Showing 114 items
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Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - IAN DYETT COLLECTION: AUCTION CATALOGUE - NEW LONG TUNNEL GOLD MINE - WALHALLA
Catalogue for an auction sale held at the New Long Tunnel Gold Mine, Walhalla, Vic. On 12 February, 1941. Items include: mining machinery, tools, buildings, corrugated iron and leather belting.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - new long tunnel gold mine - walhalla, j h curnow & son, j l jamieson, the cambridge press -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Slide - DIGGERS & MINING. GETTING THE GOLD, c1857
Diggers & Mining. Getting the Gold. Slide: Sketches at the Gold Fields. This cartoon (from the Melbourne Punch, Aug, 27, 1857) illustrates what frequently happened on crowded leads. Depicts miners digging their tunnels only to end up digging into the next lead. Markings: 27 994.LIF:4. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Slide - DIGGERS & MINING. DIGGERS AND MINERS, c1864
Diggers & Mining. Diggers and miners. Walhalla - Gold Town. This is Walhalla in 1864. On the right is the Long Tunnel Mine, and in the middle foreground is Stringer's Creek. Markings: 13 995 WAL. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - DAVID BANNEAR, THE GOLDFIELDS LANDSCAPE - PROPOSED TALK, 2/11/2023
The goldfields resulted in the almost complete denuding of trees for access to the gold bearing land, for firewood and for the tanning industry. The need for wood further increased with the advent of deep quartz mining that required timbers for shoring up the shafts and tunnels. At some point in time it became necessary for timber to be carted long distances to fulfil the need. Between 1878 and 1884, the government set up 5 nurseries to try and rectify the shortage of native softwoods and encouraged the growth of State plantations and the thinning of trees to encourage growth of those remaining. 1907 - Creswick School of Forestry and Forest Management was started 1919 Establishment of the Forests Commission and the planting of many pine plantations 1924 Establishment of the first fire spotting towers Forest management tasks became a main project for "Susso" recipients during the Great Depression and again for internees during WWII.An 8 page document by David Bannear about the various industries of the Bendigo Goldfields and their effects on terraforming the local environment david bannear, central goldfields -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Anglo-Australasian Photographic Company, The Township of Walhalla, c. 1876
Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography.An original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.‘The Township of Walhalla’ : Views of Victoria (General Series) No.37 : Albumen silver photograph | Photo on card with Title and Description on reverse | Mounted 24 x 30 cm; Photo 12 x 17 cm.On Reverse: ‘This romantic Township is situated near Stringer’s Creek in Gipps Land, not far from the celebrated Baw-Baw Mountains. The Long Tunnel Gold Claim has proved a great source of wealth to this small out-of-the-way place, yielding sometimes between 2,000 and 3,000 ounces of gold per month. The population, which is mostly a mining one, reaches nearly 2,000 inhabitants, and are scattered about among the creeks and gullies of the neighbourhood. Until recently, the road traffic was limited to pack-horses, in consequence of the precipitous hills which surround the Town.‘nicholas caire (1837-1918), walhalla, landscape photography -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Davis Open Cut Mine on Big Hill 1969
Photograph of Davis Open Cut and tunnel Big Hill 1969Safety guard railing and tunnel enterancestawell mining -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Tunnel No 3 & the Davis Open Cut Mine 1987 -- 3 Photos -- Coloured
... Open Cut taken 1987 Stawell Mining Tunnel No 3 & the Davis Open ...Three colour photographs. Tunnel No 3 and two of Davis Open Cut taken 1987stawell mining -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Rock Drill, Estimated second half to late 1800s
This was the first rock drill to be made in Australia and was made in Maldon. It was used in the Carmen's Tunnel mine Maldon.Oswald pneumatic rock drill. What appears to be an operating lever extending to one side. Body only, no drill bits. Unpainted.Cast in relief on body "Late / R. D. Oswald / Maldon".tools, machinery, metalwork, mining -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Newspaper - Quartz Hill Working Bee, 1967
