This company was registered in May 1871. It amalgamated the Adventure, Advance and Try-me-well mines to mine below the 300 foot levels of these mines.Collection of Government Gazette and newspaper articles relating to the 'Adventure and Advance Amalgamated Quartz Mining Company' on the Victoria Reef, Sandhurst. . Papers include the registration notice of the Mine in 1871, detailing the shareholders. Half yearly meeting reports 1872 - 1880 are attached. Slip of paper attached to each item describes the content, for example 'Half yearly meeting reports of the Adventure and Advance Company as published in the Bendigo Advertiser from 30.1.1872 - 31.8.1880. Missing February 1873, February 1877. Also included, Victoria Consols Company Reports 31.8.1880.adventure gold mine, sandhurst, goldmining, adventure and advance amalgamated quartz mining company

Named after Thomas Hustler who purchased the lease in 1854. It was an opencut mine at this stage and Hustler patented a quartz crushing machine. HE later sold the mine to the Hustlers Reef Mining and drainage Co. and by 1865 the Great Extended Hustler's was operating 31 levels at a depth of 1053meters. The mine ceased operation in 1921.A4 copy of an original photograph, sepia toned print. View of hustler's Mine facing Barnard Street, Bendigohustler's, barnard street, james brierley

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 60 photographs that comprise the series were 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.‘View of the township of Golden Square’ : Views of Victoria (General Series) No.57 : 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 Township is situated in the Bendigo district, on the road to Castlemaine, and although it is of little importance as a business town, is nevertheless of large importance in consequence of the great number of Quartz Reefs it contains. Almost every house is undermined, and large fortunes have been made by the proprietors. The Church in the distance is that of the Wesleyan body. It was in this township that gold was first discovered in the district of Bendigo.’nicholas caire (1837-1918), golden square (vic), bendigo (vic), gold mining, landscape photography - victoria

Bethanga was established as a result of the discovery of gold. Gold was first reported in the Bethanga area in 1852. Before 1876 gold mining in the Bethanga district occurred to the north of the town and was known as the 'Talgarno diggings'. Reports of alluvial gold date back to 1852. Early gold fields were worked at Ruby Creek, Gold Creek and Jarvis Creek. The opening of the Bethanga goldfields began with the discovery of a gold-bearing quartz reef on New Year’s Day 1876. The 'Gift' mine site is located southeast of Kurrajong Gap lookout to the west of Bethanga township. The Great Eastern Copper Smelting Works was opened in 1878. Due to the nature of the gold-bearing quartz reef, the gold was difficult to extract, and the discovery of copper led to a change in focus. It was not until the early 1890s that an efficient technique for extracting the gold from the ore was discovered, and once again gold became the focus, with copper as a by-product. Bethanga was removed from the official list of goldfields in 1912, however some mining activity has taken place since.This image reflects an important time in the development of Bethanga and Northeast Victoria.A large mounted and framed image of horse teams and their owners hauling a large boiler to the gold mine near Bethanga, Victoria. On label beneath image: "North-eastern "Gold Days"/ Combined teams hauling a boiler to Bethanga Mines, 1900. Teamsters - Mr. G. Pearce, W. Chapple, G, Bannon." Donated by Ron Saunders and Barbara Cadman"bethanga, gold mining northeast victoria, gold mining bethanga, bethanga history

non-fictionStories from 50 former towns in and around Melbourne's North-east mountain region. These old towns include: Aberfeldy, Aberfeldy Crossing, BB Township, Blue Jacket, Clarke's Flat, Concord Gully, Edwards Reef, Fultons Creek, Jericho, Loch Fyne, Red Jacket, Store Point, The Springs, Toombon, Toombon Upper, Tullamore, Upper Thomson, Victors Quartz, Violet Town & White Star.ghost towns victoria, gold mining victoria

