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

a4 White Papermining, govenment

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

Black and white photograph: miner wearing hard hat, overalls, with back to camera, pushing an ore truck into a mining cage.Written on back of photograph in blue pen: 'John James'.mining, 1980's., skip, bendigo, john james

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 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

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 awarded to James Marshall, printed on cream paper with brown illustrations and writing. Across top are sketches of mining implements, a mining cage, a poppet head and a windlass. The certificate is mounted on to a piece of plywood. 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 Department of Mines Melbourne 13th December 1886Written on the back in pen: 'Kate Marshall/Mildren - Doug Mildren's mother. James Marshall - Kate's brother.bendigo, mining, james marshall rescue, mining department, 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, equipment, miners

Allan Llewellyn was a well known Eaglehawk identity. See Allan Llewellyn Collection Cat. No.8389. Eleven typed pages of extracts from the 'Bendigo Advertiser' and one private letter to J.H. Seymour, contained in a manilla envelope with Mr. A. Llewellyn, 102 Victoria Street, Eaglehawk, Victoria 3556' written on front in red ink. In pencil above address: 'Please return to A. Llewellyn, Eaglehawk' Stamp, 7 cent, on top right hand corner shows Queen Elizabeth. Copies of letters published in the Bendigo Advertiser contained in envelope: 1. Letter from John H. Seymour, 25yth October, 1876, discussing the prize given to an exhibitor at the National Show, rather than the Seymour model exhibited by the writer. The writer is only a 'working miner and .. could not afford to make a full size cage'. 2. Letter from 'Fair play' 1st December 1876 regarding Seymour's model and that he should be given the opportunity to have his full size cage tested by the Judges. The cage was working at the Londonderry's Tribute Co. 3. Letter from 'unknown' regarding Nancarrow's Safety Cage, discussing Seymour's claiming 'the levers as his patent'. 4. Two letters from J.H. Seymour, regarding the unfair nature of the testing of the safety cages. Letters dated 1876. 5. Three letters from James Watson, blacksmith, Sandhurst, regarding the construction of the mining cage model exhibited by James Seymour. 6. Two letters - one from H. Banfield, Mining manager, Londonderry Tribute regarding the testing of Seymour's Patent Safety Cage design, dated October 25th. 1876. Second letter on page, regarding an accident at the South Clunes Tribute shaft, where an engineman Thomas Bonda (sometime Secretary of the Miners' Association) was injured when a cage went to the bottom of the shaft. 7. Article 'Accident at the Shenandoah Claim' detailing an accident with a mining cage when the 'rope slipped off the drum'. Article 'The Perils of Miners' detailing an accident at the Preston Hill claim, Ballarat. 8. 'Miraculour Escape' article detailing a mining cage accident at the Trio Company's shaft at Snob's Hill, September 4th. 1876. 9. 'Safety Cages', letter from Elisha Tippett, Manager Londonderry Tribute company, 7th August 1877, discussing the merits of the safety cage being used at the mine, known as 'Seymour's Patent Safety Cage' 10. 'Trial of Seymour's Patent Safety Cage' where a successful trial was held, then followed by a trial where the cage didn't perform as expected and the 'cage fell heavily to the ground'. 11. Copy of letter from Thomas Dunne, Mining Manager, to Mr. Seymour, regarding the successful operation of Seymour's Patent Safety Cage at the 'Confluenca Mine', Malmsbury on 25th August 1882. Typed across bottom of last copy of letter: 'The foregoing data supplied by Mr. Frank Fitzpatrick of Eaglehawk and retyped by A. Llewellyn. Through the lapse of time some of the words are not decipherable. In copying there could be some slight errors.' safety cages, seymour's patent safety cage, j.h. seymour, nancarrow's safety cage, bendigo, mining, allan llewellyn,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Seven men were killed at the Great Extended Hustler's mine disaster on 2nd May 1914 by an explosion of dynamite occurring as the men were waiting at the plat to ascend the mine at the end of their shift. No blame was attached to anyone in the findings of the inquisition. It was unknown what caused the dynamite to explode. One page typed document detailing the escape of three miners when a cage plunged to the 845 feet plat. William Merrin, Frederick Willoughby and E. Johns were the miners in the cage when the engine driver lost 'control of engine and hauled the empty cage in the eastern compartment to the poppet head' . On back of page, article on Unity Mine Fire on Tuesday 8th October, 1907. Louis Pabst, Conrad Inglefinger, Edward Fuller, Frederick Allen and William Whitford were miners at work when fire occurred. 3603.2 on bottom of all pages. Duplicate copy. great extended hustlers, goldmining, accident, quartz, mining, winding accident, overwinding, engine driver, s.t. glanville mine manager

Ray Beer was an employee of the Central Deborah Gold Mine. February 15th 2009: Bendigo Advertiser: 'MINING stalwart Raymond Beer has died at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer. He leaves behind an extended family and a legacy in Bendigo’s mining history. Ray was mine manager at the Central Deborah Gold Mine - appointed in 1978 - and led the team that made possible the underground project at the second level. He had a vision to allow visitors to go underground and experience Bendigo’s mining heritage first hand. Ray was responsible for developing the new battery, shaft and poppet head to make this a reality. It took persistence and lots of hard work. Friend and work colleague Bill McNamara said Ray was as good as 10 men. His enthusiasm and work ethic were unprecedented. Ray will be sadly missed by his wife, Thelma, six children, 15 grandchildren, seven brothers, three sisters, his extended family, and friends. He will be remembered for his kindness, tenacity and strength of character. In recognition of his contribution to Bendigo’s mining history, after more than 20 years of service at his retirement, a bronze life-sized statue was unveiled in his honour'. 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. Ray Beer, underground at Central Deborah Gold Mine, standing alongside wooden sign 'Murrell's Corner'. Sign is placed horizontally on timber supports, side of drive visible in background. Ray is wearing bib and brace overalls and hard hat with a belt around his waist. He is giving a 'thumbs up' sign. gold mining, central deborah gold mine, ray beer, mine manager

