From the Argus, Friday 18 July 1879:- SAFETY MINING CAGES. The report of the board on safety mining cages was laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly fortnight The board, which has tested the following inventions Nances, Williams patent, Jackson and Middleton's patent Sesmours patent, Allans patent, and Hassan a patent, reports as follows - 1. That the preponderance of evidence given by miners and others qualified to form an opinion is strongly in favour of the adop-tion of a safety cage for general use in the mines of this colony, provided that a reliable invention can be brought forward, and its practical utility satisfactorily determined 2. That in view of the rapid increase of cage accidents, and supported by the evidence before them, the board are of opinion that some special provision should be made to check such a prolific source of danger as is shown to exist in the working of the shaft and machinery employed for winding purposes. 3. That this check could be imposed by means of such a regulation as that at present contained in the statute, i e -" Every cage used in a mine shall be fitted with special and suitable appliances to prevent its sudden fall down a shaft and also to prevent its coming into contact with the poppet heads." The board, however, consider that mine proprietors should be permitted to exercise their own discretion in the selection of safety cages, but safety hooks and balance catches must be used in connexion with every case 4. That the board have witnessed trials of all the inventions brought under their notice, and from the result of their observations the members are of opinion that the adoption of these safety appliances will afford additional security to the large section of the community engaged in mining operations.48 foolscap pages report stitched together. safety cages, safety mining cages, george collins levey, mining, mitchell and osborne's patent safety catches for mining cages, mining cages, seymour's patent safety cage, pryor's safety cage, white's safety cage, mining accidents, dyke's freehold gmc creswick, angelo mining co castlemaine, britannia qmc ballarat, alexander kennedy smith, george r. fincham, henry roberts williams, robert clark, r. richardson, allan's patent balalrat, hassan's patent daylesford, david white, charles stewart, w.h. grainger, h.b. nicholas, t. hassan, r. allan, a.k. smith, james thomson, william collard smith, j.h. seymour, john s. delbridge, william buttle, james davidson, j.p. carolin, r. clark, thomas eyre, george marshall, g. thureau, william bottoms, robert carr, j.c. march, john keam, david park, j.a. lewis, lester's hotel, ballarat, robert allan, nancarrow saftey cage, robert malachi serjeant, robert henderson, g.f. smith, r.w. newman, william benson, f. bennett, john sharp, thomas couchman, john a. wallace, john small, william h. grainger, james cowling, tools

A lot of safety cages were developed in 1800s. Grippers on the cages acted to prevent the cages from "free fall" when the cables broke.Model of mining cage, metal construction, with safety cage not in working order.bendigo, gold mining, mining cage model

Reproduction Model Mining Cage. This item is constructed of wrought and forged flat iron. It clearly displays how the breaking mechanism of a mining cage is created so that if the tension is released from the support cables , the cage 'locks' on to the side rail (Skid). (see Research Tab)gold mining, miners' safety cage

Series of seven photographs placing the Mining Cage in Display Position at Stawell Historical Society by West Cranesmining, museum

