens River, Beechworth- Wangaratta Rd, former Wangaratta- Bright railway. Scale 1:25,000. Printed colour on paper.Map labelled Everton. No. 8225-3-3.map, everton, ovens river, bright, railway, aerial, photography, paper, beechworth honey -
Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society Inc.
Photograph, School Camp, 1988
The little girl from Bulla Primary School was attending a school camp at Beechworth and one of the activities the students enjoyed was a visit to a local trout farm where they learned about the importance of breeding trout to maintain healthy rivers.School camps gave the students the opportunities to study the environments at close-hand.A non-digital coloured print of a girl holding a red torch in one hand while trying to catch something in the pond that she is crouched beside.trout, school camps, beechworth -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph
Tanswells Commercial Hotel, Ford Street Beechworth.Black and white square photograph printed on gloss photographic paper.Obverse: National Trust of Australia, Victoria Reverse: 8/ BMM 8717.8/ Sir Rowan Delacombe -Tanswells 'The Butchers Arms'/ about 1900/ opposite Benevolent asylum. hotels album, beechworth, burke museum, tanswells, commercial hotel, sir rowan delacombe, national trust -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, 1910
Lord Kitchener visited Seymour as part of his review of Australia's military capabilities. Lord Kitchener was Commander-in-Chief of the British Army at the time of his visit. At the invitation of Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, Kitchener visited Australia in 1909 to inspect the existing state of defence preparedness of the Commonwealth, and advise on the best means of providing Australia with a land defence. Kitchener’s report, submitted in February 1910, recommended the introduction of compulsory military training which was immediately adopted, as was the establishment of the Military College, Duntroon: It has been definitely decided that Seymour will be the site of the Kitchener camp. The troops which will make the strongest muster at the camp will be the Light Horse. This being so, the suitability of the chosen area for cavalry operations has necessarily had to be considered in selecting the site, and an additional factor is that Seymour is practically in the centre of the Light Horse districts. The country round Seymour is also suitable for artillery manoeurves, and there is no available area in the vicinity of Melbourne where these could be so well carried out. As it is considered that Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener will desire to see the troops on the move, the reason for choosing such a district as Seymour is apparent. The eight days to be devoted to the camp will be mainly occupied in moving the troops over a considerable area, and in carrying out certain tactical operations. Many of the sites recommended have been inspected by officers of the head quarter staff, and all that now remains is that the exact situation for the main camp should be selected, Major Luscombe will visit Seymour on Saturday to inspect the surround country, and select the most suitable places. The intention will be directed to sites closer to the town. Yea Chronicle (Yea, Vic), 9 December 1909. Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper and mounted on board.Obverse: Beechworth Light Horse (pen) / Kitchener Camp / Seymour / 1910 / Reverse: 8743 / Mrs R Scott / military album, burke museum, burke, beechworth, beechworth light horse, light horse, world war one, wwi, 1910 -
Beechworth Honey Archive
Topographic Map, Beechworth, Australia
Map 1:50,000. Sheet 8225-111 Printed by Royal Australian Survey Corp, 1967. Map includes Beechworth, Everton, Muirmungee, Wooragee and Eldorado. -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, circa. 1850
Date not confirmed, a farm in the Beechworth Warner property with a farmer overlooking calves, poultry and timber. This photograph depicts the farming and agriculture industry in Beechworth. The property, known as Daintree Stud or the Warner property, was formed a part of the town on Beechworth, Victoria. Beechworth became famous in the 19th century from a short- lived gold-rush. The town grew to the extent of building a hospital and mental hospital, court house, hotels, convent, and prison. During this time, the industrial growth of Beechworth was significant, seeing a rise in practices including tanning, cobbling, blacksmithing, and the selling of livestock. This photograph perhaps reveals a small degree of insight into the livestock business.Black and white rectangular photograph on matte photographic paper, unmountedReverse: 5896/ BMM 8093-1farm, agriculture, farming and agriculture, beechworth, beechworth farm, industry -
Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society Inc.
