The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), Tuesday 12 August 1862, page 6
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5720074?searchTerm=EVANSFORD&searchLimits=sortby=dateAsc
1868-
Evansford, 1868 - The following is a list of persons illegally occupying Crown Lands in the agricultural area of Evansford in 1868 :
John Hampson, store and garden Francis Gallagher, dwelling
John Sloss, fencing in allotment Andrew Jackson, weatherboard house
Michael Quinlan, slab hut James Sloss, licensed beer house
Henry Crofts, weatherboard house Thomas Furber, dwelling and garden
Thomas Laws, dwelling Methodist congregation, large wooden church
James Maudesley, weatherboard house James Whelpdale, weatherboard house
William Lindsay, dwelling and garden
The above is from Police Report, File L1510, Unit 502, VPRS 44, Public Record Office.
(ADHS Newsletter No. 160, JUNE, 1998)
November
1860:
Several companies are at work on
the Mia Mia Reef, most of shafts are 100 feet deep ... I will send
you a plan of Mia Mia Flat Diggings, connected with the Hard Hill ... Parts of the flat
having been opened at different periods has caused it to possess a variety of names, such
as Tick Nickle, the flat supports a settled population of over 300. Feb
1860:
Kangaroo Flat, Amherst - Still supporting population of 400.
February
1860:
Rocky Flat Lead - 27 frontage
claims in full work (200 men employed). General opinion is
lead is trending towards Gibraltar. Ground in that direction being taken up in 3 acre
blocks, by parties of 18 men to each block.
February
1860:
Nuggetty Gully when first opened up was very rich, with numerous nuggets
found weighing
from 1 oz. to 30lbs. At present it
supports a mining population of about 200 (principally
puddling). Nuggetty Gully located at
east end of Ballarat Hill.
1860s:
Prince of Wales mine crushings at Cosstick’s
battery (also known as Croydon battery). (Records of
Geological Survey, Vol. III, part 2, 1912)
1860s:
Prince of Wales Reef: First worked in 1860s -
yields now unavailable. (Records of Geological
Survey, Vol III, part 2, 1912)
November
1860:
Several companies are at work on
the Mia Mia Reef, most of shafts are 100 feet deep ... I will send
you a plan of Mia Mia Flat Diggings, connected with the Hard Hill ...
Part of the flat
having been opened at different periods has caused it to possess a variety of names, such
as Tick Nickle, the flat supports a settled population of over 300.
1861:
Victoria Gully, Tunnel driven (‘so it is
said’) in 1861. (Records of Geological Survey, Vol. IV,
part 1, 1917)
February
1861:
Reefs being worked include New
Years Reef, Carnabian Reef, Sydenham Reef, and Cockatoo
Reef.
1861:
Two diggers - Herd and Tierney - in April,
found gold in Reservoir Gully, near Amherst,
during the excavation of the town reservoir. Liverpool Flat, south of Amherst, was also
opened and there was a large rush in 1861 [Flett, 1979, p256].
February
1861:
I will forward a plan and sections
of Nuggetty Gully, connected with the end of Ballarat Hill.
April
1861:
Construction of reservoir near the
head of Amherst Flat, about 1-1/4 mile distant from Amherst
township.
April
1861:
Extensive rush set in near the
head of Amherst Flat, about 1-1/4miles distant from Amherst
township, and which owes its existence to the reservoir now being constructed there ...
excavation to bedrock across the flat from range to range ... The rush at
present is
extending down the flat towards the old lead which was lost some years ago, a
little above the
township of Amherst.
April
1861:
Kangaroo Flat, Amherst- Diggings
principally being worked by puddling machines, and a few
Chinese.
May
1861:
Reservoir Rush is declining, at
one time there was 3,000 miners on the ground, but as the lead
proved to be a very narrow one there was not sufficient room, now about 15000 on the
lead.
May
1861:
Rocky Flat frontage claims
yielding good dividends. Scandinavian
Lead has joined Rocky Flat
Lead - mining dull.
1864 to
1894:
The Dana Reef, which, in the early
days yielded as high as 6oz. to the ton has lately been taken
in hand by a company that is now busily engaged erecting machinery. The departmental
records show that for a long time this line of reef supplied a large proportion
of the gold credited to the Amherst division ... Within six months of the reef being
opened in 1864, the mining surveyors report states that the Dana Reef so far
had averaged
40z 5dwt to the ton and had cleared £4,000 in dividends. In March quarter of 1865, the
Amherst division crushed 1,305 tons for 601 oz., and of this amount 401 oz. had to be
credited to the Dana Reef as the produce of 188 tons. This was at 70 feet, and apparently
the average yield fell to about 1 oz. per ton, until a depth of 240 feet was reached
when the reef paid fair wages. The machinery was, however, removed [Special Report, 1894].
March
1864:
Kangaroo Flat, Amherst- mining
population of 600.
March
1864:
Adelaide Lead - 350 miners working
on the south end of lead.
