Salvation Hill, aerial photo 1964
Source: NSW Spatial Collaboration Portal
Source: VO, 11 June 2022
1901 - [GOLD]
The shaft of the property known as Salvation Hill has reached a depth of 230ft, and now makes so much water that a pump is necessary. Salvation Hill, as is well known; is a huge felsitic formation intimately intersected by quartz and pyritic veins,, nearly all of which carry gold, and from first to last some remarkably rich pockets have been discovered therein. In one shallow shaft 55oz of gold was discovered. A local syndicate was then formed, and a shaft commenced, which has been carried down to the depth stated. At the 160ft level a crosscut was put in a distance of 20ft on a belt of mineral which; assayed from 4dwt up to 2oz of gold, and silver to the amount of 4oz per ton. At the 200ft level a drive was put in along the line of reef, which showed highly mineralised stone all the. way, and went by assay as high as 71oz of gold, and as low as 4dwt per ton. In the face of the drive, when it was stopped, the mi
neral was stronger than ever. A clay seam about 2in wide, carrying free gold in places, and at other places it becomes pure mineral, has been carried down all the way in the shaft parallel to this seam, from the 150ft level downwards a seam of dark-looking material, which is perhaps silicious and carbonaceous matter.
The Salvation Hill lease is 44 acres in extent. The shaft is 6ft x 4ft in the clear, timbered and centred. The strike of the lode is about north-east and south-west, with a width of about 160ft, with slate walls. Free gold is scattered in patches over the surface of the hill. It is situated about three miles north-west from the town of Gulgong, has a good elevation above the surrounding plain, and is one of a chain of hills on which the town is built, extending approximately in an east and west direction from Flirtation Hill, Red Hill, Magazine Hill, and Salvation Hill. Huge mineral veins cross all these hills in a general north and south direction, end all are more or less gold-bearing, It is now the intention of the Salvation Hill proprietary to try and float the property in London, and with that object in view Mr. Fletcher has gone to England.
Golden Link, Salvation Hill.
Mr. Hilton reports that contractor Spies has completed the excavation of battery foundations at the Golden Link, Salvation Hill, the stamper portion being six feet deep through rock. There is a bedding of eighteen inches or cement on which there are four 6 feet logs, 2 feet 6 inches square placed on end, the catting will then be filled in with concrete, making a very solid foundation. Pickett and Son, carriers, have 16 tons of battery plant on the mine, and expect to have the whole of the plant conveyed within the next fortnight. The contractors for the tank are making good headway and will have it completed within a few days. All work is progressing in a satisfactory manner.
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Messrs. E. MacCray's boring plant will be located this week on the 40 acres of deep basaltic country taken up by Messrs. Crossing, Bowman and Hilton, adjacent to the Salvation Hill, the chosen site of the bore is a most favourable one for prospecting. The plant will be starting operations early next week, and will be watched with deepest interest by the community. Should payable gold prospects be obtained, over 3½ miles of untested country will be open for development.
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Salvation Hill G.M. Syndicate.A large felsitic body of ore has been struck about 200 feet E.N.E. of the main shaft. The find was come upon about 4 feet from the surface. The ore at present shows over 4 feet, and gives fair prospects of gold all through. Present indications point to a permanency. This gives an additional proof that the whole of the Salvation Hill is auriferous more or less.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 10 May 1906 Page 10
Bowman, Crossing and Hilton's Golden Link Battery, 1907
Source: The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912) Wed 12 Jun 1907 Page 1513
Clipping from O'Brien family collection
1906 - GOLDEN LINK MINE
At the Golden Link mine, at Salvation Hill, Gulgong, the battery, boiler, and engine foundations have been completed by contractor A. Spies, and he is now placing the pump and piping in position from water shaft to tank. The main building enclosing battery, &c., will be finished in a few days. The truck lines and hoppers will then be proceeded with. All being well, the battery will be in working order in a month.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 9 Jul 1906 Page 2
1907 - NEW SOUTH WALES FIELDS.
GULGONG, Thursday.— An amalgamation of interests of the Golden Link Gold Mine and 10-head stamper battery and plant at Salvation hill, and 14 acres, including the whole area of that famous old hill, has been effected. It is the intention of the proprietors (Messrs. E. M. Bowman, H. Crossing, and C. E. Hilton) to put through a bulk crushing of 500 tons of ore from the Red-hlll. The manager (C. E. Hilton) re ports for the week: "Main cutting 60ft. long, and 9ft, has been put into the brow of the hill due east. A face of 20ft, will be taken into the main lode, and the whole body of ore crushed.
At a distance of 200ft, south from main cutting, intermediate bodies of gold-bearing quartz and ore have also been opened up, and drilling tests prove gold-bearing strata underfoot. In cleaning out an old shaft, at a depth of 60ft., large blocks of ore thickly impregnated with sulphides were met with. Dollying tests gave free gold averaging 3oz. per ton; and several specimens of quartz and ore have been found containing coarse gold, with semi-decomposed sulphide attached. Strong indications point to a large body of auriferous sulphides existing within a depth of 100ft. Crushing operations are to begin at once. Yesterday over 3dwt of coarse gold were obtained from a three-foot drill hole in the main cutting."
