Illustrations
1. Lowered Down the Shaft, White Horse Claim. 2. Stores of M. Marks and Co. 3. General View of Gulgong. 4. Waiting to Descend. 5. Store of W. Thompson, 6. Rouse's Paddock Mine. 7. At End of Drive—Men at Work.
THIS town, the centre of a large mining district well known for the great quantities of gold obtained, is situated almost at the northern end of the main range forming the watershed between Cooyal Creek on the east, and the Cudgegong River on the west. It is about 18 miles from Mudgee; communication between the places being maintained by Cobb's coaches, which run daily. Soon after leaving Mudgee, the traveller sees evidences of the extent of mining industry which has and is still being carried on; old shafts and deserted workings being visible along the greater part of the road, on which the only township met with is Home-Rule, where signs of past life and activity are visible in the shape of several dilapidated stores and hotels, left to the mercy of the wind and rain.
General View of Gulgong.
The tall white building in the middle is the Bank of NSW.
The tall white building in the middle is the Bank of NSW.
Soon after leaving there Gulgong comes in sight, in the centre of which is noticeable the fine white building erected by the Bank of New South Wales towering high above the other structures, and by far the finest building in the town, the greater part of the houses being built of wood. On entering, an old whim on the summit of a hill, on the border of the town, is observable. Here it was that gold was first discovered in this part of the colony; and from this point the ground was worked in all directions. The principal thoroughfare in the town is Mayne-street. It is narrow and winding, and from its formation a visitor can readily perceive how the earlier buildings must have been erected close to each side of the rough bullock track at the time of the first gold rush. During the prosperity of the diggings it is estimated that fully 20,000 people lived in and around the town. Within the past few years, in consequence of many of the claims being abandoned, the number has greatly decreased; but now that the mining interests in the district are reviving, it is more than probable that the next few years may witness a considerable influx of population.
The Church of England, St. Luke's, a fine stone structure which has been erected about nine years, is situated on the crest of a hill which commands a good view of the neighbourhood. The present incumbent is the Rev. J. S. Dobson. The Roman Catholic Church, which is at the foot of the hill, has been built some 10 years ago, and is of wood; the services being conducted by visiting members of the clergy from Mudgee. The Congregational Church, also a wooden edifice is presided over by Mr. Beard. There is likewise a Presbyterian Church.
Gulgong also possesses a theatre—the Prince of Wales, which was built at the time of the rush. The Post-office is a neat building, and the lock-up and police barracks are well arranged. There are also several hotels, and three or four good-sized stores.
Among the business establishments may be mentioned that of Messrs. M. Marks and Co., in Mayne-street. This is one of the principal general stores in Gulgong, having extensive premises and possessing a separate establishment for the sale of boots and shoes. In the large store a great variety of general merchandise is kept in stock to meet the demands of their large circle of patrons. A portion of the main store is divided off into a millinery and a men's clothing department, which are kept in full swing. Another leading establishment is that of Mr. W. Thompson, Times Bakery and Produce Store, which is the only store in the town built of stone and is situated at the corner of Herbert and Bayly streets. The business has been established since 1871; and, without doubt, Mr. Thompson has the largest stock of general produce in the district, also a fine assortment of confectionery. At the late Sydney International Exhibition Mr W. Thompson was awarded a prize medal for bread, the same at the time of judging being seven days old.
The present Mayor of Gulgong is Mr. John Tuxford, a resident of some 18 years' standing. The Municipal Council have, to all appearance, exerted themselves to improve the town by having the roads aligned, kerbed, and guttered, the quartz metalling proving excellent for the streets, the total mileage of which, in the municipality, being 50 miles made, and 18 unmade. The amount of rateable property is £85,000; the population of the town and seven miles around being about 2000, and the estimated area of the municipality being about 33 square miles.
With reference to the revival of the mining industry in the district, it should be mentioned that a great deal of this is due to Mr. Orlovich, an old Gulgong miner, who some time back secured the lease of Mr. Rouse's Paddock, also that of the Black Lead and the Britannia claims, and unsuccessfully endeavoured to float a company in Sydney to work them. In Melbourne, however, some 12 months back, he met with much better fortune. Messrs. Brigham and Marshal, of that city, took up the whole affair in a most enterprising manner, formed companies, and are at the present time the largest mine owners in Australia. They secured most of the claims, and have at present the following mines on the Gulgong goldfield:—Rouse's Paddock, Rouse's Paddock Extended, Rouse's Paddock Consols, The Black Lead, Moonlight, Britannia, White Horse, and Forty-four. At present only a portion of the claims are being worked, but when operations are in full swing, it is estimated that 800 men will be actively employed.