Photograph, School Camp, 1988
While the students from Bulla and MIckleham Primary Schools were attending a school camp at Beechworth they visited a hatchery, which was breeding fresh-water crayfish. While there the children were shown over the hatchery and shown many aspects of fish hatcheries and their purpose.A non- digital coloured photograph of a man holding up and showing children a large fresh-water crayfish (yabby), which he has taken from an adjacent pool.hatcheries, school camps, beechworth -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, c1970
Photograph of 6 men in Beechworth fire brigade jumpers standing and sitting in front of a fire drill and holding various pieces of equipment. Black and white rectangular photo printed on matte photographic paperReverse: BMM 8781.1 / The Ovens and Murray Advertiser / Garry Paul, Jarvis McIntosh, -, Ross Lucas, Rod Gaskett, Graeme Warneremergency services, beechworth, fire brigade, burke museum, fire -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Postcard
These pieces of Kelly Gang armour (including pieces manufactured by police) were photographed outside Beechworth Court House during committal proceedings in 1880. Ned Kelly, born in June 1855, was one of the last Australian bushrangers. An outlaw, gang leader and convicted police killer, Ned Kelly's distinctive armour has become entrenched in Australian lore. Ned's younger brother Dan Kelly (born in 1861), wore similar armour to his older brother. Black and white rectangular postcard printed on paper cardObverse: NED AND DAN KELLY'S ARMOUR TAKEN DURING HIS TRIAL AT BEECHWORTH IN 1880 Reverse: POSTCARD / CORRESPONDENCE / ADDRESS ONLY KODAKkelly album, bushranger, ned kelly, dan kelly, daniel kelly, kelly gang, armour, kelly trials -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, 1859
Louis Chevalier, brother of popular artist Nicholas Chevalier, opened a sawmill in Beechworth near Spring Creek in Newtown in 1853. This facilitated a boom in building in the town, as materials were much more available than they had been previously. A second sawmill was opened in the town in 1856. Louis Chevalier served on the Beechworth Council as a representative of Newtown between 1858 and 1860. As this photograph is taken in 1859, the mill would have been operating as a sawmill at the time this photograph was taken. Louis Chevalier’s mill stopped sawing wood and began milling flour at some point between 1860 and 1862. At this time, the Oven’s district was almost self-sufficient, producing considerable quantities of grain, dairy, fodder and meat. Unfortunately, the region experienced poor agricultural yields in the 1880s and 1890s, which lead to the closure of the Beechworth Flour Mills in the 1880s. This photograph depicts the first sawmill in Beechworth, which was responsible for making the materials available for other early buildings in the town. The mill race and wheel are also clearly depicted, which may shed light onto how mill wheels of this era and place were constructedBlack and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper mounted on boardReverse: 3146 / 1997.2654 / Louis Chevalier's Flour Mill on / the Newtown Falls before the / Bridge / Est 1853 / this photo 1859 / 84-229-1 / Burke Museum Beechworth / Page 41 / 81 % / (Illegible) / (Illegible) 14 / chevalier, louis chevalier, newtown, mill, grain mill, sawmill, flour mill, 1850s beechworth, beechworth council, farming and agriculture, victorian agricultural history, spring creek, buildings, industry, forestry, wood, timber -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph
Photograph was taken out the front of a hotel in Beechworth, possibly the Empire Hotel. Depicted are several men, guns, and a boat. Opposite corner is a butcher shop.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Obverse: Butcher/ E. Spencer/ Butcher Reverse: 7632 'The Butchers Arms'/ about 1900/ opposite Benevolent asylum. hotels album, beechworth, burke museum, butcher, e. spencer -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Document - Citizen Identity Cards World War II, Australian Federal Government, 1940s
These cards were issued during World War 11 to British subjects who were civilians. This included all non-indigenous adults born in Australia. The concept of Australian citizenship was only introduced by the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948. All adults had personal identity cards and were required to report changes of address to the government. These cards were particularly important in the identification and monitoring of Aliens (non-citizen residents) , particularly non-Europeans and Asian residents.Peter Frawley was a long-time resident of Wodonga. He was a veteran of Gallipoli and Fromelles. For his actions at Fromelles, he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre. After the war Peter became a successful jockey and one of his greatest successes was winning the Australian Steeple Chase at Caulfield in 1922. He was an active member of the Wodonga Turf Club and Bonegilla Race Club and a founding member of the Wodonga Show Society. Peter’s wife Connie was an integral member of the Wodonga Hospital fundraising committee, being awarded a life membership. Nereida Pearl Goyne (nee Emery) lived most of her life in Wodonga. She was actively engaged in the community until 2007 when she moved to Rutherglen where she passed away in January 2009.3 fawn coloured cards with black text, all stamped with the Beechworth Post Office stamp. They are identified as Form C.R.3 Civilian Registration (British Subjects).Written on both sides in ink: Detailed explanation of government regulations. On Card 1 in ink;" V13, M 31 ,30215" Signed "Peter George Frawley, South St Wodonga" Reversed signed by card holder and witness" On Card 2 in ink;" V13, M 02 ,2494" Signed Constance Frawley, South St Wodonga" Reversed signed C Frawley and witnessed P Frawley" Note - Ration book for 3 children" On Card 3 in ink;" V13, M 10 ,12251" Signed "Nereida Pearl Goyne, Bank St Wodonga" Reversed signed by card holder and witnessed by L.C. McCullough" Note Ration book for 2 children"identity cards, civilian registration, world war 2, ww11 -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, Circa 1900
