Document.Copy of Williamstown Historical Society Newsletter No 17 (1977).On the second and third page of this Newsletter is an article entitled ''The guns of the 'Nelson''', written by Doug Mills, Castlemaine. The Warship NELSON underwent alterations in 1860, including cut down to two decks and lengthened, her armaments reduced to 72 guns. Two 7inch 68 pounder guns were added to her armament. In February 7 1867 she was officially given to the Colony of Victoria by the Imperial Government. At the time her Commander was Captain Charles B. Payne. The Warship reached Melbourne in 4th February 1868. Relics of the NELSON were auctioned at Williamstown Victoria Naval Depot, and her two anchors are preserved for public display at Williamstown. An active demand for a share of the guns from various towns in the State. Ballarat received four (4) guns, Bendigo and Castlemaine two (2) each, while one has been given to each of the following towns: - Ararat, Tarnagulla, Hamilton, Bacchus Marsh, Echuca and Geelong. Collection of Lansell related documents: a. Copy of photograph - Lansell's Big 180 Victoria Hill - early 1870s - New Chum Hill in background. B. Lansell Estate mines - compiled from the annual report of the Hon Minister of Mines for Victoria, 1906. A listing of the George Lansell Mining Company interests at the time of his death. These were, New Moon Co, N.L., Clarence, New Prince Of Wales Co. N.L., Virginia G. M. Co., Catherine Reef United Co N.L., Great Northern Co N.L., Williams United, McDuff Amalgamated Co, South Mungo Co, South Prince Of Wales Consolidated, Constellation Co. Golden Pyke Co, Johnson's Reef Extended Company, Golden Age Co., Princess Dagmar Co, New St Mungo Co, Johnson's Reef Co, North Johnson's Co, Collman and Tacchi Co, Confidence Extended Co, G. Lansell Sandhurst Mines, Pearl Co., Windmill Hill Co., United Hustlers and Redan, Koch's Pioneer Co., Hercules and Energetic Co., Lansell's Comet, Cornish United Co., Ironbark Co., Hustler's Reef Co., and No. 1 Lansell's 83, Carlisle Co., Great Extended Hustler's Co., Victoria Consolidated Co., Great Central Victoria Co., Victoria Quartz Co., Victory and Pandora , Lansell's Big 180, Tambour Major, New Chum and Victoria Co., Garden Gully United Co., G. Lansell, Lansell's 222, Lazarus Co., Sea Amalgamated Co., Hustler's Royal Reserve Co., Horwood and Burrowe's Co., New Chum Consolidated Co., G Lansell's Sheepshead, Gariboldi Co., Londonderry Co., Shamrock Co., Great Britain Co., Fortuna Hustler's Co., Eureka Extended Co., G. Lansell's G.V.L., New Red White and Blue Consolidated, Great Southern Co., Lansell's Concord Mines, True Blue Co., G. G. Consolidated Co., Extended Red White and Blue Co., Great Columbian, Sedgwick and New Birthday. Also, a listing: ''Among the biggest yields to ate (sic) (date?) in ozs or Pounds were''; New Moon.Co. N.L. 180,087 ounces, Clarence £303,932, Catherine Reef United N.L. £762,815, Great Northern Co Ltd £394,525, Johnson's Reef Co 277,320ounces, Windmill Hill Co. 113,842ounces, Hustler's Reef Co. And No.1 1,144,923ounces, Carlisle Co 307,835ounces, Great Extended Hustlers Co £1,038,125, Garden Gully United Co. £1,653,900, Great Southern 97,752ounces, New Chum Consolidated 89,526ounces. This part (b) has handwritten inscription ''compiled by J Sarvaas MCE(??) Certified Mining Surveyor; 22/8/06''; c. Copy of Deed dated Dec 1886 between George Lansell, Wooten Lansell and the Bank of New South Wales relating to a wall and windows and openings etc etc. (3 pages of legalese!!!!!). Also, a (related?) page copy of a Grant -by purchase to the Bank of New South Wales with a date of August 1855 on it ''Enrolled in the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria - signed by Acting Registrar.document, gold, mines

PORT PHILLIP GOLD MINE CLUNES. GOLD WAS DISCOVERED IN 1851 - CLAIMED TO BE FIRST DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA.COPY OF PHOTOGRAPH OF OLD PORT PHILLIP GOLD MINE TAKEN FROM MR. BLANDS PROPERTY - OAK AND ELM TREES IN THE FOREGROUND.OLD PORT PHILLIP GOLD MINE WHERE GOLD FIRST DISCOVERED IN QUARTZ IN AUSTRALIAlocal history, document, postcard, mining

