This photograph is from the Max Harris Collection held by the Ballaraat Mechanics' Institute. Please contact BMI for all print and usage inquiries.ballarat, pring, cyanide vat builder, steam, cooperage, 1854

The initial partnership in a quartz crushing plant between Henry Koch, Simon Albert and Charles Wallin was dissolved in 1860 with Koch becoming the sole owner. In 1866 the crushing plant consisted of a 50 hp engine and 48 stamping heads capable of crushing 600 tons of quartz per week. By 1902 there were 72 stamps and this was by far the largest crushing plant in the area, serving many quartz mines. Henry Koch (1800-1889) was a German sailor who signed off when his ship reached Melbourne in 1851. Having heard of the gold discovery he proceeded to Bendigo where he was initially employed in puddling in the Myers Flat area. He was soon employed and then made partner in a quartz crushing plant that he became sole owner of in 1860. He was also landlord at the British and American Hotel and the Silver Mines Hotel. HE also started the Perseverance United gold claim. He married Anna Maria Theresia Heinz in 1857. In 1872 he sold the crushing plant for 75,000 pounds and took his family back to Germany. He resumed his trade as a ship builder although he maintained many Bendigo mining interests.Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2002. Sand shovelers: a gang at work at the Kocks Pioneer cyanide works in Bendigo in December, 1939. The man on the far left is the late Les Warren. Three gangs worked at the site. Each comprised five men, a 'tip-boy' and a horse and dray. Each gang emptied and refilled an 80-tonne iron vat each day. One full dray-load was the equivalent of 112 shovelfuls. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were