From 1851 the Victorian government required all men on Victorian Goldfields to carry a Gold License. The fee was one pound per month, and was payable in advance. There was agitation surrounding the gold license which was thought to be an excessive fee and did not give the bearer right to representation. On 03 December 1854 the gold diggers on the Eureka Lead fought a short battle against the army and police troopers. A few months later a new system of taxing gold diggers was introduced - the Miner's Right.The Victorian Gold Licence was issued from 1851 until early 1855. Every man on a Victorian goldfield had to carry a valid gold license, so few survived the harsh treatment of being carried around a working goldfield. There was much dissatisfaction about what was thought to be an unfair mining tax (or gold license). On 29 November 1854 Ballarat miners burnt their licenses on Bakery Hill. On 3 December 1854 the Eureka Stockade Battle took place, resulting in the Goldfields Commission. The first Miner's Right was issued in late June 1855, and in July the first Local Courts were elected by miner's right holders. The two Fitnall Gold Licenses are important because they were issued on either side of the Eureka Stockade, and are in very good condition. The Gold Licenses were donated to the Ballarat School of Mines by John Wilson in 1921. Two gold licenses issued by the Colony of Victoria. The licenses are printed onto blue paper with a Colony of Victoria logo at the top. The licenses were issued on either side of the historic Eureka Stockade in Ballarat East which took place on 03 December 1854. .1) No 219 - Made out to [H?] Fithall on 16 April 1854 and signed by Commissioner R.C. Mackenzie. The license was valid until 31 July 1854. .2) No. 214 - Made out to [H?] Fithall on 1 May 1854 and signed by Commissioner J. Johnston. The license was valid until 15 May 1855.On the backing card "Given to the School of Mines, October 6 1921, by John Wilson Errard Street, Ballarat."mining, gold license, gold licence, mining license, mining licence, mackenzie, johnston, fitnall, gold commissioner, eureka

Blue paper gold licensegold license, mining, gold, john chisholm

Documents such as this Miner's rights holds an important place in Australia's mining history. The preceding documentation known as the Mining license and the funds demanded of miners was a major cause of the Eureka Stockade and miners uprising of 1854. This document was issued 6 years later at Maldon to a J Johnson. It is unknown if this person had a connection to Warrnambool.A link to an important part of Australia's history.Aged white paper document with black text and stylised section in the middle. Handwritten portion of the form is written in black ink.J Johnson Maldon 1860warrnambool, maldon 1860, miners right

The Bendigo Advertiser, dated Thursday, March 16. 1916. Pages 1 to 4. Some items are: Bendigo Pottery Works, Life on a Troopship - Wheeler Harold Abbott's Notes, Hearing conducted in Melbourne on 15th March re Dr. H. L. Atkinson's Will, A Sick Soldier, Private R. J. Arnold, 6th Batt., of Bendigo with photo, Mining Intelligence, Licenses Reduction Board, naming hotels in the Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat and Strathfieldsaye Licensing Districts, the Eucalyptus Distillers' Dispute and Victorian Railway Works.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, news items, the bendigo advertiser 16/3/1916, bendigo pottery works, wheeler harold abbott, dr h l atkinson, pte r j arnold 6th batt, licenses reduction board, mining intelligence, eucalyptus distillers dispute

Small, 40-page paper booklet issued by E. Condon, Secretary of Mines, under the authority of The Hon. J. C. M. Balfour, MLA, Minister of Mines. The booklet was printed Melbourne, Victoria 1969. Topics include Assistance to Mining, Commencing Mining Operations, Concessions to Mining Industry, Miners Rights and Claims, Mining Leases and Licenses, Examination Boards, Gold Buying and Selling, Air Conditions in Mines, Cyanide Plant, State Crushing Batteries, Extractive Industries, Petroleum (On Land), Petroleum (Offshore), Pipelines, Explosives, Inflammable Liquids, Gas Meter Examination and Liquified Petroleum Gas.book, mining reports, mines department can we help you?, e condon, the hon j c m balfour, geological survey of victoria, mines department laboratories, explosives and gas examining branch, minister for mines, depot & core laboratory