Quartz Hill is situated on the Sheephead line of reef and is situated just south of where the Red, White and Blue Consolidated Gold Mine operated. Two newspaper cuttings affixed to lemon backing sheet. Written on top in black pen: 'Quartz Hill Working Bee, Bdgo Adv. 11.12.67' Cutting one, 'Working Bee on Mine Site' with 7.12.67 written across the top, describes an appeal to get volunteers to clear the site of former mines on Quartz Hill. This is anticipated to 'clear the site of accumulated debris and clean out the two large adits driven into the hill and thus make the site a 'tourist visiting spot'. Cutting two, 'Many Miss Mine Working Bee' dated 11.12.67, describes the poor response to the working bee. ' Members of the Tourist Development Association and the Town Clerk, Mr. A.J. Watts, cleared 175 feet of the Northern tunnel and cut an entrance way and steps in the Southern tunnel of the New Blue Mine area in the first stage of the mining project. Mr. J. Stanistreet said last night he was most disappointed. He said: 'apparently we picked the wrong time of the year'.mining, sandhurst, new blue consolidated gold mine, red white and blue consolidated gold mine, quartz hill, sheepshead reef line, a.j. watts, j. stanistreet, bob long -
Federation University Historical Collection
Booklet, The School of Mines Ballarat: A Statement of the Objects and Present Resources of the School, 1873, 1873
... long tunnel gold mining company walhalla... company hope quartz mining company long tunnel gold mining company ...The Ballarat School of Mines was the first School of Mines in Australia and was established in 1870. 22 page booklet titles 'The Ballarat School of Mines: A Statement of the Objects and Resources of the School.' The book has a number of illustrations including the interior of the Ballarat School of Mines Laboratory, and the former Ballarat Circuit Court House. It includes a statement of the formation, progress, and present position of the School of Mines, Ballaarat. The image of the Ballarat School Mines Assay Room shows assay furnaces, crucibles, chimney, and teacher Joseph Flude on the far right. This room is now is a building known as the 'Old Chemistry Building'. Plan and elevation of the new Metallurgical Laboratory and Proposed Chemical Laboratory is depicted.On front cover "Recorded in M-A" "1873"ballarat school of mines, assay, courthouse, joseph flude, crucible, furnace, flude, warrington rogers, brough smyth, harrie wood, wood, james bickett, bickett, redmond barry, somerville learmonth, metallurgy, chemistry, laboratory, examinations, mining engineer, assayer, inorganic chemistry, underground managers, captains of shift, engieners, enginedrivers, louis balhausen, james campbell, l.s. christie, j.j. casey, alexander dempster, g. higinbotham, james martin, alexander millan, malcolm morrison, band of hope and albion, city of ballarat mining company, city of canterbury gold mining company, egerton mining company, el dorado gold mining company, golden reef gold mining company, happy valley company, hope quartz mining company, long tunnel gold mining company walhalla, hopewell quartz mining company, imperial quartz mining company, student numbers, fees, magdala quartz mining company stawell, mariners and sloane's quartz mining company, new north clunes company, park company, temperence quartz company, tookey quartz company new zealand, walhalla gold mining company, matthew seal, harrie woodmuseum, duke of cornwall claim, john lynch, robert m. sergeant, engineers, f.w. niven, william henry barnard, ballarat school of mines museum, museum, ballarat school of mines library, donations of specimens, mining -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Alan King, Site of the Diamond Creek Gold Mine, 28 December 2007
The largest gold mine in the area originated from a find in 1862. The mine was closed January 20, 1915 when a fire destroyed nearly all the above ground plant. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p75 Beneath Mine Hill, as locals call it, runs a network of tunnels once of central importance to the fledgling township of Diamond Creek. These are relics of gold mines, which transformed early Diamond Creek.1 The tiny settlement of about 20 families soared to more than 200 because of gold. For around 50 years, from 1862, gold mining was Diamond Creek’s major source of employment. On September 7, 1854 The Argus newspaper reported a find of a four pound (1.8kg) gold nugget in Nillumbik (an early name for Diamond Creek). Exactly where, is not known.2 The largest mine in the district, the Diamond Creek Gold Mine, apparently originated from a find in 1862. It is said Joe and Dave Wilson were visiting former tailor then cook, Charles Orme, at the southern end of Fraser Street. Sitting on a stump outside the front gate on land belonging to Dr A. E. Phipps the Wilsons found a vein of gold-bearing quartz, which led to the discovery of four quartz reefs varying in width to eight inches (20cm), running north and south. A reef found at the foot of the hill opposite Challenger Street became the Union Mine. This reef was traced south to Allendale Road where a small mine began operations.3 Other smaller mines later