victorian goldfields - Department of Planning and Community ...

VICTORIAN GOLDFIELDS 

PROJECT 

HISTORIC 

GOLD MINING SITES 

IN THE 

SOUTHERN MINING DIVISIONS 

OF THE 

BALLARAT 

MINING DISTRICT 

REPORT ON CULTURAL HERITAGE 

Ray Supple 

October 1999

1. Background 

1.1 Introduction 

Southern Mining Division – Ballarat Mining District 

This report is based on the results of a historical archaeology survey undertaken from 1996 to 1999. The 

historical research, fieldwork and public consultation undertaken within the study indicated that various 

parts of the region experienced extensive gold mining from 1851 until the present day. 

The study area stretches from Creswick in a south westerly direction to Stawell. 

The majority of the sites investigate date from the late nineteenth century, and the main gold mining site 

types recorded are associated with shallow alluvial, deep lead, quartz reefing and ore retreatment. The 

recent age of surviving mining relics is a reflection of the temporary and basic nature of the early gold 

rush activities undertaken and the constant re-mining that occurred, resulting in the disappearance of 

earlier sites. 

1.2 Site Gazetteer 

The work underlying the gazetteer involved a desktop survey of recorded sites, analysis of historical 

records, fieldwork and community consultation. The assessment process used was designed to achieve the 

best practical results within the project’s time frame and limited budget. Places not previously recorded 

and which were assessed as likely to have significant heritage values were visited and included in the 

gazetteer that forms part two of this report. 

2. Introduction 

2.1 Purpose of report 

The study seeks to identify, assess and document the cultural heritage values relating to the historic theme 

of gold mining in South West Victoria. The categories or types of sites to be covered by the report are 

shallow alluvial (shaft sinking, sluicing and dredging), deep lead (tunnelling and shaft sinking); quartz 

reefing (tunnelling, shaft sinking and open cutting), and re-treatment of ore (by chlorination and 

cyaniding). 

The study will make a significant contribution to a State-wide investigation of the theme of gold mining. 

2.2 Aims of report 

The aims of the project were to: 

• undertake a desk-top survey of known sites, 

• conduct research on the theme of gold mining, 

• compile information on historic gold mining places in South West Victoria, 

• identify and record previously unrecorded historic mining places assessed as having State or regional 

significance, and 

• document the project's methodology and decision-making processes. 

3. Methodology 


This study forms part of a State-wide inventory of historic gold mining sites, which commenced some 

eight years ago. The primary aim of the inventory is to systematically record, interpret, and assess historic 

gold mining sites on public land in Victoria for the purpose of providing a sound basis for management of 

such sites. Where possible sites on private land were also considered. The report has been written to assist 

the Department of Natural Resources, Parks Victoria and Heritage Victoria in conserving a very 

widespread and diverse resource. 

3.2 Historical Research 

The assessment process was designed to achieve the best practical results within the project’s time frame 

and limited budget. The first stage of the assessment was an investigation of primary and secondary 

historical sources, including Mining Surveyors Monthly, Quarterly and Annual Reports; Mines 

2


Department maps, plans and reports; photographs and illustrations; published local histories and 

newspapers. This stage also involved a desktop survey to identify places already recorded. 

3.3 Assessment Process 

3.3.1 Site gazetteer 

For each gold mining locality, a chronology of activity was compiled, detailing gold discoveries, mining 

parties and machinery, settlement patterns, population levels, and gold production figures. This 

information was used to target important mining localities and specific sites that had not been previously 

recorded, and also aided in the interpretation of sites. 

The focus of the survey work was entirely on relics of above ground mining operations. For obvious 

reasons of access and safety, it did not cover any aspects of underground mining. The perspective 

presented by the inventory is thus biased, for on some types of mining sites, in particular; quartz reefing 

and deep lead mining, the bulk of operations and human effort took place below ground, hidden away 

from sight. A physical picture of underground mining technology and features can only realistically be 

gathered and recorded when new mining ventures take place on old gold mining sites. 

3.3.2 Site selection process 

The sites identified for survey were those considered likely to have significant heritage values. Some 150 

sites were considered, 72 sites were visited resulting in 12 sites being identified as having potential State 

significance and recommended for listing on the Victorian Heritage Register. The following two-stage 

assessment process was used to determine what sites were visited: 

3.4 Site survey 

i) Consultation process—Given the comprehensive historical research undertaken as part of the 

State-wide survey, additional information was mainly sought through consulting present and 

former Department of Natural Resources and Environment field staff (foresters and land 

protection officers), Parks Victoria rangers, and local community members. Information sought 

included: 

• the integrity and condition of sites: in particular, whether the site still exists or has visible 

remains (including foundations), 

• whether they know of other sites of a similar nature which had physical remains, and 

• names of other informants who may have knowledge of gold mining activity sites in the 

south west region. 

The consultation process was designed to sieve out sites not worth a visit because no 

substantial evidence remained, and to pick out sites which had played only marginal historical 

role (and hence not highlighted by the historical assessment) but now may have a high 

scientific significance due to their rarity and intactness. 

ii) State heritage threshold—The following significance indicators were further used to refine the 

list of site to be surveyed: 

• the role the place played in the historical development of the region and State’s gold mining 

industry. For any given place significance will be greater where evidence of an association 

or event survives in situ, 

• the scientific importance of the data represented in the features of a place and upon the 

degree to which the place may contribute further substantial information, 

• the degree to which the place can be demonstrated as having historical integrity and /or 

rareness in its intactness or condition better than any other similar place, 

• the measure of the awareness in the local community of the site and its role in the history of 

the locality, and 

• the degree the setting of the place had been modified. 

The terms of reference for the project required that previously unrecorded sites assessed as having 

potential significant heritage values be visited and documented following set guidelines, so that they were 

comprehensively and uniformly described. Time and budgetary constraints necessitated that recording be 

of a fairly basic standard: brief descriptions, rough plans and photographs. It was envisaged that more 

detailed recording of the more significant sites would be undertaken in the future, when all sites have 

been identified, and the more significant sites have been determined. 

3

3.5 Final ranking 


The main thrust of current heritage assessment in Australia is that the more significant cultural places are 

generally those that retain unique qualities which can best explain the past to present and future 

generations. Seventy two gold mining heritage places were identified as having high significance during 

the course of the study. Only twelve were assessed as having the potential for nomination to the Victorian 

Heritage Register. 

Places were assessed against the following criteria developed by Heritage Victoria to determine whether a 

place or object is of State significance and should be placed on the Victorian Heritage Register: 

a. The historical importance, association with or relationship to Victoria's history of the place or object. 

b. The importance of a place or object in demonstrating rarity or uniqueness 

c. The place or object’s potential to educate, illustrate or provide further scientific investigation in 

relation to Victoria's cultural heritage. 

d. The importance of a place or object in exhibiting the principal characteristics or the representative 

nature of a place or object as part of a class or type of places or objects. 

e. The importance of the place or object in exhibiting good design or aesthetic characteristics and/or in 

exhibiting a richness, diversity or unusual integration of features. 

f. The importance of the place or object in demonstrating or being associated with scientific or technical 

innovations or achievements 

g. The importance of the place or object in demonstrating social or cultural association. 

h. Any other matter which the Council deems relevant to the determination of cultural heritage 

significance. 

3.6 Victorian Heritage Register 

The Heritage Act (1995) provides for the protection and identification of places of heritage significance to 

the State. It applies to both private and public land and to both public authorities, private owners and 

companies. The Act expands the type of place that can be listed on the register to include buildings, 

archaeological sites and landscapes. If a site is placed on the Heritage Register, a permit must be sought 

for works from Heritage Council unless those works are covered by an exemption negotiated at the time 

of registration 

In the course of the project twelve historic gold mining places were identified as having high heritage 

values and were recommended for listing on the Victorian Heritage Register. 

The table below shows the current state of registration for historic mining sites in the south west region of 

Victoria. 

VHR Name Goldfield 

HR1556 Heatherlie quarry Stawell 

3.7 Victorian Heritage Inventory 

The Heritage Act (1995) establishes a Heritage Inventory for all archaeological sites recorded in the State. 

The Act contains provisions to protect all archaeological sites and relics whether known or unknown. 

The consent of the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria is required to excavate, damage or deface an 

archaeological relic. Any relics found during excavation have to be reported to the Executive Director, 

and consent is required to sell relics. 

Until the assessment of the proposed nominations by Heritage Victoria, all sites included in the gazetteer 

will be registered as archaeological sites and placed on the Victorian Heritage Inventory. 

4. Report Body 


The research of primary resource material undertaken was designed to trace the development of gold 

mining activities in south west Victoria. This data helped produce a picture of the underlying technology 

and physical remains and to identify potential sites. Fieldwork and community consultation found the 

4


surviving gold mining heritage to be well preserved, on a majority of the goldfields. This was due to the 

mountainous nature of the country. 

The following historical overview is designed to provide a context for the surviving gold mining heritage 

in South West Victoria. Because of the extent of the study area the historical overview is broken up into 

nine mining divisions: Stawell, Ararat, Beaufort, Landsborough (or Barkly), Creswick, Clunes, 

Blackwood-Blakeville, Steiglitz, Mount Egerton-Gordon. 

4.2 Historical Overview 

Background 

In the late 1850s Victoria's goldfields were divided into Mining Districts and Divisions for administrative 

purposes. This is a study of the mining records and artefacts relates to three mining divisions within the 

Ballarat Mining District. The three southern mining divisions of the Ballarat Mining District commence 

at Sebastopol and extend south and west. The Buninyong Mining Division, or southern extension of the 

Ballarat Goldfield, extends as far as Mt. Mercer. The two remaining divisions within the study area, 

Smythesdale and Southern, extend west from the Buninyong Division and include places such as 

Sebastopol, Haddon, Carngham, Smythesdale, Scarsdale, Snake Valley, Linton, Pitfield, Enfield and 

Rokewood. 

A few of the most important mines on the Ballarat Goldfield are within the study area. While these mines 

will in time need to be considered in relation to the rest of the Ballarat Goldfield, this study provides an 

opportunity to consider the relationship between Ballarat and its hinterland of small goldfields. 

The linking of Sebastopol and Buninyong within the same administrative area dates from May 1857 when 

the first Local Mining Court at Buninyong was established. The local miners at Buninyong petitioned the 

Government for their own court. When this court was established Sebastopol was included within the 

courts jurisdiction, much to the annoyance of the Sebastopol miners. The miners at Sebastopol were 

experienced Cornish and Welsh miners. They regarded the miners at Buninyong as inferior and referred 

to them as 'pipe clay punchers'.{1} 

The topography of this study area reflects the volcanic lava flows of the Cainozoic period. These lava 

flows are part of the flat and extensive Western District basalt plain. The basalt extends from Mt. Mercer 

through Rokewood to Pitfield as well as from Ballarat to Carngham. It covers many of the rich deep lead 

alluvial sand and gravel deposits for which the Ballarat Mining District is famous. Between the basalt 

plain there are layers of sediment and older eroded sandstone and siltstone hills such as those between 

Buninyong and Berringa and between Smythesdale and Linton. The sediments also cover many deep lead 

deposits. Smythesdale is the centre of a valley of accumulated sediments which both cover deep lead 

alluvial deposits and are also contain shallow alluvial deposits. Hills of cemented alluvial gravels also 

occur in isolated locations. Examples of these accumulations of sand, gravel and clays include Watsons 

and Black Hills near Smythesdale. The final topographic form is the alluvial material 

deposited by the present system of streams. 

The phases of mining that occurred within the study area are defined by the type of deposit being mined - 

either shallow alluvial, deep lead, quartz reef or cement - by the technology used to mine the ore and by 

the economic and administrative constraints. Advances in technology allowed working of previously 

uneconomic gold bearing deposits or alternatively allowed the reworking of previously mined areas to 

recover gold that was left by previous miners. Changes to administrative procedures tended to allow 

larger lease holdings which facilitated more cost effective mining. The history of mining described below 

reflects the changes over time in the mining of the different types of deposits and identifies factors which 

influenced the way mining was undertaken at each of the localities within the study area. The various 

phases of mining are described for each locality in order to aid in the identification and assessment of any 

surviving artefacts. 

Phase 1: Gold Discovery & Shallow Sinking - 1851 to 1857 

Mining in Victoria officially began in the Ballarat Mining District at Clunes. Surface gold was found at 

Buninyong and traced to a depth of 25 feet by Hiscock in August 1851. At the time, this deposit was not 

considered rich and the majority of miners rushed to other fields.{2} 

5


In 1851 and 1852 following the official discovery shallow sinking by individuals or small parties using a 

tub, cradle and dish was the only form of mining which persisted. During this period the diggers did not 

venture into deep ground.{3} Mining of the deeper deposits commenced in 1853. However the 

discovery of shallow deposits and the ensuing rushes continued for many years, although with decreasing 

intensity. 

Smythes Creek, 20 km south west of Ballarat, was an established goldfield by 1854. The discovery of 

gold at Smythes Creek had been reported in 1848, well before the official discovery, but a grant of œ1000 

was made by the Rewards Board to Herbert Swindells for his discovery of gold in 1852 near Devils 

Kitchen, 10 km south of Smythes Creek. Swindells had been sent exploring for gold by the Geelong 

Gold Exploration Committee, and six letters from Swindell about the discovery were published in the 

Argus during July and August 1852. By 1855 the area known as the Woady Yallock - Smythesdale 

Goldfield, virtually the whole of the Smythesdale Mining Division, and stretching from Carngham to 

Cape Clear and from Linton to Haddon, was opened up.{4} 

Linton at the western end of the Woady Yallock district was opened in 1854, with Nuggetty, Candlestick, 

and Bloomers Gullies being the most important localities for surface gold. These early diggings were not 

regulated by government officials and records of production were never kept. The depth of the sinkings 

at Linton was between 10 and 30 feet.{5} Bloomers Gully surface workings were doing well during 

1856, with more nuggets being found. An influx of 1000 Chinese via Adelaide in August increased the 

population.{6} However the overwhelming tendency was for miners to rush off quickly at the news of 

another discovery. 

Mining at Happy Valley, 2 km south east of Linton, also commenced in 1854. The shallow diggings in 

this area were worked out after 18 months with the deep leads being taken up in 1860.{7} 1854 also saw 

the discovery of gold at Mt. Misery. 

In 1855 discoveries were being made throughout the Woady Yallock area and rushes to shallow diggings 

continued throughout the 1850's as the diggers combed every square inch of this area. In May 1857 the 

rush to the shallow ground near the Smythes Creek Mining Co. was reported to be well populated, 

including 1000 Chinese.{9} There were also rushes near the Camp at Smythes Creek and Warrens Hill, 

which attracted many Chinese diggers. 2000 Chinese diggers remained at Linton when most of the 

diggers departed for Mt. Ararat in August 1857, and several new puddling machines were erected in 

Bloomers and Candlestick Gullies. Then in September 1857 there were 2000 to 3000 diggers at the rush 

to a gully on the west side of Black Hill at Scarsdale.{10} Locations within the Carngham / Snake Valley 

and the Mt. Misery / Rokewood areas were also rushed on several occasions during 1857 and 1858, 

including a large rush to Carngham in 1857 which was mainly confined to the shallow ground north of 

the reservoir.{11} 

The mining of the shallow deposits was undertaken over an extensive area. The whole valley between 

McLaughlin's Pre-emptive Right and the Smythes Creek valley, was covered with shallow wash dirt. 

This valley was mined continuously from 1853 for many years, with Brough Smyth reporting in 1868 that 

the Chinese were still making a living by turning over the old ground in this area where sinking was 

between 10 and 70 feet, through clays and sandy and pebbly drifts.{12} 

While the working of surface deposits continued, the method of working these deposits changed over 

time as more efficient methods were used both to process larger quantities of material and to capture the 

finer gold missed by the first wave of diggers. Tub and cradle gave way to the puddling machine and 

sluice box. The surviving evidence for this type of mining consists of a few clusters of shallow 

depressions, areas where the surface has been completely stripped of alluvial gravels and the trenches of a 

few horse puddling machines. 

There is no clear distinction between early shallow sinking, and surfacing and sluicing of shallow 

deposits. The discovery of small patches of shallow wash dirt continued for a considerable time, and 

from the mid 1850's shallow deposits were reworked especially by the Chinese diggers, and possibly on 

more than one occasion. Following an initial rush, an area may have been reworked by the Chinese, then 

by a sluicing party, and finally by a hydraulic dredging operation in the early 1900's. Consequently there 

is very few areas with any undisturbed evidence of shallow alluvial mining, the few patches of diggers 

holes that survive occurs mainly on the periphery of dredging or sluicing sites. A number of puddling 

6


machines also survive in isolated locations. While there is no definite point in time when shallow surface 

mining finished, it seems reasonable to use 1857. This was the time from which extended areas were 

granted for sluicing and surfacing. 

Phase 2: Deep Lead Mining - 1852 to 1885 

Deep leads are buried streams or gullies containing gold bearing sand or gravel. These leads, often still 

contain running water, were either buried by lava or by layers of sediment. 

Deep lead mining began when some of the more experienced miners working at the Eureka Lead in 

Ballarat realised that they were mining what had once been a creek bed. Deposits such as this were 

unknown at the time, even to Californian miners. The leads emerging from the White Horse Range in 

Canadian Gully were the next to be discovered. It was also at this time that timbering was first used to 

hold back unstable ground in the old workings at Golden Point, establishing the technique needed to mine 

in the wet ground encountered when sinking shafts in pursuit of the deep leads. 

