The Victoria Quartz Gold Mine was situated on Victoria Hill, Ironbark, (1877 - 1913). At the turn of the century, this was the site of one of the premier mines on the Bendigo goldfield. In 1908, it boasted the world's deepest shaft - 4,478 feet (1,365 metres). The shaft reached a depth of 4,613 feet (1,406 metres) in 1910. In 1857 eight small claims in this area had been merged to form the Victoria Reef Quartz Mining Co. Another merger in 1877 led to the formation of the Victoria Quartz Co. For the next three decades, the mine produced consistent profits. In 1910, water burst into the claim, flooding the shaft and halting operations. The company baled water for six months then handed the mine over to the tributers who worked the upper levels for the share of the profits. The mine closed in 1913, having produced over 48,000 ounces of gold and paid dividends of £99,600. (Source, Goldfield Guide https://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/explore-location/400/victoria-hill-mining-reserve/) Victorian Heritage Register information on mine: Statement of Significance Last updated on - July 14, 2005 The story of quartz mining on Victoria Hill lies at the heart of Bendigo's historical status as the world's richest and deepest reefing field. Gold was discovered on Victoria Hill in 1854, and by early 1855 claims had been taken up over its entire extent. Shafts were first worked by windlass, whip or whim, and primitive crushing batteries were in operation. By 1861, Victoria Hill had yielded at least 1,200,000oz in gold. One of the early claims on Victoria Hill was owned by Prussian immigrants, Christopher Ballerstedt and his son Theodore. In 1854, they bought a claim on the hill for £80, to which they subsequently added other claims, and from the quartz veins (called spurs), worked both by shafts and a large open cut, obtained gold worth nearly £200,000. Christopher Ballerstedt was dubbed 'Father of the Hill' and has been credited as the first to debunk the theory at that time prevalent on the Bendigo field, that the gold content of reefs would diminish at depth. As his shafts plunged below the 200-foot level, the quartz remained rich in gold. His success inspired others, and so led the way to Bendigo's later status as the world's deepest and richest goldfield. The Ballerstedt's built Bendigo's grandest mansion, Fortuna. Theodore continued to work Victoria Hill after his father's death, but in 1871, convinced that his claim was exhausted, he sold both mine and mansion to George Lansell for £60,000. Lansell's mine on Victoria Hill was called the 180, and operated under his ownership until his death in 1906. The mine supplied the initial wealth that made Lansell Bendigo's 'Quartz King'. George Lansell was such a force in Bendigo's mining history that his death was cited as one of the reasons for the decline of Bendigo as a quartz mining centre, The Victoria Hill Quartz Gold Mines are of historical, archaeological and scientific importance to the State of Victoria. The Victoria Hill Quartz Gold Mines are historically significant as the symbolic heart of Bendigo's famous goldfield. The mines are linked to nineteenth-century individuals (Christopher Ballerstedt and George Lansell) who played prominent roles in the evolution of Bendigo. Both men's fortunes and their influence on Bendigo, originated from mining operations carried out on the hill. The Victoria Hill Quartz Gold Mines are historically and scientifically important as characteristic examples of an important form of gold mining. Gold mining sites are of crucial importance for the pivotal role they have played since 1851 in the development of Victoria. As well as being a significant producer of Victoria's nineteenth century wealth, quartz mining, with its intensive reliance on machinery, played an important role in the development of Victorian manufacturing industry. The Victoria Hill Quartz Gold Mines are important as a manifestation of this aspect of gold mining. The Victoria Hill Quartz Gold Mines are scientifically important, as they contain relics span nearly sixty years of mining (1854 to 1913), documenting the richest and most significant years of Bendigo's world-famous quartz mining industry. Enhancing the significance of the place are relics from the Victoria Quartz Company operations, ncluding, at 4,870 feet, the world's deepest nineteenth-century gold mining shaft. As a postscript to the chronology of gold mining is the surviving crushing machinery (formerly part of the Bendigo Crushing Works) which was erected near the foundations of Lansell's 180 mine in 1932, to crush quartz for nearby mines. The place has a potential to yield artefacts and evidence which will be able to provide significant information about the technological history of gold mining. [Source: Victorian Heritage Register] Hermes Number 8506 https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/index.php/places/8506/download-report Hand drawn plan of the bottom section of the Victoria Quartz Gold Mine. Mine shaft shown from 2706 feet to 5200 (potential) feet shown, with annotation regarding geological features and gold obtained from different level crushings. Blue border sticker on outside of plan: '13 BC 23 Victoria Quartz Trans-Section'. Plan is not dated. The Victoria Quartz plan is part of the Margaret Roberts Collection.victoria hill quartz gold mine, victoria hill

