Bell’s Creek

Gold Mining in Bell’s Creek in the 1850s and 1860s¹

The Boom Years 1851 – 1856

Gold was found in the Araluen valley in September 1851. By the end of the month 100 miners were working in Araluen, but by the end of October this number was reduced considerably when many of these miners moved to a new gold discovery in Upper Bell’s Creek.² This movement of miners is noted throughout the 1850s and 60s in the valley. As new strikes were found miners, tents and later stores and hotels would move to other areas in the valley, or out of the valley, in the hope of greater financial gain. Today it takes about five minutes to travel the length of the valley. but walking and carrying equipment, will take longer, and so it was simpler to move tents, equipment, then businesses to the new area. Miners often worked from sunrise to sunset. Moving was an added, but necessary, expense for businesses due to the lack of transport facilities and unformed tracks between places.

Bell’s Creek rises near the top of the watershed. The creek is over four miles long, and varies in width in various places. The banks are precipitous, and covered in grass and timber.

Mining along Bell’s Creek was divided into three areas. Upper Bell’s Creek, from the source of the creek down to the junction with Stony Creek ; Middle Bell’s Creek, then Lower Bell’s Creek below the Bell’s Creek Falls. In the 19th Century all of Bell’s Creek was regarded as being part of the Araluen goldfields.

Upper Bell’s Creek was closer to the Parish of Seymour. The social and mining ties of the diggers there were connected to the much closer and more accessible Jembaicumbene area, including Bell’s Paddock. There was no accessible track from Araluen to Upper Bell’s Creek. Travel would involve walking through the bush, up steep slopes, carrying tools, tents and other belongings.

This map is adapted from Spatial Services NSW Government.

In 1825 Dr David Reid³ of Bungonia purchased 2000 acres, at five shillings per acre, on the south side of Jembaicumbene Creek. In the same year he applied for a free grant of 2560 acres each for Sir Michael Seymour⁴ and Admiral Edward Hawker.⁵ Governor Darling agreed to the grant against the wishes of the Land Board, who realised that neither Hawker or Seymour would ever settle in Australia.⁶ Seymour died in 1834 and Lady Jane Seymour, his wife, who was the sister of Admiral Hawker, maintained connection with the Seymour estate from England.

Whilst most of the land granted to Seymour and Hawker was on the Jembaicumbene side of the mountain, they also had land in Upper Bell’s Creek. Until he died in 1840, we presume that Dr Reid was the agent for Seymour and Hawker. At the start of the gold rush Dr Thomas Bell (1897 – 1854) was acting as their agent. Bell had bought land at Bendoura on the Cooma Road, and leased Hawker’s land at Jembaicumbene, calling it Belle Vue.

Edward Hargraves, who falsely claimed to have discovered gold in Australia, visited Upper Bell’s Creek at the end of September in 1851. He proclaimed the diggings were “poor and limited” and that the water “would cease to run in two months”⁷ In support of the landowners, Hargraves refused to publish his research until shearing and harvesting were finished.⁸ However his predictions about the Upper Bell’s Creek goldfields were proved very wrong.

New diggings throughout Bell’s Creek were reported each week in October 1851. There were soon 300 to 400 people at Araluen and Upper Bell’s Creek. Many at Upper Bell’s Creek were making 30s – 40s per day.⁹ By mid-October one party had washed 17oz in five hours, Moore’s party had washed 85.5oz in four and a half days and two men had recovered 100 oz in a fortnight.¹⁰ Many along Bell’s Creek were making 30s – 40s per day or £60 per month. This does not sound like very much money compared to our wages today, but by comparison a farm labourer at the time was paid £25 per year.