Harrie Wood's Notes on the Ballarat Goldfield' in The Goldfields and Mineral Districts of Victoria 

describe how the miners sealed off drifts encountered when sinking shafts, using puddle clay rammed 

between a double set of timber slabs. Drift' being very wet sandy or loose friable material. Sinking shafts 

through this material was very dangerous. 

The discovery of the rich deep leads at Eureka and Canadian gullies gradually attracted more and more 

miners causing the population at Ballarat to rise steadily to 4200 in November 1852. A steadily 

increasing population contrasts with the migrating populations that rushed to and fro to places like Mount 

Alexander, Bendigo, Mt. Ararat, etc. A more settled community meant that wealth from the goldfield 

was being re-invested in the locality.{13} 

1854 saw an increasing emphasis on deep sinking, while those unable to venture into this more expensive 

and difficult deeper sinking continued to mine the shallow deposits. The Eureka Rebellion took place at 

the end of 1854, and it had a major impact on how the goldfields were administered. Local selfgovernment 

of mining affairs was introduced via Local Courts, and despite their faults the local courts 

were productive in framing regulations for the conduct of mining, determining the area of a claim and the 

conditions for occupying a claim, and placing mining in what was described in January 1858 as a 

relatively regular and fixed position.{14} 

It soon became clear that in order to mine the deep leads capital and science had to be employed to sink 

through subterranean water drifts and up to 4 layers of basalt, which often contain fissures carrying large 

streams of water. Steam engines were essential for overcoming these difficulties and the Ballarat Mining 

District quickly became the most mechanised in Victoria.{15} As early as January 1857 there were 100 

steam engines in the Ballarat Mining District. These engines varied in size from 6 to 25 hp and their total 

value was œ209,000. While the aggregate value of all the mining machinery in the Ballarat Mining 

District was œ500,000.{16} 

A major factor influencing the management of deep lead mining was the need to raise capital to purchase 

the steam powered machinery to drain the mines. By amalgamating the claims their were more 

shareholders and hence more capital available to equip the mine. Initially miners, who were shareholders 

in the co-operative working the claim, raised income during sinking operations by selling portions of their 

share in the company to a sleeping partner. However this arrangement was sometimes abused by the 

working miner. On occasions working miners were known to have wound-up a mine, dissolved the 

partnership and then re-opened the mine. Thus depriving the sleeping partner of his share. Such an 

incident was reported in the Ballarat Star on 22 March 1858. At about the same time speculators were 

showing an interest in the mines and a few co-operative parties had begun to let contracts for some of the 

difficult tasks at their mines. The Great Western Co. was the first company to call tenders for sinking 

their shaft. This company must have been mining on private land at that time because such contracts 

would not have been allowed for leases on crown land.{17} 

The administration of mining had a major impact on how the goldfields developed. Harrie Wood 

commences his Notes on the Ballarat Goldfield' with a chronology of the mining regulations 

proclaimed during the 1850's. For example: 

7


• In April 1853, claims were defined as 12 feet square or 144 square per man, alluvial leases were a 

minimum of 160 acres, and quartz leases as half a mile by 200 yards. 

• From March 1854 leases of land could be sold at auction to the highest bidder, the sizes of claims 

were defined for parties of from 1 to 4 miners with the commissioner having the power to amalgamate 

claims on worked or flooded ground. 

• The Ballarat Local Court regulations of October 1855 defined a claim for 8 men as 34 feet by 34 feet 

and the extent of a quartz lease as 12 feet by 12 feet per man employed. 

• Between March and June 1856 a series of regulations gave effect to the Frontage System' on the 

Frenchman's, White Flat, Black and Gravel Pits leads, and the registration of both Frontage and Block 

claims and defined the extent of the claims based on the depth of sinking and the difficulties to be 

overcome.{18} 

There were continual changes to the mining regulations and administrative arrangements. At the end of 

1858 separate Mining Boards and Mining Courts replaced the Local Courts. And at one time the 

regulations included provisions for claims, frontage claims, block claims and leases. 

Sebastopol and Napoleons - Frenchman's Lead; mining under basalt 

Frenchman's lead at Sebastopol on the southern end of the Ballarat Goldfield was opened about June 

1855. The sinking in the gullies from which this lead was traced was comparatively easy through yellow 

clay and gravel. Where the smaller tributary runs joined together, the gutter or lead assumed the 

characteristics of a deep lead, namely: 

• black clay was found during sinking, 

• wash was dark coloured gravel, 

• quartz in the wash was water-worn, and 

• the wash was within a well defined gutter or stream bed. 

As it tended westerly the miners had not expect the lead to run under the basalt on the west side of the 

Yarrowee Creek. However it was finally proved to pass beneath the creek at a depth of 130 feet and on 

under the basalt table land. The challenge of sinking through the hard basalt in combination with the 

uncertainty caused by shepherding - the holding of ground in advance of the known position of the lead 

until its course had been traced in adjoining claims - led to a delay in the sinking for the leads under the 

tableland. A ban on shepherding by the Ballaarat Local Court did not overcome the risk faced by miners. 

Up to that time only 1 in every 20 shafts put down ended up being within reach of a lead. 

Implementing the Frontage System 

Greater certainty was eventually provided for by the introduction in 1856/7 of the "Frontage System" for 

mining claims along a deep lead. This system was first applied to the Frenchman's lead under regulations 

established by the Local Court. Under the system, a frontage lead' was proclaimed, and a surveyor 

appointed to mark the lines along the general course of the lead between which each party would search 

to locate the lead. The lateral boundaries of the claim were only fixed once the lead was located. The 

intention of this system was to give each claim a specified length of lead. Unfortunately the leads did not 

run in straight lines and they tended to join other leads. Different methods were tried for marking out the 

lines along the leads, but disputes often had to be brought to the courts and amendments were made to the 

regulations including making it optional to proclaim a frontage lead'.{19} The introduction of this system 

and the increasing difficulty of working the leads led to the amalgamation of adjoining claims and 

working these amalgamated claims as co-operatives. Large companies were not liked by the diggers and 

initially amalgamations had to be sanctioned by the local courts. Amalgamations meant fewer shafts and 

the diggers were concerned that there would not be enough shafts to cope with the baling required to 

drain the leads. 

Amalgamation of claims to mine the water ladened deep leads 

The first 75 claims on the Frenchmans Lead were initially amalgamated into co-operatives of between 3 

and 10 claims. Further amalgamations occurred as mining became more difficult. The Cumberland 

Durham and Cornish, a company of 108 men, commenced mining claims 62 to 70 in May 1856. This 

company paid dividends of œ6 per week since October 1858. However in April 1859 the mined was 

swamped with the shaft making 30,000 gallons of water per hour. The company then commenced fitting 

out a large engine and a 13.5 inch lift of pipes into their first shaft - the United Miners Shaft - from which 

8


they worked part of their ground. This new plant was the largest and most powerful in the district and 

therefore in the colony. The engine was 70 hp, manufactured by Tennant of Edinburgh at a cost œ1800. 

The company had to that time spent œ6000 sterling and their works both above and below ground were 

described as being of the most complete possible description.{20} 

The solution to the water problems for the next group of companies was amalgamation. In 1858, after 

trying for 2 years to conquer the large volumes of water, the Leviathan Co. - claims 71 to 75, the Bullock- 

Horn Co. - claims 76 to 79, and the Nelson Co. - claims 80 to 82, amalgamated to form the Nelson 

Company. By the 5 th September 1864 this company had won gold valued at œ146,121 7s. It was then 

registered under the Limited Liability Act. By 1868 it had won an additional œ101,010 10s 10d worth of 

gold, and was working on the lead at a depth of 384 feet with the width of the lead varying between 100 

to 300 feet. This mine was operated using 4 puddling machines and 3 steam engines, which produced a 

total of 100 hp.{21} 

A similar story was repeated for claims 83 to 98, from June 1856 these claims were worked by four 

separate companies each with a separate shaft. Then on the 13 th December 1859 these companies 

amalgamated to form the Working Miners Company. This new company finally reached the gutter in 

September 1866 after sinking to 450 feet. By 1869 the value of gold won by this mine was œ81,196 4s 

4d. The Evening Star Co. originally held claims 99 to 114, but they were later taken up as part of the 

United Working Miners Company. 

Locating the leads with boring machines 

The Albion Company held claims 115 to 122. This company was the first to use boring machines to 

locate the lead on the tableland, an exercise which at the time was considered expensive and tedious. The 

boring apparatus used by the Albion Co. consisted of chisels, boring rods, tubes and flanges. It was 

constructed by Mr. Tynan of White Horse, and was worked by hand at a rate, estimated to be 6 feet per 

day; a tripod with a pulley attached was erected over the position for the bore with the bore rods being 

lowered by a rope passing over the pulley to a windlass.{22} This company commenced sinking their 

shaft in June 1858 and reached a depth of 475 feet (144.8 m). By 1869 the value of gold won was 

œ254,144 16s 6d. This company's plant included 4 steam engines providing an aggregate of 118 hp, 6 

puddling machines and 2 buddles.{23} 

Company expansion; Working of both deep leads and quartz reefs 

Part of Cobbler's Lead is also within the study area. This lead was first opened at the beginning of 1855 

some of the claims were rich but as the lead headed toward the Yarrowee River the claims did not pay 

well. The lead was eventually located on the west side of the river in October 1856. It was proclaimed as 

a frontage lead and the Prince of Wales Company was registered on the 24 th of October 1859. This was 

the only company on this lead and it did not commence winning gold until 1862. 

The Prince of Wales Co., was both a deep lead and a quartz reef mine and one of the richest mines at 

Ballarat. It had 64 shareholders and was registered in October 1859. Initially this company used a 15 

inch by 36 inch vertical steam pumping engine with overhead crank to drive its 9 inch lift pumps. A large 

cradle and two 14 foot diameter belt driven wooden puddling machines were used to extract gold from the 

wash. Its No. 1 shaft had two compartments and was 7 feet by 4 feet.{24} In February 1861 yields had 

been indifferent. Then the mine was flooded out, and a 50 horsepower steam engine and 2 boilers (35 

feet by 7 feet) were purchased from a Geelong firm for œ1300 to replace the 25 hp engine. At this stage 

the shaft was down 343 feet.{25} 

In May 1862 Dickers Mining Record listed the machinery at the mine as: a 24 inch by 54 inch steam 

engine for pumping and puddling; two boilers, 35 feet by 6 feet 6 inches; 15 inch pumps, plunger to 280 

feet,and drawlift for remainder; three 14 foot diameter puddling machines with one inch thick cast iron 

bases and boiler plate sides; a 25 horsepower steam engine for winding; winding gear and Round's patent 

flat chain; and stone engine houses.{26} By December 1862 the shaft was down 385 feet and tenders 

were called for a 12 or 16 head stamp battery. A tender of œ480 for the supply of a second-hand 12 head 

battery was accepted.{27} œ1500 pounds was spent on installing the battery including blanket tables, 

amalgamating barrel and a furnace to roast pyrites. Additional shafts were sunk and more machinery was 

acquired during 1863 and in 1864. Quartz reef mining was more productive than the alluvial during this 

period, and in June 1865 an additional 40 head battery had been erected.{28} So that in December 

9

1865 the company had the following equipment at its three shafts as follows: 


No. 1 shaft: 

• a 22.5 inch by 60 inch horizontal steam winding engine, first motion, with 6 inch flat Manilla rope, for 

raising double-decked cages running 1500 trucks per day. 

• a 24 inch x 48 inch horizontal steam pumping engine with 14 inch plunger and draw lift. 

• three puddling machines, a sludge machine, and a 16 head battery with square stampers. 

• three Cornish flue boilers: two at 35 feet x 7 feet, and one at 26 feet x 6 feet 6 inches 

• 4 x 10 (2 x 5) head battery with 6 hundredweight rotary stampers; gear driven from main shaft by 

clutches; steel faced discs and wipers; screw tappets; circular fronted mortar boxes; hand feeding by 

boys 

• two silver ripples 

• 24 feet of blanket tables with 4 bands for amalgamating the gold 

• two shaking tables for separating the dirt from the silver after barrelling 

• a 25 inch by 48 inch horizontal steam battery engine 

• three Cornish flue boilers, 26 feet by 6 feet 6 inches 

• two 11.5 inch plunger pumps for lifting battery sand into sluice for transport to the sand dam 

• two 11.5 inch plunger pumps for raising water from the sand dam back to the battery 

• a Smelting house containing three furnaces, one for smelting gold and two for retorting silver. 

No. 2 shaft: 

• a 25 inch x 48 inch horizontal steam engine for pumping and driving 2 iron puddling machines. 

• an 18 inch x 42 inch steam winding engine 

• three Cornish flue boilers, 26 feet by 6 feet 6 inches. 

No. 3 shaft: 

• three compartment shaft 10 feet 6 inches by 3 feet 8 inches (2 compartments for winding, one for 

pumps and cage); down 410 feet 6 inches in 55 weeks of sinking 

• a 20.25 inch x 48 inch horizontal steam engine with 8 inch plunger and draw lift 

• four iron puddling machines, 2 sludge machines, amalgamating barrel. 

• a centrifugal pump for lifting surface water to storage tanks 35 feet high for the puddling machines. 

• a 10 inch drawing lift for raising waste water into the main dam. 

• a 12 horsepower steam capstan engine for sending timber down the shaft and for raising and lowering 

pitmen. 

• a 14.5 inch x 36 inch double cylinder steam winding engine with 4 slide valves worked by link 

motion. 

• a 4.5 inch x 0.75 inch flat wire rope; double-decked cages (35 hundredweight total) with over-winding 

safety bell 

• two Cornish flue boilers, 26 feet x 6 feet 6 inches; with 7/8 inch plate in case and tube, and with angle 

iron stiffeners in the tube; 0.5 inch plate in the ends 

• four cast iron puddling machines set out in a square, 16 feet 6 inch in diameter, 2 feet 6 inches deep; 

worked by Hunt and Opie's patent chain and pulleys.{29} 

In October 1869 the plant at the mine was valued at œ30,000.{30} This was one of the ten most 

productive mines on the Ballarat Goldfield, its total recorded production from January 1865 to December 

1875 is 208,971 ozs 3 dwt 16 gr (or 6502.992 kg).{31} It closed in 1875 down due to its inability to 

control water flowing from nearby abandoned workings. 

Summary - Deep lead mining at Napoleons 

The Prince of Wales was the largest of the mines at the southern end of the Ballarat Goldfield, and 

together with the United Miners Co. and the Bonshaw Freehold Co., it dominated this section of the 

Southern Mining Division until the mid 1870's. This section of the Division extends for 10 km from 

Sebastopol south to Watsons Hill. The mining surveyor reported on approximately 20 deep lead mining 

companies operating in this area during the 1860's, with the mines at Watsons Hill in the south 

commencing in the latter half of the decade. Only half of these mines operated for more than 5 years, and 

only the handful of mines already mentioned operated for more than 10 years. The tendency was towards 

companies that were large enough and had the resources necessary to mine the leads under the basalt 

tableland. 

10

Buninyong - Opening of the deep leads at Buninyong 


The discovery of leads in the immediate vicinity of Buninyong was reported in March 1856 when 10,000 

diggers were at Hiscock's between the cemetery and the Hard Hills. There was also some surface mining 

at Watsons Hill, but it was the deep leads that were the focus of attention in the Buninyong Mining 

Division at Green Hills and Devonshire Hill from March 1856, Union Jack Lead from January 1857, 

Kitty's lead from March 1857, Glencoe and Napoleon also opened early in 1857, Scotchman's lead from 

April 1857 and the Victoria Lead at Kitty Gully in October 1857.{32} Mining of these leads was often 

short lived and by early 1857 miners were leaving Green Hill, while at Riders Lead about the same time 

new parties were being granted extended areas by the Warden. This lead had been deserted by the parties 

that had sank their shafts under the rock. By June 1857 Green Hill was being mined again and new 

engines were being installed.{33} After prospecting for 13 weeks a party of 24 discovered the Durham 

Lead in Febru 

ary 1857.{34} By the following December the Ballarat Star reported that the large numbers of steam 

engines on the Durham Lead were collectively valued at œ40,000. During this period the deep leads 

were being mined at depths of between 150 and 400 feet.{35} 

Large company deep lead mines 

The Scottish & Cornish Co. and Leviathan Co. working the leads west of Buninyong commenced 

operating in November 1857 and October 1858 respectively. These companies worked the leads for a 

distance of between two and three km north from Napoleons. The Scottish & Cornish Co. had difficulty 

in coping with the water. The Mining Surveyor considered that their original 25 hp engine and 12 inch 

pump needed replacing.{36} Eventually in November 1861 the company completed the installation of an 

excellent 50 horse-power engine. This engine was used to bale water with an 8 foot stroke through a 

column of pumps 17.5 inches in diameter. The water in this claim was the heaviest then known to the 

mining surveyor.{37} But by March 1865 the adjoining mines had reduced the water so much that the 

pumps were drawn, and the shaft rearranged to take cages fitted with baling tanks. A second shaft 12 foot 

by 4 foot was started south west of the main shaft, it had three compartments and was built to carry two 

trucks side by 

side. The poppet head was 80 feet high and the winding engine was imported from England. By the late 

1860's the No. 1 shaft had been sunk to 300 feet. The No. 2 shaft, 1600 feet south of the first shaft, had 

bottomed at 315 feet and been sunk to 350 feet. Water then eased to the point where pumps could not 

work even at the shortest stroke and a water standage was constructed underground. The machinery at 

the No. 2 shaft consisted of a 24 inch cylinder steam engine for pumping and puddling, a 20 inch cylinder 

steam engine for winding, 15 inch pumps, 3 boilers each 28 feet by 6 feet 6 inches, 3 puddling machines 

of the usual character (a fourth puddling machine was completed in June 1867), trucks and cages.{38} 

The recorded production between August 1859 and April 1869 is 50,266 ozs (or 1563.484 kg).{39} 

From 1870 the Leviathan leased, and then purchased, the company's No. 2 shaft. 

