Bendigo General History - Department of Planning and Community ...

Quartz mining is pretty brisk in comparison with alluvial mining. The reefers are not troubled
with the scarcity of water, but with the over abundant supply, and yet I do not believe that
were the whole of our mines perfectly drained with efficient machinery, the supply would be
at all adequate to the requirements for mining purposes only, even were it possible to collect
the whole; and yet the quantity is so great as to inflict a loss to this district of not less than
£15,000 per week. Sarnia Reef - The Sarnia Reef Company have not yet disposed of a
sufficient number of shares to warrant them in commencing operations in mining ... Guss and
Company, from their claim within the company’s ground are continuing to take out very rich
stone. Specimen Hill, Tinpot Reef - This company have completed all their dams, and are
now busily erecting a very fine 35-hp steam engine; also, an inclined tramway for the
conveyance of quartz from the claim to the engine. The claims to the N. and S. are also
getting good stone, and the whole of the line is looking very well. Bird’s Reef, Kangaroo
Gully - Mr Le Capelain, who represents a private company holding about 550yds along the
line, is displaying great energy. He has completed the erection of one of the two fine engines
the company have got upon the ground, and is about to commence the other; meantime he is
crushing a large stack of quartz from the upper reef, above water level, until the other engine
is completed, when he will be enabled to sink deeper. The majority of the claims on the line
are doing well. Glasgow Reef, Golden Gully - The claims on the northern end of the line are
briskly working, and some are doing well. Ness and Company’s claim yielded at the last
crushing 6oz. to the ton ... Fagg and Company have left off working the quartz, which was
increasing in richness, in consequence of the water. They are now sinking a water shaft and
erecting a whim ... The pumping engine is near to completion. The Golden Gully Company is
still lifting good stone; but have no water with which to crush. The Glasgow Reef United
Company intends to commence their operations in raising quartz, etc, on Monday, the 20th of
February. Sheepshead Reef - This line is very quiet as yet; none of the ground that was
leased has been yet worked. The Union Company’s claim is still being worked, and yielding
a handsome dividend. Mr. Curnow’s claim, on Iron Reef (a continuation of Sheepshead), is
yielding a fair payable stone. The Specimen Hill Reef to the west of this is looking brisk.
This is supposed to be a continuation of the line of Victoria Reef. Whip Reef, Kangaroo Hill
- Two or three claims are busily working, but no stone has been raised at present. Mr Shiress,
the chemist, of Sandhurst, is analysing and making experiments upon the conglomerate found
within Noble and Company’s claim, and gives satisfactory accounts thereof. He is making
use of the furnaces built by Mr Carpenter for that purpose within the claim. This line is being
extended to the southward, along which several shafts are being sunk. Hibernian Reef - This
line is being well worked, but there are no great results as yet. This reef runs through the
waterworks ground, upon which a pumping engine and crushing engine has been erected. It is
more than possible that a revenue will be obtained by the Waterworks Company, by the
drainage of this and Whip Reef, the water from which will always be the objective of the
company. Stafford Reef, Diamond Hill, and Stafford Gully - The German’s claim on this
line is still being worked, and yielding very remunerative stone. They have struck the main
reef, which they found by following the underlay to a depth of 100ft. The second claim to the
N. of this is being rapidly sunk to the main reef ... other claims are going down in various
directions. Alexander Reef, Lockwood - The claim south of the prospecting shaft, at a depth
of 125ft, struck a solid mass of quartz. Axe Creek Reef - There is a large body of stone on
this line cropping out at the surface. The prospecting claim, and the two to the south of it, is
crushing stone which yields from 2 to 5oz. per ton. The machine was incomplete, and the
quartz was kept back until repairs were done. 1
Jan 1860: Eaglehawk Division (G.W.Hart).
The population is as follows:
European Chinese
Alluvial miners 4,305 137
Quartz miners 408
4,713 137
The machinery is as follows:
Alluvial mining:
Horse puddling machines, 11 at work, 185 idle
Whims, 6
Quartz mining:
Crushing mills, 23 engines at work
1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Jan 1860