Gold bearing ore is pulverized by cast iron stampers (steam driven) and material then passes over a large copper plate covered in mercury causing the gold particles to combine with the mercury to form an amalgam which is scraped of and placed in a retort. The retort is heated causing the mercury to evaporate leaving the gold to be refined into ingots. The mercury is cooled as it leaves the retort and is reused. A second tray covered in what is called a blanket traps any fine gold that has passed the first plate. Finally the residue material goes over a vibrating table called a Wilfley Table which captures any iron pyrites which may contain about three percent gold. this is roasted and treated to recover any remaining gold at a special treatment plant.

Wooden model of a five heads gold stamper battery. The gold stamper battery is a device for crushing ore. The parts of the battery are cams; dies; guides; kingposts; mortar box; shoes; stamps (or stampers); tappets.

gold mining, mining equipment, gold stamper

Poster Chirps by and Australian Sparrow, Rae Brothers, Printers, Melbourne, used in Frisky Matrons and Forward Spinsters exhibition

Photograph Nellie Rae c 1882, First Women's Cricket Match 1874, used in Frisky Matrons and Forward Spinsters exhibition

Photograph of Bucc's V Grace's XI Cricket Team 1874 used in Frisky Matrons and Forward Spinsters exhibition

Photograph First Women's Cricket Match 1874, Rae Children, Barbara and Nellie seated, used in Frisky Matrons and Forward Spinsters exhibition

Photograph of Angus Mackay used in Frisky Matrons and Forward Spinsters exhibition

Dividend statement from the Bendigo Mutual Permanent Land and Building Society issued on the 5th, June 1956 to Mrs. M. Rusby of Gawler South SA

paid up shares, bendigo mutual permanent land & building society

Document. Municipal Association of Victoria. Circular No. A.41/57. Signed by J.D. Fagan (Secretary) Motor Car Allowances. 1957.

the municipal association of victoria, motor car allowances, edwin buckland

Black and white photograph of John Rae's Ironbark Hill School used in Frisky Matrons and Forward Spinsters Exhibition

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Kenneth Cyril Abbott was the 5th child and fourth son of Mary Hannah Gibbs and Richard Hartley Smith Abbott.

A single sheet Christmas card with nativity scene on front, angels at top with open trellis section at left and base with flowered vine. Reverse of card has a phrase from St.Matt 2. 11 and a poem. Produced by Raphael, Tuck and Sons, London, Paris New Yorkl

In ink on reverse of card is written 'Harold from Bella'

christmas card, nativity

Frisky Matrons and Forward Spinsters advertising brochures used in exhibition

Copy of Pen and Ink drawing of the Rifle Brigade Hotel, Bendigo, by Geoff Cartwright, 1998

From Abbott Family album (Box 892).

A sepia photo taken at Preston Vale of the Abbott family in 1895 including Robert Hartley Smith Abbott (Snr.) Mary Hannah (Gibbs) Abbott and their five oldest children, Robert Hartley Abbott, Inez Marie Abbott, William Norman Abbott, Harold Athelstone Abbott and Kenneth Cyril Abbott. Two of the boys are wearing long sleeved striped collared shirts, one a scouting style coat and the youngest a collared shirt and all boys are in short pants with socks or stockings. Inez, the girl, is in a long sleeved dress with white smock with white bonnet. She is wearing boots. All others are wearing hats, Mrs Abbott's hat has a scrunched/folded ribbon on the brim. She is wearing a long sleeved light coloured blouse fastened at the neck The group is seated on an outcrop of granite rocks with parts of a buggy and horse tackle showing behind them. A lidded billy and scattered cups are on the ground in front. Mr Abbott, in shirt and long pants, is carrying a shot gun as is one of the boys.

Both photos have 'Preston Vale Dec 26/95' written in ink on the reverse.

abbott family, preston vale

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Harold Athelstone Abbott was the fourth child and third son of Mary Hannah Gibbs and Richard Hartley Smith Abbott

A Bartlett Bros Bendigo sepia standing studio portrait of Harold Athelstane Abbott in a sailor suit with racquet by his side

In in written on reverse is 'Taken July 1st 97, Harold Athelstane Abbott born April 7th 1889

r h s abbott, bartlett bros.