The Leviathan mine developed along similar lines to the Scottish and Cornish, although water was not 

quite as much of a problem. When the water did increase in 1862 the company was able to purchase 

machinery from the Defiance Company at Sebastopol. Both the Franklyn and Napoleon leads were being 

worked successfully in the mid 1860's and the winding gear was upgraded. Double cages, a cast iron 

puddler and a buddle were acquired. A double tram road was constructed and horses were used 

underground June 1866. The first shaft was 6 foot 2 inches by 3 feet, a second shaft sunk in 1868 was 9 

foot by 6 foot and the third shaft, the Scottish & Cornish No. 2 shaft, was 12 foot by 4 feet.{40} A yield 

of 2690 ounces and 12 dwt. for the last quarter of 1869 was considered good. However expenses were 

high, the mine was employing 329 men and boys.{41} The total recorded production is 58,349 ozs 5 dwt 

(or 1814.907 kg).{42} The Sons of Freedom Co. and the Franklin Co. operated in the Napoleon area 

during the 1860's, 

but did not achieve any success. There were also several other claims registered on the leads at 

Napoleons in the late 1860's, which do not appear to have even got started. 

These large mines are similar in size and character to the large mines at Sebastopol already described. 

They were financed by speculators and capitalists, mostly from Ballarat, and employed experienced 

Welsh and Cornish miners who were prepared to work for wages.{43} 

11

The Buninyong Estate Co. - Deep lead mining on private land 


North-east of Scotchmans through what was Learmonths Estate and on through the town of Buninyong 

were the mines on the Scotchman's, Union Jack, Glencoe, Devonshire and Stone Quarry leads. Of the 

mines on these leads the largest and most successful was the Buninyong Estate Co.{44} 

The Buninyong Mining Company originally consisted of 27 shareholders, who negotiated with Thomas 

Learmonth in August 1857 for the right to mine the 146 acres of the Buninyong Station known as 

Learmonth's Paddock on condition that 5% of the gross yield of gold be paid during the first year, 7.5% 

for the second and third years and a rental of 50/- per week for the whole term of the lease. The yield 

from the first shaft was so good and the direction of the lead so well defined that speculators tried to 

purchase the property from the Learmonths. The Learmonths, who had purchased their 1160 acres 

property in 1855, sold it to the Buninyong Mining Company for œ20,000 in September 1858. The 

company paid half of the purchase price in cash. The balance was to be paid over two, three and four 

years. To fund the purchase an additional 13 shares were issued and put on the market for œ750 each, the 

shares were quickly snapped up and the company was able to pay the balance of the purchase price 

immediately. These forty 

shares were each subdivided by 10 giving the company a fully paid up capital of œ50,000 in 400 shares 

at œ25 each.{45} 

By 1865 this company had nine shafts and eight steam engines, at least one of these was used 

underground.{46} This underground engine was 1000 feet from the No. 6 shaft in a chamber 40 feet 

square and 10 feet high. It was used to haul trucks up an incline from the gutter to the shaft; the engine 

was christened 'The Gold Finder' by Miss Cuthbert on the 8 th June 1864, before one hundred and twenty 

men and sixty women who had crammed into the chamber to witness the event.{47} Some of the 

equipment used by this and other mining companies was manufactured in Ballarat, and some was 

purchased from neighbouring mines. This company was the first to use a vertical double plunger pump 

for draining one of the it's shafts.{48} 

At its peak this company employed 125 hands; wages were 24/- to 30/- for boys running trucks, 45/- for 

miners, 50/- to 55/- for shift captains, 70/- to 75/- for blacksmiths, 60/- for an engine driver for a 12 hour 

shift and 80/- for an engineer.{49} The recorded production for the Buninyong Gold Mining Co from 

1858 to August 1865 is 56,107 ozs 14 dwt 20 gr (or 1745.186 kg), then from August 1865 to September 

1869 the Buninyong Freehold Gold Mining Co. produced 36,425 ozs 5 dwt 8 gr (or 1132.979 kg).{50} 

The mine was operated as the Buninyong Estate Co. from 1874 to 1889 using some of the original shafts 

as well as some new shafts. In December 1887 the whole of the property was subdivided into 52 

allotments and advertised for sale. The advertisements stressed that the Company had obtained 3.5 tons 

of gold. With the amount of gold remaining estimated to be 'something enormous', the quartz reefs 

having scarcely been touched. The auction did not attract any mining speculators and the property 

eventually reverted to pastoral and farming use. 

In addition to the Buninyong G. M. Co. at least six small companies operated on the Union Jack and 

Glencoe leads within and north of the Buninyong township for up to 10 years in the 1860's and early 

1870's. All used steam powered machinery. 

The Durham Lead 

The other concentration of deep lead mines was south of Buninyong on the Durham Lead. A report in 

June 1857 described it as a most important lead which was turning out well.{51} From the late 1850's to 

the mid 1870's there were eight large mines working this lead. Some of these mines were among the most 

up to date mines in the district. In 1860 the Polar Star, later the National mine, erected what was 

described by the mining surveyor as one of the finest engines in the district a 40 hp steam powered engine 

with 2 boilers which were manufactured at the Victoria Foundry in Ballarat.{52} Horses were used 

underground at this mine, its plant was one of the most complete. At the end of 1865 it was one of the 

richest mines in the Ballarat Mining District. 

Summary - Deep Lead Mining at Buninyong 

Ten mines in the Buninyong Mining Division worked for approximately five years in the 1860's and a 

further twelve got started but only lasting for a few years. The nine deep lead mines, which commenced 

12


during the 1870's, operated for at most 5 years. Mining on the Durham was difficult, and great expense 

and labour was required to work these claims. Water became too great a problem in the mid 1870's, and 

only the Buninyong Estate continued into the 1880's. A proposal to drain both the Durham and Ballarat 

Deep Leads was first mentioned in the mining surveyors reports in March 1876 but support for this 

scheme had wained by December 1878.{53} 

A couple of companies used a diamond drill to test the Durham Lead south of Mount Mercer. However 

their efforts did not meet with any success. 

Deep leads mining from Sebastopol south to the Durham Lead lasted from the mid 1850's to the mid 

1870's. The large mines were highly mechanised, the mines increased in size as more and more capital 

was required to update the plant at these mines to cope with the increasing quantity of water. Several 

companies operated from more than one shaft. At least two companies mined both deep alluvial and 

quartz reef deposits. 

Smythesdale - Opening of the Deep leads at Smythesdale 

Warrens Lead at Smythes Creek was opened in January 1857. This discovery renewed interest in this 

locality, and by February seventy claims were registered and the sinking was 80 feet. However by May 

only the first two claims were making any headway. After bailing with whims for months without 

success many claims were unable to cope with the water, and were abandoned.{54} By August claims 

were being amalgamated, steam power was being introduced, and work was proceeding more vigorously. 

In December there were six large engine parties with extended claims on Warrens Lead, and all were 

doing well. 

In October 1857 the Norfolk Lead was discovered and by March 1858 there were 3 parties working on 

the lead while the rest were waiting for engines to be delivered from Ballarat. Hard rock was not 

encountered in the mining of the leads at Smythes Creek, whereas the water laden drifts did cause serious 

disruptions. 

Regulations passed to permit larger leases 

Initially the claims were too small to warrant the purchase of steam machinery. However once the 

government passed regulations to allow for the granting of leases of between 10 and 20 acres, this 

auriferous land was taken up again. By June 1858 the population in the Smythes Creek area from the 

Camp to Norfolk Lead, and on the shallow ranges around Watsons Lead, German Lead and Black Hill 

was 4500, including 150 Chinese.{55} 

Summary - deep lead mining at Smythesdale 

In this locality twenty-six deep lead mining companies commenced or were recorded by the mining 

surveyor as operating between 1859 and 1865. At least half of these companies were using steam power, 

but only three operated for 5 years or more. Three companies began operating between the late 1860's 

and the early 1870's, but did not last for more than a few years. 

The Great Western Co. was one of the longer running deep lead mines beginning in the late 1850's. Its 

yields were indifferent for three years. However they improved in 1861. In the first quarter of 1861 the 

40 shareholders each received a dividend of œ283. The dividend for the corresponding period in 1862 

was œ356 per shareholder. This company operated from 2 shafts to a depth of 200 feet and used a 14.75 

inch by 35 inch steam engine for pumping, puddling and winding. The mine was drained using a 6 inch 

draw lift pump, and gold was extracted from the wash using an 18 foot diameter puddling machine.{56} 

The company continued to pay dividends up to the end of 1863. The mine was taken up again in 1872 

but there is no record of any production during this second period of operation. 

The Great Eastern Co. was another important mine at Smythesdale on Warrens Lead, the shaft was down 

180 feet in March 1859 and the company was using a 10 hp engine, the most powerful engine on the lead 

at that time, to work the pipes and pumps at the hole, draw up all the dirt, work another set of pumps for 

the back water for the sluices and also the fanner. The wash was sluiced daily; and the water for sluicing 

was contained in a reservoir covering an area of 1 acre, which had been constructed by the company. It 

was anticipated that the claim would probably not be worked out for two years.{57} [p.2 c.3&4] 

13

Browns 

Larger claims or leases led to a more settled population 


The old lead at Browns, south of Smythesdale, was being worked in 1856, when a claim for eight men 

was 40 feet square. The lead was only rich at shallow levels, the yield of gold decreasing at greater 

depths. The Contest Lead at Mullocky Point was opened in November 1857, and by March 1858 claims 

were paying well with most parties using whims. However many claims were abandoned, only to be 

taken up again under the leasing system. The opening of the Contest Lead was followed by Watsons 

Lead and German Lead.{58} As the leads were followed north the sinking increased to a depth of over 

100 feet. The workings were wet and a party of two or three using a windlass was superseded by parties 

of twelve or twenty-four men working larger claims using a whim or portable engine. These larger 

claims took longer to work and the area started to become more settled. The township of Browns moved 

several times as the workings moved north, finally ending up within site of Watsons Hill, where gold was 

first discovered at B 

rowns. 

In August 1858 the Caledonian Party on German Lead at Browns had the most complete plant of all the 

deep leads parties in this neighbourhood. This co-operative had twenty-four working shareholders: two 

engine drivers, one black smith, one dray man, two sluicers, seventeen working below and one injured. 

Their engine was 12 hp, the pump occupied half of the shaft, a band raised the trucks in the other half. 

The mine was arranged so that the miners only had to handle the wash once between the drive and the 

sluice. The sluice boxes extended for 200 feet and timber props for the mine were supplied on contract. 

The seventeen bachelors in the party had formed a company for the provision of their accommodation. 

They had a cook house and dining room built of hard wood, with part canvas and part shingle roof. A 

cook was paid œ3 per week. This facility was managed by three of the men.{59} 

Relative performance of the deep leads at Smythesdale and Browns 

The following extract from the report of John Lynch mining surveyor for the Smythes Creek Mining 

Division, dated 30 June 1858, illustrates the general poor performance of the deep lead companies 

operating in the Smythesdale Mining Division. The Contest Lead at Browns was the only location where 

assets exceeded expenditure. 

The report gives the population of Italian Gully, Browns, and from Monkey Gully to Mount Mercer as 

3500 including 200 Chinese. Lynch was pessimistic about the future of deep lead mining in his division, 

he predicted that quartz mining and sluicing would be more successful forms of mining.{60} 

Digger opposition to leasing 

The complexity of the constantly changing mining regulations and the trend toward larger leases often 

resulted in disputes and expensive litigation. The majority of miners were opposed to the granting of 

leases. Anti-leasing committees were established at Browns to fight the issuing of leases for land already 

held as claims. In 1859 new regulations were used to grant large leases to two companies on the North 

Briton and Contest Leads. The granting of these leases caused riots and lengthy litigation because the 

extended areas encompassed a number of smaller pre-existing claims. The dispute was finally settled 

with the holders of the extended leases agreeing to pay some compensation to the small claim holders. 

Following this dispute the smaller claims along the Contest Lead amalgamated to form larger 

companies.{61} 

The mining surveyors described the North Briton Lead in June 1859 as follows: 

...depth of sinking is 150 feet, the width of lead is 50 feet and the wash-dirt is from 1 to 4 feet thick. The 

lead pays well and the average yield is 1 oz per load. It is partly held under block and partly under the 

frontage system. The part of the lead held under the frontage system is worked from 4 shafts on each of 

which a steam engine is erected. The companies working the lead are well organised. Two tributary 

leads, the Barber and the Morning Star, fall into this lead.{62} 

Summary - deep lead mining at Browns 

14


The twenty five mines reported by the Mining Surveyor to be working along the leads at Browns from 

the late 1850's to the early 1860's were all of relatively short duration, up to at most eight years. By 1860 

deep alluvial mining was confined to a few steady yielding claims and the mining surveyor commented at 

the end of that year that the deep alluvial was nearly worked out. 

The Hand-in Hand Company on the North Briton Lead was one of only three claims of any importance in 

the deep alluvial at Brown's in November 1860. In 1859 it had advertised for a 20 hp steam engine with 

pumps and gear complete. It had a lease of 32.5 acres which was sold and the company reorganised in 

August 1860. A new shaft was sunk in 1861, and a new steam engine and 2 puddling machines were 

erected. By December work had ceased and new arrangements were being made.{63} This mine did not 

produce very good yields. It is typical of the deep lead mines at Brown's in the 1860's. In June 1865 the 

leads at Browns had been exhausted by the larger companies and were only worked by a few small 

companies.{64} One or two attempts unsuccessful attempts were made to remine the deep alluvial in the 

1870's. 

Italian / Monkey Gullies 

The deep leads at Monkey and Italian Gullies were mined at the same time as those at Smythesdale and 

Browns, and most had finished by the early 1860's. Much optimism surrounded the opening up of the 

Black Ball Lead in March 1859. 

The Ballarat Star reported: 

... the rush to this locality has increased in importance and is one of the richest gold 

discoveries ever opened this side of Ballarat, and it may be fairly classed as one of the 

rushes of the day; the lead of gold when first discovered was confined to the small branch 

gully about half a mile long which proved very rich, yielding 5 ozs per load; it is only half 

worked out and the diggers are driving out there ground and paddocking the wash dirt 

previous to washing up; the lead has now been struck in the main gully and the sinking has 

deepened to 35 to 50 feet and is rather wet, but the yields here are also good at 1 ozs per 

load; a prospecting grant has been taken out half a mile lower down and the party has 

bottomed in reef at a depth of 100 feet and have found gold but expect to go another 10 to 

20 feet to strike the gutter; it is a common saying among the diggers that a good rush is 

always to be known by the number of drunken people about; if this is true, then this is 

certainly the prince of rushes for it seems to be a universal practice among our mining 

population.{65} 

Then in July 1859 the mining surveyor described how the Black Ball Lead was taken up: 

the ground where the lead was first discovered is now occupied by block claims. The next 21 claims are 

laid out on the frontage system. An engine is being erected on the first 2 amalgamated claims and others 

are erecting whims. There is uncertainty about the direction of the lead but it is hoped that the 

prospecting shaft will resolve the issue.{66} 

Both engines and whims were being used at mines on the Black Ball Lead during 1859. Claims on this 

lead that had not been paying under the frontage system were abandoned in December only to be taken up 

again in January 1860 when the Ballarat Mining District Bye-law No. 11 was gazetted. The Fermosa, 

Star of the North, Alston and the Hotspur claims were converted to block claims. The bye-laws 

prescribed the sizes and form of claims, and the registration as well as numerous other matters relating to 

the administration of mining by the Ballarat Mining Board. 

Nearly forty claims in Italian and Monkey Gullies were reported on by the mining surveyor between 1859 

and 1865. Only one of these claims continued for five years. The vast majority were abandoned after 

only one or two years. By September 1860 it was reported that alluvial mining was confined to a few 

steadily paying claims. A further report in 1864 stated that there were three steam engines at work in the 

Italians locality, and by mid 1865 it was only worked by a few small parties having been abandoned by 

the larger companies.{67} 

Happy Valley/Lucky Womans 

15


At Happy Valley in June 1858 there were 1000 Chinese and 150 Europeans. The Europeans had three 

extended claims with a puddler on each and were earning good wages. The Chinese occupied all the old 

gullies and had no machinery of any kind; the ground was poor and would only pay when worked on a 

co-operative principle.{68} 

The greatest number of deep lead mines were recorded at Happy Valley / Lucky Womans in 1860/1861. 

Of the thirty mines mentioned in the Mining Surveyors Reports seven operated for more than five years. 

Only three of the seven operated for between ten and twenty years. 1861 seems to have been a year that 

weeded out many of the early companies. A report in the Ballarat Star in April 1860 provides part of the 

answer: 

...there is great dissatisfaction among the miners through such large claims being issued to so few men 

which prevents (in the event of gold being struck) the uninitiated from getting within a mile of it; many of 

the holders of large claims are erecting dams and machinery for the coming winter.{69} 

The reasons identified by the mining surveyor for the lack of success in this locality were: 

• miners rushing to New Zealand and neglecting to pay calls; 

• difficulty in using the by-laws to dispossess the defaulters; 

• companies with insufficient funds are not capable of developing their claims; 

• but principally because of the failure of companies with adequate funds on supposedly good 

ground.{70} 

Companies operating under the Limited Liability Act 

By the 1860's most of the labour to work the mines was hired on contract and most mines operated under 

the Limited Liability Acts of the time.{71} These acts limited the liability for the debts of the company 

so that each shareholder was only liable for debts up to the value of his or her shares.{72} The claims 

which continued at Happy Valley / Lucky Womans were well regarded and the area had regained a good 

reputation by 1862-63. These claims were the North American, Investigator, Robin Hood, Lucky, 

British, Waverley and Grand Junction / United Junction / Nonpariel / Mugby Junction. These mines were 

operated using steam powered machinery, generally using one engine for pumping and puddling and 

another for winding. The shafts had 3 compartments, were up to 280 feet deep, and basalt was 

encountered during sinking. Wash dirt from the mines was processed in cast and wrought iron puddling 

machines. The Waverley Mine, which had a lease of 200 acres, was the last deep alluvial mine to close at 

Happy Valley 

in 1881, after operating for 20 years.{73} A few deep lead mines commenced in the mid to late 1860's 

but none were very productive. In the 1870's a few new leads were opened up, most of these were at the 

western end of Happy Valley on private property. These mines operated for between five and eleven 

years on larger leases and with some success. 