A mining safety cage was used in a mine lift. It was fitted with mechanisms to prevent the cage from dropping if the lifting rope broke. In the 1870s in Victoria, deaths and injuries from falling cages in vertical shafts of gold mines were a major problem. The inventor of this safety cage was Robert Allan, a machinery maker of Creswick Rd, Ballarat. He said his cage featured a ‘dissolving’ fulcrum. Others called it an eccentric (off centre) system. Note the pair of clutch levers designed to grab the side guides if tension ceases in the suspending rope from the poppet head pulley. Also, the hinged ‘lids’; designed to protect miners trapped in a braked cage from falling rope, and to enable rescue of the miners. This model was presented to The Ballarat School of Mines Council in November 1876. This model was shown at the Smeaton Show in November 1874, Ballarat School of Mines Museum from 1876, and examined by the 1879 Victorian Board of Inquiry (Pg 15 of FedUni Catalogue 3437) From the Argus of 13 November 1874: At Smeaton Show, Robert Allan of Ballarat won 1st prize for a Model of a Mining Cage, a Butter working machine, a Cheese press and a Curd Mill. By 1878 an Allan Safety-Cage was in operation in the Number 6 shaft of the Band and Albion Consols mine in Ballarat. This cage was judged the best inspected by the Victorian Board of Inquiry by 1879, p. 39.Mining was a big industry in Ballarat in the late 1800s and a lot of deaths were recorded because of mining accidents, the development of the mining safety cage brake limited the deaths and injuries from falling cages in vertical shafts. The model also has links to the Ballarat School of Mines, being presented to the council in 1876. Ballarat School of Mines is the oldest Technical School in Australia and is a predecessor of Federation University. The model is significant to Ballarat's mining history.Model of a mine safety cafe. A grey painted wooden frame with metal model of cage and safety brake system. When tension ceases in rope a pair of crutch levers grab strongly onto the wooden guide strips which run down the sides of a vertical shaft. This safety cage was discussed in "Safety Mining Cages. Report of the Board of Enquiry on Safety Cages 1878-9; together with proceedings of the Board and Appendices".safety cage, mine cage safety brake, robert allan, model, safety cage model, machine maker, millwright, mining, gold mining, tools, equipment, victorian board of inquiry

Black and white photo taken looking up the mining cage shaft at Central Deborah Goldmine Bendigo. Timbering and shaft support visible.mining, business, central deborah gold mine

A lot of safety cages were developed in 1800s. Grippers on the cages acted to prevent the cages from "free fall" when the cables broke.Model of mining cage, metal construction, with safety cage in working order with ore truck. Made by Benedict Branch, won a medal at the Juvenile Tasmanian Industrial Exhibition (1883)bendigo, gold mining, mining cage model

Blue soft covered book.duncan gillies, mining, safety cages, timbering in mines, ballarat minin district, statistics, chinese, fossil plants, wolf's miners' safety lamp, thorneburry safety lamp, wood's point, clunes, chiltern valley, underground survey, wire ropes, ballarat, warrenheip, dowling forest

Certificate cream with brown embellishment and writing. Across top are sketches of mining implements, a mining cage, poppet head and windlass. Certificate reads: "Awarded to James Marshall 'in recognition of his bravery and presence of mind exhibited by him on the seventh day of December 1886 at the mine of the Pearl Company when a fellow miner was gallantly rescued from a fearful death." "D. Gillies, Minister of Mines Entered on roll No. 4" Written on back in pen: 'Kate Marshall/Mildren - Doug Mildren's mother. James Marshall - Kate's brother. Births, Marriages, and Deaths.bendigo, mining, james marshall rescue

The Monument Hill Gold Mine was at the corner of Old Violet Street and Olive Street. It operated until 1947. The shaft was capped, the poppet legs and mullock removed. A house now occupies the site. The Monument Hill Gold mine depth was over 1200 ft. The donor of the photograph is the grandson of Albert Dunstan, and he recalls that 'the mine was fully operational in the 1940's and I was often able to see my Grandfather at work and watched as men stepped into cages to be lowered to their awful occupation'. Donor's great, great grandfather was John Perry Dunstan, a well respected mine manager on the Bendigo goldfield.Two black and white copies of original photograph. Image shows Albert Ernest Dunstan working in the engine room of the Monument Hill Gold Mine, Bendigo. Albert is at the controls of the engine, lowering and raising the mining cage; he is leaning on the support railing around the elevated platform he is standing on. Letter accompanying images describes the donor's family connection to John Perry Dunstan and Albert Ernest Dunstan, he writes that ' the mine was fully operational in the 1940's and I was often able to see my Grandfather at work and watched as men stepped into cages to be lowered to their awful occupation. I was very surprised that today there is a home sitting above what was once a very deep mine'.monument hill gold mine, albert dunstan, old violet street, olive street, engine room, mining cage