Notes on reverse of framed photograph; .1 PHOTOGRAPH - ORIGINAL SEPIA - VICTORIA QUARTZ MINING COMPANY, CLUNES .2 BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO PRINT - VICTORIA QUARTZ MINING COMPANY, CLUNES .3 BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO PRINT MOUNTED .4 BLACK AND WHITE PRINT - VICTORIA QUARTZ MINING COMPANY, CLUNES .5 BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO PRINT .6 SMALL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO PRINT NOTE WATER WHEEL PERIOD;1865 ON HILLSIDE OF PORT PHILLIP MINE. VICTORIA, A QUARTZ MINING COMPANY, REGISTERED CLUNESlocal history, photography, photographs, mining

Gold was discovered in Ballarat in 1851 when many people rushed to the diggings. A monument commemorates the centenary of the finding of gold at Poverty Point and is dedicated to the memory of pioneer miners of Ballarat. It records gold yields, nuggets and the richest recorded yields of both alluvial and quartz mines. The replica gold nugget on the monument is the `Welcome Nugget`, found in Ballarat in 1858, weighed 2,217 ounces and was sold for £10,500. The memorial, known as the Pioneer Miners’ Monument, was made to commemorate Ballarat's gold centenary. It was proposed that part of the Pioneers' Memorial Fund might be used. This fund was started with £1300 profit from the 1938 centenary celebrations. (Age (Melbourne), The monument was created by John Edward Skilbeck, a toolmaker with Ronaldson and Tippett. John Skilbeck had a deep interest in Ballarat History, and undertook much research with Bert Strange and Keith Stacpoole. Councilllor William Ernest Roff provided the copper for the memorial from scrap copper obtained during his plumbing business. The copper was reworked by John Skilbeck, and was soldered in the kitchen of his home at 14 Frank Street. Colour photograph of the gold monument on the corner of Sturt Street and Albert Street, Ballarat. It commemorates the discovery of gold at Poverty Point in August 1851, and was The monument was unveiled in 1951 and is mainly constructed of large piecesof quartz, with a miniature popper head on the top made of copper. Mounted on the side is a replica of the Welcome Nugget, which was unearthed on the corner of Humffray and Mair Streets, Ballarat on 09 June 1858.FRONT This monument was erected by the Ballarat Historical Society to commemorate the finding of gold at Poverty Point 21st August 1851 and is dedicated to the memory of/ pioneer miners of Ballarat LEFT SIDE Richest recorded yields alluvial mines Band of Hope 303269 Ozs Prince of Wales 168929 Koh I Noor 164157 Great Redan Ex 110111 Albion 107125 Bonshaw Fr 96520 Park 94699 St George 86702 Sir Wm Don 76830 Hand in Hand 76830 Sir Henry Loch 43562 Quartz Mines Star of the East 256758 Ozs Band of Hope 158299 Victoria United 152013 N Woah Hawp 129562 New Normanby 127562 Britannia 103225 Llanberris No 1 100533 Black Hill 91665 Last Chance U 83766 Llanberris 71364 Speedwell 66000 South Star 64444 Sulieman Pasha Companies 62666 RIGHT Recorded gold yield 20606000 ozs Nuggets Alluvial Welcome 2217 ozs Saraha Snads 1619 Lady Hotham 1177 Canadian 1 1117 Canadian 2 1011 Koh 1 Noor 834 Eureka 625 Lady Loch 617 Prince of Wales 606 Bakery Hill 571 Native Youth 540 Faboulous yields of earliest diggings not offically recorded Quartz Nuggets N Woah Hawp 5-- 300 200 Ozs White Horse 500 Woah Hawp 444 266 262 Canton 257 200 Q Victoria lease 410 U Black Hill Coy 315 Tinworths 250 Parade Coy 245gold monument, ballarat, skilbeck, poppet head, j.e. skilbeck, john skilbeck

The first company to make a success of hard-rock (quartz) gold mining at Black Hill was the Black Hill Company, formed in 1859. Mining from the open-cut mine probably commenced in 1860 and by 1861 the company had erected the largest stamping mill in Victoria. The mill ran 24 hours a day until the end of 1864 and 12 hours a day in 1865. Open cut mining then ceased. Underground ore extraction continued at Black Hill until the early twentieth century.Photographic image of the abandoned open-cut mine at Black Hill, Ballarat, c1904 ballarat, black hill, mining, open cut, gold

The large mullock heap, marks the site of a former quartz mine, and is one of the few visible signs of the former presence of extensive gold mining activities in this area of Ballarat. Originally known as Park Mine, and now known as Mount Holled Smith, the mine associated with this mullock heap puddled 750 tons of washdirt each day. The mine closed down in 1874, at which time 94,699 ounces of gold had been removed from the ground. Colour photograph of a mullock heap in Ballarat's Victoria Park.mullock heap, ballarat gardens, victoria park, park mine