Linton 

Opening the deep leads at Linton 

The Black Lead at Linton was being worked using whims during 1856. After beginning in March and 

losing two shafts, the first party bottomed in September at a depth of 100 feet and it was rumoured that a 

party from Ballarat was considering erecting an engine on the lead.{74} However the deep leads in this 

locality were not properly opened up until 1857. The first claims were registered on the Black Lead in 

1858, and the two engine parties were having difficulties coping with large volumes of water. This lead 

was never rich, and the mines only managed to pay for their operating expenses. The depth varied from 

50 to 100 feet, and basalt was encountered in the Edinburgh claim. 

In June 1858 Linton had a population of 2000 including 400 Chinese. At this time there were four 

puddling machines and accompanying dams in Bloomers and Nuggetty Gullies. While further north at 

the Hard Hills there were eight puddling machines and dams. In June 1858 another deep lead was struck 

near the township. There were two engines with a combined power of 25 hp, and a whim on this lead. 

The sinking was 110 feet deep. 

The number of deep alluvial mining companies recorded by the mining surveyor reflects the same level of 

activity as at Happy Valley. The period to 1865 was the busiest with thirty companies mentioned. Only 

16


four of these companies worked for more than a few years. Reports appeared on an additional ten 

companies between 1865 and 1880, none of which lasted for more than a few years. 

The Standard Lead was the most productive at Linton and within a week of its discovery in August 1859, 

forty-nine claims had been registered. In September it was reported that there were thirty-five frontage 

claims and five block claims extending for 0.75 miles. Claim No. 10 was winning gold from depths of 70 

to 80 feet. 

Deep leads mines on private property 

Throughout 1860 the Standard and then the Royal Standard leads provided good yields. However from 

1861 the deep leads began to decline with only a few companies operating until the mid 1860's. It was at 

this time that a few companies successfully negotiated with landowners for permission to mine the main 

lead which ran beneath these properties. One of which the Pioneer / Linton Park was still being worked 

by Chinese tributers in 1890. There were a few more mines established until the 1880's but none 

achieved much success. 

The Atlas was one of the longer lasting mines at Linton. It operated from November 1859, and the last 

report appeared in April 1868. The first party stopped working this mine in March 1864. It was then 

taken up by a new party who were rewarded with success. In mid 1865 it was reported to be the best 

mine at Linton and one of the best in the district. The under ground tramway was enlarged to a double 

road sufficient for two horses in October 1865. A furnace for treating mundic was added to the plant in 

August 1866, the machinery and pump were overhauled at the same time.{75} The Edinburgh was a 

similar operation working from 1860 to 1867. The company updated its machinery to a 35 horse power 

engine, a new poppet head and 2 cast iron puddling machines in 1866. A serious explosion occurred in 

the mine in 1867 and air pipes were subsequently installed along the main drive.{76} 

Piggoreet / Devil's Kitchen 

Large companies working the wettest ground 

Unlike the deep leads at Browns, Italians and Happy Valley, the deep leads in and around Devils Kitchen 

were not rushed by large numbers of miners. The seven companies that started in the early 1860's 

operated for between 7 and 20 years. Water was a major problem for the deep lead mines at Piggoreet. 

The mines on the lead were dependent on each other to keep the water under control. For instance the 

Golden Horn was swamped out when the Scarsdale Extended ceased operations in December 1866. At 

the time this company had separate steam engines for pumping, puddling and winding, three boilers, and 

three puddling machines. 

In June 1870 the Golden Horn and Golden Lake companies together erected powerful machinery on the 

abandoned shaft of the Alpha Co. to supplement the pumping equipment at their own shafts.{77} From 

the mid to late 1860's until the early 1870's the Golden Lake, Golden Horn and Grand Trunk mines were 

highly mechanised and among the most productive alluvial mines in the Smythesdale Mining Division. 

An article in the Grenville Times and Smythesdale Advertiser in July 1875 lists the workforce at the 

Grand Trunk Co. as: 

Below Ground:45 facemen, 15 truckers & pumpers, 4 horsemen, 2 chambermen, and 5 

horses. Above Ground:3 engine drivers, 3 sluicemen, 3 puddlers, 2 bracemen, a blacksmith, 

a striker, a carpenter, and a firewood stacker. The total wages bill for a fortnight was 

£340.{78} 

There were a few short lived deep lead mines in Derwent Jacks Gully in the 1860's and a few more 

operated in this area for a couple of years in the 1880's. The Little Horn and the Hotspur were two 

smaller deep lead mines that each operated for approximately 10 years in the period from 1877 to 1895. 

Unlike other deep lead mines Devils Kitchen contains adits which miners drove under the basalt to work 

the leads. This is now a rare occurrence. It is more common to find remains of shafts, winding and 

pumping foundations from mines sunk through basalt or layers of sediment to reach the deep leads. 

Scarsdale 

17


There were two groups of deep lead mines at Scarsdale. Those that lasted for one to four years and 

commenced in the early 1860's and those that lasted from five to fifteen years. The first group, thirty in 

number, were mainly on the leads north and east of Scarsdale around Black Hill and Sugarloaf Hill. 

These mines were similar to the other short lived mines at Browns, Monkey Gully and Italians etc. 

The Croesus Prospecting Company was one of these mines. In January 1860 it was reported to be 

operating in the new style with one group of shareholders working while the others paid to maintain the 

working party until the gutter was reached, at which stage all the shareholders would work the claim.{79} 

There are nine mines in the second group. They worked along the main trunk lead which runs south from 

Scarsdale to Piggoreet. The Bute, Golden Stream, Scarsdale Great Extended/Galatea, and Wheal Kitty 

were the largest mines in this second group, and were among the most important mines that operated in 

the Smythesdale Mining Division from the mid 1860's to the early 1870's. A few mines were started after 

1865 and even as late as the 1870's but none were very successful, and mining on the deep leads had 

virtually finished by the mid 1870's. 

The Golden Stream mine was a major mine on the Grand Trunk Lead. It commenced operating in May 

1862 and was reporting good yields from the middle of 1863. Its claim was enlarged in 1864 at which 

time the mine was working at a depth of 263 feet from a three compartment shaft. A 16.25 inch by 36 

inch steam engine was used for pumping and puddling, and a 13 inch by 24 inch steam engine was used 

for winding. The other plant at the mine consisted of two boilers, three iron puddling machines, and an 

11 inch plunger and draw lift pumps. Yields were described as poor during 1865 but the company was 

reported to be effectively run and still able to making a profit. A second shaft was put down late in 1865 

and a third in 1868. The equipment for the third shaft was purchased from the Golden Empire Co. The 

best yields were obtained in 1870/71, with the mine ceasing operations in 1874. From time to time water 

was a problem, such as when an inburst occurred in October 1867. However this problem would 

presumably have been solved when the additional shafts were sunk, because while the pumping 

equipment was kept in good repair it was not upgraded. 

Reuse of mining equipment 

Once the deep leads were worked out mining usually finished in that area. Unlike quartz reefs or surface 

alluvial deposits, deep leads were generally not worked for a second or third time. Quartz might either be 

followed deeper or low grade deposits left by the previous miners might be mined using new techniques. 

Surface alluvial deposits could also be made to pay when processed for a second time in large scale 

sluicing or dredging operations. Once the deep lead mining began to decline one plant after another was 

removed till the only signs of the mining activity were the machinery foundations, tailings and mullock 

heaps. For example in October 1876 the boiler was the only plant remaining at the Golden Gate mine at 

Scarsdale. An unfortunate accident was reported when the poppet legs were being moved from this mine 

to the Smythesdale Quartz Consolidated mine at German Reef. The rope, being used to lower two of the 

legs, snapped. The legs fell to the ground and splintered.{80} 

Carngham/Snake Valley 

The mining of the deep leads at Carngham, many of which ran beneath private property, was reported to 

be prosperous from the late 1850's until the mid 1860's. In fact the mining surveyor on a number of 

occasions cited localities in the Carngham area as some of the most prosperous in the division .{81} The 

surveyors reports record approximately thirty five companies working this locality in the early 1860's. 

Eight of these companies operated for periods of greater than 5 years. However this does not take into 

account those companies operating on private land, particularly those concentrated along the Preston Hill 

Lead, where in September 1864 there were six companies at work using steam engines. Being on private 

property their yields may not have been reported.{82} 

Mining on private property 

Mining on private property was beyond the control of the government in the early years and the miners 

believed that they were exploited by the property owners, who could charge what they liked for the 

privilege of mining on their land. In September 1859 the land up to Mr. Stone's fence at Carngham had 

been purchased by miners for œ40 per acre. While Mr. Stone has leased some of his land at œ100 for 5 

acres, and was awaiting offers on the rest of his land.{83} 

18


The Snake Valley Main Lead south of Carngham supported several productive mines. The Magnum 

Bonum was the best. It operated from 1859 to 1871, and in August 1859 was reported to be delaying 

operations pending the arrival of machinery. Seven companies using steam power were working on the 

Snake Valley Lead in September 1864, all had been paying well for years.{84} Whims were in use at the 

same time as steam engines. Bottle Hill, a locality that did not prove to be very successful, had only 2 

steam engines and four whims at this time. 

Speculation by investors under the Limited Liability Act of 1864 

The Carngham / Snake Valley area suffered from a rash of speculation in the mid 1860's when hundreds 

of acres were leased or taken up as block claims by mining companies established under The Mining 

Companies Limited Liability Act 1864. Mines that had previously paid dividends as co-operatives were 

unable to get in calls from shareholders. By mid 1866 some of the large companies that had formed 

during what the mining surveyor described as the mining mania of 1865' were dissolving. Smaller cooperatives 

were more suited to this area because the wash dirt was low grade, widely distributed and 

shallow.{85} Deep lead mining of any consequence had virtually finished by the early 1870's with only a 

few small claims registered on the leads in the late 1870's. 

Haddon 

Large scale deep lead mines 

This area was exclusively a surface and deep lead mining area. Mining of the deep leads here began in 

the early 1860s but was unsuccessful. It was not until the second half of the 1860s that deep lead mining 

succeeded in this area. From that time mining was dominated by three deep lead mining companies the 

Reform, Smythesdale Racecourse, and Trunk Lead. These companies operated from the late 1860s until 

the late 1880s and were the reason why Haddon was the chief centre of mining in the Smythesdale 

Mining Division from the mid to the late 1870s. At their peak these three mines were collectively 

producing up to 6300 ozs of gold per quarter.{86} 

The Reform Co. had six shafts over a distance of 3 km along the Haddon Lead, the Racecourse Co. had 

two shafts, and the Trunk Lead operated from a single shaft. Water was a problem in these mines. The 

puddle clay holding out the water in the No.1 shaft of the Reform Co. mine gave away twice in June 

1868, and it was considered that larger pumps would be required.{87} These mines were well equipped. 

The Trunk Lead Co. mine in October 1872 had its pumping and puddling machines completed, its engine 

house almost completed, and the frames and bearers for a 16 inch direct lift pump fixed in the shaft.{88} 

Illabarook / Rokewood Junction / Rokewood 

A few deep lead mines also operated in these localities up to the mid 1870s but they were only minor 

compared to the mines already described. 

At Rokewood a few of the companies that commenced in the 1860s operated for five years, most only 

lasted for a few years. Grant's and Turner's parties commenced in the mid 1870s and operated for 10 

years. At any time until 1916 there were a couple of deep lead mines operating at Rokewood, with the 

main period of deep lead mining in this locality occurring during the late 1890s. 

At Western Creek during 1863/64 several large companies were trying to locate the continuation of the 

Smythe's Creek and Springdallah leads. However by the end of 1865 these companies were unable to get 

calls in and were holding their claims under protective registration.{89} The Western Creek Grand 

Junction Gold Mining Co./ Rutherford & Party / Goldsborough Co. was the only company that operated 

for more than 5 years between 1865 and 1877. It had two shafts with 12hp and 25hp steam engines 

respectively. Iron puddlers were used to recover the gold. This mine was not particularly successful. 

Summary: Phase 2 - Deep Lead Mines late 1850s to 1885 

Three types of deep lead mines operated during this phase. 

19


The first were those that operated as co-operative companies on frontage or block claims of up to 50 

acres. These mines were worked out by the mid 1860s. They were generally confined to the localities of 

Browns, Smythesdale, Italians, Monkey Gully, Linton, Happy Valley, Carngham, and Snake Valley. In 

these localities the sinking was not too deep, the rock was not too hard and the ground was not 

excessively wet. None of these mines were very lucrative. It was during the period when these mines 

were operating that the Smythesdale Mining Division contained the greatest number of steam engines in 

use for alluvial mining in the State.{90} These mines were operated by either whim or steam engine up 

to 25 hp. There was a tendency for claims to be amalgamated so that sufficient capital could be raised to 

purchase an engine to drain the mine. The companies that managed these mines were formed on the cooperative 

principal. Mines using whims were often upgraded to steam power, but there was generally no 

further upgrading of the steam powered plant. 

The second type of mine were those that commenced from the late 1850's to the mid 1860s. They 

operated on larger leases. A significant proportion were quite profitable. These mines had extensive plant 

and equipment, which was often upgraded and added to over time. These companies quite often operated 

from more than one shaft. The majority of these mines were concentrated in those areas where the 

sinking was difficult at Durham, from Scarsdale to Piggoreet, at Linton and at Haddon. A significant 

proportion of these mines were on private property. The reasons for the success of these mines appears to 

be the richness of the leads which they mined, the size of the leases and the strength of the companies. 

The third type were the very large mines at Sebastopol and Buninyong which need massive machinery to 

operate at considerable depth under as many as four layers of basalt. Like the second type, these mines 

operated under difficult conditions and were owned by large companies. 

Phase 3: Surfacing and Sluicing, 1857 to 1900 

By 1857 the costly operation of deep sinking was beyond the means of individual diggers. This resulted 

in an underemployed mining population. Consequently provision was made during 1857 to issue grants 

for areas of shallow ground for sluicing and surfacing. By January 1858 half the mining population was 

engaged in this type of mining, with large sums of money being invested in the construction of races for 

sluicing purposes. Kirk & Co.'s race, for instance, was valued at œ5000 to œ6000.{91} The introduction 

of sluicing was heralded by James W. R. Pringle, mining surveyor for the No. 5 or Buninyong Mining 

Division, as an improved system of washing out gold which would drive puddling machines from the 

field.{92} 

Many parties were engaged in surfacing around Smythesdale and those working along the creek and at 

Browns were achieving satisfactory results. Both these types of activity were heavily dependent upon a 

good supply of water. The surfacing parties built puddling machines, dams and races and waited for the 

rains. The Ballarat Star reported that puddling machines and dams were waiting for rain at Bloomers 

Gully near Linton in May 1858, and at Russells Flat near Carngham in June 1858. With John Lynch, the 

mining surveyor, reporting in June 1858 that from Monkey Gully to Mount Mercer there were 15 

puddling machines with dams and races prepared for sluicing and surfacing waiting for the rain to 

arrive.{93} 

Buninyong 

The Chinese made up a significant proportion of the mining population in the late 1850s and 1860s. 

Mostly working the shallow alluvial ground, often in areas previously mined. There are several reports 

which indicate that they and other parties working the shallow deposits were making good wages. 

Shallow alluvial workings from the Hard Hills to Terrible Gully, at Hiscock's and on the Black Lead at 

Scotchmans were productive up to the early 1860s.{94} Extended claims to work these shallow deposits 

were taken up in the 1860s, allowing parties to settle and work systematically through their claims. 

Reservoir water for sluicing and puddling 

The government reservoir at Buninyong was of great assistance throughout the 1870s and 1880s both for 

the quartz reef miners at Hiscocks, as well as for sluicing and surfacing. In 1874 the mining surveyor 

reported that there were seven puddling machines and several long toms working immediately below the 

embankment and that the reservoir was a great impetus to mining in the locality.{95} In areas not served 

20


by the reservoir the alluvial miners were still able to work some rich patches when rain provided the 

necessary water. 

Smythesdale - Scarsdale - Browns - Italian Gully - Monkey Gully 

Steam powered puddling and sluicing 

One of the earliest reports of the working of surface deposits was at Smythesdale. The mining surveyor 

reported in June 1858 that two grants of 5 acres had been operating since January 1857 using steam 

engines, the aggregate power of their engines was 25 hp. These companies were turning over the whole 

strata to a depth of 1.5 feet. One of these companies, the Smythes Creek Mining Co. was described as 

having a most efficient plant consisting of a steam engine, puddling machine, pumping gear, and long 

toms. Unfortunately these companies were only winning enough gold to pay a subsistence wage.{96} 

Water ensured consistent returns 

By July 1859 at Italian and Monkey Gullies the shallow workings were nearly exhausted. Although 

moderate wages were being made in the winter by parties puddling the surface material. These shallow 

diggings and the surface hills were largely being worked by the Chinese.{97} 

At Browns in 1860 the Chinese were reworking the old gullies and surface hills and throughout the early 

1860s these shallow deposits continued to provide employment, with some parties reported to be doing 

remarkably well. The fact that the Chinese were preparing additional whims and puddling machines at 

Brown's Old Lead in December 1861 suggested to the mining surveyor that they must still be finding 

gold.{98} Sluicing companies were formed during this period and produced profitable results when there 

was sufficient water in their dams. 