Taken in Beechworth, this photograph depicts a two storey granite stone building and five figures in the background conducting a fire drill as a young boy in the foreground watches on. Black and white rectangular photograph. Image is printed on gloss photographic paper and has a white unprinted border area. Obverse: BANK OF VICTORIA Reverse: 4600 (in pencil) beechworth, bank of victoria, bank of victoria, beechworth, granite, fire drill -
Victoria Police Museum
Prison record (Ah Tune), 26 July 1918
Ah Tune, kicked William Brasslin to death in a drunken brawl following an altercation, Beechworth, November 1914. Death sentence was commuted to 10 years imprisonmentPrison record for Ah Tune, prisoner registered number 33926, giving details of the prisoner, his crimes and the dates and places of his trials.ah tune, foreign prisoner, beechworth, murder, william brasslin -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, c1900
A group of approximately 45 men and a dog photographed outside what is believed to be either Kerferd or Allen's brewery in Beechworth.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on photographic paper unmountedReverse: [Agfa wordmarks: diamond-shaped watermarks for Agfa photographic paper] Brewery Kerferd's? / 1997.2638 / 2639 / beechworth brewery, beechworth, kerferd, hon. george briscoe kerferd, fred allen brewery, anglo-australian brewery company -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, 1920-1950
This image taken between 1920-1930 depicts open-cut hydraulic sluicing at the Three Mile Mine, located about five kilometres south of Beechworth. Alluvial, or surface, mining began on this site in the 1850s, but was soon replaced by hydraulic sluicing methods. By the start of 1880 it is estimated that nine hundred miles of water races had been cut though soil and rock in the Beechworth district. Hydraulic sluicing employs high pressure jets of water to blast away large areas of earth and wash it down to be run through a sluice box. Gold gets caught in the sluice and the remaining slurry is washed away. Large water quantities were required for hydraulic sluicing, and the long water races and deep tailraces that were constructed were considered great engineering feats. This method of mining is extremely effective, but causes significant environmental damage and impacts to waterways and agricultural operations. Miners at Beechworth built extensive networks of races and dams to secure reliable supplies of water on a scale far greater than elsewhere in Victoria. By the 1880s Beechworth's water barons continued to hold more than half of all the water right licences on issue and undertook sluicing operations on a massive scale. The manipulation of surface and ground water via race networks was well planned and recorded in detail by local mining surveyors. The maps that were created, combined with modern geo-spatial technologies, provide a vital key in understanding the great lengths to which miners went to capture and control critical water resources. Today, Three Mile mine is called Baarmutha. The Three Mile Mine was unproductive until 1865 when John Pund and three other miners secured a fifteen year license and constructed a water race from Upper Nine Mile Creek to Three Mile Creek. In the early twentieth century Pund & Co. averaged over one thousand ounces of gold per year from the mine. After Pund's death in 1915, GSG Amalgamated Co operated the site, continuing sluicing until 1950. This image of hydraulic sluicing methods shows the extent of water-works engineering in the landscape. This photograph has historic and research potential for understanding changes to the landscape, the evolution of mining methods, and the extensive construction, manipulation and management of water networks in the Beechworth district. Black and white rectangular photograph on matte paperReverse: 7597-1 / Sluice Mining / Copied from original on loan from Webb (Qld) / Donated Nov 2009 / Baarmutha Three Mile Mine c1920-1950 / Managed by the Plain Bros then Parkinsons / Current Location is: Beechworth Animal Shelter / used for Baarmuthaburke museum, beechworth museum, beechworth, gold fields, gold rush, victorian gold rush, hydraulic sluicing, spring creek, netwown falls, mining tunnels, water races, tailraces, gold ming history, colonial australia, australian gold rushes, mining technology, beechworth historic district, indigo gold trail, indigo shire, john pund, water manipulation, water engineering, three mile creek, three mile mine, water race, large-scale mining methods, historical mining construction, alluvial mining, mining environmental impacts, baarmutha, water barons -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, Late 1900s
