This postcard depicts the set-up of an abandoned gold mine. This includes a water wheel and other mining implements next to a creek. The postcard inscription indicates that this image is of the remains of the Wallaby Reef battery and water wheel. Wallaby Reef was discovered in 1864, and a prospecting claim established a four head battery and water wheel. Quartz was mined there, with gold also discovered at this location at a later date. By 1878 the mine was no longer resulting in rich deposits, this resulted in the miners moving their search for gold closer to the river where they were able to access more gold. This was in approximately 1879. In 1882 a rich deposit was found. In 1908 the battery was closed, and the mine finished. This photo was taken in 1920 and shows the deterioration of the site since its closure. Gold mining was crucial to the development of the Beechworth area. It has strong research and historical value because the clarity of the photo shows all the minute details of the mining equipment. The text on the back also indicates the mine is the Wallaby Mine, which was used for 45 years to find gold and quartz. Therefore, due to the location being quickly abandoned, this site is a rich location for historical study on gold mining during the 1900s. It can provide important information on the types of tools utilised and the impact of the mining on the environment.Black and white postcard photograph on card.8169 Be / Also near Wallaby Reef Workings / Relics of Rechabite Reef (locality) workings. / Shaft in bed of creek. Wheel used to drive sheadd (?) / stamp battery too I believe near B'worth 1920?beechworth, mining, gold mining, quartz mining, wallaby reef mine, mine battery head

Three page typed copy of notes for signs on Victoria Hill. Mentions items to be seen at Victoria Hill. Sign posts listed are for: Ballerstedt's First open Cut, Quartz Veins (Spurs), Prospecting Shafts 1929, Engine beds for Lansell's big 180 Mine, 20 Head Crushing Battery Stampers, concrete dam, Victoria Quartz Mine, Foundations of steel poppet legs of the Victoria Quartz Mine, Victoria Quartz Dams, Rae's Open Cut, Site where the quartz was roasted, Anticlinal Arch , coloured rock formations, primitive tunnels, Adit, Engine bed for Great Central Victoria, Prospecting Tunnels, Great Central Victoria (Midway). Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.document, victoria hill, notes on signs for victoria hill, gold mines hotel, ballerstedt's first open cut, quartz veins (spurs), prospecting shafts 1929, engine beds for lansell's big 180 mine, 20 head crushing battery stampers, concrete dam, victoria quartz mine, foundations of steel poppet legs of the victoria quartz mine, victoria quartz dams, rae's open cut, site where the quartz was roasted, anticlinal arch , coloured rock formations, primitive tunnels, adit, engine bed for great central victoria, prospecting tunnels, great central victoria (midway), a richardson

Titled Old Long Gully From Rae's Hill to McGowan St. LG. West Side - Jack Read Painter etc, Norris Bros Black Shop, Norris Bros Wood Yard & Chaff Mills, Iron Bark East Gold Mine, Sunday School, Tennis Courts Sunday School & Church, LG Fire Brigade, Creeth Street, Mine Managers Residence, Shop, Shop Mrs Hocking, Chinese Laundry, Allpress the Baker, Greenfell the Butcher, Hairdresser Beckinsall was the Fire Brigade Hotel, Dick White the Saddler, Store, Hotel Rose of Australia, Woodyard, Blacksmith Shop Wagon Repairer, Hotel Kocks (Pioneer Hotel), 2 China Shops owned by Chinese, Hotel Silver mines Hotel, Police Station, Grocers Shop (per? Reef Mine Hotel) E Bryant, Mine Windmill, Church Residence, Minister. East Side - Hopetoun Band R, Manchester Arms Hotel, Minister House, Church, IOR Hall, Shop Lollies Icecream, Boot Maker & Repairer, Back Smith Shop, Shop Childrens Wear, Butchers Shop, Creeth Street, Grocers Shop, Lolly Shop & Soft Drinks, Boot Maker & Repairer, Residence (Davey's), Lollie Shop (Fields), Dressmaker, LG Post Office (M Webb), Millars Bakers Shop, Butcher Shop, Mechanics Institute Books & Paper & Billiard Room, Connell the Baker, Dr SElby, Pentreath Organ Builder & Tuner, Blacksmith Shop, Hexagon Toilet, Kocks Machine Shop, Kocks Mine Office, Kocks Material Shop, Police Station, Dyson's Dam Warm waer, Air Station, Mine Battery stone crusher 80 head approx, Kocks Mine, Needle Mine. Some notes written at the end - Norm Shotples used to have Barber Shop - he has gone to Queensland, Violet Street started off as the German School, Wells Street used to run through Victorian Consol ? the other side, Comet Hill would like a visit. Contact Helen Gorlay at Violet Street would line to some video. Alan has good info on the Long Gully School. Betty has book. Views of Bendigo. Frank Cusack - Bendigo Trust. Bendigo School Hisking? School, Violet Street. Older levels lo?ing at Architecture.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - old long gully from rae's hill to mcgowan st, jack read, norris bros, iron bark east gold mine, long gully fire brigade, mrs hicking, allpress, greenfell, beckinsall, dick white, rose of australia, hopetoun band r, manchester arms hotel, ior hall, davey's, fields, m webb, millars, mechanics institute & billiard room, kocks pioneer hoel, silver mines hotel, e bryant, windmill mine, pere? reef mine hotel, connell, dr selby, pentreath, kocks machine shop, kocks mine office, kocks material shop, dyson's dam, kocks mine, needle mine, norm shotples, german school, victoria consols, helen gorlay, long gully school, frank cusack, bendigo trust

