Historical information

Wallace's mine (as noted on the photograph) was owned by John Wallace - a businessman from Scotland who come to Australia in 1852. He owned several hotels and mining companies, including the Chiltern Valley Mines Co. Wallace introduced dredging to the Woolshed diggings near Beechworth as a technique for mining. He employed hundreds of miners through his mining company alone.

The Woolshed mine was opened in 1853, but all but abandoned by 1855. The Woolshed mines continued with miners using sluicing methods until John Wallace's arrival in the area in the 1890s. Wallace's company used a dredge and Jennings pump to find gold deposits, moving on from the sluicing methods. The availability of water in the Woolshed area made it possible to use these techniques of mining.

Significance

This reproduction photograph has historic significance because it portrays the mining works run by John Wallace's company in the Woolshed area. Wallace's use of dredging to find gold is evident through the decay of the land. The photograph is useful in historical research because of its visual representation of dredging methods.
The Woolshed mine pictured was initially prosperous in the 1850s, but was revived in the 1890s by Wallace's mining company.

Physical description

Black and white rectangular photograph reproduction of card. White label sticker on reverse with inscription

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse:
Wallace's Mine / Woolshed

Reverse:
7789 / Wallance's Mine / Woolshed