This photograph dating to the late 1900s depicts the entrance to a reef mine the in Beechworth division. The image depicts two men outside the entrance, which is covered by a hut, where one is standing near a mine cart. The mine car was used to haul soil from the mine. The Beewchworth divison consisted of 5 locations: Beechworth, Stanley, El Dorado, Hurdle Flat and Stony Creek. These locations were set up due to speculative fever that more gold could be found. In places such as El Dorado, Beechworth and Stanley there was profit, however Hurdle Flat and Stonry Creek, gold could not be found in the quantities that was required. By 1880 the Beechworth division was in depression due to the reserves being used up. However, in spite of the depression mining was continued until the late 20th Century.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about reef mining in the late 1900s. It also shows a location where reef mining was undertook which provides insight into the impact of reef mining on the environment at a time when it was done. This image is important for current research into the history of Beechworth , a town in Victoria's north-east. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to reef mining and Beechworth which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one.Sepia coloured retangular photograph printed on newspaper.Reverse: 7813beechworth, beechworth division, mining, reef mining, gold, gold mining, 1990 -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Container - Box, National Explosives Co Ltd, c1870
This cardbord box was used to package explosives which were used for mining. Black powder and dynamite were heavily used on the goldfields to blast away large sections of earth which. Explosives were stored at Beechworth Powder MagazineMining played an important role in the history of Beechworth, for the township was established in the mid-1850s after gold was discovered in the area. The success of goldmining lead to the growth and development of early Beechworth.A brown rectangular cardbord box with opening flaps at top and features printed text on sides and top.GLASGOW / THE PERFECT COMBINATION / NOBEL-GLASGOW EXPLOSIVES / NOBEL-GLASGOW DETONATORSburke museum, beechworth, mining, explosives -
El Dorado Museum Association Inc.
Photograph - Digital Image
Tennis - El Dorado & Beechworth Teams, c1910Digital image copied from a black and white photograph of a group of men in suits and hats, women in long sleeved shirts, skirts, and bonnets, and one boy, with several tennis rackets, posed in front of a wire mesh fence with hill in background.tennis, men, women, children, sport, sporting team, el dorado, eldorado, beechworth -
Lakes Entrance Regional Historical Society (operating as Lakes Entrance History Centre & Museum)
Book, Government Printer, Reports of the Mining Registrars for the quarter ended 31st December 1887, 1887
Reports of the Mining Registrars for Mining Districts of Ballarat Beechworth Sandhurst Maryborough castlemaine Ararat and Gippsland to 31st December 1887 Geological details mine plans and maps are included.mines and mining, government, geographic -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph
Taken in Beechworth, this photograph depicts Ford street looking down the length of the shopping precinct. On the right of the road appears two figures and a horse and cart, in the distance appears a lone horse.Black and white rectangular photograph. Image is printed on matte photographic paper and is mounted on cardboard. Reverse: 7774 /beechworth, ford street, burke museum, shopping, horse -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, Bayless C. - Manager, 1875
In this photo, taken in around 1875, is depicted the exterior of the Beechworth Mental Asylum buildings, with the administration buildings far right of the photo. A sunken boundary wall in the foreground and some people in view, sitting at the pavillion in the centre of the image. The two-storey buildings, designed in Italianate style, and the three-storey towers at the front, influenced by the asylum at Colney Hatch in England. The architecture of the buildings shares key features with other contemporary institutions, like Aradale at Ararat, and its design is attributed to the Public Works Department architect, J.J. Clark, whose name is connected with the construction of many other important public buildings, such as the Asylums at Kew and Ararat, the front block of the Royal Mint, Melbourne and the Melbourne Customs House. The Mayday Hills Hospital was constructed between 1864 and 1867, with buildings created in a number of periods. It formally opened on 24 October 1867 and, along with the Ovens Hospital and the Benevolent Asylum, made Beechworth a prominent social welfare centre in Victoria. Large masses of granite were excavated for its foundation and around 250 workmen were employed for its construction. The building, divided into six sections, was comprised of dormitories, doctors` rooms and plenty ancillary rooms and facilities, such as laundries, reading rooms, a concert hall and cooking areas. The site was chosen for its panoramic view of the countryside, the hilltop atmosphere and the native fauna, all contributing to the cure of patients. The Hospital was originally named the “Ovens Lunatic Asylum” but during the centenary celebrations in 1967 the name was officially changed to “Mayday Hills Hospital”, showing the gradual shift in the perception and understanding of mental health conditions over the last decades. The Hospital lies on the traditional land of the Kulin Nation.This photograph is historically significant as it provides an insight into the location, surroundings and the exterior of the Mayday Hills Hospital at the end of the 19th century. It also contributes to the understanding of the district`s development and its importance to the course of Victoria`s history and is acknowledged as a unique construction, being one of three identified as the largest of their kind.