Victoria Quartz Gold Mine was situated on Victoria Hill, Bendigo. Victoria Hill is situated on the Marong Road, opposite the Gold Mines Hotel. Victoria Hill was one of the richest areas on the Bendigo Goldfield. It had many successful mines, including Lansell's '180' and the Victoria Quartz, once the deepest gold mine in the world. At the turn of the century, this was the site of one of the premier mines on the Bendigo goldfield. In 1908, it boasted the world's deepest shaft - 4,478 feet (1,365 metres). The shaft reached a depth of 4,613 feet (1,406 metres) in 1910. In 1857 eight small claims in this area had been merged to form the Victoria Reef Quartz Mining Co. Another merger in 1877 led to the formation of the Victoria Quartz Co. For the next three decades, the mine produced consistent profits. In 1910, water burst into the claim, flooding the shaft and halting operations. The company baled water for six months then handed the mine over to the tributers who worked the upper levels for the share of the profits. The mine closed in 1913, having produced over 48,000 ounces of gold and paid dividends of £99,600.Printed in black text on light tan paper: 'Underground workings, Victoria Quartz Co''. Written on accompanying label: "Victoria Reef, underground plan'. Plan shows shaft, drives and geological features. Plan forms part of the Margaret Roberts Collection.gold mining, gold, bendigo, victoria quartz gold mine, victoria reef

Newspaper article and photo from the Bendigo Advertiser dated 12/7/68. Article mentions Victoria Hill, behind John Brown Industries Factory, will be the site for the mining and historical museum. Photo shows two visitors looking at the open cut area of Victoria Hill.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, victoria hill, site for mine museum, john brown industries, bendigo city council, bendigo and district association, cr t r flood, victoria quartz gold mine, lansell's 180 mine, theodore ballerstedt, mr george lansell, heather champness, shirley leersen

Two copies of photocopied photo of an open cut mine which is straddled by Marong Road. In the background is The North Old Chum Mine, behind it is Lansell's Rich '180' Mine and in the distance is Ballerstedt's Rich Open Cut and the Victoria Quartz Mine. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.photo, victoria hill, looking north from old chum hill to the victoria hill, a richardson, north old chum mine, lansell's rich '180' mine, victoria quartz mine, gold mines hotel

Victoria Quartz Gold Mine was on Victoria Hill, Ironbark, Bendigo. The Victoria Hill Quartz Gold Mines are scientifically important, as they contain relics span nearly sixty years of mining (1854 to 1913), documenting the richest and most significant years of Bendigo's world-famous quartz mining industry. Enhancing the significance of the place are relics from the Victoria Quartz Company operations, including, at 4,870 feet, the world's deepest nineteenth-century gold mining shaft. (Heritage Victoria) Geology of Victoria Hill: https://aigjournal.aig.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AIG-Victoria-Hill-Mining-Reserve_FinalWeb.pdfTyped copy of what appears to be a speech. Mentioned is that after 1910 the Commonwealth took over the minting it's own money. Gold mining was chosen for the one pound note and a Bendigo scene was chosen. The scene chosen shows boring operations in the Victoria Quartz Mine. The picture was taken by Vincent Kelly of the five figures but for engraving only three were shown. They were Mr W Healy, Mr J Smith and Mr James Beverage. James Beverage was a member of Bendigo's first fire brigade. He went to Beechworth for a demonstration and on the way home stopped at Christie's Hotel in Swanston Street. There was a fire at the hotel and Mr Beverage rescued Mrs Christie, her baby and a servant. At a later date Mr Beverage saved a woman from a burning building in Moore Street in Bendigo. He received the Royal Humane Society's Medal which is now housed at the Bendigo Fire Station in Hargreaves Street. In the City's formative years the area that deposited its rain water into the Long Gully Creek was considered to be in Long Gully and for many years the Victoria Quartz Mine deposited many thousands of gallons of water into the Long Gully Creek. Mr Steve Gibbons unveiled the plaque.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - banknotes and james beverage, victoria quartz mine, vincent kelly, shepard's bush, mr rickards, mr abraham, mr w healy, mr j smith, mr james beverage, south iron bark mine, rae's hill, sandhurst no 1 fire brigade, christie's hotel, mrs christie, royal humane society's medal, bendigo fire station, long gully history group, mr steve gibbons, department of environment water heritage, arts commnmoration of historic events and famous persons

Bendigo Advertiser article, 27th June,1995, titled 'Poppet head restored to former glory'. Article details the history and restoration of a poppet head that is being erected over the Victoria Quartz Gold Mine on Victoria Hill, Ironbark. The Victoria Hill area was being developed as a new tourist area by the Bendigo Council at the time of the poppet head being relocated. Photo with article shows apprentice boiler maker, Adam Kelly, preparing one of the poppet legs to be raised on Victoria Hill. A large crane is visible in the background of the image. gold mining, bendigo, poppet head, poppet head legs, victoria quartz, victoria hill, tourism, adam kelly, terry huddle design engineer