Model of miners' cage with safety brake system, mounted on wooden stand to simulate a mine shaft. Cage section is painted red, timber support and base aqua. Cage is suspended from wooden support by thin wire attached to top section of cage to demonstrate its position in a mineshaft and the operation of the safety brake system. Small metal crutch levers on side of cage gripping wooden guides. When tension ceases in rope a pair of crutch levers grab strongly onto the wooden guide strips which run down the sides of a vertical shaft. Safety cages were discussed in "Safety Mining Cages. Report of the Board of Enquiry on Safety Cages 1878-9; together with proceedings of the Board and Appendices". https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1879-80No31.pdfgold mines

This photograph shows a piece of gold mining equipment identified as a mine winch, possibly an air winch cylinder of 1870s RG Ford's Patent design. Throughout the history of mining for gold and other precious materials, the windlass or winch (pictured) was used to bring up buckets full of soil from the bottom of a mine. This soil was then searched for gold/metals before being relocated to a different area. Due to the size and complexity of this particular piece of equipment, this winch may have been used to raise and lower mine carts to the entrance of the mine (often used in coal mining) and could have been used in raising cages up and down (acting as elevators) containing miners if the mine was particularly deep. The actual use of this particular item in the Beechworth locality is undocumented but these are some possibilities based on the use of these pieces of equipment in other mining locations. Mining can have a largely detrimental impact to the environment and therefore, the study of machinery like the one depicted in this photograph can help researches to reconstruct the methods and technologies used in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This particular item appears to have been removed from it's original site where it would have been used to assist with mining. It is possible that this photograph has been taken for recording purposes or as part of a machinery exhibition. Prior documentation records that this piece of equipment had connections to the Rocky Mountains Mining Company. Today, the Rocky Mountains Gold Mining company is famous in Beechworth for having been instrumental in the creation of the Rocky Mountain tunnel. Construction for this tunnel began in 1859 when a group of 12 men blasted a 400ft long tailrace though the rock beneath the town of Beechworth. Today, the 800ft tunnel, completed in 1871, is a popular tourist attraction but during the decades of gold mining, the purpose of this tunnel was to divert water away from the main sluicing operations so miners could better access gold and precious materials. The tunnel was used for this purpose for many years, later becoming useful for the Zwar Brother's tannery and currently as an outfall drain for Lake Sambell. This area continued to be mined until the early 1900s. The period when this item was in use is unclear but it is estimated to have been in the 1870s based on the design and appearance of the image. The gold works at the Rocky Mountain Tunnel closed in the early 1920s but the impact of mining remains in Beechworth today and therefore the study of photographs like this one which contain mining equipment can further understanding of mining in this region.This photograph has historic and research potential for study on the gold mining of the Beechworth region and types of equipment used to locate gold after the initial gold rush of 1853-1854 which resulted in the discovery of the surface gold and required miners to dig deeper to access precious metals. The clarity of the photo, and its good preserved condition, means it can continue to be used for research. This photo is part of a collection of six photos all within the Burke Museum Collection which depict mining equipment.Square black and white photograph on card.7793.1beechworth, mining, goldmining, goldmining equipment, beechworth burke museum

This book came into our collection via a donation to the Book Barn, which operates as a second-hand book shop. The donor is unknown.This book was published in 1887, a time of consolidation of wealth after the initial gold rushes in Ballarat in the 1850s. Its full title is 'History of Ballarat from the First Pastoral Settlement to the Present Time.' By William Bramwell Withers, Journalist. Second Edition with Plans, Ilustrations and Original Documents. It is an invaluable history of the origins of Ballarat and its mining history, with a chapter devoted to the Eureka Stockade. Book bound in green cloth on hard cover. On cover: Title incised in black on gold: HISTORY/OF/BALLARAT In gold: REVISED EDITION In black:By/W.B.Withers/PUBLISHED/BY/F.W.NIVEN &Co/Ballarat. Front cover embossed with gold pictures, one of a spray of wattle, one of a spray of eucalyptus leaves, a picture of a miner standing at a winch, and two panoramas of Ballarat, one in its early days as a gold-mining camp, and one as a built-up city. On spine: In green on gold: HISTORY/OF/BALLARAT : BY W.B.WITHERS 1887 Picture of two miners in a lift cage descending a mine shaft. On back cover: In black, picture of an aborigine looking into the sun, which is either rising or setting. On inside front cover: label pasted in. Inscription in gold: PRESENTED TO/THE/MEMBERS/OF THE/Empire Commerce Congress/BY/BALLARAT'S PIONEER DIGGER,/MR.JAMES ODDIE,1851. Front brown flyleaf partially torn off. ballarat gold rush, w.b.withers, eureka stockade, mining history, early maps of ballarat, mr james oddie, empire commerce congress