1864 to
1894:
The Dana Reef, which, in the early
days yielded as high as 6oz. to the ton has lately been taken
in hand by a company that is now busily engaged erecting machinery. The departmental
records show that for a long time this line of reef supplied a large proportion
of the gold credited to the Amherst division ... Within six months of the reef being
opened in 1864, the mining surveyors report states that the Dana Reef so far
had averaged
40z 5dwt to the ton and had cleared £4,000 in dividends. In March quarter of 1865, the
Amherst division crushed 1,305 tons for 601 oz., and of this amount 401 oz. had to be
credited to the Dana Reef as the produce of 188 tons. This was at 70 feet, and apparently
the average yield fell to about 1 oz. per ton, until a depth of 240 feet was reached
when the reef paid fair wages. The machinery was, however, removed, and until
operations were commenced by the new company the other day this very promising
line of reef had been lying unworked as regards the lower formations. [Special
Report, 1894)
March
1864:
From present appearance the lead
promises to be one of the most important ever opened up in the
Maryborough district. A small township is rapidly being formed at the northern
base of the Mount ... Mines working on north side of the Mount include All Nations
Co., Victoria Co. (adjoining All Nations), Perseverance Co. (adopting same system as
Great Tunnel Co. = inclined tunnel on the side of the Mount). Southern Cross Co.,
Pioneer Co., Oriental Co., Darling Co. are all sinking. Black Ball Co. making
good wages.
Talbot Gold has bottomed their shaft. Perseverance Co. is building new brick chimney and
replacing boiler. Prospectors south of
the mount unable to reach bedrock with
windlass on account of water. Tunnel
companies on the east side of the Mount retarded by
foul air - Princess Alexandra, Prince of Wales, and Exploring Gold Mining companies
are in, respectively 1,200, 1,250 and 1,300 feet.
March
1864:
Rocky Flat - 400 men. Mining matters improved, particularly near
McCullough’s Paddock -
Prince Alfred Co., British Standard Co., Lancashire Lass Co., Irish Lass Co., and Rocky
Flat Paddock Gold Mining Co.
September
1864:
Progress good on Rocky Flat lead. Band of Hope and Rising Sun companies
completed erection of
machinery. Paddock Co., good weekly
dividends. Britannia, Prince Alfred and Irish
Lass being rewarded for labour. Royal Standard Co.’s engine started.
September
1864:
Those claims that have bottomed and opened out are getting very
satisfactory returns especially
All Nations, Talbot, Perseverance, Oriental, Black Ball, Darling, Victoria and Prince of
Wales. Pioneer Co. struck payable gold. Undaunted Co., sinking. Southern Cross Co.,
sinking. Search and Find It, purchased 25hp engine. Homeward Bound and Lone Tree
Isola about to commence. Golden Ball, Koh-i-noor, and Grand Junction are sinking.
March
1865:
A company has been formed for
sluicing auriferous ground near the eastern base of Mount
Glasgow ... their intention is to convey water from the Merin Merrick swamp, about one
mile distant.
March
1865:
Ground for about 100 miners
occupied about 1-1/2miles south of Mount Greenock, near the Antrim
Arms, or junction of Clunes and Ballarat Roads.
A tunnelling company, in driving
westwards into the plains, obtained some good prospects. It is probable this
may be the
Mount Greenock lead, or a tributary of it.
March
1865:
Mt Glasgow and Swamp Companies: A
Company has been formed for sluicing near the eastern
base of Mt. Glasgow. Water to be conveyed from Merin Merick Swamp, about 1 mile
distant.
September
1865:
Messrs Leyland and Stewart's hydraulic works at Kangaroo. The hoses, with
pressure of 33 feet,
are equal to washing 1,000 tons of dirt in 20 hours with two shifts of men (six in each
gang). The tailings are lifted 20 feet by a series of dredge buckets, which are attached to
an overshot water-wheel of 14 feet diameter.
September
1865:
Considerable falling off has taken place in the Mount Greenock Plain
leasing companies.
March
1866:
Owing to the continued drought,
the miners in this division are in very straitened circumstances,
which has caused a further decrease in the numbers employed, and those which have
no means of removing have been under the necessity of “fossicking” about in the
various small gullies in the hope of finding a little gold. The water races
have been dried
up during the whole quarter, so that the miner has had nothing to fall back upon when
the natural beds of the streams failed to give a supply.
April
1866:
Continued drought - decrease in
numbers, those who cannot move now reduced to fossicking,
water races have dried up.
September
1866:
The alluvial mining about Mount Greenock continues in a depressed state,
owing to the want of
sufficient capital to work the main lead, which is so heavily charged with
water. The
Hoffnung Co., at Mt. Greenock South, has had a 12hp engine, with 6-inch pipes and a 70-ft
lift, employed for some months past exclusively in pumping, but have had to suspend
operations to place in 10-inch pipes, which is thought will clear the lead so
as to enable
the miners to proceed.
