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

1865+: Coliban system: scheme to tap the Coliban head-waters. The scheme was the first undertaking of
such magnitude in the colony, and hesitancy marked its actual commencement. However, the
urgency of its need was clearly demonstrated during the drought of 1865 when the reservoir at Big
Hill ran dry and water had to be carted from Runnymede on the Campaspe in 400 gallon tanks, and
delivered about the township by water cart. Progress was slow. By May 1866 work had almost come
to a standstill; the contractors were suing the Government ... [the scheme became a political football]
...with charges and counter-charges of inefficiency and political corruption. It was already clear that
the estimates of the Select Committee were wildly astray. It was also becoming increasingly clear
that the project posed complex engineering problems beyond the capabilities and experience of the
colony’s engineers. It was not until 1869 that work on it got under way again. 1
1865: Whipstick: In February 1865 one of 350 ounces came to light at a depth of 2 1/2 feet; another of 190
ounces was found the same month by a lad, Jeremiah Fullerton. Later in the decade, a golden lump of
275 ounces was unearthed by a German digger, Jacob, in Splitters Gully. Despite such rewards and
such tempting promise The Whipstick remained elusive, yielding its nuggetty riches unpredictably 2
1865:1873:In 1873 nine mines were working on the line whose reefs plunged away directly below the traffic
flowing along Pall Mall. Most important of them was Latham and Watson’s Great Extended Hustlers
formed in 1865. Against an expenditure of £130,000, one reef alone, between the 400 and 600 foot
levels, had returned the owners over £500,000. From their No. 30 reef they had consistently secured
100 ounces to the ton. In1870 the market value of their mine was £14,000. When the No. 36 reef was
cut in the 463 foot level, it rose within weeks to £560,000. 3
March 1865:
Kangaroo Flat Subdivision [H C Campbell]
The total number of miners is as follows:
European Chinese Total for the Subdivision
Alluvial miners 900 700 1600
Quartz miners 1200 1200
Total 2100 700 2,580
The machinery is as follows:
Alluvial Mining:
Puddling mills, 100 at work, 400 idle
Quartz Mining
Steam engines, 19 at work, 16 idle, 453 stamp heads, 795hp
Total value of machinery £80,500
Square miles of alluvial ground, 5
No of distinct auriferous reefs, 57
During the quarter the exceedingly dry weather has seriously affected mining ... Indeed alluvial
mining is almost at present at a standstill, and several engines are now idle for want of water; yet the
prospects of the quartz reefs have never looked better than they now do, as very recently exceedingly
rich stone was struck on several; generally at considerable depths. More powerful machinery is being
erected, and a larger amount of capital invested, and companies are being formed with every prospect
of success. Hitherto mining has been conducted for the most part on this goldfield in a very
imperfect manner, for want of means; there is however a great change taking place in this respect,
and reefs that have been abandoned are now again being occupied with most favourable prospects. 4
1 Cusack, 1973, p136
2 Cusack, 1973, p133
3 Cusack, 1973, p150
4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1865