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper mounted on board.Reverse: 37/ 3443/ Beechworth Asylum about 1875/ American & Australasian/Photographic Company/Victoria Branch./C.Bayless, Manager./ No./beechworth mental asylum, aradale, public works department, j.j. clark, melbourne customs house, colney hatch, italianate style, mayday hills hospital, royal mint, granite, benevolent asylum, dormitories, ovens lunatic asylum, ancillary rooms, centenary celebrations, three-storey towers, countryside, mental health conditions, kulin nation, concert hall -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Mr Doug Craig
Doug Craig was born in Beechworth but had lived in Stanley. His parents had been in Stanley since the 1850's. He went to secondary school in Beechworth. His family roots are from France and Scotland. Doug gave an account of his younger years as a student at Beechworth in the post war periods of 1959 to 1953, his employment and the culture within companies he worked for, the changes brought by the new drug era, working in the hospital, This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.beechworth, mental hospital, drugs, burke museum, stanley state, hospitals, hospital patients, cocky's loft, may day hills, may day -
Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society Inc.
Photograph, School Camp, 1988
The children were on a school camp at Beechworth. During their time at the camp they visited various places of interest as well as engaged in various activities. One of the activities was hiking to the Woolshed Falls and looking at the terrain. Bulla and MIckleham Primary School combined and attended the camp.A non- digital coloured photograph of ten children with an adult standing on a rocky outcrop above a waterfall in bushland.school camps, beechworth, bulla primary school, mickleham primary school -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, c1865
This was taken in 1865 of Spring Creek, Beechworth. Gold was discovered in this area in 1852 and within eleven months of this discovery, over 8000 hopeful prospectors had descended on the region, transforming the seemingly undisturbed land into what a visiting journalist in 1880s referred to as; "A Titan's Field". Huge mounds of earth were churned by hundreds of miners in search for gold, almost every available resource the land had to offer was used for something; even the bark off the gums were stripped to line huts and shafts. By 1857 more than 20,000 people lived in Beechworth, and with this influx the town prospered with the building of numerous churches, banks, schools, shops and hotels along with a prison and hospital.Black and white rectangular photograph. Image is printed on matte photographic paper and is mounted on cardboard. Obverse: NO INSCRIPTION Revese: 97.22.95 / 7772 / 25/1 / beechworth, burke museum, gold rush, 1865 -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph
Photograph of 19 members of the Beechworth Volunteer Fire Service and a young boy all wearing fire service uniformsBlack and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper and mounted on boardReverse: B.V.F Brigade about 1885emergency services, beechworth, fire brigade, fire, burke museum, 1885, photograph -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph - Photograph - Reproduction
The photograph is a reproduction of a postcard from the Rocky Mountain Mining Company. In 1875, the Rocky Mountain Extended Gold Sluicing Company Ltd was created, utilising the previous Rocky Mountain claim for the area near Lake Sambell. The company employed A.L Martin to survey an area for a tunnel underneath Beechworth and Johnson Stephens to dig it. The tunnel was built at a rate of 40 feet a month and eventually measured 800 metres. The tunnel was a true accomplishment both in the present and during the 19th century. It was considered to be a marvelous engineering feat. Beechworth is renowned for its hydraulic sluice method of mining. This involved soil being exposed to torrents of water from high-pressure hoses. From 1876 until its closure in 1921, the mine produced an astounding 47,926 ozs of gold. Companies like this were the source of income for many Chinese gold-diggers who sought to make their fortune on the goldfields of Beechworth. During the height of the rush, the town had around 7,000 Chinese inhabitants living on the outskirts of town as they were not permitted to live within Beechworth itself.This image of the Rocky Mountain mine is historically significant as the mining complex is now non-existent, with the only remains being the tunnel built in 1880 by the company, which was considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the time. The image also provides a first-hand look into the social and cultural networks at play during the 19th century with racial segregation of the Chinese at the 'Chinese Camp', as well as an insight into Beechworth's origins during the Gold Rush.Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on paperbeechworth, rocky mountain mine, sluicing, gold rush, mining, gold