operated as well. Dr Phipps immediately began to mine and also built the Diamond Reef Hotel as a boarding house for miners. But Charles Orme, who owned the land alongside, leased his mine to Dr Phipps probably because of insufficient funds and business skills. By mid 1865 the mine had produced 2530 ounces of gold – a 100% profit on the original outlay. Of course there were problems. When the local dam dried up a Blake pump was installed to draw water from the creek. The Union Mine operated under the Diamond Creek Gold Mine management except when disputes sometimes resulted in separate management. However disagreements had to be resolved as the Union Mine depended on Diamond Creek Gold Mine pumps to remove underground water from common reefs. In 1912 the main shaft of about 380 yards (350m) employed 200 men recovering an average of 5000 ounces (141.7kg) of gold a year. But not everyone did well out of gold. Records of failed mining companies in the Victorian Public Record Office, reveal that owner Dr Phipps leased his Right to others. Companies came and went over the next 40 years, most sponsored by Melbourne businessmen who sold shares to gullible locals and then became insolvent. Although there were some good profits, financial returns were haphazard until 1905. Some local residents, who were share holders in short- term companies, became well-known names in modern Diamond Creek such as Scott, Haley, Butler, Alder, Ryan, Wadeson, Reeves, Alston, Paul and Edwards. Gold mining was brought to a disastrous end on January 20, 1915 at 3 pm, when fire destroyed nearly all the above-ground plant. Fortunately no lives were lost. But reopening the mine was almost impossible because of the increasing depth of water in the main shaft. The closed mine destroyed the livelihood of 200 families and the debris took many years to clear.4 In 1946 the Diamond Creek Gold Mine was reopened by the Golden Hind Mining Company, but money ran out before the 600 feet (182.8m) or so of water could be removed. Gold remains in the mine but enormous capital would be needed to buy the land, equipment and to remove the water. Today 12 known sealed shafts along the ridge of the hills on private property extend west for around one kilometre from the corner of Fraser and Haley Streets, crossing Norma and Fyffe to Dering Streets. As recently as 1987, heavy rains revealed a former Union Mine shaft in the Georgiadis family Fyffe Street back yard.5 Allendale Mine, south of Allendale Road, is still open and one of the Union Mine’s main drives (horizontal excavation) remains unsealed, on the Creek Reserve.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, diamond creek, diamond creek mine, fraser street, gold mining, james cook drive, mine hill -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - ALBERT RICHARDSON COLLECTION: TAMBOUR MAJOR AND CHRISTMAS LINE OF REEF
Three page document. Front page, extracts from F. Chamber's Report on Tambour Major Shaft, includes reference to Allingham and Moore's shaft and Specimen Hill Reservoir. Early workings on the Christmas Reef line, Specimen Hill or Tambour Major, are listed in a table format, example - Great Western Gold Mining and Crushing Coy, 1855 Fajeon and Coy, 1859, tunnel in hillside. Specimen Hill Coy 1861 Indefatigable 1862, 64, 67 - 1881 Agamemnon 1862-1863 - 1881 Invincible Co. 1865 - 1867 Old Bendigo Tribute 140 ft 1870 Great Eastern Co 1870 - 1881 Great Eastern Tribute Co. Bismark Co, No. 1 North 150 ft 1870 - 1881 Bismark No. 2 Tribute 212 ft Allingham and Moore 338 ft 1872 Specimen Hill United 450 ft 1881 Great Western United (amalgamation of Old Bendigo, Invincible, Gt. Eastern and Bismark Coys) 400 ft 1882 Tambour Major 847 feet 1881 - 1890 Christmas Reef Co. 200 ft. 1895 - 1897 Open Cutsbendigo, mining, christmas reef gold mining -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - Kangaroo Flat Gold Mine Collection: underground in Swan Decline, Kangaroo Flat Gold Mine, 2000
The modern mine is accessed via the Swan Decline, which commences at the Kangaroo Flat site on the southern outskirts of Bendigo and progresses in a north easterly direction between the Deborah and Sheepshead anticlines, reaching a depth of almost 1000 m below the City of Bendigo. Development of this decline commenced in 1998. Swan Decline closed and history preserved In a major rehabilitation milestone at Kangaroo Flat, the Swan Decline Bendigo’s primary gateway to underground mining, was permanently closed in December 2022. Important parts of Bendigo’s gold rush history were also preserved from the onsite office buildings with 19 boxes of records, and 1350 old photos being scanned and provided to the local historical societies and the Goldfields Library Corporation. A volunteer from the Bendigo Historical Society, Kay MacGregor, also scanned approximately 40 bookshelves of newspaper clippings to assist with