Rouse's Paddock Mine
Rouse's Paddock is the largest claim now open on the field, and extends one mile in length by half a mile in width. It is about two miles from the town. On the surface eight different leads were worked until they dipped into ground containing so much water and hard basaltic rock that the aid of powerful machinery to work the same became indispensable. Our illustrations include a view of the claim, together with a sketch representing our artists attired and ready for exploring the workings, together with another representing the end of the drive, with the miners at work on the face. A large amount of gold has been obtained from the various leads, one side of which is of granite formation, the other being a slate formation, having in the middle what is called "ticia" drift, on the top of which is the wash carrying payable gold; in fact the workings in the deep ground are all on a false bottom, the real main bottom not having yet been reached. In the drift, diamonds have been found, and the manager, Mr. Thompson, intends shortly to wash some 40 loads to test its quality in this respect more fully than has hitherto been done. With regard to the working of the mine a fine plant of machinery is now in full swing, and is well worth inspection. The main shaft is down to a depth of 156 feet, and at present the lengths of the various drives is over 1000 feet.
1884 - [The Miner. An Old-New Goldfield.]
THE fame of Gulgong and the adjacent goldfields of Tallewang, Home Rule, Canadian, and Diamond mines, 12 years ago, was bruited all over the world.
In those days Herbert-street was fully two miles long, and was one of the noisiest and most bustling thoroughfares in Her Majesty's Australian dominions. No fewer than 62 hotels represented the regular trade in the groggery interest, while the irregular, unauthorized trade in this line baffles all calculation now, even as it baffled all scrutiny then.
Some 50 stores flourished then in the township. Three local newspapers were run, a daily, a bi-weekly, and a weekly. Fifteen blacksmiths pointed the picks for the diggers and carried on general business. Three newspaper agencies received and distributed the news of the world. Butchers, bakers, fruiterers, and even fishmongers had a wonderful time of it. Vendors of those suspicious liquids called "summer drinks" concocted delicious abominations at their own sweet will, and the thirsty diggers drank them down like milk. Appalling specimens of ignorance and effrontery haunted the township under the guise of medical practitioners. Loose morals and licentious living were the order of the day. The clergy were powerless to stem the tide, and the police barely contrived to maintain a semblance of outward order. Frightful traditions still survive in connection with the lower groggeries and dancing saloons. They were very hells upon earth. Here congregated the scum of the colony, both male and female, and here the lucky digger was plundered without mercy, and poisoned without redress. And yet, in spite of a large posse of police, both mounted and foot, in spite of the ferreting inquisitions of a resident detachment of the detective force, in spite of the notorious presence in the township of criminals of the first water, the amount of crime that was tracked home and punished was exceedingly small. Judged by the records of the police courts, Gulgong was a comparatively law-abiding place.
At this time gold was being unearthed in bucketsful. So immense was the yield that lucky new chums imagined the precious metal would become almost valueless. Many an unscrupulous gold-buyer traded upon this illusion, and nuggets were weighed without much nicety on butcher's scales, 16oz to the lb.
The whole country around Gulgong bears testimony to this day to the rich alluvial yield of '71 and '72. Nor was reefing less productive. A few of the old reefs still survive, and are paying handsomely. The famous Red Hill claim was a very mountain of gold. Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7 Happy Valley are reputed to have paid from £5000 to £8000 a share, while Nos. (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17, Black Lead gave to each shareholder from £4000 to £6000. One lucky speculator netted in a few months a sum of £40,000 the product of which only a few heavily mortgaged houses remain. When Gulgong was in full swing no fewer than 25 puddling machines were on the ground, three quartz crushers, with a brigade of 200 carters with their horses in constant work. In those days 12oz of gold from a load of washdirt was a common yield, as much as 100oz to the dish was occasionally realized. The suburban goldfields also showed miraculous finds. Many large fortunes were made at Canadian, Home Rule, Nil Desperandum, Rouse's Paddook, Three-mile, Two-mile Flat, Diamond Mines, and Tallewang.
The whole country around Gulgong bears testimony to this day to the rich alluvial yield of '71 and '72. Nor was reefing less productive. A few of the old reefs still survive, and are paying handsomely. The famous Red Hill claim was a very mountain of gold. Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7 Happy Valley are reputed to have paid from £5000 to £8000 a share, while Nos. (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17, Black Lead gave to each shareholder from £4000 to £6000. One lucky speculator netted in a few months a sum of £40,000 the product of which only a few heavily mortgaged houses remain. When Gulgong was in full swing no fewer than 25 puddling machines were on the ground, three quartz crushers, with a brigade of 200 carters with their horses in constant work. In those days 12oz of gold from a load of washdirt was a common yield, as much as 100oz to the dish was occasionally realized. The suburban goldfields also showed miraculous finds. Many large fortunes were made at Canadian, Home Rule, Nil Desperandum, Rouse's Paddook, Three-mile, Two-mile Flat, Diamond Mines, and Tallewang.