Richard Kennedy states that the gold in Lower Bell’s Creek¹¹ …

….was found [in October 1851] by the Irish Corner [Reidsdale] boys who were at this time working in Upper Araluen [located between Araluen Creek and Major’s Creek, NW of Apple Tree Flat] ….. When coming home [to Reidsdale] on a Saturday they always came up the old Bell’s Creek mountain, which track passed close to the Bell’s Creek falls at the foot of some large oak trees, which grew there in abundance. Denny Barrett, Frank McMahon, Johnny McCarron, Tommy Perry, Paddy Kennedy, John Wisbey, Tom Woods, Tom McEnally (better known as Tommy the Peddlar), …. on one occasion coming home brought with them their picks, shovels and dishes and prospected at the foot of the oak trees and struck good gold right on the surface at the roots of the grass. This caused a rush from Araluen, the diggers from there leaving good gold and going on. They found they could get a pennyweight to the dish on the surface, and, in 24 hours the creek was pegged out from the falls to the junction of Sheep Station Creek with Bell’s Creek. They all started work with the dish and cradle, and all did well ; in fact, they washed out the precious metal in pint pots full.

Tommy the Peddlar’s party consisted of five men – presumably five of those mentioned above.¹²

The good returns continued through to November 1851. Some miners were washing up to 85oz per week. About 300 miners were at work.¹³ One party claimed they recovered 180oz in eight days.¹⁴ The average earnings were £1 per day. A letter from Mr J Byrnes, dated 2 November 1851, wrote of the middle diggings at Bell’s Creek, saying, in part,¹⁵ …

Our party, consisting of four besides myself, arrived here on Thursday afternoon. We worked on Friday for a few hours, and about three hours on Saturday, and were fortunate enough to get one pound one ounce of gold ….. A party of three on the day of our arrival, procured 23 ounces, and many others from 7 to 13 ounces.

As soon as this gold was discovered many left the Araluen field to mine in these new areas.

The Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser reports¹⁶ …

Fancy a poor devil who had lost his horse (as many of them had) carrying a cradle up a mountain more than a mile long, many of the pinches almost perpendicular, and then have to return for his bedding and the rest of his traps, &c ; however, on reaching the top and proceeding a few yards to the top of a rise you come in full view of the diggers, and meet encouragement to proceed up the creek in search of a location whereon to commence operations …. The most successful party at this digging is Tom the Peddlar’s party of five ; in four and a half days they procured 70 oz. I saw upwards of 3 lb. weight of the above mentioned washed out in the course of three hours. The next party to him in the same bank have averaged 2 oz. a day per man since they commenced, about 10 days. The next, Donovan’s party have averaged about the same ; and every symptom of improving. Many of the claims on both sides of these parties have been abandoned. For instance, the claim adjoining the Pedlar’s, after being worked for several days without success, was sold by the original claimants for £2 ; the purchasers, after after working a day at it, left for a more favourable spot.

The journalist adds …

On the Lower, Middle Bell’s and Major’s Creeks, I should say there are about 2000 persons distributed, and additions daily. A more orderly set of men I never saw at work. Mr McLean, the Commissioner, having been so long in the district, and knowing personally so many diggers, is well fitted for the situation. The diggers who are, and have been, doing well, pay their licenses willingly, as by so doing the Commissioner is bound to protect their rights ; many, rather than pay the full license for less than half the month have returned to their homes to look after their crops ; but for Sydney and other people coming from a distance there is no alternative, they must either pay or give up work at a risk.

The population was still increasing in December 1851¹⁷ and very large parties were employed along Bell’s Creek.¹⁸ The Reverend Allen performed what was probably the first Anglican service at Upper Bell’s Creek at this time. Until now religious services had largely been confined to Braidwood but with the increasing number of people in the Araluen Valley there was an increasing demand for church services and the sense of belonging, moral values, education and succour imparted to the sick and elderly.

With such successful mining along the creek, sly grog tents sprang up by the end of December and were cashing in on the riches. It was reported that every second tent at Bell’s Creek had been a sly grog shop. In March 1852 there were complaints that the police were neglecting the protection of life and property by concentrating on detecting unlicensed diggers and sellers of sly grog. The troubles were allegedly caused by disorderly characters who were not part of the mining population. But the locals thought that those selling sly grog controlled their sales, not selling to people who were drunk or idle dissolute persons. The Goulburn Herald¹⁹ saw the situation differently and praised the police for reducing sly grog and gambling in the district.²⁰ But in June 1852 the Goulburn Herald said a sad set of riff-raff congregated at Bell’s Creek, resulting in violence and alcohol abuse. The first public house was not opened at Bell’s Creek until April 1854 when William Jones was granted a license for the Miner’s Home.²¹.