recording and preserving geological drilling locations.Black and white photocopies of photographs of Swan Decline, showing some stages of underground construction. Eleven images on 3 pages, dated 16/4/2000 (10 a.m.) show decline walls, rock bolts and markout of tunnel shape. One image shows a utility in the tunnel. Final three images on one page, have notations on the photos: 'opposite SP18 LHS decline', 'just up from previous 3 box positions' and 'just up from tank, same side' On bottom RH side 'spots for scale attention, IT required, all lower decline.' All three images dated 12/6/2000.goldmining, kangaroo flat gold mine, western mining corporation, unity mining, swan decline -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - MCCOLL, RANKIN AND STANISTREET COLLECTION: REPORT ON CASTLEMAINE, MALDON & OTHER AREAS
Copy of a typewritten report on Castlemaine, Maldon, and other areas of the main Bendigo District by H.W. Gepp Consultant on Development to the Commonwealth Government. W. Baragwanath Director of the Geological Survey of Victoria and F.L. Stillwell D.Sc. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Mentions Castlemaine, Fryertown, Maldon, South German Mine, Mt. Tarrengower Tunnel, Raywood, Sebastian, Wedderburn, Inglewood, Whipstick, Lightning Hill, Black Forest Mine, Old Tom Mine. Trentham. Dated 17th September 1931. Consists of 19 Foolscap PagesH.W. Gepp, W. Baragwanath, F.L. Stillwell.gold, mining, report, gold mining, bendigo, castlemaine, maldon -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - VICTORIA HILL - THE RICH VICTORIA HILL AND IT'S HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Two copies of document : nineteen handwritten pages of notes on 'The Rich Victoria Hill and Its Historical Association' Signed by A Richardson and dated 30 - 8 - 1971. and a typed copy of same. Notes include: Introduction, Hotels, Mines, Mining History and descriptions of features where the signposts are. Mines mentioned in the text are: North Old Chum. Ballerstedt's first open cut, Lansell's Big 180. 20 head stamper, Lansell's Cleopatra Needle, Victoria Quartz Mine. Cleopatra's Needle was a square sectioned brick chimney with this four sided pyramidal chimney top with four vents to allow the smoke to escape whatever the direction of the wind. It was demolished in the 1950's as it had a bend in it and it was considered unsafe. Lansell had two other mines with similar chimneys, the '222' in Chum Street and his 'Sandhurst' or 'Needle' mine near the Bendigo, Eaglehawk boundary. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.mine, gold, victoria hill, victoria hill, the rich victoria hill and it's historical association, j. n. macartney, quartz miner's arms hotel, ironbark methodist church, greek orthodox church, john brown knitwear factory, little 180 mine, geo lansell, conrad heinz, british & american hotel, victoria reef gold mining coy, manchester arms hotel, housing commission homes, ironbark (victoria reef gold mines, hercules and energetic, midway, wittscheibe, gt central victoria, wm rae, mr & mrs conroy, wm rae jr, central nell gwynne, moorhead's shop, gill family, gold mines hotel, david chaplin sterry, pioneer, new chum and victoria, burrowes and sterry, new chum and victoria tribute, rotary club of bendigo south, big 180, victoria quartz mines, jeweller's shop, bendigo and district tourist association, north old chum mine, john wybrandt, ballerstedt's first open-cut, j c t christopher ballerstedt, ballerstedt's mine, bendigo cemetry, lansell's 'cleopatra nedle' type chimney, 222 mine, sandhurst or 'needle' mine, victoria quartz mine, victoria reef quartz company, mr e j dunn, eureka ext'd, new chum railway, pearl, bendigo advertiser 16 june 1910, victoria consols, shamrock, shenandoah, victoria quartz dams, rae's open cut, prospecting tunnels, floyd's small 5 head crushing battery, gt central victoria (midway) shaft, midway no 2, midway north, ballerstedt's small 24 yard claim, the humboldt, the tribute coy, advance, luffsman and sterry's claim, a round shaft, chinese joss house, lansell's fortuna, p m g repeater station, a richardson -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Newspaper - LYDIA CHANCELLOR COLLECTION: OPEN FOR TOURISTS (AND GOLD)
A Bendigo newspaper article titled 'Open for tourists (and gold).' The State Member for Midlands Mr. Bill Ebury, officially opened the Wattle Gully gold mine tourist project. There is a photo of Mr. Felix Cappy, Tourism chairman of the mine about to drive the train through the tunnel with his passengers and also coming out of the mine. 17/01/75.mine, gold, wattle gully, lydia chancellor collection, collection, bendigo, mine, mining, tourism, gold, history -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Amalgamated Scotchmans Mine Workings Stawell