In 1853, Bendigo Miners protested against the 30 shilling miners licence the had to pay the government. They wore red ribbons to show their protest and shopkeepers hung red ribbons outside their premises in support. Thousands of miners signed a petition to Governor LaTrobe to no avail. A protest gathering in Pall Mall marched to the Government camp on Camp Hill but this was a peaceful event again to no real avail.Poster produced the Bendigo Historical Society, supported by Bendigo Senior Seconday College, advertising the re-enactment of the Red Ribbon Rebellion (also referred to as the Red Ribbon Agitation) 'Abolition of the license tax, great open air meeting to the public of Bendigo' Held on Thursday September 2, 2004. Poster printed in maroon and black.bendigo, gold mining, red ribbon rebellion

This photograph was taken in approximately 1870 and depicts four male miners standing in mining sluice at the Three Mile Goldfields. These men are wearing typical attire for 1870s gold miners. They wear white shirts, tan coloured pants with water proof shoes and most of the men are wearing an apron to prevent their clothing from becoming too dirty from the mud. Each man is wearing a wide brim hat and hold large wooden tools used for sorting through the sluice. Three of the four men have full beards. The photograph was donated to the Burke Museum by R. Ziegenbein before 2001 but the photographer and the individuals captured in the photo are unknown. The image depicts the landscape of the Three Mile Goldfields during a period when open cut sluicing was undertaken to reach gold. Open cut sluicing is a method used to extract gold and other precious metals from beneath the surface of the earth. This technique involved the use of high-powered hoses which broke down the soil enabling miners to come along and search this soil for gold. After the gold rush of the early 1850s, diggers had to enlist the assistance of heavy machinery and techniques like hydraulic sluicing in order to reach gold because the surface alluvial gold had already been discovered and removed. This heavy machinery was not used until after 1853. The Three Mile Goldfields was a site of rich alluvial gold deposits located about 5 km south of Beechworth in Victoria. Today, the location of this gold deposit is called Baarmutha. It was a popular area for gold mining in the 1850s but became largely abandoned by the following decade. In 1865, a man named John Pund recognized that the area could be potentially rich if a better water supply could be obtained. He secured a 15 year license with three other miners. Within the next five years, these men had constructed 19 km of water race going from Upper Nine Mile Creek to Three Mile Creek. By 1881, these four men had delivered 950,000 gallons to the Three Mile Sluicing area which is depicted in this photograph. Pund was later go into partnership with John Alston Wallace who would become owner of the Star Hotel in Beechworth. The Three Mile sluicing location continued to be operational until 1950. Sluice box workers were a vital part of gold mining regardless of how inefficient they were in the recovery of gold. After using hydraulic sluicing to cut away the earth, miners would use the big wooden boxes depicted in the image to catch the earth which would then be sifted for gold. However, accidents would occur often which would result in the gold washing away and unable to be recovered. It was not a very efficient system because the gold, which was alluvial and thus very fine, would often pass through the sluice box undetected.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertook which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done. Images, like this one, of Australian gold rush history can reveal important information about the social and environmental impact of this period. This image depicts diggers standing in a mining location and therefore, this image has the capacity to reveal or support significant information for researchers studying the fashion and social status of diggers in Australia in approximately 1870. It can also provide information on the landscape of Australia in this period and the impact of mining for gold on both society and the Australian landscape. The Burke Museum is home to a substantial collection of Australian mining photographs which can be used to gain a deeper understanding into life on the gold fields, technology used in mining, the miners themselves and the impact of the gold digging on the environment.Sepia toned rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper and mounted on board.[illegible] about 1870 / 97 2514.1 / 2594 30three mile goldfields, goldfields, 1870, 1870 gold, australia, australian landscape, miners, gold miners, diggers, gold diggers, beechworth, victoria, sluice box workers, sluicing, sluice, mining