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

Grassmere is a small hamlet about 12 kilometres from Warrnambool. It is a farming area. The Grassmere Gold Mining Company, presumably established by local people in Grassmere, was created in 1898 for the purpose of acquiring from Messrs James and Mewha a lease of a Cassilis gold mine (23 acres). £5000 was to be raised in shares of five shillings and one shilling each. The Manager of the Company was Horatio Dickson of Melbourne and the brokers were McMeekin and Co. of Melbourne and Warrnambool and Dickson and Osborne of Melbourne. This reef mine was one of several in Cassilis, Gippsland, 12 kilometres north west of Swifts Creek. The gold-bearing quartz reefs were discovered in 1885 and worked to 1914. It is not known whether the Grassmere Cassilis mine was a financial success but the mining operations were impeded by the hardness of the stone in the area. William Robinson was a farmer in the Grassmere district. This certificate is of considerable interest as one of only three items the Warrnambool and District Historical Society has that is connected with the establishment of the Grassmere Gold Mining Company. The gold mine establishment was one of the many minor events in the district in the 1890s. This is a small buff-coloured certificate detailing the shares of William Robinson in the Grassmere Gold Mining Company (1898). The certificate has green printing and black-ink handwriting. The bottom section (Form of Transfer) is not filled in. There is a stamp of the Grassmere Gold Mining Company with the words ‘No Liability’. There is a decorative pattern in green on the left margin with the address of the company and the name of the printer. ‘This is to certify that Wm. Robinson of Grassmere is a member of the above-named company and the proprietor of fifty (50) shares, numbering 12651/12700 therein, upon which the sum of one shilling has been paid up, subject to the Rules and Regulations of the Company. Dated this 15th day of September, 1898. W.J. Roland, Director, .H. (es) Dickson, Manager.’grassmere, grassmere gold mining company, william robinson, warrnambool

A party of surveyors camped by Yuille's Swamp (later Lake Wendouree) and surveyed the countryside for a map to be produced by the Geological Survey of Victoria. In November 2004 the Central Highlands Regional Library presented a special edition of 200 copies of the 1861 map reproduced from a copy in their collection. Original 1861 map of Ballarat showing streets and leads. Blue dots indicate gold leads, and red lines indicate auriferous quartz reef and outcrops of quartz veins."Compiled & Drawn from the Survey of Mining Surveyors Davidson, Fitzpatrick and Cowan & the Plans in the Surveyor General's Office by J. Brahe, 21st October 1861. R. Brough Smyth, Secretary for Mines. The Honourable J.B. Humffray, M.L.A. Commr of Mines.”ballarat, map, ballarat east, lake wendouree, survey, mines, robert davidson, ballarat gold field 1861, yuille's swamp, wendouree swamp, little bendigo diggings, gold leads, old post office hill, specimen hill, bakery hill, black hill, dead horse creek, brown hill, pennyweight hill, clayton hill, soldiers hill, golden point, gum tree flat, white flat, poverty hill, chinese village, robert brough smyth, ballarat map 1861, ballaarat vineyard, dead horse gully, deadhorse creek, invermay, black hill flat, gaelic church, police reserve, magpie range, dalton's flat, caadian lead, rifle butts, powder magazine, bathing house, government camp, gold office, chinese, llanberrris, victoria theatre, charlie napier hotel, united states hotel, grape's hoel, clayton's hill, cattleyard hill, free trade hotel, esmond lead, bakery hill, black hill lead, juvenile reformatory, ballarat orphanage, lady barkly lead, triffet's slaughter yard, little bendigo, melbourne road, t. cowan, thomas cowan

Handwritten notes from Bendigo Advertiser reports. (1) Mr J. H. Craig reports- Victoria Reef Quartz - Cleaned and tested No 3 boiler. Have bailed 3,905 tanks. Water now 2.953 feet from surface. At Lazarus - Bailed 4,828 tanks. At New Chum Railway - Cleaned and tested boilers and flues, effected repairs to machinery and shaft, and started bailing at 3 pm on Friday 29th inst, and bailed 965 tanks. Bendig Advertiser 3/8/1910 Page 2 Mining Intelligence. (2) New Chum Mines - Better progress is now being made in lowering the water in the deep level workings at the New Chum Mines. At the Victoria Quartz, the water which on Monday stood at 3073feet, has been lowered 70 feet during the past four days. The pumping service at the New Chum Railway was in operation yesterday, and the winding plant is fully occupied. There is a considerable quantity of water toraise, and the companies have a difficult task before them. Bendigo Advertiser 5/8/1910 Page 2. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, new chum mines drainage problems 1910, bendigo advertiser 3/8/1910 page 2, mr j h craig, victoria reef quartz, lazarus, new chum railway, bendigo advertiser 5/8/1910 page 2, albert richardson