Black and white photograph of Amalgamated Scotchman Mine workings Stawell. Western Mining Operations - because the wooden props have been immersed in water for a century they are well preserved. Underground view down mine shaft or tunnel showing timbers holding rock walls. This photograph is in a brown cover.stawell -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Drawing, North Cross Reef mine in Stawell -- Sketches
Photograph of three sketches of North Cross Reef Stawell. c 1874. Photo 1. No 3 Level, Ceiling of tunnel timbered rail line and truck - a workman. Photo 2. The Vertical reef. Photo 3. The Flat Reef. Examples of what the miners were like underground. Reproduction Rights Reserved - Copied by State Library of Victoria.Black and white photograph of three mining scenes (sketched) showing examples of wood timbered underground tunnels.North Cross Reef Stawell. No.3. Level (photo 1). The vertical reef. (photo 2). Workings on the flat reef. (photo 3).stawell mining -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - AUSTIN COLLECTION: Ray Beer, Central Deborah Gold Mine
Ray Beer was an employee of the Central Deborah Gold Mine. February 15th 2009: Bendigo Advertiser: 'MINING stalwart Raymond Beer has died at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer. He leaves behind an extended family and a legacy in Bendigo’s mining history. Ray was mine manager at the Central Deborah Gold Mine - appointed in 1978 - and led the team that made possible the underground project at the second level. He had a vision to allow visitors to go underground and experience Bendigo’s mining heritage first hand. Ray was responsible for developing the new battery, shaft and poppet head to make this a reality. It took persistence and lots of hard work. Friend and work colleague Bill McNamara said Ray was as good as 10 men. His enthusiasm and work ethic were unprecedented. Ray will be sadly missed by his wife, Thelma, six children, 15 grandchildren, seven brothers, three sisters, his extended family, and friends. He will be remembered for his kindness, tenacity and strength of character. In recognition of his contribution to Bendigo’s mining history, after more than 20 years of service at his retirement, a bronze life-sized statue was unveiled in his honour'. Central Deborah Gold Mine history: At its peak, Central Deborah Gold Mine reached a depth of 412 metres. It has 17 separate levels and 15 kilometres of drives and cross cuts (tunnels). The Central Deborah was very much a hands-on mine and the conditions that the miners worked in would be considered shocking by today's standards – being lowered underground in a cage with only two sides, often working ankle to knee deep in water, filling up to 32 ore trucks a shift by hand which were then pushed a mile or more along rails in the drives, working by carbide lamp, breathing in the fumes and rock dust and communication by bells. Geez, they were ironmen. However, at the time working conditions were considered to be among the best on the goldfields at Central Deborah, after all it was one of the only mines that had hot showers. Following Central Deborah Gold Mine's closure, the Bendigo skyline began to noticeably change. Obvious remnants of mining such as poppet heads, engine rooms, service quarters, battery houses and chimneys were steadily disappearing. After intense lobbying by the local community, the Bendigo City Council purchased the still very much intact Central Deborah Gold Mine in 1970 for a mere $6,000 to ensure that a vital link to Bendigo's historic golden past was maintained. The Bendigo Trust was then formed to oversee the operations of the Central Deborah Gold Mine, which led to the surface of the mine being opened to the public in 1971. Initially the surface was open for just 12 hours a week and as the demand for viewing a part of Bendigo's history increased, so did the opening hours. In 1974 the mine was gazetted as a Public Historical Purposes Reserve and attracted such visitors as H.R.H Prince Charles. By far the greatest shortcoming at this stage was that no one could view the underground workings, as these had become flooded. After what could only be described as a monumental effort by everyone involved, Level 2 of the mine was officially opened to the public by the Premier of Victoria, the Honourable John Cain, on 20 June 1986, which brought to fruition a long standing dream.Black and white photograph. Ray Beer, underground at Central Deborah Gold Mine, standing alongside wooden sign 'Murrell's Corner'. Sign is placed horizontally on timber supports; side of drive visible in background. Ray is wearing bib and brace overalls and hard hat with a belt around his waist. He is giving a 'thumbs up' sign. gold mining, central deborah gold mine, ray beer, mine manager -
Lakes Entrance Historical Society
Photograph - Goldmining Walhalla, J Phillips, December 1885