Steele's Reef was opened in 1859 along with a number of other reefs in the Yandoit area. The reef was worked by small mining parties until the late 1880s. In 1887, the Steele's Reef Quartz Mining Company fixed steam pumping machinery and commenced sinking a shaft. The company were unable to find a profitable ore body and after two years work closed down. By this time their shaft had reached a depth of 150 feet. The mine was then taken over by the Pioneer Quartz Mining Company who appear not to have worked the mine. In 1906, the Steele's Pioneer Company commenced work, erecting a winding winch at the old shaft sunk by the Steele's Company. The next year the company erected a 10-head battery, set of poppet legs, a pumping engine. Sinking the shaft a further 100 feet, the company struggled to find payable ore and soon closed down.Colour photographs of the remnants of Steele's mine at Yandoit, Victoria. steele's mine, yandoit, mining, ruins

Map of Victoria Hill Area printed on yellow paper. Details of tracks, cuttings, contours (in Metres) and Anticline. Location of mines, open cuts and buildings are shown. Numbers on map are: Ballerstedt's Claim 1 - 5; North Old Chum Co. 6; Lansell's 180, 7,8,11; Battery 9.10.12; Victoria Quartz Co. 13 - 17; Rae's Open Cut and Vicinity 18 - 28, Great Central Victoria Co 29 - 36, Adventure and Advance Area and vicinity 37 - 40 and Victoria Consols Co 41.map, bendigo, victoria hill, victoria hill area, victoria consols, new chum anticline, great central victoria, rae's open cut, w rae's home, victoria quartz, ballerstedt's open cut, lansell's 180, north old chum, central nell gwynne, john brown factory, gold mines hotel, cleopatra needle type chimney, floyd's battery, ballerstedt's 24yd claim, humboldt shaft, wittscheibe's jeweller's shop, luffsman and sterry's claim, victoria hill reserve, mines dept reervation

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

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

BHS Collection. See item 10727.2Sixty two page copy of a proposed book on the Adventure Gold Mine, a compilation of research done by Phyllis Toy. Front page: ' The Great Adventure, a brief history of the Adventure Mine from its beginning in c1854 until it amalgamation with the Victoria Consols Company o 19/7/1880. Phyllis Toy Collection:adventure gold mine, sandhurst, goldmining, adventure and advance amalgamated quartz mining company

Plan showing portion of the Bendigo goldfield. Area of main goldfield: 140 square miles. Deepest mine working: 4593' (Victoria quartz). Gold output of field to 1935: 20,775,000 ounces. Dividends paid 1870-1935: 10,740,000 pounds.map, goldfield, bendigo

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

Two handwritten pages with extracts from the Bendigo Advertiser Mining Intelligence. Notes mention making arrangements with other mines to resume bailing, Victoria Quartz still shaft sinking despite strong flow of water, Lansell's 180 preparing to bail water from the deep levels, so that the Victoria Quartz may continue shaft sinking and finishing cutting of plat at 4454 ft. Also a weather report on the 14/6/1910. From the Albert Richardson Mining History Collection.gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, water problems, bendigo advertiser mining intelligence 18/4/1910, 9/5/1910, 23/5/1910, 30/5/1910, 6/6/1910, 13/6/1910, victoria quartz, lazarus coy, lansell's 180, albert richardson

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 notes from the Bendigo Advertiser 5/7/1910 Page 3. 'New Chum Mines. Yesterday, Mr H. V. Whetelaw, officer in charge of the local survey branch, Mines Dep't accompanied by Inspector Ross, made their first inspection. Water has reached the 3224 ft. level. Now 1530 feet of water in shaft, including the workings below the 3324 ft. level. Bailing been carried on at the Victoria Quartz, Lansell's 180, 222, and New Chum Consolidated. It will take a week or more to get the Lazarus plant in readiness. Then the shaft will have to examined. At Lansell's 222, the water is 18 ft. below the No 18 level, New Chum Consolidated - 18 ft. below, the 1910 ft. Plat.' Bendigo Advertiser- New Chum Mines - 5/7/1910 Page 3. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, victoria quartz drainage problems, bendigo advertiser 5/7/1910 page 3, mr h v whitelaw, mines dept, inspector ross, victoria quartz, lansell's 180, 222, new chum consolidated, lazarus, 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