The Chinese were reported to have found several rich patches of ground on Warren's Flat at Smythesdale 

in November 1861. In December all the surface ground around Smythe's and Browne's had been taken up 

and in many instances was turning out better than the deep leads, which were far more expensive to 

mine.{99} In 1864 with the deep leads declining, the Chinese were working the old ground and shallow 

ranges from the northern outskirts of Smythesdale, south to Scarsdale and still managing to obtain a 

living by persevering with paddocking and puddling. Then in 1867 they were occupying all the shallow 

ground along Smythesdale Flat as far as McLachlan's Flat. 

Water wheels on creek for pumping and puddling 

In June 1871 along Smythe's Creek near the township several small companies used water-wheels to 

work the shallow ground. One was being used for pumping and puddling, and two others were being 

used successfully for pumping.{100} 

Alluvial terraces and creeks the focus for sluicing 

Mining of shallow alluvial deposits which although not discussed in any detail in the official reports did 

provide a major proportion of the wealth derived from mining. The alluvial terraces in the hills around 

Smythesdale and Scarsdale were a focus for this type of mining. 

The Watsons Hill, Black Hill and Smythes Sluicing Companies were cutting races between June and 

August 1858, with the Black Hill Co. starting work in August and the Frasers Hill Sluicing Co. meeting 

in September 1858 to plan preliminary works.{101} 

The Black Hill Puddling and Sluicing Co. commenced operating in January 1860 but their method of 

operation was inefficient and the claim was sold at auction. A new company purchased a steam pumping 

plant which was used to pump water from a creek to the hill. However once the plant was established the 

operation proved to be uneconomic. The claim and plant were again advertised for sale. 

A sluicing operation similar to that used at Black Hill was established by a Mr. Lock at Surfacing Hill 

near Smythesdale in 1860. Then in 1875 Mr. Bowden and his party of 16 men had constructed fluming to 

give them an extra sluice head of water. Surface Hill was being mined at this time. The ground was 16 

21


feet deep and a report appeared in the Grenville Times and Smythesdale Advertiser describing how the 

dangerous pillars of earth left from the old workings had to be felled.{102} 

Sluicing parties operated for short periods in the early 1870s. Up to the 1880s surfacing and sluicing of 

the hills was undertaken during the months of the year when rainfall provided sufficient water. In 1888 

two companies were sluicing at Black Hill , Scarsdale, together with the Tunnel Co. which was building a 

dam and a race with timber flumes.{103} Sluicing was the main form of alluvial mining at this time and 

good rainfall had meant that it continued for nine months in the Smythesdale District during 1888.{104} 

Sluicing of the hills and along the creeks continued during the 1890s and when water was available 

parties were active at Black Hill, Scarsdale and at Watson's Hill and Frasers Hill, Smythesdale. 

In 1903 some nice nuggets were being found north-west of Smythesdale and one of the parties was 

reported to be using the Western Australian system of dry-blowing' to find the slugs of gold because of 

the shortage of water.{105} 

Carngham / Snake Valley 

The main Carngham Lead was very rich at shallow levels, and from 1855 to 1862 it was popular with the 

diggers. However the shallow diggings at Carngham were reported to be nearly exhausted by August 

1859 and being worked by the Chinese, who in 1868 were still able to make a living by washing the dirt 

in this locality with horse puddlers.{106}. 

In 1861 several parties were constructing dams, reservoirs and puddling machines at Coffee Hill which is 

at the south end of the Snake Valley Lead. The working of the shallow deposits at the southern end of 

Snake Valley continued and in September 1864 a large tract of shallow ground at Coffee Hill and Hard 

Hill was giving employment to a large Chinese population.{107} 

Haddon 

Chinese miners persisted with sluicing and puddling 

The Chinese extracted good yields from the shallow deposits in this area. In the first half of 1865 a small 

co-operative party of Chinese was reported to be getting excellent yields from the ground along the 

western boundary of the Phoenix claim. The Chinese continued to mine the surface deposits and in the 

early 1880s were obtaining good yields in and around the Nintingbool Estate. The leads in this area were 

moderately shallow and fairly wide. 

Happy Valley - Piggoreet (Devil's Kitchen) 

Throughout 1859 and 1860 there were rich patches of surface gold being discovered, and people moved 

in and out of this area. In January 1860 miners were deserting the area preferring Linton which at the 

time was providing good yields. The availability of water always brought an influx of people surfacing 

and sluicing the rich patches of shallow wash dirt in this area, so that in July 1860 puddling was again 

being successfully undertaken at Happy Valley. There were several puddling machines in every gully, 

the conservation of storm water being made easier by the precipitous nature of the country.{108} . 

The shallow ground at Derwent Jacks, east of Piggoreet, and at Happy Valley to the west had been 

worked out in the mid 1850's. The mining surveyor reported a rush to Springdallah Creek in November 

1859, but there are very few reports of surface workings in Piggoreet area. However in contrast with 

other localities tunnelling parties were reported to be operating from Derwent Jacks to Happy Valley and 

making good progress.{109} 

Linton 

From 1854 to 1857 mining at Linton was confined to the rich shallow gullies, Nuggetty, Bloomer's, Wet 

Flat and Candlestick were well known. The mining of the surface alluvials in the Hard Hills between 

Linton and Carngham was restricted by a lack of water and in August 1859 there were only a few Chinese 

working in this locality. By 1860 the old gullies in the Linton area were exclusively occupied by the 

Chinese who appeared to be doing well. Indeed at one point in March 1861 the old gullies and shallow 

patches being mined with puddling machines and horse whims were reported to be giving better yields 

22


than the deeper mines.{110} Puddling, sluicing and paddocking of the shallow ground north of Linton 

remained dependent upon heavy rains. In the middle of 1864 a considerable number of Chinese were 

continuing to work the shallow ground with puddling machines. However by the end of 1864 there were 

only a few small parties, both European and Chinese, making a living on the shallow gullies and alluvial 

flats. Small scale surface mining continued of and on in this locality until the 1890's. 

Illabarook / Bulldog - Rokewood Junction - Moon Light Flat 

Bull-Dog Creek had a good reputation in November 1859, with several claims giving satisfactory 

returns.{111} Montrose Hill east of Illabarook Creek was rushed in the middle of 1861, and by October 

400 diggers were working there. Sixty parties had found gold and most were making wages on wash dirt 

found at a depth of 20 to 25 feet. Mining in this locality had declined a little by November 1861. But the 

area was rushed again in January 1862. The mining population rose to 600 and the depth of sinking 

increased to between 36 and 50 feet, and the wash was expected to become a regular lead. Yields 

fluctuated throughout 1862 and the Rokewood Prospecting Company erected a steam baling machine to 

test the deep ground.{112} 

There were small rushes to Bulldog in 1864 and 1866, while in 1868 and 1870 the diggers were still 

finding some good patches, and another small rush was reported in 1871. Parties continued to find small 

patches in 1886 and 1887. Two or three sluicing parties obtained fair yields at Illabarook in 1889. 

In 1859, 1860 and 1868 a few small rushes took place at Moonlight Creek. The 1859 reports indicate 

that the alluvial ground was patchy, and that diggers followed the rushes to other fields. In 1860 the few 

parties working the gully were only winning sufficient gold to pay a subsistence wage, by 1861 it was 

nearly deserted, and in 1863 the old ground was held almost exclusively by the Chinese. In the late 1860s 

and early 1870s there were a few finds that rekindled interest in both alluvial and quartz reef mining and 

several claims were registered. 

Misery Creek / Grassy Gully - Dereel 

The shallow alluvial deposits in this area were mined almost exclusively by the Chinese from 1859 until 

the mid 1860s with the number of diggers fluctuating depending upon the yields, and the availability of 

water. At Grassy Gully the shallow alluvials continued to provide fair wages and there was the 

occasional rush, the last was reported in 1871. From 1872 the mining of these deposits started to decline. 

Locally funded prospecting party 

A prospecting party funded by local trades people discovered some alluvial wash in the late 1880s. This 

discovery caused a small rush, but working was restricted by a lack of water. 

At Dereel the alluvial gullies were mined from the mid 1850s and parties continued to make average 

wages until the early 1860s. By the end of 1861 there were approximately 10 puddling companies 

working the old ground and making œ3 to œ4 per man per week.{113} The Chinese were the only ones 

working this area by the end of 1862. There was a minor rush to this area in the late 1880s and a few 

puddling machines were erected. 

Whim Holes 

In 1859 the surfacing at Whim Holes was good. In the later half of 1859 two miles of the Whim Holes 

Lead was taken up by a two prospecting claims, two large block claims, and three old ground claims 

under Bye-law 10 of the Mining Board. A small rush of 100 diggers in the middle of 1860 only lasted a 

couple of months. By the early 1870s mining in this area was depressed. 

Berringa 

Kangaroo Gully was mined from 1856 to 1862. From 1860 puddling machines were used exclusively, 

hence the diggers were entirely dependent on the availability of water. The mining surveyor reported in 

November 1861 that between 8 or 10 puddling companies were doing pretty well earning from œ3 to œ4 

per man per week working the old ground at Mount Misery and Kangaroo Gully.{114} The Chinese 

formed a large part of the mining population and from 1862 were the sole occupants of this gully. 

23

Surfacing and Sluicing - 1857 to 1900 


Surfacing and Sluicing of previously mined shallow alluvial deposits was undertaken by small companies 

and co-operatives. These parties, mostly the Chinese, worked and reworked large tracts of land along the 

creeks, alluvial flats and terraces. This type of activity was most common at Smythes Creek, Nintingbool 

and the hills around Smythesdale and Scarsdale. 

This form of mining was totally dependent upon a good supply and was generally restricted to the wetter 

months of the year. Dams and water races provided the scarce water by which the gold was dislodged 

from the alluvial sand and gravel in puddling machines and sluices. Steam pumps and puddling machines 

were sometimes used, and there were even a few water wheels used for pumping and puddling along 

Smythes Creek. 

Most of the shallow alluvial deposits have either been re-mined by hydraulic dredges in the 1900s, 

rehabilitated to make the land reusable for agriculture or the gravels have been removed for construction 

of roads. 

Phase 4: Quartz Reef Mining, 1857 to 1887 

In the Ballarat Mining District alluvial gold was so plentiful that quartz mining, which also required 

capital for machinery, was not a focus for mining investment in the late 1850s. However late in 1857 

several new quartz crushing inventions were advertised and companies were forming to exploit the quartz 

resources. The Port Phillip Co. at Clunes, was one and a company was established at Black Hill, Ballarat 

to put Mr. Penrose's crushing invention into operation.{115} 

In the early 1860's quartz reef mining was viewed with great optimism as the production from alluvial 

mining was beginning to decline, as the following extract from the Ballarat Star demonstrates: 

... the amount of gold escorted in the past five weeks has diminished from 55,443 ozs to 49,261 ozs for 

the Ballarat; but the prediction is made that there will soon be increases in the returns from the investment 

in quartz mining; capital is being invested in the development of the quartz reefs and if the results already 

obtained in every direction demonstrate anything, they establish the assumption that good machinery and 

good direction are all that is required to ensure ample returns upon capital employed in this field of 

industry; the mania for speculation has been and is enormous and there maybe reason to fear that many 

speculators will find themselves unable to meet their calls.{116} 

Buninyong 

James W. R. Pringle, Mining Surveyor for No. 5 or Buninyong Mining Division, reported on the 13th 

June 1858 that: 

... the quartz reefs are the main features of the northern part of the division from Terrible 

Gully beyond Long Gully, for a distance of 2 miles; these reefs are all taken up and 

worked with great energy but are awaiting the advent of more powerful and efficient 

machinery; one machine is operating and another is expected to be at work before the end 

of the month.{117} 

The Buninyong Division includes the southern end of the Ballarat East Goldfield and the mining of the 

reefs in this area began in earnest from the beginning of the 1860s. 

The Buninyong section of this goldfield extends south from the All Nations group of mines for 

approximately 5 km to the workings at Scotchmans reef. The Imperial Mine was the largest and most 

successful of the mines in this area. 

The All Nations Co. in the north commenced crushing in April 1860 from a stock pile of stone that had 

been accumulating for two years. The battery at this mine was idle during 1861 after the shaft caved-in. 

An eight head battery was still being used by this company in 1864 before being updated in December 

1865.{118} The officially recorded production for this company from May 1860 to June 1864 was 1137 

ozs from 2,930 tons (or 35.366 kg from 2,975 tonnes).{119} The Mining Surveyor for this division 

records eight other quartz reef mining claims having either been registered or working at the All Nations 

Reef during the late 1860s. 

24


The Devonshire reefs east of the Buninyong Township were prospected without much success in 1860, 

with several claims being taken up again from 1864 following the discovery of some rich specimens. 

However these claims do not appear to have been very successful and reef mining did not last for very 

long in this locality. 

Imperial Company operated for 57 years 

The Imperial company erected a 12 head crushing battery powered by an 18 hp steam engine in June 

1860 after being encouraged by the quality of the quartz in its claim, which had yielded 8 dwt per 

ton.{120} For a time in the mid 1860s it was worked on tribute between the 150 and 200 foot levels and 

was one of only three reef mining companies working in the division. The company was reorganised in 

1865 and Dickers Mining Record lists the features at the mine as follows: 

... a two compartment shaft, 7 feet by 4 feet, is sunk to a depth of 260 feet; a 14 inch by 36 inch horizontal 

steam battery engine, the Cornish flue boiler is 25 feet by 5 feet, a 10 inch by 24 inch horizontal steam 

winding engine, the egg-ended boiler is 15 feet by 3 feet; the 12 head battery has square stampers 

weighing 6 hundredweights, false bottoms with tongues and lifts, ripples and blankets.{121} 

In 1868 this company took over the Standard Co. mine, which had a 12 head battery and a steam winding 

engine that had been installed two years earlier. The company continued to use both batteries and was 

obtaining good yields. In September 1869 its yield of 15 dwt per ton was described as excellent. This 

had decreased to 4.5 dwt per ton in March 1874 when it was the only quartz reef mine in the division with 

yields that were returning a dividend.{122} In the early 1880s an additional 12 head of stampers were 

erected and the mining surveyor commented that on completion of this addition the mine would be the 

most productive in the district.{123} Between January 1860 and December 1891 the recorded production 

for this mine is 40,963 ozs 8 dwt 23 gr from 230,462 tons (or 1274.135 kg from 234,160 tonnes).{124} 

The company was reorganised again in 1902. It continued to operate till 1913 with a 20 head stamp 

battery, eventually reaching a depth of 600 feet. When it closed, the machinery was sold bringing to 

a close a mine that had been in operation for 57 years.{125} During this last phase from July 1898 to 

December 1912 the recorded production for the mine is 44,648 ozs 4 dwt from 232,123 tons ( or 

1388.746 kg from 235,848 tonnes).{126} 

The One and All Co., located just north of the Imperial, has a similar history to the Imperial, although it 

was not as productive. Production commenced with a 16 head stamp battery in 1860 and the mine 

continued to win gold in payable quantities till the early 1870s. Together with the Imperial it was one of 

the 3 reef mining companies working in the Division in March 1865. New plant was erected in 1882. 

The recorded production of the One-and-All Co. from July 1861 to 1872 was 3203 ozs 8 dwt 18 gr from 

26,370 tons (or 99.64 kg from 26,793 tonnes). Between April 1874 to December 1883 the New Oneand-All 

Co. produced 5107 ozs 11 dwt 7 gr from 37,346 tons (or 158.867 kg from 37,945 tonnes). The 

Golden Shaft Co., which took over the mine in 1887, produced 25 ozs 6 gr from 48 tons (or 0.978 kg 

from 48 tonnes) between October and December 1890.{127} 

Small companies controlled most of the reefs 

Apart from these large companies, the quartz reefs from Tower Hill in the north to Scotchmans in the 

south were taken up largely by small co-operative parties in the late 1860s and 1870s. Some of these 

companies were relatively successful, and this line of reef was recorded as continuing to yield well, at a 

rate of 5 dwt 5.5 grs per ton, in December 1879.{128} 

The Mining Surveyor's Report of November 1861 includes an interesting report of a party of Chinese 

striking a promising reef in the Hiscock's area and renting the cement battery at Hard Hills for œ40 per 

week.{129} 

Prospecting continued throughout the 1870s and there were a few small rushes both to shallow alluvial 

deposits and quartz reefs. The government prospecting party operating at Devonshire Reef found a fine 

looking body of quartz in 1877 and two years later a strong company was formed to test the reef.{130} 

The quartz reefs at Scotchmans were attracting more attention in the 1870s. A few reasonable sized 

companies were established such as the Homeward Bound Co. However these companies did not 

overtake the few large quartz reef mining companies that had established in the 1860s and continued 

25


throughout 1870s and beyond. The small co-operatives engaged in quartz reef mining in the ranges 

between Tower Hill and Scotchmans were also getting some good yields in the 1870's.{131} A 10 head 

battery was erected for public crushing at Scotchman's in December 1876, and a Denny's patent pulveriser 

was erected in 1874 to process the large heaps of tailings at what was almost certainly Hiscock's 

Reef.{132} 

Browns - Monkey and Italian Gullies 

In March 1858 parties were mining the Prospect reef at Browns. Reefs had also been discovered at Italian 

Gully and Budgeons, but there are no reports of any crushings.{133} 

Also by the middle of the year the Smythes Quartz Prospecting Association party had struck a good 

looking reef at Browns, and reefs had been discovered at Italian Gully, and Budgeons Flat. In June 1858 

Mr. Lynch, the mining surveyor for the Smythesdale Mining Division, was predicting that quartz mining 

and sluicing would be the most successful forms of mining in his division.{134} 

At Monkey Gully in the vicinity of the Havelock Company in December 1859 a fine crushing machine of 

20 horse power and 18 stampers was being erected to test the reef at the head of Budgen's Flat.{135} 

Mining reefs found in deep lead mines 

The actual working of the quartz reefs began in the Browns area in 1860 at Mullocky Point and Victoria 

Reefs. There were six reef mining companies reported working at Browns in the 1860s and 

approximately the same number in the late 1870s and 1880s. Nearly half of the later mines were 

reworking the reefs tested in the 1860s, some of these reefs having been found by the deep lead miners. 