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Kenneth Cyril Abbott was the 5th child and fourth son of Mary Hannah Gibbs and Richard Hartley Smith Abbott.

A Bartlett Bros Bendigo sepia standing studio photo of Kenneth Cyril Abbott in sailor suit with arms crossed and cricket bat and cap to the side

In pen on reverse is written 'Taken July 1st 97, Cyril Kenneth Abbott born Aug 28th 1890

bartlett bros., k.c abbott

Irene Mildred Wharton (1888 - 1983) the only child of Thomas Llewellyn Wharton and his wife Mildred, lived most of her early life in Bendigo until her marriage in 1911. Her father worked for The Bendigo Independent news newspaper as compositor and printer until his retirement in 1913 from lead poisoning. Apparently, printer's ink contained lead in those days, and he had health problems from a buildup of lead in his system.

Child's teaset made of China - originally belonging to Mildred Wharton; used by three generations. Teaset has blue and green leaves on a white background. The tea set consists of: 1 tea pot and lid 1 sugar bowl and lid 5 small cups and saucers 1 small cake plate (for cakes / biscuits) 1 small bowl for jam / cream

no maker's marks

child's china tea set circa 1900

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Kenneth Cyril Abbott was the 5th child and fourth son of Mary Hannah Gibbs and Richard Hartley Smith Abbott.

A Bartlett Bros Sandhurst sepia sitting studio photo of Kenneth Cyril Abbott in a striped frilled smock with bows at shoulders. aged 9 months.

In gold on reverse is written ' born August 90, taken May 91, aged 9 months.

bartlett bros., k.c abbott

Newspaper articles - Bendigo Advertiser Monday 24 July 2006 - Bendigo's City of Gold, article on the production of gold from the Bendigo Goldfields. B&W plans cross section through the mines/goldfield covering the New Chum, Sheepshead, Deborah and Garden Gully tunnelling. Two page spread.

newspaper article on gold production from the bendigo goldfields, gold production in bendigo

Newspaper articles - Bendigo Advertiser 2/06/1965 - Pomoloe Tree. the Chinese Pomoloe tree is rare tree; to be preserved in the City Council carpark in Bridge Street. Only other tree specimen is in Elmore. Two articles covering the existence of the rare Chinese Pomoloe tree in Bendigo,

rare pomoloe tree in bendigo

Newspaper article - Bendigo Advertiser Friday November 27, 1987 - Bendigo's Upper Court within the Bendigo Court House. The upper court is used for both Supreme and County Court sittings. detailed description of the fittings, purpose and use of the upper court room.

newspaper, bendigo's historic buildings

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Harold Athelstone Abbott was the fourth child and third son of Mary Hannah Gibbs and Richard Hartley Smith Abbott

A Bartlett Bros Sandhurst sepia full body studio photo probably of Harold Athelstane Abbott born 7th April 1889 and taken December 1990 in a knee length dress with broderie anglaise frill and black strapped shoes.

In gold on reverse 'Yahen?, Dec 90, Born April 7th 89'

r h s abbott, bartlett bros.

A wooden commode, a cylindrical shape in two sections. The top section is possibly mass produced, it's 40 centimetres diameter and 27centimetres high, it has a hinged circular lid with a hinged toilet seat under it. Below is a space for a container. A hand made section has been added underneath to raze it 20 centimetres and includes a draw. An insert has fitted into the original structure to hold a smaller pot.

commode, chamber pot

Three pieces of wood with one curved side and two angled sides that come together to form a circular shape. the tops have brass fittings that are attach by hinged mechanisms to a brass plate with a short three centimetre diameter thread on top. At the base of each is a long metal spike with an attachment to push in into the ground.

surveying equipment, mapping, wooden trypod

A large framed colour map showing the urban area of Bendigo. The map dates to 19 August 1996. It is the first edition and has the scale 1:12500