Histories of the old gold towns in VictoriaHardback. Yellow dust cover. Front of jacket illustration-The Diggings, Ballarat. The poppet head, battery house, and mullock heap are typical of an old gold mine, and have been restored on Sovereign Hill over the old North Normandy mine. Back of jacket-The Bend in the Road, at Clunes. Inside both front and back cover is a drawn map of Victoria showing all the towns mentioned in the book. Stamp of the Marysville & District Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779 Signature of H M Olivergold town, victoria, australia, history

The Ballarat School of Mines is a predecessor organisation of Federation University Australia.Black and white photographThis building was officially opened on 4th July, 1978 by E.J.T. Tippett, M.B.E. in whose honour the library was named thus commemorating dedicated service since 1934 as a member of the Council of the School of Mines and Industries Ballarat Stamp Battery The stamp battery for treating gold ores was first intriduced in California. A heavy iron stamp is raised on a cam and let fall so that its weight causes the quartz which is held in the mortar box. This three head battery was installed in the mining laboratory of The School of Mines, Ballarat in 1898 and crused many hundreds of tons of quartz. It was reected on this site to commeorate the centenary of the School of Mines in 1870. School of Mines & Industries Ballarat Established - 1870 Stage one of The Vocational Skills Centre was officially opened by The Hon. Robert Fordham M.P. Minister of Education on 29th April 1983 P.R. Shiells K.J. Flecknoe Principal President The School of Mines and Industries Ballarat Established - 1870 This plaque commemorates the opening of the Hairdressing School on 9 March 1983 by Peter Cutter, B. Comms, M. Ed. General Manager - Programs, TAFE Board School of Mines and Industries Ballarat Ltd Land Laboratory officially opened by Dr D.F. Smith Director of Agriculture on 12th November 1980. School of Mines & Industries Ballarat Amenities Building was officially opened by His excellency The Hon. Sir Henry Winneke K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., O.B.E.. K. St. J., O.C., Governor of Victoria on 7th October 1981 G.H. Beanland K.J. Beanland Principal President This room is known as the Yates Geological Centre in recognition of a professional lifetime of service from 1920=1962 as' head of Geology in The SChool of Mines and Industries Ballarat by Harold Yates M.Sc Plaque presented by former students This stone was laid by The Hon. Alexr J. Peacock Minister of Public Instruction April 14th 1899 Abdrew Anderson, Presidentbuildings, ballarat school of mines, smb campus, premier of victoria, plaque, e.j.t. tippett library, tippett learning research centre, smb library, ballarat school of mines library, e.j. tippett, smb foundation stone, smb stamp battery plaque, geology centre - yates, yates geological centre, smb amenities building opening, smb land laborarory opening, smb hairdressing school opening, smb vocational centre (stage 1) opening, smb e.j. tippett library opening, former ballarat gaol national trust plaque, former ballarat supreme court national trust plaque, smb buildings - administration national trust plaque, foundation of technical education in australia, ballarat school of mines foundation stone, yates geology centre, amenities building, land laboratory, former ballarat gaol, former ballarat supreme court, courthouse theatre, stamp battery, stamper battery, centenary, anniversary, mortar box, peter shiells, ken flecknoe, vocatonal skills centre, haidressing school, peter cutter, museum building, former wesley church, henry winneke, graham beanland, harold yates, alexander peacock, andrew anderson, a building, administration building