Following the closing of the deep lead mines a few of these miners formed parties to return and rework 

these reefs. The interest in quartz reef mining gradually increased as the alluvial mines were exhausted 

and as new methods of mining were developed. This area was prospected for reefs from the 1860s to the 

1880s. 

Poor preparation led to failure of small companies 

The Victoria Co. at Victoria Reef started operating in June 1860 with very good yields and its machinery 

was in full working order in July 1860. But it did not turn out as well as expected, part of the problem 

was attributed to a defective amalgamating apparatus, and operations ceased in May 1861. In September 

the Ballarat Star commented on the failure of many small claims on which plant had been installed using 

money borrowed from banks or capitalists. These claims had failed because they had expended all their 

money prior to adequately testing the reefs. The Star argued that larger claims with adequate capital, 

using larger plants would make even the poorest reef payable.{136} 

Reuse of machinery 

German Hill Reef, a mile north of the Smythesdale Post Office was rushed in April 1872, and by January 

1873 there were 150 men making excellent wages working this ground.{137} The Smythesdale Consols 

Quartz Mining Co. commenced operations in this locality in December 1875. This company cleaned out 

the old workings and a whim was purchased in February of the following year. Then in March the 

company was registered and the crushing plant of the Duke of Edinburgh Co. at Steiglitz was purchased 

and transported to the mine, with new boxes and stamp heads being supplied by the Black Hill foundry at 

Ballarat. In September the winding plant was obtained from the Kitty Consols Co. and in October the 

poppet legs were obtained from the Golden Gate Co. at Scarsdale.{138} 

Carngham / Snake Valley 

Reworking of quartz reefs and early tailings treatment 

Quartz mining began at Britannia Reef west of Snake Valley in November 1859 when a yield of 19 dwt 

per ton from 7 tons stimulated prospecting of the reefs. Mining of these reefs continued on and off until 

the 1930s. In 1860 an excellent steam crushing machine was erected. The mine suffered a tragic set back 

when a cave in killed four men. By the middle of 1861 a new battery was erected, a new shaft was being 

sunk, and it was the only quartz mine working in the Carngham / Snake Valley area. Additional 

26


machinery was erected in 1863 and by the mid 1860s it had yielded approximately 10,000 ozs of gold 

from depths of up to 500 feet. Work stopped at the mine in 1867 and in 1868 the Prince Alfred Co. was 

formed to extract the gold from the tailings of the Britannia mine. A new co-operative party the Prince 

Alfred Tailings and Cement Crushing Co. took over in December 1869. The plant used by this company 

consisted of a 16 horsepower steam engine, two buddles for concentrating sand, a reverberatory furnace 

for roasting mundic, two Chilian mills with 2 ton rollers, one shaking table, one 7 inch surface pump,and 

one tailings pump. Eight men and three boys were employed at the plant, which each week reduced 100 

tons of tailings to 8 tons of concentrated sand, which in turn yielded 1 oz of gold per ton.{139} The last 

report of the tailings treatment company was in June 1870. The New Britannia Quartz Reef Co. tested the 

reef in the early 1870s without success. 

The Result / Ballarat and Carngham Consols Co. mine south of the Britannia operated from the early 

1860s until 1870. There are reports of several other mines that commenced operating at this time but 

none of these produced any significant returns. 

Staffordshire Reef / Berringa 

Extended life of some quartz reef mines 

The reefs have been mined in this locality over a very long period, commencing in 1859 at Staffordshire 

Reef. Staffordshire Reef was the main centre of mining here until the late 1880s with Berringa taking 

over from the mid 1890s. Three of the eight mines which commenced at Staffordshire Reef between 

1859 and 1861 operated for between seven and nine years. While the Mentor / Staffordshire Reef / 

Speedwell Co. and the Hopewell Co. lasted for 30 and 20 years respectively. 

Transfer of technology from Ballarat 

The Mentor / Staffordshire Reef / Speedwell Co. mine is the most interesting. The battery at this mine 

was modelled on the battery of the Black Hill Co. at Ballarat. Initially this mine operated as the Mentor 

Co. from 1859 to 1863. It was then taken over by the Staffordshire Reef Co. from 1863 to 1867 and 

finally the Speedwell Co. from 1868 to 1887. The Staffordshire Reef Co. commenced by employing a 

Ballarat engineer, Mr. Martin who worked for the Black Hill Co. He supervised the construction of a 

battery modelled on the one at Black Hill which at the time was considered to be the most efficient in the 

country.{140} 

Dickers Mining Record provides the following details of the plant being erected in April 1863: 

40 head battery with revolving stampers with provision for an extra 20 heads; each 

battery of 5 heads operated independently by means of a countershaft and clutch 

connecting to each wiper shaft; wrought iron lifters and stamper shanks with screwed 

tappets; wrought iron discs steeled on wear surface; steeled wrought iron wipers; 

replaceable shoes on stamper heads; self-feeding, double discharge boxes in cast iron; 

stamp battery supplied by Langlands Brothers, Melbourne, for œ1894; a 23.75 inch by 48 

inch steam engine; two boilers: 26 feet 6 inches by 6 feet 6 inches with 42 inch flue 

contracting to 32 inches; adding a third boiler from the old battery; to erect steam engine 

on a brick and bluestone platform 10 feet high; blanket tables front and back constructed 

on the Black Hill pattern; two 13 inch plunger house lifts; 40 pound rail for a tramway 

935 yards long obtained from Cornish and Bruce, having first been used on the 

Melbourne and Mount Alexander Railway; a weatherboard directors' house; a carpe 

nters' shop, office and store and five stalled stable; 45 feet by 18 feet and smithy.{141} 

The Ballarat Star also contains the following report about the upgrading of the mine: 

an engine of 65 horse power is being erected with 40 heads of stamps; a tram-road 1000 

yards long laid with iron rails is also being formed. The company intends working on the 

open or face system. The tram-road commences at the mill and runs along the side of the 

gully to the foot of the reef giving a face of 202 feet. The works when completed in about 2 

months, are estimated to cost œ9000. There are 3 dams containing 9,000,000 gallons of 

water, and two more in the course of construction. The company has 17 shareholders and is 

27


registered under the Limited Liability Act. The works are under the supervision of Mr. 

Pritchard and Mr. W. O. Porter is the manager.{142} 

Efficient operation , reduced costs and extended the life of a mine 

When operated by the Staffordshire Reef Co. the yields were low but the costs were also kept low and the 

mine employed between 150 and 250 men. The Speedwell Co. took over the mine in 1868 and it was let 

on tribute from 1872. The other long running mine at Staffordshire Reef, the Hopewell, began in 1870 

and by 1874 this mine was also let on tribute until it closed in 1884. It was taken up again by the 

Birthday Consols Co. between 1902 and 1904. 

The first period of quartz reef mining in the Berringa - Staffordshire Reef locality came to a close in the 

late 1880s, although development of the mines had finished in the 1870s when the mines were let on 

tribute. At Berringa quartz reef mining commenced in the mid 1860s and for the period up to the late 

1880s two companies operated for approximately 10 years, three for 5 years and several for between 1 

and 3 years, with the Kangaroo Co. opening and closing 3 times between 1865 and 1885. Berringa was 

the minor field compared with the neighbouring Staffordshire Reef. 

Grassy Gully 

A report of the working of the Grassy Gully Reef appeared in the late 1860s. The Grassy Gully Co. 

operated in 1868 and 1869. An engine and boiler obtained from Derwent Jacks were used to power a 12 

head battery. Heavy water was met at a depth of 130 feet and operations were suspended. Two parties 

were mining the reef again in the mid 1870s. 

Moonlight Creek 

In 1859 the first reports of the quartz reefs at Moonlight Creek appear in the mining surveyors reports. 

The ground 2000 feet south and 600 feet north of the prospecting claim at Penrose Reef have recently 

been occupied. Shafts are being sunk and quartz was being raised, and 10 tons of stone from No. 1 South 

Claim has been sent to W. O. Porter's mill at Staffordshire Reef for a trial.{143} A good result from a 

trial in July 1860 prompted a company to commence erecting crushing machinery. Although in 

November 1860 the prospecting party was still making fair wages by hand crushing and washing the 

debris. By February 1861 they had won 263 ounces from 238 tons.{144} 

Quartz Mining, - 1857 to 1885. 

Quartz mining was not a major producer of gold from this area. Extensive areas were prospected and 

worked by co-operative companies but very few obtained large yields. A few large companies were able 

to work for long periods because quartz reefs often persisted for a considerable depth, techniques for 

extraction of gold became more effective, efficient management and tributing kept down running costs. 

The main quartz reef mining areas which sustained mining operations for substantial periods were at 

Buninyong from Hiscocks Reef to Scotchmans, at Britannia Reef Snake Valley, at Staffordshire Reef, and 

at Browns - Newtown. The inclusion of Browns in this group is problematic. Although there was 

continuous reef mining activity in this locality, none of the mines could be sustained for long periods. 

Buninyong and Staffordshire Reef were the most important mining areas. At Staffordshire Reef during 

this period he workforce at the largest mine varied between 150 and 250. 

Phase 5: Cement Mining, 1860 - 1905 

Cement was mined periodically at a number of locations throughout this area beginning in the early 

1860s, with reports of this type of mining continuing until the early 1900s, but becoming less frequent 

over that period. 

Two or three companies were established in 1861 to crush cement and the tailings that had been left by 

the puddlers in the Hard Hills at Buninyong. One of the two batteries erected at this location had 16 

stamp heads. Two of theses companies were reported to be in financial trouble by May 1861 after only 3 

months operation. Nothing payable had been discovered according to the final reports about these 

operations from the mining surveyor in mid 1864.{145} 

28


The cement at the Little Hard Hills in the Southern Mining Division was worked by 2 or 3 parties during 

1861. Two small parties were getting decent returns despite the primitive extraction process. These 

parties were calcining 2 or 3 lb lumps in an open kiln or paddock and then crushing it in a mortar-like 

vessel called a Berdan. One company was reported to be procuring a small stamp battery, which was 

expected to double the returns. At that time returns were œ4 to œ5 per man per week.{146} 

In 1861 good patches were being found on the Happy Valley Hills; such as at Knight's, Weston's, and 

Dreamer's Hills. The first report of a company crushing cement at Dreamer's Hill appeared in December 

1861. The previous miners at Dreamers Hill had tunnelled under the cement. Other tunnelling parties 

were getting encouraging returns at Westons Hill at the end of 1865. Cement from this locality was again 

being mined by several parties during the later half of the 1870s. A company at Dreamers Hill erected a 

battery in 1903, and mining continued in a small way into 1905.{147} 

A deposit of cement was mined at Bowens Hill within the Buninyong Township in the mid 1870s. The 

Hard Hills south of Snake Valley were again being actively mined in the late 1870s and early 1880s 

where several parties were crushing cement which was being mined from depths of up to 14 feet. 

There was a small rush to Kangaroo Hill at Berringa in 1875, which saw the beginning of the Lucky and 

several other parties who mined the cement in this hill. The Lucky Co. continued operating for 10 years. 

From the mid to late 1880s three parties were mining the very hard ironstone cement at Grassy Gully. 

One of these parties erected an 8 head battery in 1887. The original party of five men divided œ11,000, 

and a second party divided œ12,000.{148} 

Cement mining was not a major activity, but rather something that occurred whenever a deposit was 

uncovered by a prospecting party. 

Phase 6: Quartz Mining, 1887 to 1920 

Buninyong 

Quartz mining from Scotchmans / Hard Hills to Hiscocks continued to be the major focus of mining in 

the Buninyong Division in the 1880s. The Imperial group of mines was joined by the New South 

Imperial, the Desoza and Webb Brothers mines at the Hard Hills at the southern end of this area. In the 

early 1880s there were 14 companies besides the Webb and the Desoza working in the Hard Hills area. 

Three new batteries with a total of 36 stamp heads were erected at this time, bringing to eight the number 

of batteries working in the Buninyong Division in 1882.{149} 

Some quartz reef mines persisted for long periods 

At the Imperial mine, as previously mentioned, an additional 12 head of stamps was erected in the early 

1880s. This addition would, according to the mining surveyor, make this mine the most productive in the 

district.{150} By 1899 the yield from the Imperial / New Imperial mine, had improved and work was 

continuing on three lodes each from a different shaft. The tributers, House & mates, working in the No.3 

shaft, had been getting œ30 per man per week for six weeks before their tribute ended. The company 

brought out the tribute party's interest in the mine. The tribute party's workings were then linked with the 

main workings and the existing battery was replaced with an up to date 20 head mill. Once the profits 

improved it was considered likely that a chlorination plant would be acquired to help overcome the 

problem of the large amount of mineral in the ore. The improved performance of this mine resulted in the 

pegging out of 20 leases both north and south of this claim, extending as far south as Scotc 

hman's.{151} The company was reorganised again in 1902. It continued to operate till 1913 with a 20 

head stamp battery, eventually reaching a depth of 600 feet. When it closed, the machinery was sold 

bringing to a close a mine that had been in operation for 57 years.{152} 

Snake Valley 

English capital helped extend mining 

29


The Britannia Co. found a new lode in the early 1880s. The Star of the West Co. took over the former 

Britannia Co. mine in 1895 and raised œ10,000 by floating the company on the London Stock Market. 

The mine had been unsuccessful to a depth of 700 feet and the possibility of sinking to 1000 feet was 

being considered. The company had a magnificent plant of a winding engine, pumping engine, steam 

capstan, and 20 head battery.{153} The Grenville Standard in January 1897 gave more detail of the plant 

owned by this English company: 

... an Englished owned company with the most extensive plant and the deepest workings in 

the division. The shaft has been enlarged and sunk a further 100 feet to 810 feet. A 

balance bob was put in at 700 feet and a third plunger seated at 750 feet. Considerable 

driving and stoping has been done in the last year at the 600 and 700 foot levels. The plant 

at the mine consists of a 24.5 inch pumping engine; a 22 inch battery engine; a 20 inch 

winding engine; a 12 inch capstan engine; a Tangye engine for the battery water supply; 3 

large steel boilers; a 20 head battery; a 10 inch draw lift and 3 sets of plunger 

workings.{154} 

This mine was operating again as the Britannia Eclipse Co. from 1911 to 1913. Finally in 1935 the 

Carngham Star Co. tested a shoot formerly worked by the Britannia Eclipse Co. This company used a 

steam plant for winding, and a separate oil engine drove a lift pump. An eight head battery located a 

short distance away has its own steam plant. This operation only yielded 24 ozs of gold from 94 tons of 

ore.{155} 

As well as the reworking of mines at Britannia Reef, the Phillips and Canico reefs were opened in the 

early 1880s. In June 1883 the Mining Surveyor reported that the Canico Co. was one of only two quartz 

mines paying a dividend.{156} The Canico reefs were also tested in 1905 and 1923. 

Berringa 

New discovery and improved technology for working low grade ore 

It was not until 1897 when the Birthday mine was opened, that this goldfield witnessed, what 

Baragwanath described in 1949, as practically the last revival of a Victorian goldfield.{157} The 

Birthday was an exceptional mine, it made no calls during its life apart from the original of œ1800 

required to commence operations. 

In 1899 the Birthday mine continued to produce good yields and upgrade its operation with a cyanide 

plant and additional 10 head of stampers.{158} Indeed the whole Birthday group of mines continued to 

provide good results. By September 1899 the Birthday Co. had proved the reef for a length of 1800 feet 

and to a depth of 275 feet, and was yielding at a rate of 1.5 ozs per ton, making it one of the best runs of 

gold in Victoria. Some of the other mines on this field; South Birthday, Kangaroo, and Birthday Tunnel 

were also showing good prospects. This continuing success led to approximately 80 leases being taken 

out.{159} In 1905 the lodes at the Berringa goldfield which had initially been high quality were 

averaging only 6 dwt per ton, with the Birthday and South Birthday below this. The lodes were large and 

economies had to be made in treating the ores. Slight improvements were being made to the equipment 

which was generally behind that used at other goldfields.{160} The Birthday mine operated suc 

cessfully until 1910. 

The other successful mines that operated during this period were the Birthday Tunnel and the Williams 

Fancy. The main lodes on which these mines operated were not discovered until after mining began, 

neither had any surface expression. Both mined low grade ore, processing large quantities in order to 

remain viable. In the case of the Williams Fancy this approach extended the life of the mine which was 

able to pay wages for a long period but not dividends. A lode was then discovered which allowed the 

mine to be upgraded and undertake a vigorous mining and exploration program. 