This photograph was taken in 1911 at Three Mile Creek, about five kilometers south of Beechworth town. Significant digging took place at this location from late 1855, which led to a flood of workers and stores to follow, though daily earnings were slim compared to the nearby Woolshed site. This remained the case even after workers at Three Mile Creek attempted to protest around Beechworth during an election in November 1855. Three Mile Creek was one of seven significant divisions of the Beechworth Mining District formalised by the Governor-in-Council in 1858, though by the time this photograph was taken, the boundaries of the original seven districts had shifted to create seventeen divisions. The Three Mile Goldfields was a site of rich alluvial gold deposits located about 5km south of Beechworth in Victoria. Today, the location of this gold deposit is called Baarmutha. It was a popular area for gold mining in the 1850s but became largely abandoned by the following decade. In 1865, a man named John Pund (a man second from the left in the back row of this photograph shares this surname) recognized that the area could be potentially rich if a better water supply could be obtained. He secured a 15 year license with three other miners. Within the next five years, these men had constructed 19 km of water race going from Upper Nine Mile Creek to Three Mile Creek. By 1881, these four men had delivered 950,000 gallons to the Three Mile Sluicing area which is depicted in this photograph. Pund would later go into partnership with John Alston Wallace who would become owner of the Star Hotel in Beechworth. The Three Mile sluicing location continued to be operational until 1950. The eleven miners in this photograph are: Back row: Led Guthrie, P. Pund, F. Beel, [Unknown] Miller Front row: Paddy McNamara, J. King, W. Beel, [Unknown] Garland, J. Clarke, J. Ryan, H. Bartsh In the background of the photograph is a huge dirt wall that appears to suffer damage caused by hydraulic sluicing. Hydraulic sluicing is a specialised mining technique that involves directing high pressure water flows at dirt to uncover gold. The technique played a significant role in shaping Beechworth's landscape during the gold rush to create the topography seen today.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertook which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done. Images, like this one, of Australian gold rush history can reveal important information about the social and environmental impact of this period. This image depicts diggers standing in a mining location and therefore, this image has the capacity to reveal or support significant information for researchers studying the fashion and social status of diggers in Australia in approximately 1911. It can also provide information on the landscape of Australia in this period and the impact of mining for gold on both society and the Australian landscape. The Burke Museum is home to a substantial collection of Australian mining photographs which can be used to gain a deeper understanding into life on the gold fields, technology used in mining, the miners themselves and the impact of the gold digging on the environment.Black and white / sepia rectangular reproduced photograph printed on glossy photographic paper mounted on board.beechworth, beechworth museum, mining, mining team, three mile creek, sluicing, hydraulic sluicing, photography, gold sluicing, gold mining, pund mining

This image taken between 1920-1930 depicts open-cut hydraulic sluicing at the Three Mile Mine, located about five kilometres south of Beechworth. Alluvial, or surface, mining began on this site in the 1850s, but was soon replaced by hydraulic sluicing methods. By the start of 1880 it is estimated that nine hundred miles of water races had been cut though soil and rock in the Beechworth district. Hydraulic sluicing employs high pressure jets of water to blast away large areas of earth and wash it down to be run through a sluice box. Gold gets caught in the sluice and the remaining slurry is washed away. Large water quantities were required for hydraulic sluicing, and the long water races and deep tailraces that were constructed were considered great engineering feats. This method of mining is extremely effective, but causes significant environmental damage and impacts to waterways and agricultural operations. Miners at Beechworth built extensive networks of races and dams to secure reliable supplies of water on a scale far greater than elsewhere in Victoria. By the 1880s Beechworth's water barons continued to hold more than half of all the water right licences on issue and undertook sluicing operations on a massive scale. The manipulation of surface and ground water via race networks was well planned and recorded in detail by local mining surveyors. The maps that were created, combined with modern geo-spatial technologies, provide a vital key in understanding the great lengths to which miners went to capture and control critical water resources. Today, Three Mile mine is called Baarmutha. The Three Mile Mine was unproductive until 1865 when John Pund and three other miners secured a fifteen year license and constructed a water race from Upper Nine Mile Creek to Three Mile Creek. In the early twentieth century Pund & Co. averaged over one thousand ounces of gold per year from the mine. After Pund's death in 1915, GSG Amalgamated Co operated the site, continuing sluicing until 1950. This image of hydraulic sluicing methods shows the extent of water-works engineering in the landscape. This photograph has historic and research potential for understanding changes to the landscape, the evolution of mining methods, and the extensive construction, manipulation and management of water networks in the Beechworth district. Black and white rectangular photograph on matte paperReverse: 7597-1 / Sluice Mining / Copied from original on loan from Webb (Qld) / Donated Nov 2009 / Baarmutha Three Mile Mine c1920-1950 / Managed by the Plain Bros then Parkinsons / Current Location is: Beechworth Animal Shelter / used for Baarmuthaburke museum, beechworth museum, beechworth, gold fields, gold rush, victorian gold rush, hydraulic sluicing, spring creek, netwown falls, mining tunnels, water races, tailraces, gold ming history, colonial australia, australian gold rushes, mining technology, beechworth historic district, indigo gold trail, indigo shire, john pund, water manipulation, water engineering, three mile creek, three mile mine, water race, large-scale mining methods, historical mining construction, alluvial mining, mining environmental impacts, baarmutha, water barons

