The Happy Valley was located east of where the train line is today.
The Gulgong Gold Options mine
NEWS ITEMS
1871 - [ACCIDENT]
Another accident by falling down a shaft occurred on the Happy Valley on Tuesday last. It appears that James Geddes, shareholder in the spare ground between No 7 and 8 N Happy Valley, was about descending the shaft. The braceman had led out the whip horse along the walk, and unhooked the rope from the traces in order to turn the horse round, and hook the rope to the breastplate, and lower the man down in the usual safe manner. Geddes seeing the horse turned and the rope in front of him, thought it was hooked on, and before the man with the horse gave the signal of "all right," he put his foot in the rope, and of course descended the shaft at a terrific speed. From the character of the injuries received, he must have held on to the ropes until he reached the bottom, a distance of 140 feet. Dr Bennett, who happened to be near the claim, was immediately in attendance, and sent for Dr Belinfante to consult. On examination it was found that both bones of the right leg were broken into fragments, the left ankle dislocated on one side and broken on the other, and a wound going into the joint communicating with the broken bones. The unfortunate man died on Friday morning.
Source: The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893) Thu 9 Nov 1871 Page 3
1871 - Curious Discovery
The town was startled a few days ago by the report that a large cavern had been discovered in block claim of No.1 S Happy Valley. The party in whose claim it is situated state, that having bottomed their shaft, they drove eastward, and the ground dipping, they have sunk two monkey shafts at different levels, making the aggregate depth from the surface 230 feet. To the surprise of the party, they, at the lowest level, broke through into a cavity - fortunately at its edge - and were somewhat startled by hearing dirt fall into water. Having made a hole, the foul air that rushed out compelled the workmen to ascend; but going down a few hours later, they found that the water in the cavity was 23 feet below where they broke through. By tying a stone to a rope, it was found that the cavity was about 10 feet wide, but the length is not yet known. The water is clear, soft and well tasted, and contains live frogs. The rock is limestone and as the party is now erecting fans to purify the air, we hope to be able to give a detailed report of this curious discovery in our next issue.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 39, 11 November 1871
1871 - CAVE DISCOVERED
A cavern has been discovered in the Happy Valley claim, at Gulgong. The Guardian says:—
Owing to the impure state of the air in this singular cavern, during the week it has been impossible to descend into it to explore it. Two air fans are at work day and night; and a party has been made up to descend it to-night, if possible, and try to light it up with the "magnesian light," and thus obtain a knowledge of its extent. A bottle of the water has been left at our office, a portion of which we have forwarded to Sydney for analysis, so as in the event of its being fit for using for domestic purposes it can at once be made use of.
Source: The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912) Sat 25 Nov 1871 Page 1233
1871 - CAVERN CLAIM
1871 - CAVERN CLAIM
If some person well skilled in mineralogy, would visit the Cavern Claim on the Happy Valley near Mr Homer’s fence and examine the underground works of Anderson and party, they would be able to furnish a most interesting article upon the mining district of Gulgong. There are several caverns, in a limestone formation, and around these and intermixed are alluvial deposits containing payable gold. Hanging from the roof of these caverns are brilliant pendents in the form of icicles. The reverberations of sound is also interesting. The depth to the caverns is only about 150 feet, and those interested in such matters would well be repaid by a visit, and investigation might prove valuable in future operations upon this Goldfield, for we understand that there are many similar formations with a radius of 20 miles.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, July 6, 1875
[Note: An 1872 Mining Report in the Gulgong Guardian describes the "mysterious Happy Valley Cavern" as adjoining Homer's fence.]
1931 - GOLD MINING ACTIVITY.
The Gulgong Gold Options mine at which it is hoped to run tunnel through to strike the junction of the Old Happy Valley and Black Leads, which were rich gold producers in the old mining days.