Handwritten copy of reports from the Bendigo Advertiser regarding water in the mine. (1) The bailing of water is occupying attention in other mines (from Shamrock North) to the Victoria Quartz. The water despite the efforts of the companies engaged bailing, continues to rise. Bendigo Advertiser July 18th Page 3. (2) Victoria Quartz Half Yearly Meeting, Lapsed, No quorum. Directors' Report: Sinking of shaft carried on till 14th June, when it was 4,614 ft. deep. Progress very satisfactory. Progress very satisfactory considering increase of water. As water was interfering with work, made arrangements on 3rd May, that 180 Mine should bail, and Minister of Mines agreed to allow, expense to be charged against work subsidised by Government. Arrangements now made for Lazarus, 222 and New Chum Consolidated mines to bail to unwater line of reef. Victoria Consols, Ironbark, 83, and Hercules and Energetic Companies have undertaken to contribute to cost, and Gov't will allow this to be charged on grant. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, victoria quartz, bendigo advertiserjuly 18th page 2 mining intelligence, bendigo advertiser 20/7/1910 page 3, lazarus, 222, new chum consolidated, victoria consols, ironbark, 83, hercules and energetic, albert richardson

Six pages of handwritten notes regarding the New Chum Drainage Proposals. Extracts from the Bendigo Advertiser mentioning the rising of the water in the New Chum Mines. An Advertiser report 27/12/1910 mentions that deep mining will have to be abandoned owing to the absence of some proper scheme to cope with the water. An arrangement had been made by which the companies affected along the line should contribute to a scheme. Suggestions made that the water be lifted by electric pumps. Baling with tanks had been tried for 6 months and then abandoned. Directors Report Victoria Reef Quartz Jan 1911 mentions unwatering had been carried on with assistance of Government. On the 20th Dec, one rope gave out. Decided that replacing it and doing the necessary work could not be met in the present financial conditions. It was also considered that the costof trying to reach the bottom reefcut in the New Chum Railway could not be continued by baling as its cost proved too expensive, while it could probably be done economically & effectively by electric pump which is now subject to negotiations with the Mining Dept.' At the end of the report is a Balance Sheet. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, new chum drainage proposals, bendigo advertiser 11/1/1911 page 7, victoria quartz, victoria consols, bendigo advertiser 5/7/1910 page 3, mr h v whitelaw, mines dept, insp ross, lansell's 180, 222, new chum consolidated, lazarus, bendigo advertiser 6/7/1910 page 7, 9/7/1910 page 9, drainage troubles, bendigo advertiser 8/7/ page 8, new chum railway, south belle vue, eureka ext'd, bgo adv 25/7 1910, 27/12/1910 page 2, rae's machine, bendigo advertiser 2/1/1911, mr mcbride, mines dept, mr stanfield, mines act, bendigo advertiser 16/1/1911 page 3, victoria reef quartz half yearly meeting 1911, directors report and balance sheet, geo paynting