Book titled 150 Years of Gold delivered by Peter McCarthy, Managing Director Australian Mining Consultants at La Trobe University, Bendigo on 26 September, 2001, the 2001 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture. Book cover, inside and out has a beige copy of a wood engraving of Hustlers Reef, Sandhurst with a tan tone photo of Peter McCarthy on the centre front. Mining is mentioned from the late 1840s to the present day. In the back is a career history of Peter McCarthy and a short life story of Sir John Quick. Also in the back is a list of past lectures from 1994 to 2000.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - 150 years of gold, peter mccarthy, australian mining consultants, la trobe university bendigo, robertson hyetts, sir john quick, quick hyett and rymer, quick and hyett, national library of australia, charles joseph la trobe, james gumm, hargreaves, melbourne argus, henry frenchham, the times, gibbons, james esmond, dr barker, thomas hiscock, alfred clarke, geelong advertiser, wat tyler, dunlop and regan, commissioner doveton, sub commissioner armstrong, captain dana, argus, armstrong, stewart gibson, margaret kennedy, convict's prevention act, micky o'halloran, throckmorton, anti-gold-license association, g e thomson, dr jones, 'captain' edward brown, eureka rebellion, sir john quick, mark twain, australian federation, mining exchanges, alfred deakin, the amalgamated miner's association, robert clark, britian's national miners' association, silicosis, tuberculosis, walter summons, bendigo amalgamated mines, great war, gold mines of australia, bendigo mines limited, nell gwynne, carshalton shaft, napoleon shaft, george lansell, fortuna villa, the four deborah mines, world war two, central deborah, north deborah, william kelly, the edwards works, newstead dredge, jim crow dredge, adelong dredge, calder freeway, bendigo mining nl, randolph bedford, cra ltd, sovereign hill, ballarat historical park association, rmit, melbourne university, macquarie university, australasian institute of mining and metallurgy, institution of engineers australia, mineral industry consultants association, joint ore reserves committee, ceo institute, anthea mccarthy, michele matthews, sir john quick committee, city of greater bendigo, the hon justice michael kirby, mr don blackmore, murray darling basin commission, dr janet mccalman, australian research council, dr john white, visy industries, dr al luloff, mrs delys sargeant, the rt hon ninian stephen

'Bendigo Advertiser' article, 27th December, 1999, 'Historic event brought to life'. Article describes the re-enactment of the Red Ribbon Rebellion, sometimes known as the Red Ribbon Agitation. The miners in Sandhurst rebelled in 1853 against the license fee imposed by the Government. Two black and white photos in article of participants in the re-enactment: photo of Peter Gray and second image of a man dressed as a miner, holding a pick over his shoulder. gold mining, bendigo, red ribbon rebelion, red ribbon agitation, re-enactrment, peter gray, gold license, 1853

Following a series of unsuccessful peaceful demonstrations and civil disobedience against the Miners License and its methods of enforcements, miners rose up at the Eureka Stockade in Ballarat on the 3/12/1854.Diggers & mining. The gold era. - - - and in 1854 the famous Eureka rebellion occurred. Slide depicts a view of the rebellion. Markings 28 994.031 GOL:5. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

The Miners License was first issued Sept. 1851. It cost 30/- per month regardless of whether gold was found or not. Enforcement by troopers was extremely harsh. Miners protested against this license, initially peacefully but eventually this dissatisfaction resulted in the Eureka Stockade uprising in 1854, following which the License was abandoned in favor of the Miner's Right. See Item1802.467Diggers & mining. The gold era. This licence fee, and the method of collection, caused the diggers to organize a protest meeting, - - - Markings 27 994.031 GOL:5. Used as a teaching aid. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