In January 1852 an argument erupted between the diggers on Belle Vue, the land owned by Admiral Hawker and Lady Seymour. Dr Bell, as their agent, issued licenses on Belle Vue. He forbade the licensees to trespass on the adjacent Crown land, known as Bell’s Flat,²² unless they paid £5 per claim, per month, as well as the government license. Dr Bell did not own this land, nor was he an agent for this land. The diggers resolved not to pay this money and to work the land in spite of Dr Bell. A public meeting, called on Saturday, 3 January 1852 was attended by 400 diggers. The diggers resolved to form a Committee of Rights, and by the end of the day all of the land in question was occupied and mining was started and continued in earnest the following week.²³ By regulations of 7 October 1851, the miners had a perfect right to demand and obtain from the local Commissioner special licenses to dig and search for alluvial gold on the private property. Bell’s refusal of such licenses was illegal.²⁴ By the April of this year the agency of Dr Bell ended. A nephew of Admiral Hawker came to the district with a power of attorney to take possession of the Belle Vue property,²⁵ presumably acting for Lady Seymour as well. He issued a code of regulations. All persons employed in the gold searching had to pay 20s a month license fee in addition to the 15s a month paid to the government. No more than six claims could be held by any one person or party, and the claim would be forfeited if not worked for ten days or if vacant for 48 hours. Traders, including gold purchasers, had to pay £2 per month. Henry Moreing was appointed Commissioner for the owner. There was a large amount of gold being mined at the time. Some parties were taking out 50 oz a week. The diggers were orderly and quiet, and grog selling almost non-existent.²⁶Conservation and Heritage Overview of the Araluen Catchment Area incorporating the Araluen, Bell’s Creek and Major’s Creek goldfields. Printed, Canberra, 1998. p 17.²⁷

The Sluice Box

By May 1852 sluicing was becoming popular. The sluice box was built on the mine site by the miners. Wood was gained from the forests in the valley. The sluice box was built on the claim by the miners. Wood was gained from the forests in the valley. The miners used the sluices to rewash earlier worked ground and in doing so obtained considerable quantities of gold. Several sluices were at work at the Upper Falls.

Image from https://www.theresahuppauthor.com/blog/2015/03/25

By August 1852 the returns at Bell’s Creek were described as large only in a few cases. Some were making 10s a day using a cradle and washing other people’s tailings. Sluicing had been introduced and those using this method were making the best returns.²⁸

Perhaps new finds were made, as by September 1852 most diggers in the Araluen district were at Bell’s Creek, but success was then hampered by incessant rain. Once there would have been 2000 people on these diggings but now only 500 remained – the rest moving to fields in other parts of the district or further afield. Demand for labour was high. The first of the arguments over sluices built through the claims of others took place at this time. Were other parties entitled to use the water in the sluice? The journalist did not report the outcome. This was a problem that would erupt again in the future.²⁹

By November and December mining at Bell’s Creek had improved again with Stewart’s party taking up to 19oz a day.³⁰ In December Mr Stillard’s party were sinking a 40 foot shaft and planned to tunnel presumably when a vein of gold was discovered.³¹ This was a new mining technique for this area.