Handwritten notes mentioning Bendigo Mines. Four mines, Garden Gully United, South New Moon, Hustlers Reef and Catherine Reef United have some information about them. Others listed are: Catherine Reef United, Carlisle, Clarence United, Central Ellesmere, Collman & Tacchi, Confidence Extended Cornish United, Ellenborough, Extd South Devonshire, Eureka, Fortuna Hustlers, Garden Gully United, G G Consolidated, Geribaldi, Great Southern, Gt Northern, Gt Extended Hustlers, Gt Central Victoria, Golden Age, Golden Pyke, Goldfields North, Goldfields Consolidated, North Johnsons, Pearl, Princess Dagmar, Phoenix, Railway Prince of Wales, Shamrock, St Mungo, Sadowa, Sea, Specimen Hill Sth St Mungo, South New Moon, South Devonshire, Suffolk United, United Devonshire, Unity, United Hustlers & Redan, United Ulster, Victoria Consols, Victoria Quartz, Pansora, Virginia, Victoria Proprietory, Williams United, Hustlers Reef, Hustlers Royal Reserve, Hercules & Energetic, Ironbark, Johnsons Reef No 1, Hustlers Royal Reserve, Ironbark, Johnsons Reef, Johnsons Extended, Kochs Pioneer, Lazarus New Chum, Lady Barkly - Lightning Hill, McDuff Amalgamated, Morning Star, New Chum Consolidated, New Chum Railway, New Chum & Victoria, New Blue Consolidated, New Hopefu, New St Mungo, New Argus, New Moon, New Victoria Catherine, New Chum Goldfields, North New Moon and North Argus. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, bendigo mines 1906, bendigo mines 1906, catherine reef united, carlisle, clarence united, central ellesmere, collman & tacchi, confidence extended cornish united, ellenborough, extd south devonshire, eureka, fortuna hustlers, garden gully united, g g consolidated, geribaldi, great southern, gt northern, gt extended hustlers, gt central victoria, golden age, golden pyke, goldfields north, goldfields consolidated, north johnsons, pearl, princess dagmar, phoenix, railway prince of wales, shamrock, st mungo, sadowa, sea, specimen hill sth st mungo, south new moon, south devonshire, suffolk united, united devonshire, unity, united hustlers & redan, united ulster, victoria consols, victoria quartz, pansora, virginia, victoria proprietory, williams united, hustlers reef, hustlers royal reserve, hercules & energetic, ironbark, johnsons reef no 1, hustlers royal reserve, ironbark, johnsons reef, johnsons extended, kochs pioneer, lazarus new chum, lady barkly - lightning hill, mcduff amalgamated, morning star, new chum consolidated, new chum railway, new chum & victoria, new blue consolidated, new hopefu, new st mungo, new argus, new moon, new victoria catherine, new chum goldfields, north new moon, north argus, bgo library 'healthy golden bendigo' - 1906

Handwritten notes on Bendigo Mines. Notes include area of lease, yards along the reef, depth, dividends, main shafts within one mile of Bendigo Station and shafts made safe by the Mines Dept. Mines mentioned are: South New Moon, Carlisle, Nth Garden Gully, Passby, Old Carlisle,Kentish, Central Garden Gully, Golden Fleece, Garden Gully United, Big Blue, Union Co, Red, White & Blue, New Chum Railway, Unity, Cornish, Catherine Reef United, Garden Gully United, Gt Extended Hustlers, Gt Northern, Lady Barkly, New Moon, South St Mungo, Virginia and Victoria Quartz, Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, notes on bendigo mines, notes on bendigo mines, south new moon, carlisle, nth garden gully, passby, old carlisle, kentish, central garden gully, golden fleece, garden gully united, big blue, union co, red, white & blue, new chum railway, unity, cornish, catherine reef united, garden gully united, gt extended hustlers, gt northern, lady barkly, new moon, south st mungo, virginia, victoria quartz, graham, tenby and ashman, mr j b watson, geo lansell, mines dept, d e thomas

Handwritten extract of the Victoria Reef Quartz Half-Yearly Meeting from the Bendigo Advertiser Wed 18/1/1911 Page 5. The meeting lapsed for want of a quorum. Director's Report states unwatering had been vigorously carried on with assistance of the Government. On 20 December, one rope gave out. After discussion, it was decided it was too costly to replace with the present financial condition of the Company. It was also considered that the cost of trying to reach the bottom reef cut in the New Chum Railway could not be continued by baling, as its cost proved too expensive, while it probably could be done profitably and effectively by electric pump, which is now subject to negotiations with the Mines Department.'' Also included is a Balance Sheet. From the Albert Richardson Mining History Collection.document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, victoria reef quartz half-yearly meeting, bendigo advertiser, 18/1/1911 page 5, new chum railway, mines department, balance sheet victoria reef quartz, ar