BHS CollectionDiggers & Mining. Life Of The Selectors. Land Act 1869. Sign reads; Regulations 49th Clause, other details listed. Regulation With A Vengeance. Mr McKean - ''Then there's the license fee, and the surveyors fee, and the half years rent, which will come to fifteen pounds, besides -- '' Free Selector. - Beg your pardon, sir hope no offence. But seems to me that this. New act is only for them with lots of money and lots of time to waste. Markings; Diggers & Mining. Life Of The Selectors 1860-1890 Set 432 No. 17. Regulations with a Vengeance- ''Melbourne Punch,'' Feb, 10,1870. Used as a teaching aid.Visual Education Centreeducation, tertiary, goldfields

BHS CollectionDiggers & Mining. Life Of The Selectors. Diggers & Mining. A soldier looks on as three male witches stand around a cauldron placing cards in the pot with OCCUPATION LICENSES, LEASE HOLDS and AGRICULTURAL AREAS written on them, the cauldron is labelled LAND MESS. The title of the picture is 'The Land Witches'. Markings; Life Of The Selectors 1860-1890 Set 432 No. 16. The Land Witches ''Melbourne Punch,'' Feb 25, 1864. Used as a teaching aid.Visual Eduation Centreeducation, tertiary, goldfields

Colony of Victoria No. 22330 Cream & Sepia Paper Miners Right License Central Deborah Gold Mine Bendigo ( copy, not original ) Five Shillings. Issued under the provisions of the ''Mining Statute 1865'', No. 291. 3 Copies. At the top of the license is the Royal Coat of Arms with the motto ''Dieu Et Mon Advance Australia Droit'' which translates to ''God and my right to Advance Australia.'' In the centre of an oval is an image of the queen ruling over Victoria colonists. At the top of the oval is the motto of the Caledonian Mining Expedition Company ''Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense'' which is also the motto of the Order of the Garter and translates to ''Shamed be he who thinks evil of it.''By Authority: John Ferres Government Printerbendigo, mining, central deborah mine miners right, newspaper cuttings folder previous numbers 51-100

6 S.T Gill prints titled, [1] 'The Foundation of Eaglehawk in 1852. On the reverse of (1) is a pencil drawing named 'The Road To Allandale, Victor Cobb 1932, [2] Road from Forest Creek to Bendigo. [3] Fryers Creek near Castlemaine. [4] Tin Dish Washing. [5] Diggers Licensing Castlemaine Camps. [6] Eaglehawk Gully Bendigo. Reverse stamped Bendigo Branch Royal Historical Society of Victoria, 1959.bendigo, gold mining, s.t. gill

Diggers & Mining. The gold licence. The Government Camp. Slide: Diggers Licensing at Castlemaine Camp, 1852. Slide shows sketch by STG, has wooden structure for Commissioner, tent in background for miner, and miners. The Commissioner and his men are also in the picture. Markings: 12 994.LIF. 4. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Diggers & Mining: The gold licence. The Government Camp. Slide: or gold. Diggers Licensing, Ballarat. Shows many tents in background, in front are diggers and police, some men in top hats. Markings: 11 994.LIF. 4 Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Blank buff and Sepia Five Shilling Miner's Rights License No. 22330 Central Deborah Gold Mine Bendigo.australia, gold mining, bendigo central deborah

Hard cover folder with gold lettering 'Lease Regulations' containing Mines Act 1915 No. 2198 (in force 1916) Requirements in connection with application for mining lease (1930). Application for registration as a Gold Producer (Mines Act 1928). Requirement in connection with an application for a mining lease and water right license or a license to treat tailings. Application for a Tailings License.Mines Dpartmentgold mining, miners' safety cage, lease regulations, gold mining, lease regulations

Printed document Mines Act 1890, Alteration of Regulations. Refers to an addition to clause 20 of the Regulations relating to licenses to cut, construct, and use races, drains, dams, and reservoirs. The additional Regulations shall extend to all Water-right Licenses. Document is part of the Albert Richardson Collection. document, gold, mining reports, mines act 1890 alteration of regulations, mr munro, mr shiels, sir f t sargood, mr duffy, mr wheeler, mr davies, mr outtrim, mr fraser, g wilson brown, robt s brain

The 1853 Bendigo Goldfields Petition, containing names of Gold Diggers and other residents, to his Excellency Charles Joseph La Trobe Esq Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of Victoria with their grievances regarding license fees & other matters.gold, goldfields, mining licences, history-australia-victoria-bendigo-gold miners.

