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PART 3 - THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MILPARINKA
Chapter 4 THE MOUNT BROWNE GOLDRUSH
4.0 Introduction
Milparinka was established as a service centre for the Mount Browne
Goldfield. Unlike most goldfield townships, it was some distance from the
source of the gold, having been established adjacent to a source of water,
which, under the circumstances, was a greater consideration. From the
beginning the scarcity of water was a major concern on this goldfield, and
the prevalence of scurvy and of diseases associated with polluted water
and poor hygiene were recurring themes in early Goldfield Warden's
reports.
This chapter outlines the early history of the Mount Browne goldfield and
that information which is available regarding Chinese involvement in
working the field. At no time was there an extensive Chinese presence,
and for the first several years no Chinese were actually digging for gold,
even though they were definitely present in the district. An explanation for
this appears to lie in the alternate opportunities which presented
themselves to a group who were alienated from the more numerous
Europeans, and who were uniquely equipped to benefit from the
combination of a remote location and an arid red-soil environment.
My aim is to emphasise the perception with which the Chinese developed
their strategy for success at Milparinka. I have looked closely at the nature
of this gold field and the difficulties associated with the working of it. In my
final evaluation I propose to contrast the outcome of that assessment with
the activities which the combined archaeological and historical record
suggests were followed by the Chinese. From this I will suggest that,
although not outstandingly successful, the Chinese strategy was clearly
quite appropriate.
4.1 The Mount Browne Goldrush
4.1.1 Discovery of Gold
The reputed discovery of gold (see Paragraph 2.2.5 above) at Mount Poole
was met with considerable scepticism in Wilcannia, and the Wilcannia
Times, along with major newspapers in Sydney and Melbourne, and on
goldfields such as Temora in New South Wales, repeatedly warned
against 'any headlong rush'. However, on January 20, 1881 the Wilcannia
newspaper gave notice of a meeting called 'for the purpose of forming an
association to prospect the country round Mount Poole' (The Wilcannia
Times, January 20, 1881 :3), and the next issue reported that a committee