10-head stamper battery for crushing ore..An interesting collection of photographs, the connection to Greensborough remains a mystery. Digital copy of 2 black and white photographs, two of 30 photos of mining operations.Photos have no markings or dates. Donor unknown.tasmania, mines and mining

Share certificate issued by New Gippsland Boulder Mine - operating at Errinundra and receipt for Herbert, Eric W. Receipt is for amount of four pounds - signed by Bird, W. Prospectus was printed in 1934 at office of Snowy River Mail - 4 page booklet. Gold, copper and silver were the target minerals.The crusher from the Boulder Mine is now at the Slab Hut in Orbost. The first Gippsland Boulder Co.,was at Boulder Creek – 13 miles north of Club Terrace, within 2 miles of Errinundra River. The company registered in January 1898 and commenced crushing in September with a 10-head battery. In the first nine months’ yields totalled 1,418 oz from 972 tons.There was a tramway between the mine workings and the battery.The crusher from the Boulder Mine is now at the Slab Hut in Orbost. This document is a reference for gold mining and exploration in the Far East Gippsland area. The Herbert family has reside in Orbost since the late 19th century.Copy of New Gippsland Boulder Mine share certificate and receipt. Framed in small black wooden frame.certificate-share-new-gippsland-boulder-mine mineralogy mining boulder-creek

The 1st edition of this famous work, giving an excellent account of the machinery used in late 19th century metal mining in the UK and overseas is very rare. It covers a wide range of equipment - pumps, steam engines, drills, winding engines, stamps & concentration mills, aerial ropeways, tramways and early uses of electricity etc. Brown hard cloth covered book. xvi 564 pages with additional advertisements, with over 300 illustrations and drawings, some fold out. Chapters include Water as a motive power, Wind engines and ventilating machinery, Steam boilers/engines and oil engines, hoisting machinery, draining of Mines, pumping engines, rock drilling machinery, boring machinery, concentration machinery, sizing and classifications trommels, joggers and jigging, fine concentration, milling of gold ores, milling of silver ores, amalgamation plates and machinery, dry and roasting machinery, chlorination and cyandide processes for the extraction of gold, electricity as a motive power for mining, electric lighting and blasting, aerial wire ropeways, transport by rail and road. There a a number of lovely line illustrations in the book including: Poncelot's undershot waterwheel; Fromont furnace;Victor turbine; Pelton waterwheel; Root's positive blower;Cross section and front elevation of Lancashire boiler; Robey's Compound Mill Engine; Portable Winding Plant; Iron Pit Head Gear ; Loading Arrangement in an Incline Shaft; kibble; Worthington Pump; California Pump; Scram's Air Compressor; Rock drill Bits; Special Sharpening tools; Boring tools;Rotating Picking table; Ore Feeder; roller crusher; stamp battery; round buddle; slime table; vanner; amalgamating plant; belt elevator;roasting furnace;splicing wire rope; capel; tipping waggon;mining, cornish pump, linkenbach table, water wheel, ventilation, oil engine, california, america, water, steam boilers, steam engines, oil engines, pumpimg, rock drilling, boring, jiggers, milling, silver, gold, drying and roasting, chlorination, cyaniding, lead, zinc, copper, electricity, electric lighting, wire ropes, transport, wind engine, poppet head

Framed sign relating to a 40 head crushing battery and winding plate of the model of the Band and Albion Consuls Gold Mining Company Ballarat, which was originally loaned by the Exhibition Commissioners to the Ballarat School of Mines Museum. band and albion consuls gold mining company, ballarat exhibition, ballarat school of mines museum

Copy of photo: image shows substnatial building in foreground, large chimney on Lh side. Trees in gully in background, in distance poppet heads and mine workings. Printed on bottom of photo: Wm. Rae, Crushing Works, Happy Valley Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. On back of photo written in blue biro: Rae's 35 hd. Crushing battery, Victoria Hill in background, Wm. Rae's early home - top right. Courtesy Mr. Rae Anderson, 133 McKenzie St. Bendigo ( grandson Mr. A. Rae ) On RH side ' A. Richardson 29 Harrison St, Bendigo.bendigo, mining, rae's crushing works, mining, happy valley road, wm. rae, crushing works, bendigo, sandhurst