Small, faded greenish book titled 'Can We Help You?' issued by Geo. Brown, Secretary for Mines under the authority of The Hon. H. E. Bolte, M. L. A., Minister of Mines. Mines Department Melbourne, Victoria 1949, (Sixth Edition). Printed by J. J. Gourley, Government Printer, Melbourne. In the front of the book is a Plan showing location of Mines Department Head Office, Geological Museum & Laboratory. Book is set out in a question-and-answer format. Book covers subjects on mining and petroleum leases and licenses.book, book, can we help you?, geo brown, the hon h e bolte, mines department melb, j j gourley, mines department head office geological museum & laboratory, royal mint melbourne

Following a Royal Commission in 1855, the Gold License was changed to the Miner’s Right, which reduced the fee and required annual payment, rather than monthly or quarterly.The fourth Goldfields Act, passed in early 1858, gave increased privileges to holders of Miner's Rights. These included the right to make residential claims, allowing the cutting of timber on claims and giving the right to build races and dams on any crown lands for mining purposes. This certificate is in the name of Samuel Richardson who brought it to Orbost.This item is of historical significance as it is associated with positive outcomes for gold miners brought about by the Eureka Stockade rebellion and its subsequent democrat changes. It is also associated with the Richardsonfamily who were early settlers in Orbost.A certificate for a miner's right printed on paper. It cost one pound. It was Not Transferable. Details have been filled out in ink. At the top of the licence is an elaborate etching, under the heading 'Colony of Victoria'. Inside a shield is a young woman, crowned, seated, with shipping in the background. oO her left is a miner with hat presenting her with a gold nugget while on her right, a farmer presents grain to her. Mottoes include 'Honi Soit Que Mal Y Pense'; 'Dieu et Mon Droit' and 'Advance Australia' There are handwritten notes in faded ink on the back.miner's right, colony of victoria, samuel richardson, no 14, government act

From 1851 the Victorian government required all men on Victorian Goldfields to carry a Gold License. The fee was one pound per month, and was payable in advance. There was agitation surrounding the gold license which was thought to be an excessive fee and did not give the bearer right to representation. On 03 December 1854 the gold diggers on the Eureka Lead fought a short battle against the army and police troopers. A few months later a new system of taxing gold diggers was introduced - the Miner's Right. The Gold License c allowed the bearer to 'dig, search for, and remove gold on and from any Crown Lands' within the district specified on the license. The license was not transferable, and had to be produced on demand. This has resulted in most surviving licenses showing evidence of having been folded and kept in a pocket.The Victorian Gold Licence was issued from 1851 until early 1855. Every man on a Victorian goldfield had to carry a valid gold license, so few survived the harsh treatment of being carried around a working goldfield. There was much dissatisfaction about what was thought to be an unfair mining tax (or gold license). On 29 November 1854 Ballarat miners burnt their licenses on Bakery Hill. On 3 December 1854 the Eureka Stockade Battle took place, resulting in the Goldfields Commission. The first Miner's Right was issued in late June 1855, and in July the first Local Courts were elected by miner's right holders. This gold license was issued around one year after the issue of the first Victorian gold license in August 1851, making it a rare early survivor. This fold lines on this Gold License are evidence of being carried around by the bearer. A original Victorian paper gold license glued onto on old card poster. The original colour of the paper was pale blue. The license has undergone conservation treatment and has been removed from the card.'231', '9 Nov 1852', [name illegible], 'Lod dist [Loddon District?], [Commissioner illegible - probably M. Cohn]gold license, gold licence, mining, cohn, eureka