Summary - Quartz reef mining at Berringa in the 1890s 

This burst of mining, which began in the late 1890s finished in 1917. Five mines operated for between 11 

and 18 years during this period. Two of these mines the Williams Fancy and the Kangaroo mines had 

operated at a smaller scale from different shafts during the previous phase of quartz mining. The 

30


Williams Fancy, the Birthday and Birthday Tunnel mines were the most important, each produced in 

excess of 2000 kg of gold. 

Each of these mines were eventually using a 30 head battery with both the Birthday Tunnel and William's 

Fancy mines installing suction gas engines in 1910 and 1909 respectively, thereby reducing the cost of 

fuel. The William Fancy mine had operated with a 10 head battery during its first period of operation. It 

began its second period of operation using an 8 head battery before upgrading to a 20 and eventually a 30 

head battery. 

Long Gully - Newtown - Browns 

Investment and expansion of successful co-operative mines 

Two of the most significant quartz reef mines south west of Ballarat are located in this locality. The 

Jubilee group of mines at Long Gully and the New Jubilee group near Newtown at the southern end of 

Lancashire Reef. 

The Jubilee Mine was discovered by the Greenwood Brothers in 1887 and had continued success 

throughout the 1880s and 1890s. The battery from the Caxton mine at Smythesdale was purchased in 

1889.{161} In 1897 when quartz mining was a little dull the Jubilee at Long Gully was a bright spot. 

The mine yielded 7500 ozs from 15,000 tons of ore that year. A complete set of winding and pumping 

gear was erected and the shaft was sunk to a depth of 380 feet. The co-operative party that owned the 

mine at the time were offered œ9,500 but refused to sell for less than œ20,000. The success of this mine 

prompted others to take up adjoining areas. Up to the time when it was sold in 1899, this mine had won 

9803 ounces of gold (valued at œ39,835) from 22,158 tons of stone, with œ21,303 being paid in 

dividends. The Jubilee Gold Mining Company purchased the mine. It was upgraded and worked by this 

company until 1913. The mine was kept in the most up to date condition with plant and equipment being 

constantly upgraded. 

The value of the plant at the close of the mine was œ13,500. Between 1900 and 1913 the mine yielded 

124,178 ounces 3 pennyweight 10 grains of gold (valued at œ502,932 5s) from 324,304 tons of 

stone.{162} None of the mines that adjoined this mine achieved any success. One of the unusual 

features of this mine is that the reef runs east - west, not north - south as is normally the case. 

From the mid to late 1880s to the turn of the century a few co-operatives mined the quartz reefs between 

Browns and Long Gully. The Jubilee began as a co-operative. Another co-operative that worked quite 

profitably was the New Victoria Co. at Browns. This mine worked to the limit of its resources and 

equipment. It closed in 1896 after 12 years, paying each of the six share holders œ6 per man per week for 

the first seven of those years. The New Try Again also mined the reefs at Browns during this period. 

Several other companies made a start in the vicinity of these companies particularly in the early 1890s but 

were unsuccessful. The New Victoria mine was taken up again by the Jubilee Consols in 1898. In 1903 

the Electric Gold Recovery Co. erected a plant to treat the tailings of the Jubilee Consols Co. by 

collecting fine gold on copper plates using electricity.{163} One of the next mining developments at 

Browns was at the Mentor Co. mine which began mining the Lancashire Reef in 1905. This mine was 

taken over by the New Jubilee Co. in 1906, and was worked until 1914. It eventually had two batteries. 

The second one was a 30 head battery purchased from the Birthday Mine at Berringa. It was erected at 

the southern or No. 2 shaft in 1911. Between 1908 and 1913 the yield from the mine was 30,070 ounces 

9 pennyweight of gold (valued at œ121,725) obtained from 101,856 tons of stone. The company paid 

œ28,500 in dividends and œ61,233 13s 3d in wages.{164} 

Smythe's Creek 

Quartz prospecting companies were working on each side of Smythe's Creek during 1860 and 1861, and 

two companies were formed. However this activity was in decline in the Smythesdale locality by 1862. 

There was a revival in the mid 1870s when the Smythesdale Consols mine worked the German Reef from 

1876 to 1881, and again in the mid 1890s for a short period when both this and the Caxton mine were 

reopened. Later attempts at reef mining occurred at Pound Hill in 1905 and again in the 1930s. The 

Yellow Glen Quartz Mining Co. was established in the mid 1930s. 

31

Rokewood Junction 


The Long Thought About and Mack's Lucky group of mines also showed some promise and were taken 

up in the 1890s. In 1899 thirty-seven leases were pegged in this area. But these attempts were not very 

successful, mining continued in this locality in a minor way until 1910. 

Linton 

Reefs were prospected at Linton in the late 1880s. The Linton United Co. and a few other small 

companies commenced in the early 1890s. They lasted for a few years but did not prove to be very 

successful, and appear to have ceased in the mid 1890s. In 1904 a few parties were working the reefs 

around Linton and a public crushing battery was established. 

Derwent Jacks / Piggoreet - Corindhap - Dereel - Enfield - Scarsdale 

From 1899 to 1910 there were a few mines operating which failed to live up to their initial promise. 

These mines include the Old Hall, Rice's Freehold and the Port Arthur. 

A few parties were using the government batteries at both Corindhap and Dereel in 1908 and 1909. There 

were also a few small mines operating at Enfield. 

The Scarsdale Prospecting Co. developed a promising lode and erected a 20 head battery in 1914. 

Summary - Quartz mining, 1887 to 1920 

Unlike deep lead mines which has a life limited to the length of the leads, quartz reefs quite often 

persisted for a considerable depth. Improved technology for processing mineralised ores and the use of 

tributers allowed some mines which had commenced in the 1860s to work continuously until the 1920s. 

Investment in mining increased in the 1890s. Some new lodes were discovered stimulating mining in 

those localities. Co-operative companies opened a number of mines which became even more profitable 

when taken over by public companies, who upgraded and modernised them. 

Efficient working by the Jubilee and Birthday groups of mines using the latest technologies contributed to 

the Southern Mining Division being the premier division within the Ballarat Mining District in the early 

1920s. 

The government promoted mining during this period. In the early 1900s they established public crushing 

facilities at several locations.. 

Phase 7: Deep lead mining: 1894 to 1909 

Opening of the deep leads in the 1890s 

By the late 1880s and early 1890s the few deep lead mines that had persisted for a considerable period, 

the Reform, the Pioneer / Linton Park and the Buninyong Estate finally closed. As an aside it is 

interesting that the Linton Park mine was mined on tribute by a party of Chinese miners before it closed. 

A few deep lead mines were operating at Brownsvale, providing consistent but not spectacular results. 

As part of the 1890s mining revival deep lead mining commenced at Pitfield in 1894. In April, the Pitfield 

Plateau Co. commenced boring to locate the position of the deep ground. By September this company 

had sunk a shaft and let contracts for the erection of a whim and puddler. Two other co-operative parties 

reported good returns one was using a tub and cradle while the adjoining claim was using a horse 

puddler.{165} Another company the British Banner was also boring and making preparations to sink a 

shaft. 

A few other deep lead mines were operating elsewhere within the study area. The Golden Age Extended 

at Browns, a co-operative of 20 men, had erected a substantial plant with separate winding and puddling 

engines, and was working the Perseverance lead. The Hotspur at Brownsvale was another deep lead mine 

32


operating in this area and approximately a dozen parties were working at a depth of 40 feet at Derwent 

Jacks. 

The newly established deep lead mines at Rokewood attracted some prominence in July 1895 , when, 

Carr's Freehold Co. washed 40 loads for a yield of 10 ozs 15 dwt. This company entered into a contract 

for œ47 with a Mr. Cox for the supply of a whim, trucks and cages. In September this company, a cooperative 

of 21 shareholders, reported a weekly yield of 90 ozs which sent the price of its shares from 

œ67 to œ100.{166} 

Also in July the Rokewood Co. was extending its drive further west, the Lord Brassey was erecting a 

poppet-head, the Carbine Co. had just bottomed its shaft, and Trend & Party and Menzie & Wallace's 

were working in Elders Estate. Other companies at Rokewood were awaiting the issue of leases for the 

ground on the southern edge of the town. Once the leases were issued in August the Rokewood Consols, 

Hanlon and Rokewood United companies called tenders for the sinking of their shafts.{167} 

An interesting arrangement was reached at Rokewood between Mr. Elder, the owner of the Break-o'-Day 

paddock, and the miners wanting to work this paddock. Each miner was granted 1 acre, on what were 

reported to be favourable terms. At this time there were also large numbers of men from outside the 

district fossicking in the worked out gullies.{168} 

Mining was underway in earnest at Pitfield Plains in 1895. From August, the Real Estate, West Estate, 

"Ninety-Four", and South Estate companies were reporting regular fortnightly yields of between 9 and 97 

ozs. Other companies were at varying stages with sinking their shafts. The Pentagon Co. was registered 

under the No Liability Act with 20,000 shares, and was organising the purchase of an engine and 

pumping plant.{169} 

Resurgence of deep lead mining 

Mining at Rokewood and Pitfield brought deep alluvial mining back into focus and it was again receiving 

equal prominence with quartz mining. The out put for 1896 from these areas was 19,836.25 ozs an 

increase of 9,325.25 ozs from the previous year.{170} By March the Rokewood Consols Co. had its 

boiler ready for testing and had nearly completed its bob pit, and the brick-layers had made a start on the 

chimney.{171} In the middle of the year at Rokewood the East Rokewood Co. erected machinery for the 

treatment of the sludge deposits of the old Estate Co. in Elders paddock. These deposits covered an area 

200 m by 200 m and were 3 m deep. The machinery consisted of a Tangye pump and patent battery 

plates manufactured by Wynne and Tregurtha. Reports were also published for the Hanlon Consols, 

North Rokewood Extended, Lord Brassey, Madame [Lady] Brassey, Hanlon Extended, Lord Salisbury, 

Carr's Freehold, and Rokewood companies.{172} In August a very optimistic picture was painted of the 

Pitfield mines, which were pronounced a good investment that could be even better if more of the 

companies used steam powder. 

Away from the Pitfield / Rokewood area at Buninyong the Great Buninyong Estate Co. worked deep lead 

and quartz reef deposits from separate shafts, within their lease. 

In 1897, it was the production from the alluvial mines at Creswick, Pitfield and Rokewood that increased 

the output of gold from the Ballarat Mining District.{173} The mines at Pitfield and Rokewood had 

performed creditably with four of the no liability companies, the Laidlers Freehold and Hanlon at 

Rokewood, and the Pitfield Plateau and Union at Pitfield paying a total of œ8400 in dividends. Many of 

the co-operatives were also doing well. In their first two years, from 14 th October 1894 to the 23 rd 

December 1896, five co-operatives companies at Pitfield produced 10,869 ozs of gold valued at œ43,476. 

While for the year to 23 December 1897 their yield of 10,101 ozs was valued at œ40,104.175 

At Rokewood the mines yielded a total of 10,000 ozs for the year 1897. 260 miners were employed in the 

locality where 6 steam engines valued at œ11,000 and 10 whims valued at œ2100 were operating.{174} 

The director's report to the half yearly shareholders meeting of the Rokewood Co. in February 1897 

explained that a new shaft has been sunk and bottomed, and a first class whim and puddling machine has 

been re-erected in a better site. The report of a meeting of the shareholders of the Rokewood Consols Co. 

described the plant at the mine as winding and pumping gear plus two puddling machines, all of which 

was valued at œ2,270.{175} 

33


The good performance in several mines at Pitfield during 1898 produced some animation at the Ballarat 

Stock Exchange as the value of the shares of companies operating mines on this field rose. The Hanlon 

mine at Rokewood was also an improved performer. One of the mines still developing at this time was 

the Glenfine South which in February purchased a substantial pumping plant from the No. 2 Midas 

Consols Co. at Ballarat.{176} The interest in the Pitfield mines continued throughout the year. 

Southern Mining Division - most productive goldfields in the Ballarat Mining District 

The Glenfine South mine made a big impact in 1899 with a good results from the trial crushings of some 

quartz. These results were treated enthusiastically by Ballarat investors, some of whom were predicting a 

new mining boom. The Glenfine South is another mine within the Ballarat District that worked both 

quartz reef and deep lead deposits. The deep lead mines at Pitfield together with the Berry Deep lead 

mines at Smeaton were the most productive within the Ballarat Mining District at this time.{177} The 

deep lead mines at Rokewood were also continuing to provide satisfactory yields, with the Hanlon 

Consols being the best producer. There were also deep lead mines at Illabarook where, in August, the 

Bulldog Co. was making good progress erecting its plant.{178} 

The Southern Division was the most productive in the Ballarat Mining District in 1900.{179} The 

Glenfine South mine topped the list of the principal companies or mines from which ore had been treated 

and dividends paid during 1901. Six of the mines in the Pitfield / Rokewood area also appeared in the 

list of principal dividend paying alluvial mines in the State, and the Southern Division was again the most 

productive in the Ballarat Mining District.{180} While the production figures give a good impression of 

Pitfield, there were still some ups and downs among the individual mines at Pitfield where the alluvial 

washes were of a particularly irregular character. 

In 1902 the yields of the Glenfine South and Glenfine Estate mines decreased, resulting in a reduced yield 

and dividend for the Pitfield - Rokewood gold field and consequently for the Southern Mining Division. 

Despite this decrease these mines still remained among the most productive in the State along with the 

Birthday, Jubilee, and Birthday Tunnel mines which were operating in the same division. 

In 1903 the Pitfield / Rokewood goldfield was again the most productive goldfield within the Ballarat 

Mining District. This was at a time when the yields from alluvial mining were decreasing and quartz reef 

mining was the major contributor to production. 

The co-operative / tribute parties on the Pitfield Proprietary Co. claim maintained their yields working the 

shallow section of the alluvial goldfield at Pitfield. The Woady Yallock Co. south of this claim was an 

efficiently managed consistent gold producer. It employed over 100 men and paid a 6d dividend from 11 

dwt wash dirt. 

Laidlers Freehold Open Cut and the decline of mining at Pitfield and Rokewood 

The Glenfine No. 1 Co. has ceased operating in the deep alluvial ground at the west of the Pitfield 

goldfield. This mine had to overcome heavy water to reach this deep ground which was thought to be the 

extension of the lost Grand Trunk lead, but the wash dirt was found to be too poor. Other mines to close 

at Pitfield during the year were Glenfine Consols, Glenfine Extended, Great West Glenfine, and the 

Victoria and Royal Mint.{181} 

Mining at Rokewood was declining and was confined to a few co-operatives parties who were 

systematically prospecting unworked shallow alluvial deposits. The Hanlon was prospecting the deep 

ground further west. The Laidler's Freehold was still open cutting a large area, removing the overburden 

to a depth of 40 feet.{182} 

The falling yields of the Glenfine South, Birthday Tunnel, and the closing of the Glenfine North and 

Hanlon mines in 1904 gave the Pitfield / Rokewood Goldfield the distinction of being the goldfield with 

the greatest decrease in yield for the State for the second year in succession.{183} 

The deep lead mines at Rokewood continued to decline with Laidlers Freehold open-cut being the only 

mine still working. It was employing 30 men and using 7 horses. Although mining was declining, some 

of the Pitfield mines were continuing to produce satisfactory returns, particular the co-operatives working 

the Pitfield Proprietary lease. The Glenfine South was prospecting to the west of its lease. The British 

34


Banner and the Woady Yallock were closing down. While new plant was being erected at the Federal 

Mint Co. No. 2 shaft and at the Great Western Leads Co.'s main shaft. 

One of the few deep leads mines outside the Pitfield/Rokewood area, the Cambrian mine south of 

Smythesdale was providing employment to 60 men in 1905. Laidler's Freehold open cut was still keeping 

several people employed at Rokewood. At both Pitfield and Rokewood a few parties were still working 

the shallow ground. 

By 1908 alluvial mining was declining, only Laidlers Freehold open-cut at Rokewood and several 

dredging companies were still winning gold. The Glenfine South Co. closed down during the year. The 

following list of plant and buildings at this mine illustrates how large it was: 

No. 2 Shaft: 

Winding Engine House was 70 feet x 50 feet x 14 feet. It contained two 16 inch x 42 inch winding 

engines with 8 foot drums, double clutch and brakes; an 8 inch double cylinder steam capstan and sinking 

winch; a 16 inch x 14 inch x 30 inch air compressor; a 5 inch cylinder vertical steam engine and dynamo; 

an 11 inch x 22 inch compound condensing steam engine with heavy spur gear, 11 inch shafting, balanced 

crank, mounted sweep rod and massive bob. The battery engine house was 40 feet x 30 feet x 14 feet and 

contained two 26 inch x 36 inch steam battery engines, Corliss gear and rope drive. The battery house 

was 90 feet x 50 feet x 30 feet and contained a 40 head stamp battery with 1200 pound stampers, shafting, 

counter-shafting and all necessary gear; two Challenge ore feeders with belt wheels and counter-shafting; 

seven Wilfley tables; two Berdan pans. 

Other equipment at the mine included a 14 inch double cylinder sand pump; a 20 foot x 6 foot water tank 

made from boiler plate; an 8 inch vertical steam engine driving No.4 Roots blower; 14 and 12 inch 

plunger workings; fifty half ton ore trucks; and a 20 foot x 6 foot diameter air receiver; two cast iron 

puddling machines and baling tanks.The changing house was 30 feet x 20 feet x 12 feet. The Smithy's 

Shop contained a 21 foot lead screw lathe with all necessary changing wheels; a 6 inch cylinder steam 

engine for driving the lathe; a 14 inch cylinder steam puddling engine. The poppet head was 70 feet high 

with brace and pulley wheels. complete.The boiler House was 40 feet x 40 feet and contained 4 boilers. 