Handwritten copy of Bendigo Advertiser report 22/6/1910. 'Victoria Quartz. At time of inrush of water on Tuesday night, the shaft had reached a depth of 4,614 feet. Water has since risen in the shaft to above the 4,154 ft. plat and the large workings at 4,254 feet and 4,154 feet have also been filled. As there are no reef workings from 4154 feet to 3,424 feet, the waters will no doubt rise rapidly until that level is reached'. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association - drainage problems victoria quartz, bendigo advertiser 22/6/1910 page 7, victoria quartz

Handwritten notes from the Bendigo Advertiser 22/6/1910, listing the mine, Gallons baled, Deepest depth baled from, Total amount Rec'd, ? ? Coy for Financial Year ended 30/6/1908. Mines mentioned are: New Chum Railway, Eureka Ext'd, New Chum Con'd, Lazarus, Garibaldi, Lansells 180, Victoria Quartz, Lansell's 222, New Chum & Vic., Shamrock and New Shenandoah. Note along the side: re - Vict Quartz Inrush Water. Adv. Wed. 22/6/1910. (b) Handwritten notes on the New Chum Drainage Ass'n 1905 - 1908 from the Bendigo Advertiser 22/6/1910. Listed is the Year, Water Raised (Gallons), Total Amount Re?ed and Amount Re? Coys. The New Chum Drainage Ass'n was formed in 1901 and practically ceased to exist in 1908. Victoria Quartz at time of inrush of water on Tuesday night, the shaft had reached a depth of 4,614 feet. Water has since risen in the shaft to above 4,154 ft plat & the large workings at 4,254 feet, and 4,154 feet have also been t filled. As there are no reef workings from 4,154 to 3,424 feet the water will no doubt rise rapidly until that level is reached. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, drainage 1905 - 1908, bendigo advertiser 22/6/1910, victoria quartz, new chum railway, eureka ext'd, new chum con'd, lazarus, garibaldi, lansell's 180, lansell's 222. mew chum & vic, shamrock, new shenandoah

Handwritten notes on the Victoria Quartz Mine. Notes mention locality, depth, geological information, Dividends, Calls and the Victoria Reef Tribute. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, victoria quartz, victoria quartz, brief notes on the victoria quartz mine, victoria reef quartz shaft no 127, vict reef q m coy, mines dept, bendigo advertiser, victoria reef tribute

One typed and one handwritten copy of articles from the Bendigo Advertiser. Items mentioned are a man killed in an explosion at the mine, yields of gold at various depths, ventilation at the mine and a new discovery.document, gold, victoria quartz, victoria quartz, notes on victoria quartz, victoria quartz mine explosion, bendigo advertiser 11/7/1905, lansell's 180 tribute, bendigo advertiser mining intelligence 3/8/1908, crushings - bendigo advertiser17/8/1908, ventilation at the victoria quartz - bendigo advertiser 17/9/1908, victoria quartz - a reef at 4504 feet - bendigo advertiser mining intelligence 29/8/1908

BHS CollectionPhotocopy of a newspaper article titled Water Continues to Rise in the Victoria Quartz by James Lerk. Article mentions the water problem in the Victoria Quartz Mine and where they believed it was coming from. Also mentioned is the mining inspector William Abraham. There is a short history of his working life up to the time of his qualifying as a mine manager after studying part-time for ten years at the Bendigo School of Mines. There is a dark photo of William and his horse.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - water in the victoria quartz, james lerk, victoria quartz, william abraham, new chum reef, matthew stevens, south bellevue, new chum and victoria mine, lazarus, new chum drainage association, william abraham snr, druid, mary kane, lady miltoa, ballarat freehold company, the wallaby, richard grenfell, bendigo advertiser, bendigo school of mines, confidence extended mine, george ellis