The tent model mentioned in the letters was displayed in the Ballarat School of Mines Museum. During the 1960s it was transferred to the Ballarat Historical Society. Two handwritten letters on paper with black mourning edge written by Walter M. Hitchcock to the Ballarat School of Mines, and another written by Walter's brother George M. Hitchcock.Letter transcription follow: Letter from Walter M. Hitchcock regarding the death of James Oddie and early gold mining at Ballarat, 1910 and 1911 48 The Memorial Hall Farringdon St London Dec1/10 The Secretary Ballarat Museum Dear Sir, I am just now sending you this line, i anticipation of further correspondence later on, simply to forward you a Post Card of the 1st mining tent erected 1851 on the site of he then newly proclaimed Township of Ballarat, which, as the sole survivor of the party who built the original, I have had the pleasure in making, and have decided to present it to your museum, Sir Jno Lasenor out Agent General for Victoria came to a Bazaar recently held in London. where I had it on view in the museum from 3 days, - and desired I would allow its [ ? ] exhibited in the first large window of the beautiful new building of the Victoria Agency situate in the Strand. It is there for the past few days and he may wish it to remain a week or two longer, I know of no other exhibition of it to delay it being packed and shipped to my relatives in Geelong (Mr [?] Bright of Hitchock's Firm) who may wish to show it in one of their windows before forwarding it to your museum - I have had an itemised pane glass case made for it with drop down end and [?} it stands on a plateau of moss, to represent grass 32 x 13 x 13 high and chimney 14 1/2 - the case is made 34 x 26 x 20 high inside - I shall have it very carefully packed - tent emptied tools, beds, &c &c in separate packing and insured for 50 pounds - I will send you full details later on. I hope and believe your President will accept it in due time Meantime believe me to be very truly Cat Walter Hitchcock G.F.B. 48 The Memorial Hall Farringdon St London March 15th 1911 The Secretary Ballarat School of Mines Dear Sir, Thanks for your letter received last week – I have unaccountably mislaid it, so cannot address you personally, shall no doubt find it among office papers. The model is being fetched today from Victorian Agent General’s (Sir John [Lavernor?] office window in the Strand where many thousands, he tells me, have stopped in passing to see it (their first peep of Ballaarat). It will be on view at Blackheath (Kent) for a week, then packed and shipped without further delay. I shall enclose in the glass case (which is 26 x 34 x 16 in high) some spare minced moss and gas (smoke) in case in transit the plateau suffers by shaking (though it is well glued down). All the tools, mining appliances, cradle, windlass, &c will be separately packed enclosed – which you can easily place in respective positions. HRH Prince of Wales has graciously accepted a photo of it – and in my letter to him when sending it for his acceptance I said – as he would probably ere long visit Australia as did his grandfather and father, which ought to (and certainly will) include at least a day or two in seeing your beautiful City, and also something of your mines &c instead of the hurried visit of his father (2 hours) when he, as Duke of York, unveiled a statue to the memory of those slain in the sad Boer War, which now is admitted by almost everybody to have been a big political mistake, - though in the future with England’s present wise policy towards that country it will prove for Africa’s welfare. It may interest you to know that when I ascertained that Geelong was not to be visited by the Royal Pair – I went up to St James’s Palace by appointed time the Duke’s private Secy Sir Arthur Bigge – taking with me a specially illustrated paper issued in Melb. showing many pictures of the beauties and industries of Geelong – Sir Arthur was impressed but said all the arrangements for the Royal stay in Victoria (10 days) were made locally, by Lord Hopetoun and collegues and committee, and were practically closed – which meant that only a brief trip to Ballarat to uncover the memorial was intended outside Melbourne. Perhaps if we were Melbourne residents we should have succumbed to the prevailing spirit of selfishness – forgetting (or trying to forget) that there are many beauty spots in Victoria and centres of great interest - Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, &c that ought to have been visited instead of Melbourne only. Finding Sir Arthur favorably impressed about Geelong I thanked him and returned to City work again. I at once called to Geelong whose mayor and friends had been twice unsuccessful in trying for the Melbourne functions programme being altered to include a visit to Geelong and lovely spots in the Western District, reporting my interview with Sir A B and his favourable reception of my representations, but that any alteration to the programme of engagements during the Royal visit must be made locally and by the local authorities. This had the desired success for on receipt of my message the Geelong mayor and colleagues again reopened the question and went to Melbourne, resulting in a concession (but what an altogether inadequate one) and they graciously ? consented to the train, on its way with the Duke and Duchess to your city, to stop at the Geelong stn (15 