Printed invoice with business address and image of a forge on the top. The invoice was made at to Fred Martell of the Ballarat School of Mines, and was signed by James BarrettStamped 'Passed for Payment Ballarat'james, ballarat school of mines, barrett, william barrett, blacksmith, armstrong st ballarat, frederick martell, ovens, safety cage, mining blacksmith, agricultural blacksmith

This scale model of a mining plant was made by Donald Douglas Mather of Talbot. The engine shed houses the winches, which raise and lower the cages carrying the workmen. The winches also control the water-Baling tanks, which are lowered into the pump shaft to clean the water. The Pump Shaft is part of the main shaft partitioned off for keeping the water down. The old style plant (or cas commonly known poppet legs), were all of timber construction and, when erected, straddled the main shaft. This scale model allows for steel construction, and is set over the shaft to permit an unobstructed view of the operations. The Bad level is where the workmen enter and leave the shaft. The staging platform on the first level is where the trucks and mullock or other material are wheeled out on rails and then tipped to form the mine dump. The top level is to allow for maintenance of plant. Donald Douglas Mather of Talbot worked in mines in Ballarat, and made the model of the poppet head. The poppet head is a replica of those used at many mines in Ballarat. Back in the 1850s Ballarat was a god rush town and many mining claims were made and poppet heads built this is a replica of those poppet heads which are a part of Ballarat's Heritage and a full size poppet head is erected at Sovereign Hill Theme Park in Ballarat. Mining is a huge part of Ballarat's history.A timber poppet head and engine room model. "This scale model - the modern construction of a mining plant - was made by Mr Donald Douglas Mather* of Bonnie Doon, Talbot, Victoria. The engine shed houses the winches, which raise and lower the cages carrying the workmen. The winches also control the water-baling tanks, which are lowered into the pump shaft to clean the water. The pump shaft is part of the main shaft partitioned off for keeping the water down. The old style plant (or as commonly known poppet legs), were all of timber construction and, when erected, straddled the main shaft. this scale model allows for steel construction, ans is set over the shaft to permit an unobstructed view of the operations. The bad level is where the workmen enter and leave the shaft. The staging platform on the first level is where trucks ad mullock or other material are wheeled out on rails and then tipped to form the mine dump. The top level is to allow for maintenance of plant. * Mr Mater, previously of Ballarat, worked for many years as a miner and plant erector" (Old interpretive panel)mining, mather, mining plant, poppet head, engine house, model, donald douglas mather

George McCulloch was an inspector of machinery for the Western Australia Department of Mines. Brown hard covered book of 452 pages including illustrations and index. Contents include Design; Tail ropes; Winding from Great Depths; Colliery Winding; Electric Winding; Steam engine details, Drims; brakes; Clutches; Safety Devices; Winding ropes; Cages; Skips; Cage Safety Gear, Safety Cages; Cage Guides; Head gearsmining, winding, engines, steam engines, safety devices, winding ropes, cages, safety cages

Red hard covered book of 495 pages.witwatersrand, rand, bookplate, orange free state, south africa, mining, poppet head, geology, shafts, cages, buckets, headgears, winding engines, pumps and pumping, sream, stoping, ventilation, crushing, mine managers, library, ballarat school of mines library