Also in December 1852, half a mile of Upper Bell’s Creek had been taken up by parties from Sydney, under the management of Mr. Duiguid.³² In March 1853 a further report on Duiguid’s tells us³³ …

The first flat has been but little worked ; and at its head commences a race lately dug by the company which is known by the name of Duiguid’s. The race extends, I should say, a quarter of a mile ….. About twenty-two men are employed by the Company, six of them are navvies from home. Those who are well used to the work, are paid at the rate of £2.10s. a week and rations ; ordinary labourers £2. 6s. a week, and rations. As it is only within the last few days the washing stuff has been reached, it is impossible to say how this portion of the Creek will turn out ; above and below it have been exceedingly rich, and there is every reason to expect that Mr. Duiguid’s company will be well rewarded for the labour and the capital they have employed. The weekly expenses are about £60. For the first few days after getting to the washing stuff, the yield was from 10 to 12 ozs. per diem. Mr. Brown, a store-keeper, just below Mr. Duiguid’s, has a party at work, sluicing half a mile of the bed of the creek. He pays licences for a quarter of a mile, the ground having been previously worked. Adjoining these claims are half miles belonging to other parties, stretching the whole length down the creek to the Araluen falls. There are only two parties, with the exception of Mr. Duiguid’s, that have as yet done more than cut the requisite races ; these two parties have succeeded in realising considerable gains … The two creeks, tributary to Bell’s Creek,’namely, Stoney Creek and Sheep Station (or the Junction) Creek have been ” prospected,” but not worked, the former on account of the immense barriers of rocks, and the other on account of the super abundance of water. Large particles of gold have been found in this creek, which closely resembles Bell’s Creek in all respects, but it never can be properly tested until a deep race is cut, so as to carry all the water [needed].

In February 1853 a party at Bell’s Creek sluiced 100 – 150 ozs in a fortnight.³⁴ Sluicing was still giving good returns in March 1853. Stewart’s party washed 90 – 95 ozs in a week, and in April a party of 25 had taken 400oz.³⁵ The good reports continued into May.

Middle Creek.

Middle Creek is about two miles long and descends steeply into the Araluen Creek. The gully was worked at the same time as Bell’s Creek. From the head to the falls the ground has been turned up, but yet there are a few parties who are persevering here instead of moving to the new areas. They have lately been making from £3 to £4 a week, and, some weeks, more. Sluicing would improve returns but would be impossible at the present time on account of the nearly total absence of water.³⁶

Roads.

Access to the valley had always been problematic. Steep roads, not much better than bridle tracks were still being navigated in 1853.³⁷ One journalist gives a moving account of his journey down the mountain …

The descent into the valley of Araluen is long and precipitous. There are three roads down, by Major’s Creek, by Bell’s Creek, and by Reidsdale. By the latter, where the “pinches” as the team drivers call the abrupt descents, are fewer, provisions to the sojourners below are usually conveyed. I once saw a cart taken down and up the road leading from Bell’s Creek, but the task was one of difficulty and danger. ….. The inconvenience felt by sliding down so precipitous a mountain is amply repaid by the glimpse one is able to take every now and again (by holding on to a tree), of the gorgeous Alpine scenery which greets the eye on every side, as well as by the beauties of the valley into which the descent is being made. …… We found it a difficult matter to make our horses walk down the rapid descents which the road sometimes makes, though we dismounted at the top of the mountain and led them with a long rein ; the poor animal almost slipped down on their haunches, and we experienced nearly as much difficulty in keeping our legs. Two or three diggers passed us laden with small bags of flour, and on enquiry if they were compelled to go up the hill to the stores on the creeks for the purpose of purchasing provisions, they informed us that there was a store in the valley, but on account of the difficulty of bringing provisions down in a dray the prices charged there were materially higher than elsewhere.

In August 1859 the Sydney Morning Herald³⁸ discusses some of the suggestions for a new road into the valley …

A new road to these diggings, from Braidwood, has latterly been spoken of, and meetings on the subject have been held at Braidwood and at Major’s Creek. The Braidwood people advocate a road by Dirty Butter Creek, and the Major’s Creek inhabitants say the range from their creek is the spot. In this last opinion I strongly concur. The first-named road would be very badly situated even for the interests of the inhabitants of Braidwood. It is in a corner of the district, towards the Clyde Road. It should be (if made there) very convenient for travellers from the Clyde to the valley, but it would not answer the object that the diggers of Araluen and the inhabitants of Braidwood have in view easy market for the necessaries of life. Nothing comes to Braidwood, in the shape of produce from that direction, but all comes from the northern and western. Another objection to this road is, that it will have to pass through private ground. From reliable information, I learn that the cost of making the Dirty Butter Creek, or Major’s Creek road, would be nearly the same. We decidedly incline to the latter, as the most advantageous to us.