Joan O'Shea Collection. Victoria Hill Bendigo Gold Mining on the Richest Quartz Reef in Bendigo, from 1854 to 1916. Colour and Black and White Booklet 16 Pages. Includes Maps of the Victoria Hill Area, photographs of the remains of a twenty head crushing battery, burnt ground from quartz roasting, The Victoria Quartz Mine Photograph from Australian Mining Standard June 1899, The compressor beds and concrete foundations for the poppet legs all that remain today of the Victoria Quartz Mine deepest mine on Bendigo Goldfield 4613 feet or 1406.04 metres. Also included photograph of the view of Victoria Hill from The New Chum Hill in the 1870s. The Location of the 3 mines Ballerstedt's open cut, North Old Chum and Lansell's 180 are marked. A depiction of Rae's Open Cut gives an understanding of the primitive nature of early workings on the Goldfields. The Booklet also provides a brief history of Victoria Hill itself.Bendigo Trust Publication March 1972. Printed in Bendigo Cambridge Press.bendigo, mining, victoria hill

3 Pages titled Victoria Hill. On one side is a sketch of W Rae's Home built in the early 1870's and Rae's Open Cut. Mentioned is a short history of Victoria Hill and the mine of Christopher Ballerstadt and his son Theodore. The remains of a 20 head crushing battery, which was originally the ten head crusher of the Little 180 Mine remains. It later became the twenty head New Chum Syncline Battery. Water became a problem and the New Chum Drainage Scheme was introduced and the cost of pumping and bailing was shared between the mines.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - victoria hill, gold mines hotel, christopher ballerstedt, theodore ballerstadt, ballerstadt's open cut, lansell's 180 mine, little 180 mine, new chum syncline battery, victoria reef quartz mining co, victoria quartz, new chum drainage system, w rae's home, rae's open cut

Three pages numbered 18/19, 20/21 and 22/23 titled Victoria Hill. First page has some information on Victoria Hill, a sketch of W Rae's Home and Rae's Open cut. The second page has a map of the Victoria Hill Area showing streets and the New Chum Anticline, a sketch of Ballerstedt's Open Cut and a Key to Victoria Hill Area Map. The third page mentions the Victoria Quartz mine, Tributors and quartz roasting. It also has sketch of a 20 Head Crushing Battery, Victoria Hill.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - victoria hill, gold mines hotel, christopher ballerstedt, theodore ballerstedt, ballerstedt's open cut, lansell's 180 mine, little 180 mine, new chum syncline battery, victoria reef quartz mining co, victoria quartz, new chum drainage scheme, a roberts and sons, tributors, william rae's bon accord mine and open cut, william rae, adventure and advance open cuts, central nell gwynne, heinz butcher shop

Black and white photograph. Brick chimney, C.I building, poppet head with tramway, square chimney in centre. Chimneys and poppet heads in distance. Inscriptions: Hand written in ink in bottom margin 'View from Old Chum Hill - 1890's. In foreground 'Lazarus Engine, Horse & Battery', ' Lansell's '222' '. 'New Chum Mines in background'. History of object: James Lerk 18.2.2000 'Correctly labelled on front of photo'.place, mining site

Black and white photo: mine site with poppet head, mine buildings at rear right . Trestles and cables carrying rectangular bins across open land. Large mound of material behind main building. Trees and weatherboard building in foreground. On back written in ball point pen and underlined ' flying Fox' Central Blue Mine to Crushing Battery 1912 'mine, gold, central blue, bendigo, mines and mining, surface equipment, place, mining, surface equipment, flying fox, poppet head

Sepia photo on cream board. Shows the Great Extended Hustlers Co's. Quartz Mining Claim. In photo, there is an Office, Battery House, Mine Shaft. Three large 'A' frames running a line down to the battery house from the poppet head. Inscription: Above image: 'Views of Bendigo|No.43.'. Below, 'The Great Extended Hustlers Co's. Quartz Mining Claim.', 'N.J.Caire Photo, Sandhurst'. Bottom, 'Casey & Wenborn's Print Forbes & Holmes, Agents',' Office Battery House Main Shaft',' The famous Quartz Claim covers on area of 24 acres, and has six shafts which represent 4000 feet of sinking; there are no less than 13 level and 16 crosscuts, giving a total of 12,000 feet in length. The total amount expended in labour by this Company £228,000. The Quartz raised amounts to 144,500 tons, and it has yielded 188,000 oz's of gold. The amount paid in dividends is £585,600 being nearly £20 per share, employment is given to nearly 200 men. It is stated that this rich mine changed hands in early days for the small sum of £30.'. On Back, RHSV stamp, Bendigo Branch '1959|186'. Nicholas CaireN.J.Caireplace, mining site, great expended hustler quartz mine, see: 'views of bendigo' by n.j.caire