In 1875 John Rowe enrolled at the Ballarat School of Mines (SMB) where he studied Metallurgy and Assaying. In 1880 the Britannia Mine closed and John Rowe moved to Launceston working as Manager of the Royal Tasman Gold Mining Company. He returned to Ballarat two years later to manage the Long Gully United Gold Mining Company. In 1885 John Rowe sought work in New Caledonia followed by South Africa. While in South Africa he received an offer from SMB to lecture in Practical Mining, an instructional innovation which involved weekly visits to some of the principle mines in the district. John Rowe took up this position in 1994, but it appears to have been a short lived innovation ending in 1996, possibly due to John Rowe's failing health. (http://guerin.ballarat.edu.au/curator/honour-roll/honourroll_Rowe,John.shtml)Nineteen men, some Ballarat School of Mines students, pose outside Ballarat's New Normanby Mine. Some hold picks and candles. The man in the centre wearing a waistcoat is John Rowe, experienced miner and lecturer in Practical Mining at the Ballarat School of Mines. The June 1899 Ballarat School of Mines Magazine records: "The mining class visited the Britannia Gold Mine, and were kindly shown over the surface and underground workings by Mr. Harvey."candle, ballarat school of mines, safety cage, john rowe, new normanby gold mine, mining alumni, pick

Invoice with William letterhead. william heath, blacksmith, invoice, letterhead, safety cage, safety hook

Pink paper covered book by Stanley Hunter, Engineer in Charge of Boring Operations. Contents include tunnelling, deep sinking, the Chiltern Method, the Ballarat Method, Stawell, Ararat, Moyston, Raglan, Wimmera, Landsborough, Avoca, Ballarat West Leads, Berry-Moolort-Loddon Lead System, Clunes, Creswick, Bullarook Affluent, Corinella, Daylesford-Castlemaine Tributary, Majorca-Carisbrook tributary, Huntly, Coliban, Campaspe, Rutherglen., Smythesdale, Durham Lead, Tanjil, Evolution of Mining Machinery, size of claims, Definition of a Deep Lead, Discovery of Gold in Victoria, Geographical Position of Deep Leads, Water in Deep Leads, Methods of Deep Lead Mining, Cost of Deep Lead Mining, Stawell, Ararat, Moyston, Raglan, Wimmera, Landsborough, Avoca, Ballarat West, Berry, Springs Hill, Loddon Valley, Charlotte Plains, , Timor, Burn Creek, Huntly, Colinan, Goulburn, Ovens Valley, Chiltern, Indigo, Morrison's Lead, Plans include: geological Map of Stawell, ararat, Raglan and Landsborough; Kempson's Freehold Mine, Stawell; Geological Map of Beaufort, Avoca, Maryborough, Ballarat west, Berry-Moolort, Loddon, Creswick, Marong, &c; Cardigan Propriety Gold Mine; Working Miners United Gold Mine, Homebush; Hepburn Deep Lead Plan; Madame Berry West Mine; West Berry Consols Mine; Spring Hill and Central Leads; Berry Consols Extended Mine; Loddon Valley Goldfields; Chalk's No 3 Mine; Charlotte Plains Considated Mine; Duke United Mine; Geological Map of Bendigo, Huntley, Campaspe, Malmsbury, Kyneton, trentham, &c; Geological Map of Chiltern, Rutherglan, Eldorado, Beechworth, &c; Chiltern Valley Gold Mine; Wallace Chiltern Valley Consols Mine; great Southern and Chiltern Valley United Mine; great Northern extended Consols; Prentice and Southern deep Leads; Glenfine South Gold Mine; Geological map of Pitfield, Rokewood, Mt Mercer, Ballark, Meredith, &c.; McEvoy Mine; Dargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . mining, deep leads, squire, tools, gold panning, gold cradle, cradling, puddling, tubbing, mining shaft, shaft sinking, whip, horse whip, whim, horse whim, chalk's no. 1 mine, maryborough, mining cage, shaft, mining trucks, maryborough, washdirt, puddler, tunnelling, deep sinking, chiltern method of working, ballarat method of working, sampling washdirt. gravels, balmoral, mt william, stawell, moyston, great western, ararat, raglan, wimmera valley, landsborough, cardigan, haddon, beaufort, waterloo, avoca, lamplough, caralulup, ballarat west, ballarat, smythesdale, glenfine, illabarook, durham lead, morrison's lead, bullengarook, berry-moolort-loddon system, clunes, creswick, spring hill, bullarook, castlemaine - daylesford, majorca, carisbrook, timor, burnt creek tributary, tarnagulla, marong, rheola, inglewood, huntly, coliban, campaspe, goulburn lead system, ovens valley system, mitta mitta, kiewa valley, tarago, tanjil, moondarra, bogong, dargo high plains