At the present time, after years of depression, mining matters are decidedly looking up at Gulgong! Melbourne speculators are in the field, and companies have been floated which are carrying on operations in Rouse's paddocks and the old Caledonian Lead. The famous Black Lead is also being tried once again. Nos. 44 and 26 are reported to have engines at work, and no less than 100 acres have been pegged off in this spot for fresh sinkings. On the Britannia, Home Rule, an engine has also been erected. Only recently the old Christmas lead paid the handsome dividend of £400 per shareholder. At the White Horse claim, Canadian, from £8 to £10 per week per man is regularly netted. A Mudgee company (Wilton and Chappell, managers) have taken up the old Canadian Prospecting claim, and placed a powerful engine upon it. At the commencement of the new year it is confidently expected that hundreds (some say thousands) of miners will be in the pay of the various new companies, and it is quite within the limits of the probable that large tracts of old and abandoned territory may be thoroughly re-tested.
As an agricultural area, the country around Gulgong could hardly be surpassed. In the rich alluvial flats, from 30 to 40 bushels of wheat to the acre commonly accrue, and much valuable farming land is still open to selection. A large section of the Gulgong common could be advantageously commuted into market gardens and small farms. An inexhaustible supply of water for domestic purposes is stored in what is locally known as the "WaitAwhile;" but as the favours of Jupiter Pluvius are both frequent and abundant in this rangy region, a sufficient quantity of aqua pura is generally caught from the corrugated iron roofs to satisfy all ordinary demands.
The commercial condition of Gulgong is highly reassuring, and full of promise for the future. Trade, if not positively brisk, is steady and regular. The necessaries of life are, and always have been, wonderfully cheap, and Sydney prices rule in almost every department of business. At the general establishments of R. Brown and Co., M. Marks and Co., Messrs. Young and Co., and many others, very large stocks are kept, and the consuming public has every reason to be satisfied with the price and quality of the goods. The leading hotels are the Albion (Moverley's), Tattersalls (Mrs. Powell's), Orlovich's, Kelly's, Bennett's, and Powell No. 2. Local journalism is represented by the PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE.
Every species of handicraft is carried on in Gulgong. Blacksmiths, wheelwrights, coachbuilders, saddle and harness makers, tailors, and shoemakers are in plenty. Thompson's bakery is a fine stone building in the centre of Herbert-street, and is quite a repertoire of general produce. The public buildings of the town are a credit to the district. The local hospital is commodious, healthily-situated, and kept in admirable order and cleanliness by the present wardsman, Mr. Holden. The institution is generously supported by residents in the neighbourhood. The police court, sergeant's quarters, and barracks are new buildings of light and elegant design, but strong and massive enough in the prisoners' compartments. The post and telegraph offices are also quite new, and show the latest appliances, with ample accommodation. The warden's office, over which Mr. Snape, P.M., presides, savours of the old days, but appears to answer every practical purpose.
The public school is a large antiquated weatherboard structure, making no claim to architectural beauty, but sufficiently commodious withal, and pitched in a salubrious, and sequestered spot. Mr. Cosgrove is the newly-appointed head-teacher. The Bank of New South Wales, now in course of erection, is at once the loftiest, handsomest and most costly edifice in Gulgong, and dwarfs all the adjacent buildings. Mr. Voss is the manager. The Joint Stock is managed by Mr, Ramsay, the respected son of an old identity of the district. Gulgong possesses a most picturesque cemetery, in every part of which flowers bloom in wild unkempt luxuriance. We wonder much that the town council does not appoint a curator over this neglected spot, but possibly the municipal authorities have no jurisdiction here. On the local cricket ground, a grand stand has been recently erected, but the sward within the enclosure is utterly uncared for, and the really fine local team has to play matches on the town common. A public park, a racecourse, and a well-selected library are also amongst the attractions of Gulgong, the last especially reflecting great credit on the intellectual bias and moral discrimination of the people.
Three churches survive in the township, Roman Catholic (to which is attached a well patronised school), Church of England, of which the Rev. J. S. Dobson is incumbent, and Congregational, of which the eloquent and esteemed James Trevor has been for many years the respected pastor. We understand that Mr. Trevor is on the point of resigning the Gulgong church, having received a warm invitation from the Mosman's Bay Congregational Church in Sydney. It only remains to be stated that Gulgong is a municipality represented by 8 aldermen and mavor in the person of Mr. Zimmler.
[Written by] RAMBLER.
[Written by] RAMBLER.