Typed copy of recount by Albert Richardson of a fire at Unity Mine on Tuesday 8-10-1907. Report from the Bendigo Advertiser Wednesday October 9th 1907. Notes mention Fire Brigade, miners, how the fire started and how the men down the shaft escaped when the rope crash down the shaft. On the back is a handwritten carbon copy of notes titled Famous Gold Mines of Bendigo and Eaglehawk. Notes give yields of gold for alluvial and quartz mining. Deep Shafts in 1904 of which there were eleven with a depth of more than 3000 feet and 53 over 2000 feet and two which were more than 4000 feet. Wages for 1911 for Engine Drivers and Firemen and Boiler Attendants. Note on winding plants and air compressors.document, gold, ulster gold mining coy no liability, ulster gold mining company no liability, unity mine fire 8/10/1907, bendigo advertiser 9/10/1907, garden gully reef hotel, wm addicoat, louis pabst, edward morris, conrad inglefinger, edward fuller, frederick allen, wm whitford, mr jewell, carlisle mine, famous gold mines of bendigo and eaglehawk, new chum line, garden gully line, hustlers line, victoria quartz mine, new chum railway, mines report 1911 p15, albert richardson

Gold was discovered on One Tree Hill in 1854. The site has been worked intermittently until fairly recent times. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p53 Though still a working mine, One Tree Hill Mine at Smiths Gully, now stands in a tranquil reserve surrounded by bush and native animals - in contrast to its heyday. In the mid 19th century, when the mine was part of the Caledonia Goldfields, hundreds of men in search of their fortune worked the alluvial gold in the Yarra River, its tributaries and the reefs that made up the goldfields. Miner Stan Bone, assisted by Wilfred Haywood, is the last of the independent gold miners in the area and still uses the quartz crushing battery as miners did when gold was first discovered in the area in 1851.1 Stan, who is the last of six generations of miners in his family, was aged 17 when he began mining on his father Alex’ mine, The Golden Crown in Yarrambat. These days, after blasting the gold-bearing rock in Mystery Reef, one of the four reefs at One Tree Hill, Stan transports it around five kilometres by tip truck to the Black Cameron Mine for crushing. There he uses water from the waterlogged mine, (which still contains gold), as the Happy Valley Creek at One Tree Hill is usually dry.2 The One Tree Hill Mine has been worked for close to a century since it opened around the late 1850s.3 The Swedish Reef was its most productive reef and one of the largest in the area. Around 1859, extractions included 204 ounces (5.8kg) of gold, won from 57 pounds (26kg) of stone.4 Then during World War Two, Stan’s uncle, Bill Wallace, and Alex Bone, closed the mine. In 1973, Stan, with his Uncle Bill, reopened the Black Cameron Mine and worked there until 1988. Stan resumed mining One Tree Hill in 1998. As late as the 1920s gold was picked up by chance! When crossing a gully on his way to vote at the St Andrews Primary School, Bill Joyce picked up some quartz containing gold. This site was to become the Black Cameron Mine. The Caledonia Diggings, named after Scotland’s ancient name by local Scots, began around Market Square (now Smiths Gully) and included Queenstown (St Andrews), Kingstown (Panton Hill) and Diamond Creek. There were also poorer bearing fields in Kangaroo Ground and Swipers Gully (now Research). * None of these compared in riches to the Ballarat and Bendigo fields5, but the Caledonia Diggings continued intermittently for close to 100 years. Gold was discovered in Victoria following a bid to stem the disappearance of much needed workmen to the New South Wales diggings. Several businessmen offered a reward of £200, for the discovery of gold within 200 miles (322 km) of Melbourne. Late in June 1851, gold was first discovered at Andersons Creek, Warrandyte. Then in 1854, George Boston and two other men discovered gold at Smiths Gully. Gold transformed the quiet districts, with a constant flow of families and vehicles on the dirt tracks en route to the Caledonia Diggings. Three thousand people worked the gullies in Market Square, including about 1000 Chinese miners. The square established its own police, mining warden, gold battery, school, shops and cemetery and grog flowed. Market Square flourished until the middle 1860s. Bullocks transported quartz from the Caledonia Goldfields to the crushing machinery at the Queenstown/St Andrews Battery, near Smiths Gully Cemetery. It was destroyed by bushfire in 1962. By the late 1850s, most early alluvial fields were in decline, but minor rushes continued until around 1900 and some until the early 1940s. Some miners did well, although most earned little from their hard labour in the harsh and primitive conditions.6 But according to historian, Mick Woiwod, the gold fields helped to democratise society, as individuals from all walks of life were forced to share experiences, and the ability to succeed, depended less on inherited wealth or social rank.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, gold mining, one tree hill mine, smiths gully