Richard Kennedy in his reminiscences describes the tracks to the valley when the miners were back at work in March 1860 after the big flood³⁹ …

Now, up to this there was still no made road down the mountain, only the old slide tracks. It was determined, therefore, that some effort should be made to have a road made into the Valley, so that the population would have more easy access through the mountain. So a bridle track was cut about three feet wide down the Dirty Butter Creek, underneath where the mountain road now is, and this track was used by equestrians only, as it was too narrow for any kind of vehicle traffic. This bridle track was found to be a great acquisition, as the old slide down the mountain was so steep that few horses were fit to carry a man up any one of the tracks in use, viz., the Bell’s Creek, Major’s Creek, the Corner and Fuller’s mountains, all of which were in use in those days.
By this time [March 1860] the diggers had recovered their troubles caused by the flood, and the claims were all opened up again, but the ground was so full of water after such a wet time that they found in a great many cases it was next to an impossibility to contend with the underground leakage with the poor appliances that were at their disposal for keeping out the leakage. So it was decided on by the proprietors of one of the claims that they would get an engine. One was brought from Sydney to the Valley. It was brought by Neddy Corrigan with his team of horses to the top of Irish Corner mountain⁴⁰ from Nelligen, and then in a most peculiar manner was taken down the mountain on its own wheels by about 200 men. The plan adopted was a contrivance by which it was lowered down with a number of long, strong ropes, fastened on the different parts of the engine, in fact, wherever a rope could be fastened on, and then a number of men would lay hold of the end of each rope and take a twist round a good stout tree (of which there were plenty on the mountain), and gradually let the engine move down the steep decline. When a rope would become run out it would be removed to another tree lower down, and the men would hold again, and so on. Each rope would be shifted from tree to tree until the bottom of the mountain was reached with safety, not a hitch occurring all the time, and when the engine was landed corks were drawn and fizz flying to no end.

It was not until November 1861 that the road to Braidwood opened. Stephen Popenhager, of Upper Bell’s Creek, had contracted for the work to make this road. The road was very narrow, only 12 feet wide, and people had to be careful going down this new and dangerous road. Instructions regulating the traffic up and down were posted, but usually ignored, resulting in accidents. With the increased traffic, there were three public houses built along the road by August 1862.

In August 1867, a journalist travelling this road commented⁴¹ …

On making a visit to Araluen on Monday last we were much gratified to find a very great improvement in the aspect of things generally. …. The late repair to the roads will prove of very great benefit to the facilitation of trade in Araluen, and it is impossible for any one to ride through the Valley without being fully impressed with the large amount of work which has been devoted to them, and the substantial nature of the repairs which have been effected. …. in all directions the roads are dry, properly levelled and formed, and at present a marked contrast to the horrible condition in which they were prior to anything being done to them. Mr. James Armstrong has received the contract for opening out a new piece of road at the back of his house at the foot of the mountain, in place of the road at present in use in front of his house, which from being so low will be impassable in wet weather.-Braidwood Dispatch.

Meanwhile, successes continued at Bell’s Creek through February to May 1853, one claim taking out 120oz in one day,⁴² but by June most of the mining was carried out in Araluen due to the milder climate. The higher areas were experiencing snowfalls and in some areas the ice was an inch thick. It was too cold to work more than five or six hour and day, and most of the time was spent on pumping. In June and July there were severe floods which washed away much surface soil at Bell’s Creek, exposing rich deposits of gold. In early July violence had broken out on Duiguid’s claim and Duiguid himself was attacked. No reason was given in the newspapers for this violence. The ringleader was fined and given three months gaol.⁴³ More rain in October and November put a stop to mining.