Black and white photograph: group of people, formally dressed, standing in front of a poppet head, mine cage visible in background. Unknown mine but on the Bendigo field. Photo has been laminated for display purposes. Red dot with '6' on bottom right of image. mining, underground miners, 1980's., bendigo, mine site

Wooden model of a Poppet Head. A pyramid shape with a 32 centimetre square shaped base rising 45 centimetres to a 13 centimetre square top with two nine centimetre pulley wheels mounted on it. Halfway from the base is a 22 centimetre square platform. It has a nine centimetre square opening with a cage in it that is attached to a pully above. There is a twenty centimetre by ten centimetre platform extending from one side, the opposite side has a six centimetre wide staircase leading to the ground. there is cage in the bottom platform that is attached to a pully on the top platform. The whole model has varnish on it and is a light brown colour.bendigo, gold mining, model, poppet head, central deborah

Allan Llewellyn was a well known Eaglehawk identity. See Victorian Collections, Bendigo Historical Society, Allan Llewellyn Collection Cat. No.8389. Five page photocopied document. Three pages of plans for safety equipment in mines: Middleton's Patent Safety Hook & Safety Cage, two black line drawings of safety cage; Improved Safety Catches & Signal used in the Pandora & Victory Amalgamated Company Mine Sandhurst, two black line drawings showing cage and alarm bell line to Engine House; Hooper's Signalling Apparatus used in the Great Northern mine, Eaglehawk, black line drawing of apparatus with eleven point reference to parts. Two page document (unknown source) with letter from William Grainger, Inspector of Mines, Sandhurst, 22nd March, 1879, detailing a report on the efficacy of the mine safety cages tested. Cages tested: No. 1 Allan's; No. 2 Seymour's; No. 3 Nance's; No. 4 Williams'; No. 5 Pryor's; No. 6 Hassan's; No. 7 Jackson's; No. 8 Carolin's. One page summary, by Thomas Couchman, Esq., Chief Inspector of Mines, on 'the subject of providing increased safety appliances for mining' which has been the focus of 'eminent engineers in Great Britain, Europe and America.'safety cages, seymour's patent safety cage, j.h. seymour, bendigo, mining, allan llewellyn, , middleton's safety hook and safety cage, pandora and victory amalgamated co., sandhurst, mining equipment, hooper's signalling apparatus

Albert Richardson was born on 22nd. June, 1902 to George Albert Richardson and Catherine Agnes (nee Flynn). He married Mavis Irene Yarwood on 23rd. December, 1931. Albert Richardson's childhood activities in Duncan Street, Long Gully, were influenced strongly by the occupation of his father and grandfather, both of whom were engine drivers on the Bendigo field. Albert had his own model goldmine, complete with poppet head, baling tanks etc and was up and ready to start work with the sound of the 7 a.m. mine whistles. Albert spent a short time working as a motor mechanic and then took up0 welling insurance with T & G. However, his heart was with the mines and he worked daytimes with T. & G. and then took off to learn engine driving with night shift in one of the mines. He gained his engine drivers' ticket in 1938 and began work at the Nell Gwynne. His longest work time was at the North Nell but he also had shorter spells at other mines. His leter work years were spent at John Brown, from where he retired in 1968. Albert had a deep regard for the working man and worked for many years in the position of Secretary at the Trades Hall, Bendigo. (adapted from biography in BHS Collection, written by I. Hendry, 1972) The Bendigo Historical Society holds a wide range of Bendigo mining records researched and written by Mr. Albert Richardson. He was President of the Bendigo Branch of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria from 1969 to 1971.When he joined the Bendigo Branch in 1966 he began compiling a history of the Bendigo mines. He spent many long hours researching at the Bendigo Mines Department, summarising mine records. He gathered relevant mining material wherever it could be obtained. He devoted most of his spare time and energy to the Society, conducting tours of the goldfields, writing articles and presenting talks to various organisations. His first and foremost interest lay in Victoria Hill. He examined mining reports and early newspaper articles to document its history. He envisaged the once fabulously rich hill as becoming a tourist attraction and campaigned vigorously to achieve this. In 1971 his dream was realised, when, with the help of South Bendigo Rotary Club 'The Hill' was cleaned up and historical site4s sign-posted. In 1972 the Bendigo Trust produced a booklet on Victoria Hill. Albert Richardson is acknowledged as the person ' on whose work and writings the text of this booklet has been based' The park adjoining Victoria Hill was named the Albert Richardson Reserve in his honour. Four newspaper clippings on mining, focusing on Albert Richardson's life; his passion for mining history and more generally, the work of engine drivers on the Bendigo goldfield. Clippings taken from the 'Bendigo Weekly' 2016, dated September 29 'Learner Drivers' , October 7 'Becoming qualified', October 14 'Steam power in his veins' and November 11 ' Victoria Hill over the decades'. All articles written by James Lerk in a series titled 'Discover Bendigo'. One page biography on Albert Richardson, on yellow paper.albert richardson, engine driver, mining, bendigo, boiler, engine room, mining cage, albert richardson reserve, victoria hill, george ellis, south bendigo rotary club