Today’s Panton Hill Hotel was built around 1920. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p61 Panton Hill was originally known as Kingstown, and consisted of only one hotel when the Orams Reef was discovered in 1859. Kingstown was a quartz mining centre and many old mine shafts remain in the area.1 Orams Reef was one of the first reefs with a rich find of gold in the area. The Hotel Francais, which had been operating in 1861, was well situated on the way to Queenstown (later St Andrews). So was Herr Hirt’s Hotel and store at Smiths Gully. The Kingstown hotel, known as the Frenchman’s and in 1864 as the Hotel de France, was run by a Monsieur Emile Hude and his wife Jeanne, and known for its good food. They hosted social events, business conventions and debates, attracting patrons from as far as Melbourne. The hotel’s name was changed to Panton Hill Hotel in 1905.2 In 1883 Charles Caudwell built another hotel nearby, possibly in Long Gully Road,3 which it is thought, was burnt down early last century. Today’s Panton Hill Hotel, built around 1920, is the only one of the cluster of buildings in the main road, not to date from around the turn of last century. It was severely damaged by fire in 2003, then underwent extensive alterations. It is the township’s only hotel and is an example of a modest hotel building exterior, constructed early last century. In its early days the hotel also housed the first post office, newsagency and store. Orams Reef yielded a total of £100,000, and fossikers also found alluvial gold in the creeks and gullies, but there is no record of the total value of their finds.4 Gold greatly increased the Panton Hill population, which peaked between 1865 and 1885. On holidays large sports meetings were held with wood chopping contests and foot races and the day would end with a ball. Miners came from various countries to seek their fortune, including many from China. The Chinese became unpopular however, and gradually left the district, although some stayed and grew and sold vegetables.5 Panton Hill was named after Joseph Panton, who in 1862 was appointed Police Magistrate for the Woods Point, Heidelberg and Yarra districts. Panton was an outstanding man, who in 1852, was Commissioner of Crown Lands and Assistant Commissioner of Goldfields at Bendigo. In 1874 he was promoted to Chief Magistrate for the Melbourne Police. Panton was also an artist, becoming president of the Victorian Arts Society in 1888, and in 1913, president of the Royal Geographical Society. Despite Panton Hill’s prosperity, it still lacked many services as poor roads made access to Melbourne difficult. A horse-drawn mail coach travelled to Melbourne until 1890, when the railway came to Heidelberg. The nearest doctor was at Yarra Glen or Heidelberg, and the Indian hawker Singh’s annual visit was very welcome. A miner’s shack opposite the school was used as a post office. Today’s general store and post office in the main road dates from early last century, and has changed considerably. While most people searched for gold, the more enterprising ones established farms to feed the diggers. Farmers grew wheat, barley and oats, and sent animal skins to the Eltham tannery, to make furs in Melbourne.6 As gold became scarce from around 1880, miners took up farming on 19 to 20 acre (8ha) allotments. The first settlers in Cherry Tree Road included Purcell, Smith, Owens, Hughes and Shillinglaw. By 1900 all the land had been taken up around Panton Hill and Hurstbridge. The orchards in Panton Hill and the wider district, particularly of apple and pear, were very successful, and made Panton Hill a cohesive and successful community. About 1914 the Moores built the first cool-store and refrigeration plant at their orchard in Cherry Tree Road. Many settlers planted vineyards and made high quality wine, but in 1922 the blight destroyed them.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, panton hill hotel