No. 1 Shaft: 

An 18 inch cylinder steam winding engine with 8 foot drums; an 18 inch cylinder steam pumping engine 

with gear, sweep rod and bob complete with 200 feet of 12 inch pumps and draw lift in the shaft; three 

Cornish flue boilers, 26 feet x 6 feet 6 inches, complete with mountings. The poppet heads, was 65 feet 

high.{184} 

Cyaniding tailings from deep lead mines 

In 1909 at Pitfield the only alluvial mine working was the "96" which was sinking its second shaft. Two 

cyaniding parties were processing the mine tailings at Pitfield and were reported to be winning as much 

gold as was taken out by the original miners. By 1910 parties cyaniding the old tailings heaps were the 

only ones working at Pitfield.{185} 

Summary - Deep Lead mining - 1894 to 1910 

Unlike gold bearing reefs which can sometimes be reworked several times, a resurgence of deep lead 

mining means the opening up of new ground. The 1890s resurgence of deep lead mining in this area was 

no exception, taking place as it did in the Southern Mining Division at Pitfield and Rokewood. 

This phase of mining is characterised by two different scales of mining. There were those mines that 

were operated by co-operatives who worked the shallow leads on leases of up to 50 acres, the tribute 

parties working the Pitfield Proprietary Company lease are in this category. Most of these companies 

used whims and horse puddlers. The other group are the public companies that mined on leases which 

were 400 acres on average. These mines generally used substantial up to date steam powered equipment. 

The Glenfine South was the largest mine and worked both deep lead and quartz reef deposits. The deep 

lead mines were usually on private land, specific legislation having been provided to regulate such mines. 

Advances in technology also allowed for the reprocessing of tailings by this time. 

35


One of the most interesting mines was Laidlers Freehold which operated for a considerable period mining 

a deep lead by open cut. 

Phase 8: Dredging, 1899 to 1920 

Dredging / Hydraulic mining started within this area when the Browns Creek Dredging Co., started 

working near Mullocky Point at Browns in 1899. This company was completing its paddock and 

commencing the excavation of a dam for its operations in September.{186} This company used a 

hydraulic nozzle to expose the wash.{187} 

The Department of Mines and Water Supply Annual Report for 1900 promoted hydraulic mining. In this 

report Mr. T. Murray identified Smythesdale as an area in which terraces and other gold-bearing washes 

on elevated land would be suitable for hydraulic mining. His report was based on a study of hydraulic 

mining in California.{188} 

The Browns Creek dredge was moved to Watson's Hill in July 1902 and Alex F. George, foreman of the 

Staghorn Dredge in North East Victoria - reported to be the most successful dredge in Australia at that 

time, was appointed manager. The engine had been compounded and all the latest improvements added. 

Twenty men were employed and it was intended to install a first class electric plant so that sluicing could 

be conducted in three shifts twenty four hours per day.{189} A shortage of water caused some early 

problems, then in September a portable engine was being used to work the hydraulic nozzle.{190} The 

nozzle was operated at a pressure of 70 lbs per square inch. In July 1903 a Robertson pump and nozzle 

were in use and in August the plant was converted from wood to oil fired. A new Headley pump was 

installed in April 1904. It was 30% more efficient and allowed the working of deeper ground. The 

following December the dredge had a major upgrading. A new boiler 18 feet by 7.5 feet and capable of 

supplying 200 hp was acquired to supply power to a new compound engine with 24 and 16 inch 

cylinders. The old engine was compounded to work the nozzle, steam was supplied to this engine from 

one of the old boilers which was 16 feet by 5 foot 6 inches. The barge carrying the plant was also 

enlarged.{191} 

Summary - Dredging in the Southern Mining Divisions: 

Sixteen hydraulic dredges that operated within the southern mining divisions of the Ballarat Mining 

District. These dredges used nozzles to break up the wash which was then pumped through the sluices by 

gravel pumps mounted on barges. Twelve of these dredges operated in the Smythesdale Mining Division, 

where the most successful was Boyd's which operated from 1905 to 1918 and produced 13,325 ozs (or 

414.463 kg) of gold. This company operated two plants. The Nintingbool dredge, also within the 

Smythesdale Mining Division, operated from 1911 to 1921 and won 8529 ozs (265.288 kg) of gold.{192} 

One dredge operated in the Buninyong Division and there were three at Enfield and another at Mt. Misery 

for a short period. The greatest burst of dredging activity was in 1906 but by the following year the 

hoped for boom had failed to eventuate because there was either too much cement or clay, or the 

machinery was too light. By 1909 there were only 6 dredges within the whole Ballarat Mining District. 

Electro Hydraulic Sluicing Co. 

Although not a major success the Electro Hydraulic Sluicing Co. at Snake Valley was an innovative 

operation. This company generated electricity to supply the power needed to mine the Hard Hills south 

of Snake Valley. Works began in 1904. John Dawson, an electrical engineer built a dam and power 

house to pump water into the hills for sluicing. Dawson had worked with Lord Kelvin in London before 

returning to Australia where he was involved in the electrification of Geelong and Ballarat. The dam, 

now known as Dawson's Dam' was 15 feet deep and a mile in circumference. The dam, on the east side of 

the Linton-Snake Valley Road, is now used as part of a holiday/school camp. The generator and pump 

were housed in a large English style building. The engine and dynamo were manufactured at the 

Westinghouse Works, London, and they arrived in Melbourne in August 1906. At the time this 

equipment was claimed to be far superior to anything else of its kind imported into Australia.{193} 

Water was pumped into the hills where two nozzles were used to direct water on the hill being washed 

away. Two gravel pumps mounted on barges pumped the wash through the sluices. A steam shovel was 

introduced in 1910 to feed the sluices. The operations became unprofitable and mining ceased in 

1911.{194} 

36


In addition to the hydraulic dredges there was also a bucket dredge on Smythes Creek. Its barge was 83 

feet long by 35 feet wide and when loaded it weighed 160 tons.{195} This venture was not successful 

and it only worked in 1904 and 1905. 

FOOTNOTES 

{1}P. M. Griffiths, Three Times Blessed; A History of Buninyong and District 1837 - 1901, Buninyong 

and District Historical Society, 1990, p.31 

{2}2.H. Wood, Notes on the Ballarat Goldfield', in The Goldfields and Mineral Districts of Victoria, ed. 

R. Brough Smyth, Facsimile edition, Queensberry Hill Press, 1979, p. 447. 

{3}Ballarat Star, 14th January 1858, p. 2 c. 4. 

{4}J. Fleet, The History of Gold Discovery in Victoria, The Poppet Head Press, Melbourne,1979, p. 324 

{5}5. R. Brough Smyth, The Goldfields and Mineral Districts of Victoria, Victorian Government Printer, 

1869, Facsimile edition, Queensberry Hill Press, 1979, p. 188. 

{6}B. S., 7 Aug. 1856, p. 2, c. 4. 

{7}7.Smyth, 1869, p. 188. 

{8}8. Flett, 1979, p.328. 

{9}B.S., 18 th May 1857, p.2 c.4 

{10}B.S., 18 th June, 29 th August, 30 th September, 1857. 

{11}12. Smyth, 1869, p. 188. 

{12}13.Smyth,1869, p. 184. 

{13}Bate, 1978, p.29 - 30. 

{14}B.S., 14 Jan 1858, p.2 c.5 

{15}M. S. Churchward, The Influence of Gold-Mining on the Development of Engineering 

Manufacturing in Victoria During the 19th Century, a thesis submitted in fulfilment for the Degree of 

Master of Engineering Science at the University of Melbourne, 1988, p. 79-80. 

{16}B. S., 14 th January 1858, p.2 c. 4-7. 

{17}B.S., 23 rd March 1858, p.2 c.4 

{18}Wood, p. 445-6. 

{19}Wood, p. 459. 

{20}B. S., 1 st April 1859, p2 c.5 

{21}Wood, p.499. 

{22}B.S., 14 th March 1857, p.3 c.2 

{23}Wood, p. 499. 

{24}R. Brough Smyth, The Goldfields and Mineral Districts of Victoria, Victorian Government Printer, 

Melbourne, 1869, Facsimile edition, Queensberry Hill Press, 1979, p. 501. 

37

{25}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, February 1861. 

{26}Dickers Mining Record, May 1862, p. 12. 

{27}Smyth, loc. cit. 

{28}D.M.R., 1 st August 1865, p. 6. 

{29}Smyth, op. cit., p. 502-503. 


{30}W. Baragwanath, The Ballarat Goldfield', Geological Survey of Victoria Memoir No. 14, 

Department of Mines, Victoria, 1923, p. 93b-93a. 

{31}GEDIS, October 1993. 

{32} Flett, 1979, p. 370 - 2. 

{33}B.S., 8 th June & 27 th July 1857 

{34}Griffiths, op. cit., p. 29-30. 

{35}B.S., 14 th January 1858 

{36}B. S., 9 th November 1857, p. 2 c. 6 

{37}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, August & November 1861. 

{38}D.M.R., 15 th August 1867, p. 112. 


{40}D.M.R., 31 st July 1866, p. 70, 26 th June 1867, p. 281, 25 th April 1868, p. 150. 

{41}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, June 1866. 


{43}Griffiths, op. cit., p. 52 

{44}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, December 1859. 

{45}Griffiths, op. cit., p. 60. 

{46}D.M.R., May 1865, p. 316 

{47}Griffiths, op. cit., p. 60. 

{48}D.M.R., December 1863, p. 263. 

{49}DMR, June 1864, as quoted in Griffiths, op. cit., p. 60. 


{51}B. S., 8 the June 1857. 

{52}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, March 1860. 

{53}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, March 1876 and December 1878. 

{54}B.S., 19 th February & 4 th May 1857 

38

{55}B.S., 8 th July 1858, p. 2 c. 6 & 7. 

{56}D.M.R., July 1862, p. 11. 

{57}B. S., 19th March 1859, p.2 c.3&4. 

{58}35. Smyth, 1869, p. 188. 

{59}B.S., 4 th August 1858, p. 2 c. 3 

{60}B.S., 8 th July 1858, p. 2 c. 6 & 7. 


{61}15. P. M'Grath and others, The Story of Browns and Scarsdale, ed. John West, Scarsdale Old Boys 

Reunion, 1912, p. 16 - 34. 


{63}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, June 1859, August & November 1860, March & 

December 1861. 

{64}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, November 1860 & June 1865. 

{65}B. S., 22 March 1859, p.2 c.4. 

{66}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, July 1859. 

{67}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, September 1860, June 1864, June 1865. 

{68}B.S., 8 th July 1858, p. 2 c. 6 & 7. 

{69}B. S., 20 April 1860, p.2 c.7 


{71}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, January 1861. 

{72}R. Brough Smyth, The Goldfield s and Mineral Districts of Victoria, 1869, Victorian Government 

Printer, Facsimile edition, Queensberry Hill Press, 1979, p. 383. 


{74}B.S. 7 th August and 11 & 25 th September 1856. 

{75}D.M.R., 17 th October 1865, p. 227, 28 th August 1866, p. 144. 

{76}Dickers Mining Record, 16 th October 1866, p. 238, and 27 th April 1867, p. 194. 


{78}Grenville Times and Smythesdale Advertiser, 28 th July 1875, p.3 c.1. 

{79}B.S., 9 January 1860, p.4 c.2. 

{80}Grenville Times and Smythesdale Advertiser, 11 th October 1876, p.2 c.3. 

{81}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, March & June 1860, January 1861, January & May 1863. 


39

{83}B. S., 2 September 1859, p.2 c.7. 

{84}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, September 1864. 




{88}Grenville Advocate, 28 th October 1872, p. 2 c.3. 


{89}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, July 1863, March 1864, December 1865. 

{90}M. S. Churchward, The Influence of Gold-Mining on the Development of Engineering 

Manufacturing in Victoria During the 19th Century, A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements 

for the degree of Master of Engineering Science at the University of Melbourne, 1988, p. 78B. 

{91}B.S., 14 January 1858, p. 2 c. 4-7 

{92}B.S., 28 th June 1858, p.2 c.5 

{93}B.S. 8 th July 1858, p. 2 c. 7 

{94}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, January 1860, May 1862, December 1864, & December 

1866. 


{96}9.B.S., 14 th January 1857, p. 3 c.2. 

{97}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, July & December 1859. 


{99}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, November & December 1861. 


{101}B.S., 8 th July, 4 th August, 22 nd September 1858 

{102}Grenville Times and Smythesdale Advertiser, 3 rd July 1875, p.2 c.4. 

{103}B. S., 20 th June 1888. 

{104}B.S., 29 th May 1888 

{105}G. S., 28 th November 1903, p.6 c.2. 

{106}Smyth, 1869, p. 188. 

{107}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, December 1861 & September 1864. 

{108}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, July 1860. 

{109}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, December 1859 & January 1860. 


{111}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, November 1859. 

40




{115}. B.S., 14 th January 1858, p. 2 c.4-7 

{116}B. S., 24 July 1860, p.2 c.6. 

{117}B.S., 26 th June 1858, p. 2 c. 5 

{118}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, June 1864 & December 1865. 


{119}GEDIS, Ballarat Mines Database, Department of Energy and Minerals, Victoria, an unpublished 

digital database of information on production statistics, digitised shaft locations, geology and mineralogy, 

and references for the various mines in the Ballarat Mining District, October 1993 


{121}Dickers Mining Record, 5 th December 1865, p. 362-3 



{124}GEDIS, October 1993 

{125}Secretary for Mines, Annual Report of the Secretary for Mines and Water Supply, Victorian 

Government Printer, 1913, p. 108 


{127}GEDIS, October 1993 



{130}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, June 1877 & March 1879. 



{133}.B. S., 13 th March 1858, p. 2 c. 6-7 

{134}B.S.,8 th July1858, p. 2 c. 6-7 

{135}B. S., 2 December 1859, p.3 c.3 

{136}B.S., 24 September 1861, p.5 c.3. 

{137}Grenville Times and Mining Journal, 21 st January 1873, p.2 c.5. 

{138}Grenville Times and Smythesdale Advertiser, December 1875 to December 1876. 


41


{140}W. Baragwanath, Some Victorian Goldfields - No. 3 Berringa District', Mining and Geological 

Journal, 5. 3., Department of Mines, March 1949, p. 19-20. 

{141}D.M.R., April 1863, p. 102 

{142}B.S., 24 March 1903, p.2 c.7 


{144}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, November 1860, & February 1861. 

{145}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, February to June 1861 & June 1864. 


{147}G. S., 29 th August 1903, p.1 c.7. 

{148}G.S., 4th July 1896, p.2 c.6. 

{149}Mining Surveyors and Registrars Reports, December 1880, June 1881, March 1882. 


{151}B. S., 11 th September 1899. 

{152}Secretary for Mines, Annual Report of the Secretary for Mines and Water Supply, Victorian 

Government Printer, 1913, p. 108 

{153}Grenville Standard, 28 th December 1895, p.3 c.3. 

{154}G.S., 1st January 1897, p.3 c.3. 

{155}Wilson, Op. Cit., p. 71 


{157}Baragwanath, op. cit., p. 14 

{158}B. S. , 4 th September 1899. 


{160}G.S., 26 June 1905, p.6 c.3. 

{161}B.S., 1 st January 1891, p.4 c. 7 

{162}W. Baragwanath, The Jubilee mines, Scarsdale', Geological Survey of Victoria Bulletin No. 35. 

Department of Mines, Victoria, 1914, p.13. 

{163}G. S., 21 st March 1903, p.1 c.6. 

{164}Ibid., p. 26. 

{165}B. S., 9 th & 30 th April and 14 May 1894. 

{166}B. S., 9 th July 1895 & 10 th September 1895. 

{167}B.S., 9 th July 1895 & 6 th August 1895. 

{168}B. S., 16 th July 1895, p.4 c.2. 

42

{169}B.S., 22 nd August 1895. 


{170}Department of Mines and Water Supply, Annual Report of the Secretary for Mines and Water 

Supply, 1896, Victorian Government Printer, p.10. 

{171}B. S., 16 th March 1896. 

{172}B. S., 20 th July 1896. 


Supply, 1897, Victorian Government Printer, p. 8. 

{174}B. S., 1 st January 1898. 

{175}B. S., 1 st February 1897. 

{176}B. S., 28 th February 1898. 

{177}B. S., 23 rd October 1899. 

{178}B. S., 28 th August 1899. 


Supply 1900, Victorian Government Printer, p. 12. 


Supply 1901, Victorian Government Printer, p. 11 - 13. 

{181}Pitfield Banner and Holybush Times, 9 th January 1904. 


Supply 1903, Victorian Government Printer, p. 77. 


Supply 1904, Victorian Government Printer, p. 5-6. 

{184}Department of Mines, Victoria, Mining Development Act 1896, Correspondence file for September 

1908. 

{185}Department of Mines, Annual REport of the Secretary for Mines, Government Printer, Melbourne, 

p. 126-127. 


{187}Grenville Standard, 16th March 1901, p.3 c.3. 

{188}Ibid, p. 49. 

{189}G. S., 19th July 1902, p.6 c.3. 

{190}G. S., 27th September 1902, p.6 c.2 

{191}G. S.; 4th July 1903, p.6 c.1; 15th August 1903, p.6 c.2; 9th April 1904, p.1 c.6; 10th December 

1904, p.6 c.1. 


{193}G. S., 18th August 1906, p.6 c.5. 

43

_ 

{194} J. Wilson, The Forgotten Goldfield, Snake Valley, 1979, p.48-9 

{195}G. S., 12th December 1903, p.1 c.7. 


44

victorian goldfields - Department of Planning and Community ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?