Historical information

In the early 1900's, Bendigo had at least four companies treating parcels of gold ores containing mineral sulphides (pyrites). They were the United Pyrites Co., Spargo's, Liddell's and Leggo's Treatment Works. Many banks also had their own assay equipment with a single furnace and a brick chimney n a small building in the yard behind the bank, for example, the Bank of New South Wales in View Street, Bendigo. The assay teaching facility at the Bendigo School of Mines was built in the 1880's and extended, to include a chemical laboratory in 1892. The building was brick with a round brick chimney to a height of about 7 metres above the ground.

Physical description

Two page document on the assay chimneys of the Bendigo goldfield and, specifically, the purpose built laboratory at the Bendigo School of Mines used to teach assaying. Copy of photo attached of the United Pyrites Gold Extraction Company Work c 1887-8.