Detailed information on back of photograph regarding gold amountsBlack and white photograph showing the exhibits to be sent to the colonial and Indian Exhibition London by the Long Tunnel Company Many men in the photograph in front of weatherboard building Mechanics Institute Walhalla VictoriaSee Walhalla Memorialmines and mining, exhibition -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph
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 -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph
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 -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - Victoria Hill, Bendigo, 1973
Gold was discovered on Victoria Hill in 1854 and by 1861, 1,200,000 ounces of gold had been extracted from the site. The first claim was bought for 80 pounds by Prussian immigrant Christopher Ballerstedt and his son Theodore. Christopher Ballerstedt was nicknamed the "Father of the Hill" and was the first to prove that gold reefs extended below the surface. His 200-foot plus mine shafts yielded quartz rich with gold, inspired other miners, and were instrumental in Bendigo becoming the world's deepest and richest goldfield. The site still features relics of nineteenth century mining including quartz crushing machinery and the foundations of George Lansell’s 180 mine. These features are characteristic of Bendigo’s mining history and represent two prominent nineteenth century miners, Christopher Ballerstedt and George Lansell, who held important roles in the development of Bendigo. Victoria Hill Quartz Gold Mines are registered as a site of significance. The site is of historical, archaeological and scientific importance to Victoria. The mines represent the symbolic heart of Bendigo’s gold mining history and the importance that mining played in wealth creation and the development of Victoria. The diggings reserve is accessed from the rear of Albert Richardson Reserve located at 40-56 Marong Road, Ironbark. The site has steep and unformed paths and is closed to the public at dusk. It is important to stay to the paths to avoid the diggings. Interpretive signs help visitors to appreciate the importance of the site and the remaining relics of Bendigo’s mining history.Victoria Hill Ironbark, Bendigo. Photos of the poppet head, sand heap, tailings, shafts and tunnels. Before development into a tourist attraction.history, bendigo, victoria hill, ironbark, diggings -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - VICTORIA HILL - THE RICH VICTORIA HILL AND ITS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS
Ten typed pages of notes and photocopied photos. Notes include Introduction which describes the journey between Bendigo and Eaglehawk. Notes also mention the Signposts at the Victoria Hill with their explanation. Dated 30/8/1971. The four photocopied photos are: (1) Victoria Hill - From Rae's Open Cut with the Central Nell Gwynne Popper Legs and the Victoria Hill Victoria Quartz Mullock in the background. (2) Looking North from Old Chum Hill to the Victoria Hill. (3) Victoria Quartz on Victoria Hill, Ironbark. (4) Rae's 35 Hd. Crushing Battery. Victoria Hill in background, Wm. Rae's early home top right.document, gold, victoria hill, the rich victoria hill and its historical associations, j n macartney, quartz miners' arms hotel, ironbark methodist church, john brown knitwear factory, little 180 mine, conrad heinz, british and american hotel, victoria reef gold mining company, manchester arms hotel, victoria hill from rae's open cut, ironbark (victoria reef gold mines), hercules and energetic, midway, wittscheibe, great central victoria, william rae, william rae junior, mr and mrs conroy, central nell gwynne, moorhead's shop, gill family, gold mines hotel, looking north from old chum hill to the victoria hill, new chum and victoria, old chum, pioneer, burrowes & sterry, rotary club of bendigo south, big 180, north old chum mine, ballerstedt's forst open cut, lansells big 180, george lansell, new chum syncline, lansell's 'cleopatra needle' type chimney, 222 mine, sandhurst or 'needle mine', victoria quartz mine, victoria reef quartz company, victoria quartz company, a roberts & sons, e j dunn, h harkness & sons, new chum drainage scheme, eureka extended, new chum railway, pearl, bendigo advertiser june 16 1910, rae's open cut, quartz roasting, anticlinal arch, prospecting tunnels, floyd's small 5 head crushing battery, great central victoria (midway), midway no2, midway north, ballerstedt's small 24 yard claim, the humboldt, wittscheibe, adventure, advance, luffsman & sterry, rae's 35 head crushing battery, a richardson, the bendigo goldfield 1851 to 1954, the victoria hill 1854 to 1949, australian mining standard special edition 1/6/1899, bendigo mines ltd, mines dept, bendigo advertiser, annals of bendigo, dickers mining record 23/11/1861, bendigo goldfields registry 1871, bendigo and vicinity 1895, mr rae anderson, w n macartney 1st edition 1871