The photograph printed on this postcard comes from the collection of the Mitchell Library in Sydney. It is sepia in tone and depicts seven men standing and sitting around a mine shaft in the Beechworth region. The photograph has been dated to approximately 1872. This period in history post-dates the Victorian gold rushes which occurred 1852-1853 in Ballarat, Bendigo and Beechworth. During this period, in the 1870s, the surface alluvial gold had been discovered and removed from location. Therefore, in order to reach the deeper and less accessible alluvial gold, diggers began to dig shafts into the earth. These shafts sunk below the ground level by 20 to 30 feet and required timber structures around the entrance and winches to bring the paydirt to the top. The top of this wooden structure is visible behind the man standing in the upper right of the image. This type of mining was highly dangerous as mines often caved in which injured the minors and often resulted in death. Thus, following this period, in the early 1900s, miners opted instead for hydrolic slucing which cut away the earth without the devastating consequences of a mine cave in. This particular group of miners appear to have been unable to afford a horse (then worth around 50 pounds) which were generally used at mines like this to help pull buckets attached to ropes up and down the mine. Instead, this group brought the buckets up and down by windlass. The windlass was a wooden structure mounted over the mining shaft and fitted with a hand-cranked winch which enabled the bucket attached to the rope to be brought up and down.Gold was first discovered in Beechworth in Spring and Reid's Creek in the summer of 1852-1853. At its popularity, this region had approximately 8000 people on the gold fields searching for gold on the banks of these creeks. These periods did not require the use of heavy machinery or the digging of deep mining shafts like the one depicted in this image. Therefore, this image has important connotations for the technologies associated with mining during the approximated 1870s when gold was harder to access. This is a later period in gold history which does not fit into the "gold rush" period. Instead, it occurred after the surface gold had disappeared and therefore, is essential for researchers who are investigating the mining techniques and structures used to reach the alluvial gold which was located deeper under ground in the 1870s. This period predates the use of big heavy machinery used to mine in the 1900s which include dredges. Images such as this one can also impart essential information as to the wardrobe and fashion of men during this period. It also imparts knowledge about the landscape of Beechworth which is useful for people researching the environment and impact of gold mining in the north-east region of Victoria. In addition, since this image is a postcard reproduction of an early Australian image which may date to approximately 1990 it can impart knowledge as to the interests of people during this time period when there may have been an increase into Australian history.A sepia tone facsimile of an early Australian photograph (circa 1872) printed as a postcard.Obverse: BEECHWORTH / Victoria, Australia / Reverse: GM 2 3275 / CORRESPONDENCE / AUSTRALIAN / YESTERYEAR / CARDS / ADDRESS / Published by George Symons (057) 65 3240 / THE MINEHEAD C. 1872 / The easily gleaned gold of the early fields did / not last very long. In order to reach less / accessible alluvial gold diggers began sinking shafts as much as twenty to thirty feet down / and the mines required timbering and winches / to bring the paydirt to the top. / This syndicate has been unable to afford the / luxury of a horse (about 50 pounds) and so everything / must go up and down by windlass and rawhide / bucket. / Photo: Mitchell Library, Sydney / A sepia tone facsimile of / an early Australian photographmining album, gold mine, beechworth, burke museum, mine shaft, postcard, australian yesteryear cards, george symons, the minehead, gold fields, alluvial gold, early australia, c.1872, 1872, gold diggers, north east victoria

An early photograph of a miner and his family standing outside their tent in the Australian bush.An early sepia photograph of a miner and his family standing outside their tent in the Australian bush. This postcard was produced by George Symons as a souvenir of Marysville.AUSTRALIAN/ yesteryear/ CARDS P7 CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS IN THEIR SUNDAY BEST c. 1880 A miner's family dressed in their Sunday best/ outside their tent dwelling./ Despite the difficulties of tent life the woman/ has brought her touch to the camp and is still/ able to dress her family immaculately for their/ Sunday stroll down the track. Photographer Unknown A sepia tone facsimile of/ an early Australian photographmarysville, victoria, mining life, australia, george symons, postcard, souvenir

This Australian yesteryear postcard was published by Cobb & Co in circa 1990. It is a sepia toned artwork of the Ann Jones Inn in Glenrowan which was taken prior to 1880. The building at rear in this photograph was the private residence of Ann Jones, a migrant from Tipperary, Ireland. Two years after building her private residence, in 1878/1879, Ann Jones added the Inn to the front of the building which is depicted in the postcard. In 1880 the Inn was burned to the ground during the Kelly Gang siege. After the siege, Ann Jones and her children continued to live on the same location in a makeshift hut. This hut was later replaced with a dwelling using compensation money provided to Ann from the government for the loss of her property and goods; however, she was denied a new trading licence which did not enable her to re-establish her previously successful business. The reverse of this postcard provides a snippet of information into the Glenrowan siege, for which this site is most well-known. It outlines the role and demise of the members of the Kelly Gang but what it does not include is how Ann Jones, owner of the Inn depicted on the postcard, was impacted. Ann’s son of 13 years, Johnny was killed during the siege, and a bullet grazed the forehead of her daughter, Jane Jones. Jane would die two years after this event from tuberculosis, but it was believed by Ann that the cause was grief for the death of her brother and distress at having witnessed the siege. Ann was provided with 100 pounds in compensation money for the loss of her children. Her husband, Owen Jones passed away late 1880 and in 1891 Ann Jones remarried. She died at the age of 80 in 1910. The “last stand” of the Kelly Gang at this location is estimated by Dr Stuart Dawson of Monash University to have taken less than 10 minutes in duration. During and following this time, the life of Ann Jones was turned upside down and everything she had worked for in the preceding years was now in ruins. This postcard has the capacity to reveal information about the popularity of the Kelly story in Australia. It was created in approximately the 1990s which perhaps reveals a resurgence in interest into the Kelly Gang and Australian history when card was made. This image, and others depicting the Ann Jone’s Inn, have the ability to shed light on the Kelly story and the events of the Glenrowan Siege. Additionally, they can reveal information into the life of a female business owner during the 1870-1880 period. Archaeological research has been conducted at this site by LaTrobe University and a study of these images alongside the analysis of the material culture found at this location can help to build more comprehensive understanding into life in Australia during this period and Ann Jones herself.Sepia rectangular postcard printed on cardObverse: [Illegible] Reverse: G4/ 3276/ Australian / Yesteryear / cards/ correspondence / address / Published by Cobb & Co (03) 5766 2409 / The Glenrowan Inn owned by Ann Jones. / It was this Inn in which the Kelly Gang imprisoned / 62 people, while waiting for the special train / carrying the police to arrive from Benalla. On 28th / June 1880, following a seige which lasted over 12 / hours, Ned Kelly was captured. Joe Byrne was shot, / and the Inn was set on fire in an attempt to flush out / the two remaining outlaws, Dan Kelly and Steve / Hart. However, some time prior, the two boys, it / was believed, had committed suicide, as a result, / their bodies were incinerated beyond recognition. / A sepia tone facsimile of / an early Australian photograph. /kelly album, postcard, glenrowan inn, kelly siege, australia yesteryear card, cobb & co publisher, ned kelly capture, jones ann, dan kelly, joe byrne, steve hart, fire, train, police, benalla, 28 june 1880