The author, William Morgans, was a lecturer on mining at the Bristol School of Mines. The owner of the book, William Baragwanath, was a former student of the Ballarat School of Mines who held the following positions: Department of Mines (1897-1922); director of the geological survey (1922-24); chief mining surveyor (1924-32); secretary for mines (1932-34); chief mining surveyor (1934-43); consultant to the Department of Mines (1943-50); President, Royal Society of Victoria (1943-44), councillor of the Ballarat School of Mines (1916-50).Hard cover book of 207 pages with buff cloth cover. The books covers materials andf processes used in the manufacture of tools, special uses, qualities and efficiciency. It includes 235 wood engravings of mining tools drawn to scale. Tools include borers, hammers, sledges, picks, shovels, spades, saws, helves and handles.Title page handwritten in ink 'W.B.' [William Baragwanath]mining, tools, ballarat school of mines, geology, bristol school of mines, government geologist, william baragwanath

Catalogue for an auction sale held at the New Long Tunnel Gold Mine, Walhalla, Vic. On 12 February, 1941. Items include: mining machinery, tools, buildings, corrugated iron and leather belting.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - new long tunnel gold mine - walhalla, j h curnow & son, j l jamieson, the cambridge press

The Old Identities Association was the forerunner ofThe Old Colonists' Association. This particular medal was presented to R.W. Wright who arrived in Ballarat in August 1853. It was purchased by the Old Colonists' Association in 2014. Other known medals were presented to :- * Arthur Croft who arrived in 1852 (Museum of Victoria) * Isaac Croft who arrived in September 1851 (Gold Museum) * Ben Story (Ballarat Historical Society) * John Brokenshire (Private Collection)Ballarat Old Identities medal in a box. The medal shows a gold cradle and other mining tools, and was presented to members of the Old Indentities Association. To qualify as a member you had to have arrived in Ballarat between 1851 and 1854. "Mr Welch, jeweller, of Sturt street, has just manufactured 60 medals, for issue to the members of the Old Identities' Association of Ballarat. Each is suitably inscribed and ornamented. The medals will be on view to day in Mr Welch’s window. " (Ballarat Star, 11 October 1884)The Old Identities Association 1851-1854 Arrived Aug 1853 R.W. Wrightballarat old colonists' association, ballarat old colonists' club, old colonists' association, ballarat, ballarat old identities, r.w. wright

Sepia photograph of nine men. Four men seated in front row. Five men standing hehind. A handwritten sign in front of the men says 'BENDIGO'. There are mining tools beside them and one man is holding a wine bottle and pouring wine into a glass. There are tents in the background. Written on the back in red ink 'To Mackay and the Bendigonian Young Bendigonians in the West Christmas Day 1896 at Rocky Bay A Doughty C Wilkinson D Manners C Cudey S Nestor John Downes A McAllister J Burtonclay R Kuhlkens

Grey covered auction catalogue for a sale of Mining Machinery, Tools,Buildings, Piping, engines, Poppet Legs and other Equipment at the Yandoit Co. N. L., Yandoit on 19/4/1939. J. H. Curnow & Son were the auctioneers.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - yandoit co n l, j h curnow & son, the cambridge press

The promissory note issued at Belfast, now Port Fairy, Victoria by the “Bank of Victoria” is an early example of currency issued by a private bank. This note was issued in 1853 the same year that the bank commenced business in Belfast. Details of the first production of a banknote backed by the Australian Government occurred on 1 May 1913 following the "Australian Notes Act of 1910" (Australian National Museum). The first building the Bank of Victoria purchased in Belfast was of timber and later sold. Smith & Watts Architects advertised for tenders in the Melbourne Argus on Thursday 29/4/1869 for the erection of a substantial building that is now occupied by Moyne Shire Council in Cox Street. A meeting of the Directors of the Bank of Victoria elected on 1 October 1852. A ballot took place for four directors resulting in Wm. Highett Esq. Wm F. Splatt, Esq. M.L.C., Alex. Wilson, Esq. and W.H. Tuckett” elected as Directors. It was reported from a later meeting in “The Argus” Melbourne on 3 August 1853 that a branch had opened in Swanston Street, Melbourne on 3rd January 1852 with Henry Miller as Chairman of the Board and J. Matheson as the Manager; followed by Geelong on 12 August 1852. Then at the request of “influential inhabitants”, the Belfast branch commenced on 11 May 1853, which had “already met with very general support and encouragement”. This was a colonial bank at the time of vast pastoral runs and gold speculation – how "Mr Thomas [....ton?]" came by his fortune of One Hundred and Twenty-Seven Pound and five shillings can only be wondered at until further research reveals the story. This promissory note records the early colonial system of banking and reflects the economic growth and entrepreneurship of the South West Region of Victoria.Banknote of fine paper. There is a fold multi-crease down the centre top to bottom, lighter creasing across the top and angular creasing to the bottom left and right-hand corners. Yellow spotting is visible across the object breaking through the grey blue colour of the paper. A dark ink blot appears near the top right-hand corner. The left-hand side of the banknote is uneven. The back of the document has darker spotting, a used dirty look patina and some insect spotting. Horizontal crease markings can be seen creating quarter marks. The front of the banknote reads: "No.41/ Exch.ge for £127.57- Bank of Victoria/Issued at 1% prem/Thirty days after Sight of this Third of Exchange/First and Second of the same tenor and date being unpaid pay to the order of/Mr. Thomas [Raliston?]/One hundred and twenty seven pounds five shillings Sterling silver received/To the Manager of the London Westminister Bank London/for the Bank of Victoria [signed?] Manager/Ent.d [?] Robertson Account.t. The blue printed Bank of Victoria logo features a world globe, sailing ships, wool bails, sheep, colonial building and mining tools. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, promissory notes, bank notes, bank of victoria, smith & watts, smith & watts architects, 1853, william highett, william f. splatt, alex wilson, w.h. tuckett, henry miller, money miller, belfast (now port fairy)