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

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

William Baragwanath was educated at the Ballarat School of Mines, obtaining a Geology Certificate in 1911. After further study he went on the become Secretary for Mines, and Chief Mining Surveyor. Baragwanath was a Councillor of the Ballarat School of Mine from 1916 to 1950.Pink covered foolscap book of 257 pages and 32 maps and plans by William Baragwanath. Contents include topography, physiography, historical, geology, basalt, faults, dykes, minerals leads, alluvial mines, nuggets, structure of Ballarat West goldfields, structure of Ballarat East gold-field, quartz formation, indicators, defunct mines, existing mines, table of deepest shafts. Images include: section of the Ballarat Gold-Field, Dead HOrse Flat, lakes formed by Basalt Flows, Gong Gong Creek, Frenchman's Lead, Ballarat West Mines, LEases and positions of shafts (1857), puddling, White Horse Lead, Woah Hawp Canton, Ballarat Township mines, Sebastopol, syncline, Victoria United Line, First Chance Mine, Llanberris No 1 Mine, Saddle Reef, New Normanby Mine, Woah Hawp Canton Mine, South Star Mine, Sebastopol Plateau, south Woah Hawp Mine, Woah No. 2 Minegeology, geological survey no 14, ballarat, baragwanath, william baragwanath

Markings include soil and rock types, alluvial gold workings, quartz reefs.Published under the direction of A.W. Howitt F.G.S. Secretary for Mines. The Hon J.H. McColl, Minister of Mines, June 1893. Surveyed by R.A. Moon, Field Geologist, under the supervision of R.A.F. Murray, Govt Geologist. Lithographed by J. M. Coakley.

Malachite is a green copper carbonate hydroxide mineral and was one of the first ores used to make copper metal. Malachite has been utilised as a gemstone and sculptural material in the past as its distinctive green color does not fade when exposed to light or after long periods of time. Malachite is formed at shallow depths in the ground, in the oxidizing zone above copper deposits. The material has also been used as a pigment for painting throughout history. Malachite is considered a rare gemstone in that the original deposits for the stones have been depleted leaving behind very few sources. In addition, the use of Malachite as gemstones and sculptural materials remains just as popular today as they were throughout history. It is quite common to cut the stone into beads for jewellery. The fact that Malachite has such a rich colour and one that does not fade with time or when exposed to light makes it particularly rare. Although there is no indication available of the locality from which the specimen was sourced, it is likely that the specimen was collected either in South Australia in the vicinity of the Burra Burra mines or in Victoria as part of programs of geological surveying undertaken in the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A solid hand-sized copper carbonate hydroxide mineral with quartz pebbles in red conglomorate matrix presenting shades of cream, brown and green.Existing label: Malachite / (green) in / conglomerate / (white quartz / pebbles / in red matrix /geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, geological, indigo shire, malachite, malachite specimen, australian mines, mines, geological survey, conglomorate, matrix

An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria.An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria. The Golden Bower gold mine was a quartz reef mine. William Edward Chester discovered the Golden Secret gold vein which became part of the Golden Bower Mine at Chesterville near Donovans Creek on the Cumberland goldfield which he mined with George Locke until the late 1930s. golden bower gold mine, cumberland valley, victoria, quartz reef mining, water-powered battery, william edward chester, george locke, chesterville, donovan's creek, cumberland goldfield

An early black and white photograph of the blacksmith's forge at the Golden Bower mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria.An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria. The Golden Bower gold mine was a quartz reef mine. William Edward Chester discovered the Golden Secret gold vein which became part of the Golden Bower Mine at Chesterville near Donovans Creek on the Cumberland goldfield which he mined with George Locke until the late 1930s. golden bower gold mine, cumberland valley, victoria, quartz reef mining, water-powered battery, william edward chester, george locke, chesterville, donovan's creek, cumberland goldfield

An early black and white photograph of the Golden Bower mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria.An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria. The Golden Bower gold mine was a quartz reef mine. William Edward Chester discovered the Golden Secret gold vein which became part of the Golden Bower Mine at Chesterville near Donovans Creek on the Cumberland goldfield which he mined with George Locke until the late 1930s. golden bower gold mine, cumberland valley, victoria, quartz reef mining, water-powered battery, william edward chester, george locke, chesterville, donovan's creek, cumberland goldfield

An early black and white photograph of the Golden Bower mine camp in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria.An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria. The Golden Bower gold mine was a quartz reef mine. William Edward Chester discovered the Golden Secret gold vein which became part of the Golden Bower Mine at Chesterville near Donovans Creek on the Cumberland goldfield which he mined with George Locke until the late 1930s. golden bower gold mine, cumberland valley, victoria, quartz reef mining, water-powered battery, william edward chester, george locke, chesterville, donovan's creek, cumberland goldfield

