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

Dec 1880: Mining operations have been carried on with great spirit during the past quarter in all parts of this
division; a large quantity of quartz has been raised, and the average yield of gold is higher than has
been for a considerable time past. Our prospects for the coming year are very good. An immense
quantity of ground has been taken up, especially in the southern portion of the district, on and in the
neighbourhood of the Glasgow, Carshalton, Stafford, and Napoleon reefs. Claims in that locality
which have had little or no work done in them for a long time past are now being worked
energetically. The greatest activity also prevails at Eaglehawk, in consequence of the discovery of a
very rich reef in the Ellenborough Company’s mine, on the St Mungo and Devonshire line. It is 43
feet in width, and averages 22-1/2 dwts of gold per ton of quartz. This discovery is of great
importance, not only to the shareholders in that mine, but it has indicated, with every hope of
success, the direction in which workings in the adjoining claims should be carried on. It has also
restored confidence, and given a great impetus to mining in that locality. At Sebastian the Frederick
the Great Company have been doing well, with a large reef yielding nearly 8 dwts to the ton, taken
from the surface to 100 feet only in depth. A considerable amount of cross-cutting is being carried on
now. Rock-borers are doing their work satisfactorily, and their success should strongly recommend
them as an efficient means of lessening the cost of mining. The deepest shafts in Sandhurst are not
being further sunk, but may be shortly, as the Carlisle, North Garden Gully, and Passby United
Company, on the Garden Gully Reef, have obtained 340 tons of quartz, averaging 12 dwts to the ton,
at their 1,320-foot level. In addition to this, the quartz contained a large percentage of pyrites, which
has not yet been treated. The alluvial diggings at Adelaide Hill have been almost deserted, but there
are three or four claims which will prove payable. The supply of water from the Coliban furnishes
employment to a great number of sluicers. The quantity of water sold during the quarter was, for
sluicing purposes, 103,500,000 gallons; for other than sluicing purposes, 20,500,000 gallons; total,
124,000,000 gallons. 1
1880-85: Despite a declining annual gold production, the period was a generally stable one in the mining
industry. From the turn of the decade until 1885, this was due largely to the successful operations of
the Garden Gully United Company and if not spectacular, annual yields showed an improvement at
least, on those of the late seventies. Later in the decade, claims on New Chum Line began responding
well and the Johnson Line at Eaglehawk was the most prosperous on the field. Investors had little
cause for complaint. Between 1880-85, against £977,584 paid in calls, the Sandhurst mines
reimbursed them with £1,723,886 in dividends. After 1885, yields began declining and a downward
production curve continued unarrested for several years. 2
May 1881: Sandhurst Division [N G Stephens] The past quarter has been an eventful one in mining affairs,
which has been carried on with great success. The continuous rich yields and large dividends from
the Garden Gully United Company, New Chum Consolidated Company, Ellesmere Company, United
Hustler’s and Redan, and the Ellenborough Company have assisted materially in establishing
confidence in the mining resources of this goldfield, and have attracted many investors from other
parts of the colony. About 2 months since the London G G Company struck a good reef in their
ground on the G G Reef, Golden Gully, at a depth of 100 feet, which reef has averaged 3ozs. to the
ton. The discovery induced a great rush for the ground in that locality, and the success then attending
mining in nearly every portion of the division caused a general demand for leases and shares. The
amount of business transacted in mining, and the excitement attending it, has not been equalled since
the memorable period of 1870 and 1871. At that time many thousands of pounds were spent in
sinking shafts that were abandoned before anything payable was discovered, but the outlay of that
money has been a great help to those who have recently taken up the same ground, as a little
crosscutting in some of these mines has resulted in the discovery of reefs. Abandoned shafts really
represent capital and saving of time, and should be protected from injury. A promising reef has been
discovered about 17 miles from Sandhurst. On the Old Tom Reef, Whipstick, several parties are
doing well, and Mr. Bolle has come on an exceedingly rich patch in his claim, but all the reef is good.
Unfortunately he is obliged to cease working his engine on account of want of water. A very
promising reef has been found in the Back Creek Ranges, about 2 miles south of the City of
Sandhurst. It is thought to be a continuation of the Hustler’s Reef, and if so, is an important
discovery. Yield of gold during the last 3 months have been in excess of the previous quarters, but,
owing to the great amount of business and excitement in mining affairs, I have been unable to obtain
anything like complete returns. 3
1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1880
2 Cusack, 1973, p171
3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, May 1881