Historical information

The Ellenborough mine was located on Snob's Hill in Eaglehawk, near Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. It was a notable mine operating on the New Chum line of reef in the Eaglehawk District. The Ellenborough Mine was the first mine in the world to use electricity to light above and underground. On 12th October 1882, the installation of the lighting system was completed by the Australian Electric Light Company. 'The whole of the levels and back have been lighted so that candles have been dispensed with ....the engine house, blacksmith''s shop and brace are also lighted at night' (Bendigo Advertiser, 13th October, 1882). 'The electricity is generated in an ordinary electric battery placed in the engine-house, and driven by a three horse power " Soho" engine. This engine is supplied with steam by a pipe leading from the steam pipe used to supply the air-compressor. It can be driven at full power with a pressure of 351bs of steam, with the engine wheel moving at the rate of 220 revolutions per minute; the battery wheel makes 850 revolutions. The plant occupies very little space. The battery is a to-light machine; that is, it can supply sufficient electricity for 35 lights. Whether there is only one light burning or 35, there is no necessity to alter the machine or the speed, and there is no danger of one light becoming too powerful because all the rest are put out. There is no danger, as many people suppose, in taking hold of the wires, even if uncovered, for the engineer last evening plainly demonstrated that where the shock was greatest it was very mild, and could hardly be felt'.

Physical description

Handwritten copy of a report in the Bendigo Advertiser 24/5/1907. ''Serious break in Water Main which is situated about 100 yards south of the mine. Main service pipe which supplies Harvey town has been leaking for some time past. Water soaking through old surface workings into the Belmont and Saxby shaft where it rose 60 feet and filled two x-cuts, one out west 208 ft, and the other out east about 45 ft. Ellenborough began baling on Sunday 26th May, and it will take many days before work can be resumed. The mine was only working one shift and no men were underground at time of in rush''.
Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.