BHS CollectionThe Memoirs of George Dewes, Leicestershire Childhood, Australia, California 1826 - 1861. 231 pages with pages 132 to 138 relating to Bendigo, photographs and maps.Martin Coombsbook, life on goldfields, gold rush, life on gold fields, bendigo gold fields.

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

BHS CollectionBook, hard bound. Buff colour covers, dark brown print. Acts, Orders in Council, notices and Mining Board Bye-laws relating to the Gold Fields, published by direction of the Minister of Mines. 1874. Warden Kilmore written in pen and ink at top.bendigo, mining, mining board bye-laws

Plan mining lease blocks 1873, timber hanger on top two brass rings, securing tape, round timber holder on bottom, scroll. On top Schedule of Mining Lease Blocks shown on the plan of the Sandhurst Gold Field, Published May 1873' Names of mining Companies listed with identifying number and area of mine site. E.g. '447 Johnson's Reef Gold Mines 7a, 2r, 8 p (acres, roods, perches). Number linked to the mine site shown on Sandhurst Gold Field map.bendigo, mining, mining lease blocks 1873

BHS CollectionTyped A4 document which describes the closing on November 16th and 17th 1954, of the last two mines still operating in the Bendigo field - the North Deborah and the Central Deborah.bendigo, mining, central deborah gold mine, central deborah gold mine

South New Chum Syncline South New Chum Syncline Gold Mines, N.L., has been floated with a capital of £27,500 in 55,000 shares of 10/ each. Forty thousand have been issued at 1/,10,000 fully paid shares go to vendors, and 5000 will be held in reserve. - Messrs. Savage and Nicholas report that the issue was heavily over-subscribed. The property is situated in the central portion of the Bendigo field, adjoining such former producers as the Victoria Quartz. Lansell’s Big 180, North Old Chum and New Chum. (Bendigo Advertiser, 29th September 1932).Green hard cover book, maroon binding on spine, 284 pages of which 94 are used. 'Minute Book' on front cover. Written in pencil across top of name ' South New Chum Syncline'. Inside front cover affixed to page, document 'Registrar-General re Notice of Office and of Manager, filed 23.10.32 in connection with South New Chum Syncline Gold Mines N.L. Minutes in book date from 5th October 1932 to 23rd August 1935. First minutes of meeting describes the Company as having 55,000 shares of ten shillings each. Final two pages have documents affixed that relate to the closure and sell-off of the free-hold property and mine equipment in 'Happy Valley Road, Bendigo for the sum of not less than Two Hundred and fifty pounds and that out of the proceeds thereof the following amounts be paid', An amount of 120 pounds, thirteen shillings and two pence are listed. Minute Book is part of the Margaret Roberts Collection. bendigo, gold mining, south new chum syncline gold mine, j.j. stanistreet, legal manager, margaret roberts collection,

Gold and Redgum Inkstand made by Ernest Leviny, c1855-1858. Presented to Mr J.V.A. Bruce, contractor for the Melbourne and Murray Railway by the workmen, at Woodend on Monday 8th July 1861. This gold inkstand was Leviny's first major masterpiece commenced around 1855 and made from gold found on the Victorian fields. It featured four gold nuggets representing the Southern Cross from the goldfields of Ballarat, Bendigo Maryborough and Castlemaine. It was exhibited in Melbourne in 1858, and again in 1861 where it was awarded a 1st Class Certificate at the Victorian Exhibition in Melbourne. In 1862 it was exhibited at the London International Exhibition where it attracted a great deal of attention and was published in The Art Journal Illustrated Catalogue accompanying the exhibition. The whereabouts of the Inkstand is currently unknown.Matt, albumen print, mounted on lightweight card backing. Albumen photograph of a gold and redgum inkstand. Elaborate inkstand highly decorated with cast figures. Mounted on a redgum base.Stamp embossed on upper left corner. Crown in a circle with the words Bristol Paper. Handwritten in ink under image. "Gold inkstand presented at the opening of the Railway, designed by the late Ernest Leviny Esq. October 13th 1862. Made of almost pure gold and cost £700".inkstand, ornament, gold, goldsmithing, london exhibition 1862, melbourne and murray railway, photograph, woodend, 8 july 1861, mr j. v. a. bruce