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

Sept 1865:
Sept 1865:
European Chinese Total for the Subdivision
Alluvial miners 1300 50 1350
Quartz miners 150 150
Total 1450 50 1500
The machinery is as follows:
Alluvial Mining:
Puddling mills, 8 at work, 37 idle
Quartz Mining:
Steam engines, 3 idle, 36 stamp heads 36hp
Total value of machinery £7,650
Square miles of alluvial ground, 50
No of distinct auriferous reefs, 13
An engine and stamp heads has been constructed at Kamarooka during the quarter, and will, so soon
as rain comes, be constantly employed, many tons of quartz being now at grass ready for crushing
principally from the apparently rich reefs known as Pembroke Castle, Jones, and Doubtful. A race of
3 miles is being constructed at Kamarooka, to lead water gathered from the adjacent open area to the
engine just erected. Auriferous discoveries on the site of the present township of Raywood in
November, 1863, cause a considerable rush, eventuating in the establishment of a borough, including
the township of Neilborough (Elysian Flat). The continuous drought of the year 1864 and up to June
(1865) paralysed alike the exertions of puddlers, quartz miners and alluvial miners, and doubtlessly
retarded new discoveries. 1
Kangaroo Flat Subdivision. [H C Campbell]
The total number of miners is as follows:
European Chinese Total for the Subdivision
Alluvial miners 800 700 1500
Quartz miners 1250 1250
Total 2050 700 2750
The machinery is as follows:
Alluvial Mining:
Puddling mills, 170 at work, 340 idle
Quartz Mining:
Steam engines, 28 at work, 15idle, 549 stamp heads 933hp
Total value of machinery £90,000
Square miles of alluvial ground, 6 3/4
No of distinct auriferous reefs, 60
The continued want of water has been the cause of several crushing mills being obliged to stop New
machinery is now being erected, and there is reason to hope that a much greater quantity of stone will
be raised; from the judicious outlay of capital, working expenses reduced and many of the abandoned
reefs will again be worked with advantage. 2
Eaglehawk Subdivision. [G W Hart]
The total number of miners is as follows:
European Chinese Total for the Subdivision
Alluvial miners 3054 570 3624
Quartz miners 1300 1300
Total 4354 570 4924
The machinery is as follows:
Alluvial Mining:
Steam engines, 24 at work, 1 idle, 237 stamps, 319hp
Puddling mills, 252 at work, 73 idle
Quartz Mining:
Steam engines, 24 at work, 5 idle, 237 stamp heads 442hp
Total value of machinery £130,000
Square miles of alluvial ground, 6 1/2
No of distinct auriferous reefs, 64
The quartz reefs are capable of being profitably worked at greater depths than supposed, as, in some
instances, payable stone has been got 200 feet below where the first reefs ran out. The Eaglehawk
division maintains its pre-eminence. The St. Mungo line is yielding better stone than at any time. In
the Star Reef Co’s ground better stone has also been found, and when the more powerful machinery
1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1865
2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1865