Black and white photo: Virginia Mine, Eaglehawk, crushing battery in foreground, dam in immediate front of photo. Chimney on RH side of photo, behind crusher. Overhead railway runs through middle photo, poppet head in background.organization, business, virginia mine, eaglehawk

Base map Australian map grid of Eaglehawk area. Map has letter attached from the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, 22 March, 1990, addressed to Felicity Kingerlie, BHS, requesting information regarding the historic mining sites marked on the map. Sites marked are: A. Golden Age Mine, engine mountings present B. Johnson's No. 2 Mine, engine mountings, old boiler foundations C. Johnson's No. 1 Mine, mullock retaining wall made from sandstone, engine mountings, remains of old building demolished? D. Toma's Eucalyptus Factory, old boiler still there, boiler shed, chimney (remnants of) outlet drain, distilling vats, dam, remnant of winch. E. New Argus Mine,mullock heap F. New Moon Mines Dams (1) stone walls G. North Lightning Hill Mine, engine mountings, quartz retainer wall, Pascoe and Simmons open cuts and other open cuts here too H. New Prince of Wales Mine and Poppet Head I. Quarry site for stone, excavation (for miners cottages in Clarke Street) J. Lancashire open cut mine K. Virginia Hill (cynaide vats etc) L. South Prince of Wales mine, now capped and fenced M (possibly ) Catherine United Mine, engine mountings, battery mountings?bendigo, mining, eaglehawk mines

Two page typed carbon copy of document, headed 'South New Moon, Garden Gully line of Reef', located one mile north from Eaglehawk post Office. An historical overview of the mine is provided with information regarding its location, depth of shaft, original company, engine house, air compressor, battery and years of operation. The steel poppet legs were approximately 85 ft high and had a greater slope than usual on the front legs. ' Said to be the best poppet legs on the field'.Albert Richardsonbendigo, mining, south new moon mine

Information display card regarding the 'Big' Deborah Gold Mine, located near the junction of Abel and Adam Street, Golden Square. Earliest work recorded 1860. Shaft 2076 feet. Operations suspended in 1952. Gold yield 51,935 ounces. Battery shed still on site containing a 5 head stamper which was originally a 20 head stamper. The battery was manufactured by Horwood's Foundry, Bendigo. Photos of mine site taken in 2012: a.Engine room concrete footings, iron work visible. Pepper corn trees in background. Pampas grass in foreground. Steel mesh fence on RH side, enclosing the poppet head site. b. Concrete footings, peppercorn tree in background. c. Corrugated iron shed constructed over the stampers. Steel mesh front. d. Steel poppet head, no winding wheel at top. Pampas grass in foreground. e.. Stamper shed and steel poppet legs in background enclosing dilapidated wooden poppet head legs. f. Close up image of weights in stamper room g.Winding wheel on stampers h.Looking upwards to top of stampersbendigo, mining, deborah gold mine

Interpretive sign and 4 photos Central Nell Gwynne Gold Mine, used in display. Central Nell Gwynne was located near the corner of Marong Road and Happy Valley Road. Opened in 1906, ceased operation in December 1949. Total production: 61,884 ounces of Gold. Today's Value: $99,014,400. Photos: a. Colour photo, concrete footings at mine site, April 2012. b. Colour photo, Central Nell Gwynne poppet head, April 2012.Poppet head painted white with red trim. Concrete footings in foreround. c. Central Nell Gwynne mine site 1930's. Poppet head and engine room sheds on LH side, trestle way to primary crusher and crushing battery. Tailing dam in immediate foreground. on RH side. Sand heaps in middle foreground. d. Central Nell Gwynne Mine 1930. Underground view, men holding carbide lamps working at 265 level in mine. Large quartz spur formation visible in foreground.bendigo, mining, central nell gwynne

Three page handwritten document outlining the history of the Victoria Hill area. The open cuts on Victoria Hill; Lansell's Big 180 Mine, Victoria Quartz Mine; Wittscheibe's 'Jewellers Shop', Luffman and Sterry, Central Nell Gwynne and New Chum Hill are mentioned in the article. A description of the suitability of the Victoria Hill site as a potential mining museum is discussed as 'it is centrla to both the northern and southern ends of the main portion of the Bendigo and Eaglehawk mines'. William Rae built two fine residences on Happy Valley Road, and also set up a 30 head battery out of his gains from Victoria Hill.bendigo, mining, victoria hill

