Document - ALBERT RICHARDSON COLLECTION: NEW MOON MINE, EAGLEHAWK

Historical information

The New Moon Company was registered by William Vinton in the Victorian Government Gazette (45) on Friday 8th July, 1870. (page 984), The place of operation was Napoleon Gully, Eaglehawk, Bendigo. Nominal capital was £24,000 pounds; shares being £1 . The names of the shareholders and number of shares held, was as follows:
Nicholas Jeffrey 9000 shares, James Forde Graham 6000 shares, Joseph Harris, 1500 shares, John Wearne 1500 shares, John H. Hay, 1500 shares, Thomas Grieve 1500 shares, Henry Young 1500 shares, Alfred Wainright 1500 shares. With the exception of Wainwright, all shareholders lived in Eaglehawk. Alfred Wainright gave his address as 'Ireland'.
On 23rd August, 1870, William Vinton, Mine Manager, reported that 'during the last fortnight we have crushed 294 loads of stone for 188 ounces 11 dwts of gold; 100 load still on surface, the roads being in such a bad state, we have been unable to cart it to the machine'. (Bendigo Advertiser, 23rd August, 1870, page 3 'Mining Intelligence')
Heavy rain had fallen in Sandhurst the previous week: 'in the space of seven or so minutes, 3/4 of an inch of rain fell....in one of the severest storms to visit the district in many years' (Bendigo Advertiser, 18 August 1870, 'Dreadful storm and loss of life by lightning'). https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87913524?searchTerm=rain

Physical description

Four-page typed document with map, detailing the history and plant of the New Moon Gold Mine on the Garden Gully line of reef. The mine was located approximately one mile north of Eaglehawk Town Hall. The depth of the shaft was 2,400 ft. The mine was first formed in 1867.
The signaling system in the mine was electric with a telephone service which connected the engine driver with the plat chamber. At most mines, when the men were below the surface, the men could signal to the driver, but he could not communicate with them.
Total gold production from the mine was 230,601 ozs.

Back to top