Grey covered auction catalogue with red and black printing for a sale of Mining Machinery, Tools, new Stores, Valuable Buildings, etc of The Lamplough No. 1 Gold Mine, Avoca, Vic. By Order of Lamplough Gold Mining Co. Ltd. (Incorporated in England). J. H. Curnow & Son were the auctioneers. Auction was held on the 2nd December, 1937.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - the lamplough no.1 gold mine, j h curnow & son, j l jamieson, bolton bros pty ltd

Grey covered auction catalogue for a sale at the Quartz Block Mine, Taradale, Vic. On 8 March, 1939. For sale were electrical and mining equipment, tools, buildings, scrap iron and piping. Part of the sale was at the Nigel Shaft and part at the Prospecting Shaft. Catalogue has the price of each item written beside it. J. H. Curnow & Son were the auctioneers.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - quartz block mine - taradale, mr l c stuckey, j h curnow & son, the cambridge press

Two white auction catalogues for a sale at the Bung Bong Gold Mine at Bung Bong (Near Avoca) on 18 December (no year stated) by order of Talbot Alluvials Limited. For sale was mining machinery, buildings, tools and equipment. Auctioneer was J. H. Curnow & Son.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - bung bong gold mine, talbot alluvials limited, j h curnow & son, the cambridge press

Light brown covered auction catalogue for a sale on 25th October, 1939 at the Buninyong Rand Gold Mine, Buninyong of Mining Machinery, Plant, Buildings, Tools and Equipment. The auctioneers were J. H. Curnow & Son and the catalogue was printed by the Cambridge Press, Bendigo.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - buninyong rand gold mine, j h curnow & son, the cambridge press

Two paper catalogues from an auction of electrically driven mining & treatment plant, buildings, tools, stores and extensive equipment of the Commonwealth Antimony Mine at Costerfield (near Heathcote) Vic. Auction held on the 8th and 9th August, 1945. J. H. Curnow & Son were the auctioneers.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - commonwealth antimony mine - costerfield, commonwealth of australia, department of supply and shipping (minerals section), j h curnow & son, j l jamieson & co, w g wedd, mr j zoch

Darkish blue catalogue for an auction sale at the Chapmans Gold Mine N. L. at Chewton, Vic. On 8 February, 1939 by Order of the Liquidator, Mr. D. R. S. McGregor. For sale was Mining Machinery, Plant, Equipment, Tools,Corrugated Iron Housing and Buildings. J. H. Curnow & Son were the auctioneers.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - chapmans gold mine n. l., d r s mcgregor, j h curnow & son, old quartz hill mine, albion hotel (near chewton), roberts & son, the cambridge press

Two red covered auction catalogues for a sale at the Guilford Plateau Gold Mines N. L. on 20 November, 1940. For sale was mining machinery, buildings, plant, tools, tubular steel poppet legs, pumps and piping. Contains description of some of the bigger machinery, etc. Auctioneers were J. H. Curnow & Son.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - guilford plateau gold mines n. l., mr e a arnold, j h curnow & son, the cambridge press

Two grey covered auction catalogues for a sale at the Lucky Woman Gold No. 1 No Liability Mine, Linton, Via Ballarat on 3 August, 1938. Sale consisted of mining machinery, plant, buildings, tools and equipment and also included two horses. J. H. Curnow & Son in Conjunction with R. T. Rundle & Colclough were the auctioneers.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - lucky woman gold no. 1 no liability, mr hugh s chambers, j h curnow & son, r t rundle & colclough, the cambridge press

Two Auction catalogues for a sale on 20th March, 1946 of Mining Machinery, Battery, Plant, Tools, Buildings & Equipment at the Bradshaw Gold Mines Syndicate No Liability at Ballan, Vic. Sale by Order of the Mines Department, Melbourne. J. H. Curnow & Son were the auctioneers. Contains a description of some of the machinery and buildings. Also gives location of the Bradshaw Gold Mine. The Prahran Telegraph Print were the printers of the catalogue.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - bradshaw gold mines syndicate no liability, mines department, j h curnow & son, j l jamieson, w g wedd, mr r graham, the prahran telegraph print

