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

Alluvial mining remains much in the same state as it has done for the last three months, and
still as Before Huntly and Epsom are the only places where any work is being done. The
head of the line at Huntly is still progressing to the northward. The Crushing and Pumping
Companies are advancing with their works. Among which I may mention the Prince of Wales
Company, they have just put up a 25hp engine with 24 stamps; at present they are raising
between 3 and 400 tons of stone per week, and employ 20 men; they are now waiting for
water, but when in full work they will give employment to about 60. The Catherine Reef
Claimholders Pumping Company have also made considerable advancement having just
finished their chimney, and will soon be ready to pump the water from the reef more
effectually than they are now doing by means of a whim. The Bagshot Steam Crushing
Company is making great advances towards the completion of their well appointed works.
The ground belonging to the company is purchased land, situate at about 10 miles from
Sandhurst ... They have 2 shafts, one the engine and drawing shaft, the depth of which is
103ft; from whence it has been sunk 30ft in the slate and a drive prosecuted W. for 150ft,
thus forming the main level for drawing the cement to the engine shaft. The other or westerly
shaft, is very useful in creating a current of air through the works below, and is 107ft deep.
Water was struck at 94ft from the surface, which is kept under by a 14hp engine, to which is
also applied the winding gear required for raising the cement etc. These shafts are finished in
a very superior manner being boxed throughout and divided into two compartments by a
partition from top to bottom. The cement is now being excavated in both a N. and W.
direction, averaging about 2ft in thickness. A battery of 12 stamps to be driven by a separate
engine is also in the course of erection, and a very large reservoir of water pumped up from
below has been dammed back opposite the works. From about 20 to 25 men are employed on
the works in addition to contractors in the bush cutting timber, firewood, etc. The erection of
these works has caused quite a little village to be brought into existence in their vicinity, on a
spot that but a few months since was silent bush. The Alluvial Steam Puddling companies
are in some cases ready to commence operations, and more will no doubt be ready to begin
by the time they have water in their dams. 1
March 1860: Eaglehawk Division [G W Hart].
The population is as follows:
Alluvial miners 3,824
Quartz miners 342
4,166
The machinery is as follows:
Puddling mills: 146 at work, 73 idle
Quartz mining:
Crushing mills; 28 at work
Whims 6 at work
Steam puddling mills 2 at work
A great alteration for the better has taken place within the last fortnight, in consequence of
the rain. About two-thirds of the puddling mills are again at work, and something of the old
activity is manifest in the principal gully; but in the more outlying gullies the same dullness is
apparent, as most of the mills are still idle. I attribute this to the long dry season having
exhausted the means of the owners of the mills, who have left their homes and gone, at least
for the present, elsewhere in search of work. Very little is being done by the tub and cradle
men, and it appears to me that our gullies are foe ever deserted by them. Of the few that were
working in places where a little water could be found have also left, and gone to find other
ground. The Huntly Goldfield is the only one that appears in a vigorous condition; the lead
there is still going north ... The sinking varies from 90 to 100ft. Some of the owners of
crushing machines at Huntly and Epsom purpose erecting new ones about the head of the
lead, where several sites for dams and machinery have been surveyed, I regret to say that the
alluvial workings at the Elysian Flat hold out very poor prospects at Present. Most of the
inhabitants have left the place, and it is almost deserted. Perhaps, now that the Autumn rains
have commenced, better success will attend those still working there. Water has been very
scarce in that district, as the country is flat. The greater part of the quartz claims is also left
unworked. 2
1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Feb 1860
2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports , March 1860