Historical information

This image was taken of the diggings at Spring Creek.

In February 1852 gold was discovered at Spring Creek, Beechworth. Within eleven months of this discovery, over 8000 hopeful prospectors had descended on the region, transforming the seemingly undisturbed land into what a visiting journalist in 1880s referred to as; "A Titan's Field". Huge mounds of earth were churned by hundreds of miners in search for gold, almost every available resource the land had to offer was used for something; even the bark off the gums were stripped to line huts and shafts. By 1857 more than 20,000 people lived in Beechworth, and with this influx the town prospered with the building of numerous churches, banks, schools, shops and hotels along with a prison and hospital.

Physical description

Black and white rectangular photograph. Image is printed on matte photographic paper and is mounted on cardboard.

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse:
NO INSCRIPTION

Reverse:
BMM6926 /
BEECHWORTH FROM SPRING CREEK 1865