An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine Camp in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria.An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria. The Golden Bower gold mine was a quartz reef mine. William Edward Chester discovered the Golden Secret gold vein which became part of the Golden Bower Mine at Chesterville near Donovans Creek on the Cumberland goldfield which he mined with George Locke until the late 1930s. golden bower gold mine, cumberland valley, victoria, quartz reef mining, water-powered battery, william edward chester, george locke, chesterville, donovan's creek, cumberland goldfield

An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria.An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria. The Golden Bower gold mine was a quartz reef mine. William Edward Chester discovered the Golden Secret gold vein which became part of the Golden Bower Mine at Chesterville near Donovans Creek on the Cumberland goldfield which he mined with George Locke until the late 1930s. golden bower gold mine, cumberland valley, victoria, quartz reef mining, water-powered battery, william edward chester, george locke, chesterville, donovan's creek, cumberland goldfield

An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria.An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria. The Golden Bower gold mine was a quartz reef mine. William Edward Chester discovered the Golden Secret gold vein which became part of the Golden Bower Mine at Chesterville near Donovans Creek on the Cumberland goldfield which he mined with George Locke until the late 1930s. POST CARD EMPIRE FOR CORRESPONDENCE FOR ADDRESS ONLY STAMPgolden bower gold mine, cumberland valley, victoria, quartz reef mining, water-powered battery, william edward chester, george locke, chesterville, donovan's creek, cumberland goldfield, postcard, souvenir

An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine Camp in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria.An early black and white photograph taken at the Golden Bower Mine Camp in the Cumberland Valley in Victoria. The Golden Bower gold mine was a quartz reef mine. William Edward Chester discovered the Golden Secret gold vein which became part of the Golden Bower Mine at Chesterville near Donovans Creek on the Cumberland goldfield which he mined with George Locke until the late 1930s. POST CARD CORRESPONDENCE. ADDRESS ONLY. KODAK/ AUSTRALIA 30/06/10 Rose Hill/ Fitzwilliam Street/ Kew Should have written/ to you months ago about the/ photos I took at Easter./ Sorry to say the one of the little/ girls was no good I expect/ you will recognise both these/ places/ K McDowell Mrs Fletcher/ Golden Bower Mine/ Via Marysville J Mahoneygolden bower gold mine, cumberland valley, victoria, quartz reef mining, water-powered battery, william edward chester, george locke, chesterville, donovan's creek, cumberland goldfield

Brown ledger with leather spine with bond copies of assays on very light, tissue like paper. Includes an alpha listing of customers and the page numbers where the associated assay and report is found. ballarat school of mines, mining laboratory, model mine, assay, frederick martell, alfred mica smith, j.m. bickett, g. desoza, figgis, gilpin, alex lamn, julius lazurus, john mann, james oddie, oldfield, peacock, thomas proctor, charles serjeant, w.c. shoppee, skilbeck, tulloch & co, john chaffy, cumming and smith and co, commonwealth mine, robert daly, dapto smelting co, duke of york co, ernest de beer, eureka company, r. emmett, p.w. fitzpatrick, first chance gold mning company, frenchmans reef company, f. folks, great birthday company, glenfine smith gold mining company, golden dyke extended, india rubber company, madame berry, victoria united gold mining company, black horse company, david melm, jame macarthur, new normanby company, william nicholas, alexander lambert, pitfield quartz and cement company, a.j. peacock, phoenix foundry, h. raven, c. serjeant, thomas smith, south star extended, h. strickland, edward h. shackell, w.d. thompson, union gold mining ompany, r. vale, walhalla pty, wallace butter factory, mining

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

"The State Battery was the central component in the gold mining of this area from the 1920s. The battery crushed the gold bearing quartz extracted from the mines and was a sizeable weatherboard building enclosing the engine and stampers. All that now remains are the bases for the machinery that comprised the battery, one timber and a couple of concrete bases and the nearby dam, which supplied water. However the historic significance of the site remains and is enhanced by the Queenstown Cemetery on the other side of Smiths Gully Road". - Bick Study 1922 This site is now the Peter Franke Reserve and is managed by Parks Victoria Photo Source: The Leader, Nov. 2nd, 1929This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, queenstown, st andrews, gold mining, smiths gully

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. Two men with hard hats and lights, inspecting quartz outcrop on wall of drive at Central Deborah Gold Mine.gold mining, central deborah gold mine, ray beer, mine manager

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,

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).Three copies of the seven page 'South New Chum Syncline Gold Mines N.L. Inventory', two partially incomplete. One copy is annotated with the name 'Browell' beside items. Pencil written calculations on other entries showing prices. Documents are from the Margaret Roberts Collection.bendigo, gold mining, south new chum syncline gold mine, j.j. stanistreet, legal manager, margaret roberts collection,