Two blue covered with dark blue printing for an auction sale held on the 11th and 12th December, 1944 at the Commonwealth Antimony Mine at Coimadai, near Bacchus Marsh, Vic. Of Modern Mining & General Machinery, Buildings, Tools, Stores, Plant & Equipment by Order of Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Supply and Shipping. Sale conducted by permission of the Director of Machine Tools and Gauges under Regulation 59 of the National Security (General) Regulations. J. H. Curnow & Son ere the auctioneers.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - commonwealth antimony mine, j h curnow & son, j l jamieson & co, w g wedd, prahran telegraph print

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

The Beechworth Foundry was vital to the industry of the town and surrounding district in the early years of the town’s development. Originally opened as the New Ford Street Foundry by A. Roger in 1858, J Duncan and M Straughair amalgamated and established the Beechworth Foundry in 1867. The business was extensive and operated out of many buildings, each with their own specialisation. All of the buildings pictured in this image are part of the larger Beechworth Foundry. In the late 1860s it employed 16 men. The foundry was fundamental to the running of the town and surrounding district, as it manufactured all manner of items, including tools and machinery for the mining and agricultural industries. The foundry business collapsed in 1896 after the death of it’s founder, John Duncan, the same year (Straughair had died in 1882). The foundry was reopened by W H Phillips in 1905 and taken over by H Delora in 1906 This image is significant as it shows some of the many buildings of the Beechworth Foundry, which was a fundamental business to the running of the town and surrounding district, and supplied many of the tools and machines required for the mining and agricultural industries, as well as other aspects of life between the 1850s and early 1900sSepia rectangular photograph printed on paper. It has rough, torn-looking edgesReverse 97.2321 / BMM A03115duncan, john duncan, j duncan, m straughair, straughair, foundry, beechworth foundry, industry, factory, newtown, new ford street foundry, a roger, roger, w h phillips, phillips, w phillips, h delora, delora, metalwork, farming and agriculture, tools, mining, workmen

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 photo depicts a man standing next to a large piece of mining equipment identified as a hydraulic chisel (alternative name: drifter dill or power rock drill). This piece of machinery was used in mining to place holes in the walls of a mine which were then filled with dynamite or other explosives for rock blasting or to make holes for plug and feather quarrying. The additional tools to the right of the photograph and in front of the machinery can be identified as either picks or as feather and wedges, the latter of which were used to split stone drilled by the hydraulic or power chisel. Depending on the date of the photograph, which is not provided, this chisel was either powered by electricity or by hydraulics. The following is written on the drill "R.C. FORD'S PATENT No91 / MELBOURNE VICTORIA 1879". The man depicted in this photograph wears a wide brim hat, a loose fitting white shirt and loose pants. He wears boots and has a medium sized dark beard. This attire, along with his locality in the mine and proficiency with the mining equipment, identifies this man as a miner working in this particular, but unidentified, mine. It depicts an instance of hydraulic chiseling which makes this photograph valuable for the study of mining techniques from a date c1880.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray the types of machinery used in mining can reveal important information for technology and highlight the methods used to break apart the earth in order to obtain access to gold and other precious materials during the period this photograph was captured. Further research into RC Ford can potentially reveal even further information pertaining to this photograph. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about the methods and machinery used to access gold or mine more in general. It also highlights the size of machinery at the time and allows us to compare this to the size of the person standing besides the machinery to better understand the manpower which would have been required to use and set-up this macinery.A black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Reverse: 7816/ copy 1/3gold, sluicing, gold sluicing, hydraulic sluicing, gold and tin mine, mining, gold mining, beechworth, burke museum, melbourne, victoria, hat, mining machinery, machinery, r. c. ford

Gippsland Heritage Journal is a journal, produced about every nine - twelve months, for those interested in regional, local and family history in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It is compiled by Meredith Fletcher, Debbie Squires and Linda Barraclough and includes a diverse range of articles, both academic and non-academic. Since No.24 it has been a partially refereed journal. This copy was used in the library of Orbost Secondary College. This item is a useful reference tool on the history of Gippsland. A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal No 8 (June 1990). The cost is $6.00. The front cover is pale orange with a b/w photograph of mining on Taraga River, Neerim South. The magazine contains photographs, articles on the history of Gippsland.

This is a pictorial history of the Crooked River district.This is a useful reference tool on the history of gold mining in the Dargo area.A thin 56 pp paperback book titled,"Dargo Crooked River a Pictorial History". On the yellow front cover is a sepia photograph of a man standing outside a rough wooden hut. The title and author are printed in black text over this. The book contains Black / white photographs and the history of Dargo and Crooked River. The information is divided int decades. Inside there is a newspaper cutting of Victorian cattlemen on Junction Plain near Omeo.dargo-crooked-river gold-mining east-gippsland-history

The Rising Sun Reef first opened, at Bonang in 1868.– at Goongerah Creek south west of Bonang. William Hunter (1893-1971), resident of Tatura and Mallacoota was a soldier, surveyor and amateur naturalist. This document is a useful research tool.Plans and application for the "Rising Sun Goldmine". Tery are on foolscap sized white paper with black text. hunter-william gold-mining rising-sun-goldmine bonang