minutes) and so it came about that by a hasty local effort, 3,000 school children, and not a few of the leading people including the Mayor &c were gathered to welcome them in Geelong. The National anthem being sung, an Address read and presented and kindly replied to. Now Ballarat should doubtless has influence. See to it when our P. Of Wales visits Victoria – an unselfish ¬ programme is fixed up – and HRH afforded ample opportunity of visiting leisurely your city, Geelong, Bendigo and other centres of beauty and importance. The Prince himself will be the gainer by such an equitable and enlightened programme, - and come back with all the more favourable views of the marvellous development ever since our family first settled in Geelong in 1850. A far preferable result of such a visit than night after night having Melbourne Banquets and the visiting of its undoubted attractions - whilst all the rest of the State remained unvisited. Such an official mistake must not be made again. I will write you again, stating name of steamer of which the model is shipped and date of departure – it is firmly built on a backing of 3/8 in oak tall uprights so through the 7/8 in plateau and am entrusting the packing be very careful. I expressed firm – so that except possibly any breakage in glass case – it should reach you in due time all right. The top of case will be screwed so that it can be readily removed temporarily to enable my [ ? ] firm to show it in one of their windows. Believe me Yours very truly Captn Walter M. Hitchcock My brother will deliver it on my a/c – all carriage paid. Mt very kind regards to my friend since 1850 Jas Oddie. University of Ballarat Historical Collection Cat. No. 8133.3 & .4 Letter from Walter M. Hitchcock regarding the death of James Oddie and early gold mining at Ballarat, 1911 48 The Memorial Hall Farringdon St London April 20th 1911 My Dear Sir, It is with no ordinary feeling of regret that I received the tidings of the death of my good friend, your fellow citizen for many years, Mr James Oddie. Living at Geelong from March 1850 I came to know him there as carrying on a foundry business in Ashby. With the discovery of gold at Ballarat started off almost of the working people, as well as of all other classes of the male population. Mr Oddie arrived in Ballarat I believe on or about September 1st 1851. My three comrades and I arrived October 1st 1851 – among the many thousands soon gathered within a mile or so of Golden Point – my friend Oddie and I often met. I returning to Geelong after a year mining – my friend on the other hand remaining at Ballarat ever since – a marvellous record, and I am sure his life has been one of unique value to your City in many ways, - his age (87) naturally prepared me for his call home – and only two mails before the news came I received from him on of his kindly chatty letters in which amongst other things – he referred with pleasure to having received from me two 10 x 12 photos – one being of my model and that he was arranging to have it placed in a shop window in your city. I am interested in the fact of your having known each of my three comrades of 1851/52. It was J.M. Garrett and I who got permission to conduct public Sunday morning service in their large Marquee – used all the week for issue of Licenses in the absence of any church buildings, and it being on wet Sundays impossible to have services as usual under the trees – Ballarat then was more like a Gentleman’s Park – than bush country – but the axe soon did its work – and all were felled for our cooking, and hencewith to make our kindling etc. Shafting of holes not being at first done because too shallow – our deepest (at Eureka) was only 115 ft. Bendigo I hear had now mines of 4,000 ft in depth (deeper than our tin or coal mines here). I fortunately have, in excellent state of preservation, my last of 12 licenses dated October 1 1852 and have recently purchased here a Miner’s Right dated 1864, to that when explaining on matters re Gold Licensing I can show sample of each. With kind regards Believe me Yours sincerely Walter M. Hitchcock Geelong June 20/11 Dear Sir, By rail to day through Messrs Bannister I send the model of miner’s tent packed in a case 50 donated by my brother Captain Walter M. Hitchcock of London. This model was made by my brother and represents the tent he worked in on the Ballarat Gold Fields in the year 1851 or 2. In a separate parcel a few extras omitted from the case. Please send me receipts in duplicate, one for my brother, the other for the Customs, Geelong, as being donated to your institution, after some little correspondence it was admitted [??] any payment for duty. You probably have my brother’s address and would like to acknowledge its arrival, direct. I hope it is in good order. I did not open it for show in Geelong, as there would be less risk of breakage on repacking. With kind remembrances. I am Yours Faithfully Geo. M. Hitchcock. A Mr G. F. B. Sharick who is living near my home called in to see my model – he said he knew FM [Fred Martell] and was lately at Ballaratballarat school of mines, frederick martell, fred martell, james oddie, walter m hitchcock, walter hitchcock, f m garratt, george hitchcock, hitchcock, golden point, gold discovery, j m garrett, gold license, j.m. garrett, t.m. hall, george m. hitchcock, f.m. garratt, walter m. hitchcock

A copy of printed pages gold license, gold smelters, mining