One page document, extracts from M.G. Journal Vol 6, No. 3, 1958/59, Page 3 and M.G. Journal 1939. Chewton Mine shaft approx 523 feet, south and 45 feet east of Wattle Gully shaft. .Extract includes detail of the main shaft, headframe, winch, compressed air, concentration plant, water for plant. Ten head stamp battery, 1250 lb stamps 5 in drop, 100 drops a minute, Wilfley tables and corduroy strakes. A new change house, smithy and concentrate shed have recently been erected (9.6.1939)bendigo, mining, chewton gold mine

Copy of a newspaper article titled Old battery to charge-up tunnel tourism. Date written on the paper is 11/1/85. The Thompson's Foundry Battery was re-erected in the Parkin's Reef Reserve after being used at Bola Creek near the NSW border. A team of volunteers and a Grant had it moved to Maldon where it was set up and the area made attractive for tourists.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - 10 head battery, thompson's foundry battery, parkin's reef reserve, conservation forests and lands department, carman's tunnel, north british mine, parkins reef, carman's tunnel committee, dr doug kemsley, prospectors' and miners' association of victoria, mr ken garden

Copy of an article from the Bendigo Weekly titled Discover Bendigo The Mine Flooding Crisis - Finale of the Victoria Quartz by James Lerk. The lack of suitable machinery, insufficient knowledge of where the water was coming from, need for Government support, and the pegged price of gold, all contributed to the cessation of deep mining. The Victoria Quartz decided to allow tributers for work the upper levels. By 1913, the Company found it uneconomic to allow the tributers to continue working the upper levels and the poppet head and machinery were sold. During the Great Depression Ernest Smith, Davic Holden, Jack Harrison and David Patullo worked above the water line and did well enough to help their families from the worst effects of the Great Depression. Later Dave Patullo continued to work at the Victoria Quartz while the other three obtained employment in other mines. The article has a photo of David Patullo.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - the mine flooding crisis - finale of the victoria quartz, bendigo weekly, james lerk, victoria quartz mine, brough smyth, bendigo advertiser, victoria quartz company, great depression, ernest smith, david holden, jack harrison, david patullo, government battery eaglehawk

Black and white photograph of 6 head stamp battery. No other mining equipment/structures evident in image. man standing in front of battery. Possibly remnant from South New Moon Mine site, Eaglehawk. Written on back '1954'gold mines, mining equipment, south new moon mine site

Cast iron mercury bucket, used to hold mercury, potentially in the process of recovering minute pieces of gold mixed in soil and sediments. See research page for description of one process of using mercury to extract gold.gold mines, mining equipment, mercury bucket, miners used mercury in a number of ways to amalgamate gold, with each mill or battery operator having their preferred method depending on the nature of the ore. by the late 1850s the most common way of crushing goldbearing quartz ores or consolidated alluvial cements was in a stamp battery. the battery featured heavy iron stamp heads held in a frame, with each head often weighing up to 500 pounds (226 kg) or more (see msv 1880, page 45) (birrell 2005). stamp heads were lifted and dropped by a rotating overhead cam shaft driven by a steam engine or water wheel. ore was fed into a large cast-iron battery box, mixed with a steady stream of water, and pulverised by the stamp heads. in some batteries, mercury was placed in the base of the boxes to amalgamate with freed gold. the violent agitation of the mercury in the mortar box, however, could cause the mercury to break into myriad tiny globules that were carried away by the water with the tailings, thus losing a certain amount of gold in the process (thompson 1867; ritchie & hooker 1997). the water and sand slurry was splashed by the falling stamps from the box through fine mesh screens and onto inclined wooden tables below the mortar box (figure 2). the tables were covered with copper sheets or plates coated with mercury, which caught and amalgamated with a portion of the gold. the grey putty-like amalgam was periodically scraped off the sheets and retorted in a furnace to collect the gold and recover the mercury for reuse. mercury was inevitably lost from the plates, while poor maintenance resulted in further losses of gold and mercury in the tailings. mercury use and loss from gold mining in 19th century victoria. peter davies1, susan lawrence, and jodi turnbull, department of archaeology and history, la trobe university.