Maddicks, Henry T., 100 Years of Daylesford Gold Mining History, p ...

1850s: Mines east of Hepburn Road, the Frenchman's and the Mineral Springs. Freehold United
claims along Hepburn Road - This line of reefs was thought to be the northern extension of the
Cornish reefs ... western edge of Kidd's Gully, they were worked down to 70ft by the end of
the 1850s. 38
1850s: Mauritius mining area - north along the top of the sharp ridge between Spring Creek and
Whitefield Gully, road now shown as Whitefield Road, runs to the 1854 Mauritius mining area
continuing down this ridge one reached the dumps of the Frenchman’s Reef mine. It was
much later than the Mauritius, and the early miners sunk to 180ft and had a tunnel halfway
down which run out to Whitefield Gully. 39
June 1859: Quartz reefs. Doctor's Reef, Doctor's Gully ... discovered about three years ago. Sailor's Reef,
Sailor's Creek ... This reef has been worked upwards of two years. It is situated in the creek
bed ... owners at present making arrangements for the erection of steam machinery, the present
crushing machine (worked by water) and the pump (worked by horsepower). 40
June 1859: Yandoit - A rush to a swamp or flat near King William Gully; and Forty-Feet is progressing. 41
July 1859: 14 quartz crushing machines - 5 steam, 4 waterpower, and 5 worked by horse. There are 65
puddling machines ... the plentiful supply of water has been fully appreciated by our puddling
and sluicing population. From Shepherd's Flat, on the Jim Crow Creek, up the heads of the
different creeks - Wombat Creek, Blind Creek, Stoney, Spring and Sailor's creeks - races meet
the eye on most of the ranges, flushed with water. Hill sluicing about Wombat seems to be in
great favour with our miners ... Although most of the claims, besides incidental expenses, pay
£3 or £4 per week for water to speculation race-owners, puddling and sluicing in general
average from 12s. upwards per day ... Sluicing in the beds of the creeks is effectually stopped
for the season. 42
July 1859: A new crushing machine just completed ... junction of Kidd's Gully with Spring Creek. 43
July 1859: Yandoit. Donna Maria Reef, recently opened on the Frenchman's Hill. A powerful engine to
be erected on Clement's Reef New rush, northern slope of a hill facing on Green Hill Creek,
and situated 66 degrees SW of Yandoit and Frenchman’s Hills - new tunnel ground. 44
July 1859: Tunnelling - Formerly parties running adits into a hill assuming different frontages, very often
intersected one another, and owing to the crookedness of the tunnels, it was in most instances
impossible for the parties concerned to form any idea whether they were working their own or
their neighbours' ground ... Most of those engaged in tunnelling being Italians. 45
August 1859: Water race - Enterprising party are at present trying to bring the Kangaroo Creek into
Wombat. 46
August 1859: Yandoit - prospecting the Green or Bald Hills, Yandoit. 47
August 1859: Mining population - upwards of 2900 ... for a mining community, rather settled than otherwise.
The great majority of the miners have been here for years, and are fully aware that although,
with such appliances as are commonly in use, no great fortunes are likely to be made, still stuff
affording them £2 to £3 per week abounds in quantities, and will for many years to come; and
men with families are, therefore, better satisfied to settle here than to rush about from one
place to another. 48
38 Maddicks, Henry T., 100 Years of Daylesford Gold Mining History, p.40
39 Maddicks, Henry T., 100 Years of Daylesford Gold Mining History, p.40
40 Mining Surveyors' Reports
41 Mining Surveyors' Reports
42 Mining Surveyors' Reports
43 Mining Surveyors' Reports
44 Mining Surveyors' Reports
45 Mining Surveyors' Reports
46 Mining Surveyors' Reports
47 Mining Surveyors' Reports
48 Mining Surveyors' Reports