September
1866:
The Victoria Co., at Whitehorse Reef, near Amherst, has erected a steam
engine, of 30hp,
outlay of £3000. 10-head of stamps.
December
1866:
Decrease of 280 alluvial miners, left for harvest work and others are
employed in fencing in
the land which has been granted under the 42nd section of the Land Act of
1865.
The deep alluvial lead from Mount Greenock to
Fox’s Point, near Majorca, is still
undeveloped from excess of water; the want of capital has caused a failure in
every case where
the miners have touched it. This may be fairly termed the “lead of the division”.
March
1867:
Mining generally at very low ebb,
from want of water in the shallow diggings and dearth of
capital in the deep leads. Several
public meetings held ... the Greenock deep lead will
probably remain unworked for an indefinite period, unless outside capital is brought in.
March
1867:
Mount Greenock Lead will probably
remain unworked indefinitely until outside capital is brought
in.
June
1867:
Increase of 73 alluvial miners but
some men are partly employed cultivating the land they have
obtained under 42nd section of the Land Act of 1865. Mining operations in Division is
in very depressed state, from want of capital to develop the quartz lodes and deep
alluvial leads.
September 1867:
Hoffnung
Co. - broken down a third time.
December
1867:
Sadowa Co., heads the list of alluvial mines ... has given an impetus to
deep lead mining.
December
1867:
A new rush has taken place at Emu, situate about four miles from Talbot,
30 men employed.
March
1868:
Alluvial mining still in depressed
state for want of capital. An effort being made by the Union Co.
to raise sufficient funds to develop the Mount Greenock deep lead, need about
£4000.
March
1868:
Sadowa Co. - 1166 oz.
June
1868:
Emu Diggings: A Ballarat company,
combined with working men in the locality, have taken up
3000 feet of Bluchers Reef under bye-laws, and are about to place powerful machinery
on the claim. Plan of Waterloo Claim, Blucher’s Reef, Emu Diggings, Talbot Prospecting
claim, given name of Nuggetty Reef, found to be a spur of Blucher’s Reef
June
1868:
Sadowa Co. - 1705 oz. September
1868:Sadowa Co. - an increase of 532 oz.
Nil Desperandum Co., Scandinavian Lead, has spent 9
months erecting steam machinery.Amherst Mining Division
September
1868:
The Union Co., Mount Greenock South, now erecting plant ... will assist
the Hoffnung with water.
Private ground on the south side of Hoffnung has been let to a mining company -
Nicholls Freehold Co.
1868:
Rip Van Winkle Co. - first attempt to find Mt
Greenock Lead. Party sank shaft to 230 feet, then
mining depression set in and shaft abandoned. (MSR, 12/88).
December
1868:
Prospecting claim gave 20 oz. a ton of quartz in the last crushing of 6
tons, from Prince Alfred
Reef, near German Gully.
December
1868:
An unusual quantity of ground has been applied for, under leases and
otherwise, in this division
during the last quarter, viz. 2,544 acres have been surveyed under mining leases, 158
acres in extended claims under the bye-laws, besides 258 acres on private land -
making 2,960 acres. The recent large
rushes don’t appear to have taken many miners away
from the locality as most miners have settled homes.
March
1869:
Scandinavian Lead - Brunswick Gold
Mining Co. - 27hp steam engine.
June
1869:
Scandinavian Lead - Sadowa Co.,
2105 oz. from No. 3 shaft. No. 4 shaft down 120 feet and has two
substantial steam engines in course of erection.
June
1869:
Emu Diggings: Waterloo Co.,
Blucher’s Reef, have a crushing plant of 40hp in the course of
erection. The shaft is 200 feet deep.
September
1869:
The large gold mining companies near the swamps are making good progress,
and have first class
machinery erected, or in the course of erection. The Great Wheal and North Clunes
Extended companies expect to be alluvial mines, the former being 85 feet, the latter 100
feet deep. The Great Northern and Talbot and Clunes will be quartz mines. Quartz
mining greatly neglected, although many payable reefs known to exist, the total crushing
plant of the division consists of two machines, one of eight stamps driven by a 10hp, the
other 12-head driven by 12hp.
September
1869:
Mt Glasgow and Swamp Companies: The large gold mining companies near the swamps are
making good progress, and have first class machinery erected, or in the course of
erection. The Great Wheal and North Clunes Extended companies expect to be alluvial
mines, the former being 85 feet, the latter 100 feet deep. The Great Northern and Talbot
and Clunes will be quartz mines.
December
1869:
Mt Glasgow and Swamp Companies: the large companies near the swamps (on
the prolongation
of the Clunes Reefs) have not made much progress.
December
1869:
Emu Diggings: Waterloo Co., would be on of the most permanent claims in
the division.
December
1869:
Waterloo Co., would be one of the most permanent claims in the division.
December
1869:
The companies on the Big Reef, near Amherst, have not made progress in
erection of machinery.
it is sooooo hard to find any information on early claims,as I found a artefact many years ago and cant research it ,
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