Small, pink page showing the Duke and Main Leads Mines, including Duke Junction, North Duke Co, Duke United Ci, Lord Roberts Co, North Man Leads Lease, Main Leads, Bet Bet Valley United, Duke and Fifle Lease, Burnt Creek, Great Duke Lease, Timor. On verso are two advertisements including one for J. Hillman (includes image), and John R. Harrisonj. hillman, mining and engineering smith, adze-eye pick, hillman pick, ballarat pick, safety cage, john r harrison, engineering, cgt, duke and main leads mines, duke junction, north duke co, duke united co, lord roberts co, north main leads lease, main leads, bet bet valley united, duke and fife lease, burnt creek, great duke lease, timor., stockbrokers, holst and david

Photocopy of a newspaper article titled In the Viewfinder by Jack Perry titled Mining Accidents. Article mentions the number of men killed in the mines in Bendigo. Victorian Minister for Mines Angus McKay introduced a Bill, which forbade the employment of children in the mines, introduced the eight hour day, called for the licensing of engine drivers and instructed mine owners to install safety devices on mine cages. There is a photo of miners coming off their shift. There are two other articles on the page - a piece about a 'Bendigo Pottery' Milk Jug by Ken Arnold.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - mining accidents, jack perry, ken arnold, leighton rawlings, leanne lloyd, cornish association of bendigo, cornish newsletter, angus mckay

Detaching Hook used in a gold mine. Used to detach the cage from the cable if the winder doesn't stop winding as the cage is being brought up Previously labelled #146 from mechanics Institute Eaglehawk. Consists of three large steel leaves bolted together. 35cm x 20cmcottage, miners

Adjustable Spanner, Twisted Rope Style Handle. Approx 20cm in size (Previously from Box #45 Mechanics Institute Eaglehawk)gold mining, miners' safety cage

Star Drill. Large Metal Punch (Previously in Box #45 from Mechanics Institute Eaglehawk) Approx 30cmgold mining, miners' safety cage

5 pieces of information/advertising material for the Central Deborah Mine. A. Thankyou card presented to A. Richardson in appreciation of assistance with restoration of the mine. B&C. Diagram of the layout of the mine area, including highlights of underground tours, Key dates of the mine history and a map key to layout on the front of the pamphlet. D&E. Complimentary copy of a guide to the Central Deborah Gold Mine, showing the layout of the area and a description of each numbered site at the site. F&G. Advertising brochure, similar to the previous copy, D&E, with numbered locations at the site, and descriptions of each site. Includes additonal information re, Room 2 (change room) and Model room. H&I. Pamphlet of the mine area, showing chronological history, and short description of theach numbered site.gold mining, miners' safety cage, central deborah mine.

Copies (2) of original photo: Print attached to back of photo : Mr. Fred Kelly ( in uniform ) with his complete working model of a mine which took part in the Easter Procession for many years. Mr. Kelly built the mine himself, and included a small steam engine to drive the stampers and make the cage go up and down. The mine was formerly on show upstairs in the Town Hall, and is now at the Deborah mine museum. Written on bottom of photo in black biro : Valda Pinder 54435593 Photo shows 6 seated men, one standing and one driving horse driven cart with mine model on cart. Two white horses drawing cart. Streetscape in background.bendigo, mining, kelly mine model