A Trove search records a fatal mining accident that occurred in Eaglehawk on 27th January 1895 concerning 23 year old William Schofield who was the support of a widowed mother and it can be assumed this is the son of the Mrs. Schofield mentioned in the letter. 28 Jan 1895 - FATAL MINING ACCIDENT. - Trove (nla.gov.au) The Age Newspaper p.6

The item is a condolence letter behind glass in a timber frame. The letter is addressed to Mrs. Schofield from members of the Young Men's Bible Class at the Eaglehawk Wesleyan Sabbath School. The letter is handwritten in a copperplate style and surrounded by a black and white floral watercolour painting by the artist C.G. Darvatt. The frame consists of a gold painted inner timber frame with a decorative outer wooden frame.

Alice McGREGOR Born: 1908; unknown parents. Possibly adopted by the Salter family? Electoral Roll 1936: Highland Terrace Kangaroo Flat. Alice Mary Salter and William Robert Salter living together; presumed to be sister and brother. William Robert Salter was killed in a MVA in Bendigo in 1937 aged 26. In Victoria in 1938, Alice Mary Salter married James Thomas McGregor (born Victoria 1917, died Victoria 1983, buried Fawkner Cemetery) Lived: 1968; 22 Wade Street Golden Square Alice McGregor Died: 1999 aged 91 at Anne Caudle Centre, Bendigo Buried: Kangaroo Flat Cemetery See additional research. Postcard Album of Alice McGregor contained 86 post cards.

Postcard Album of Alice McGregor containing 86 post cards. See 1400 Colour photo of 'Blick von Maximilianeum' Munchen, (Germany) Street over a bridge with a tram and pedestrians. Trees in foreground and city buildings in background. kground

No addressee, sender or date

postcard, collector, alice mcgregor

Alice McGREGOR Born: 1908; unknown parents. Possibly adopted by the Salter family? Electoral Roll 1936: Highland Terrace Kangaroo Flat. Alice Mary Salter and William Robert Salter living together; presumed to be sister and brother. William Robert Salter was killed in a MVA in Bendigo in 1937 aged 26. In Victoria in 1938, Alice Mary Salter married James Thomas McGregor (born Victoria 1917, died Victoria 1983, buried Fawkner Cemetery) Lived: 1968; 22 Wade Street Golden Square Alice McGregor Died: 1999 aged 91 at Anne Caudle Centre, Bendigo Buried: Kangaroo Flat Cemetery See additional research. Postcard Album of Alice McGregor contained 86 post cards.

Postcard Album of Alice McGregor containing 86 post cards. See 1400 Colour photo of 'Summer House at Groote Schuur'. South Africa? White building in foreground and rocky hills in background. kground

Addressed to Miss A. Stapleton, Arcade, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia Sender - M. Laubacher, Wellington C.G. Date 27/11/05

postcard, collector, alice mcgregor

Alice McGREGOR Born: 1908; unknown parents. Possibly adopted by the Salter family? Electoral Roll 1936: Highland Terrace Kangaroo Flat. Alice Mary Salter and William Robert Salter living together; presumed to be sister and brother. William Robert Salter was killed in a MVA in Bendigo in 1937 aged 26. In Victoria in 1938, Alice Mary Salter married James Thomas McGregor (born Victoria 1917, died Victoria 1983, buried Fawkner Cemetery) Lived: 1968; 22 Wade Street Golden Square Alice McGregor Died: 1999 aged 91 at Anne Caudle Centre, Bendigo Buried: Kangaroo Flat Cemetery See additional research. Postcard Album of Alice McGregor contained 86 post cards.

Postcard Album of Alice McGregor containing 86 post cards. See 1400 Colour photo of 'Old Mill at Ambleside'. Stream with waterfall in foreground. Stone buildings either side. Waterwheel on LHS. Moon rising over hills in background

Addressed to Miss Stapleton, Arcade, Bendigo Sender - E.N Stamp date 1905

postcard, collector, alice mcgregor