Handwritten notes from a Bendigo Advertiser report 7 Jan 1907. Three shifts of men working all Saturday and Sunday had not located the main. A large are of Eaglehawk and the City are without water. Had to timber a hole to a depth of 25 ft. Victoria Quartz, Windmill Hill, Needle, Confidence Ext'd, Princess Dagmar, Golden Age, Golden Pyke, Macduff, constellation, Gt Northern, (partly), Specimen Hill, Clarence, New Argus, Comet, Gt Central Victoria and Victoria Consols had to close because they had no water and five to six hundred men believed to be out of work. City Council will put water-carts on and supply residents free of charge. New Moon, South Moon, Virginia , Catherine and Devonshire mines get their water direct from the water race so they did not close down. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, burst water main under garden gully sandheap, bendigo advertiser, 7/1/1907, victoria quartz, windmill hill, needle, confidence ext'd, princess dagmar, golden age, golden pyke, macduff, constellation, gt northern, (partly), specimen hill, clarence, new argus, comet, gt central victoria, victoria consols, north johnsons, johnson's reef, snobs hill line, new moon south moon, virginia, catherine, devonshire, albert richardson

Two handwritten copies of a Bendigo Advertiser report 16/6/1910 Page 7. This is a longer version of 3600.14. It was thought that the rush of water was from a dam bursting in one of the other mines, but as the water showed no signs of slowing that theory was discarded. The temperature of the incoming water was much higher than the Victoria Quartz was accustomed to bail, and this circumstance is significent in view of the increased temperature of the water at the deep levels in the New Chum Railway. Some months ago, the water commenced to flow from the New Chum Railway workings into the New Shenandoah, which is the next mine north. The water rose so rapidly that a disaster was narrowly averted. The mines along the line were connected at different levels and with the cessation of bailing at the deep levels in the southern mines, it was only to be expected that the water would find its way north to the Victoria Quartz. The water raised from the operating mines under the direction of the New Chum Drainage Association, a yeart or two ago used to exceed six million gallons per month. At that time there were eight companies bailing water, and even then some of the plants, especially those at the deep mines, were severely taxed in coping with the water, and performing ordinary work. Since some mines had discontinued bailing, the water has been filling up extensive workings, and as was predicted in the ''Advertiser'' some time ago, the Victoria Quartz Company could not expect to succeed with its deep sinking project without making some special provision for raising the water, which ultimately would become a source of trouble. The Victoria Quartz Company was allotted a special grant of 10,000 pound to assist in sinking the shaft 1000 ft from the 4254 ft level. Under the conditions of the grant, the Company had to contribute half the cost of the sinking, and the raising of the water has also been an exensive item. For the present, all attention will be concentrated in lowering the water, and should the appliances prove unequal to the task the deep sinking scheme can only be accomplished by resorting to some comprehensive system of combating the water'. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, inrush of water at the victoria quartz, bendigo advertiser 16/6/1910 page 7, mine reports 13/6/1910, victoria quartz, lansell's 180, mr stevens, mr w abraham, new chum & victoria mine, new chum railway, new shenandoah, new chum drainage association

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 from a Bendigo Advertiser report, Thursday June 16th 1910. Management had for some time been apprehensive that the flooding in the deep mines to the south would affect them. Lansell's 180 took the precaution of baling. On the Tuesday night the men at the Victoria Quartz had a sensational experience. The storage dam at 3324 ft level receives the overflow from the flooded mines to the south. The level connects with the 3310 level at the Big 180. The water flows uninterrupted into thestorage dam which has a capacity of about 270 tanks. The dam had been emptied on Tuesday morning and work continued until 10 pm that night. The platman noticed that the water was coming down the shaft in a regular torrent. They didn't take much notice as they thought it was a leakinig outlet valve on the ascending tank. At 11 pm the releiving shift came down the shaft and said that the dam at 3,324 ft must be overflowing. The velocity of the water pouring down the shaft increased and the men made a hurried exit from the bottom of the shaft which is down 310 ft from the 4.254 ft plat (a total depth of 4,564 ft). An inspection of the dam at the 3324 ft level found it to be overflowing. By morning (Wednesday) the shaft had filled, and the water rose to 7 ft in the plat at 4254 feet. Mining inspector hgave orders that men were not to go below the 3324 ft level. Baling continued without cessation at the Big 180 all day and could not lower the water. Drilling machines etc and a powerful air winch at the 4254 ft plat are under water. An inspection made of the 3100 ft level at the 180 mine where the workings are connected with the New Chum & Victoria showed that water was running strongly from that mine proving that the inrush was due to flooded water from the southern deep mines to the south. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage scheme, miners sensational experience at the victoria quartz, bendigo advertiser 16/6/1910 page7, lansell's 180, big 180, new chum & victoria