Gold Salting

In April 1854 the Sydney Morning Herald states that …

…….. on Bell’s Creek there is no public-house, and everything is quiet and orderly. The clergyman of the district pays them bi-monthly visits. The gully above it was entirely deserted ; but hillocks ….. and long deep cuttings still remained to attest the extensive operations which, with so much time and expense, were wasted on its barren soil. A few pennyweights were the only return for many months of hard toil, during which time tons of earth were barrowed off, and pumps kept constantly at work. Gold has again risen. It is now selling at £3.14s.0d. Two men have been taken into custody, at Bell’s Creek for mixing their gold with brass filings. They added so large a quantity of the latter metal that the fraud was easily detected. One of the delinquents was Gipsy Jack.

By April 1854 on the lower part of Bell’s Creek, between 20 and 30 men are employed sluicing the previously worked ground. That they are making more than ordinary wages is evident from the fact that labourers are wanted at the upper part of the Creek, where they would be readily employed at 65s. per week, which has been the standing wages for months.Sydney Morning Herald, 1 April 1854.

In July 1854 there were not many miners at Bell’s Creek.⁴⁴ This may be due to the cold weather again. Unfortunately there were not many reports until August 1855 when it was stated that horse and carts and long toms were giving good returns. By 1857 the long tom was almost universally employed in Araluen and Bell’s Creek as it was the most efficient method. Twenty times as much dirt could be washed out compared to the cradle.https://americanexperience.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Mining-Technology-during-the-Gold-Rush.pdf

The Long Tom

In August 1855 McGowan reports that some places were so rich that gold was found under the grass.⁴⁵ Previously, it had been said this happened after heavy rain. These successes continued as in September 1854 Mr. Fairhurst established a new store at Bell’s Creek. In November 1855 the Sydney Morning Herald states there were 60 or 70 miners at Bell’s Creek.

1856 – 1860

In May 1856 it was reported that Bell’s Creek was entirely deserted.⁴⁶ Unfortunately there was no explanation given for this particular movement. One explanation came in the following January …

Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser on 10 January 1857 reports on Bell’s Creek …

This creek, which is only two and a half miles in length, has proved itself the richest spot in New South Wales. Twenty, thirty, sixty, and eighty ounces, day after day, have, I know, been taken from this creek, not by one or two parties only, but by dozens of different companies, for months together. Upon one occasion, on going to Bell’s Creek for a supply of rations for the week, I met an old Sydney friend, who had been working on the creek some short time, and had made £800 ; he told me that he was going to some other mines very soon, that the creek was worked out, and that he had only got seventeen ounces that day. When I told him that I thought seventeen ounces were not bad takings, he exclaimed, that “if one man had it all, but, you see the worst of it is, that it has to be divided with three more, and that is where it won’t pay.” I should like with three others to be compelled to work such a claim for three or six months, and I think there are plenty of old diggers who would not turn up their noses at seventeen ounces per day. There are still some thirty or forty men working on this creek who are quite glad to make a fair day’s wages. From the Goulburn Chronicle.

And by September 1858⁴⁷ …

Bell’s Creek is again mostly deserted through the rush to the Lower Araluen ; but some of its old inhabitants prefer remaining on the spot they know to contain the yellow deposits. Jackson’s party are doing pretty well ; they are working old ground, and expect to alight upon a spot where none of the precious treasure has ever been removed.

Before the discovery of gold the landowners were developing their sheep and cattle enterprises. Since the 16th Century, in England, then later in Australia, all gold and silver, on both private and Crown Land, was the property of the Crown. Thus miners had to have licences, paid to the government, to be able to mine gold. Often disputes arose between miners and landowners over the mining of gold, which often left the land in disrepair for agriculture. As well the landowners thought they should receive payment for the gold on their property, and wanted to charge an extra fee for prospecting and mining for gold. The miners objected to this as the landowners did not own the gold. This situation only applied to alluvial gold. The mining of gold ore, matrix gold, could only be carried out by the landowner and those in his employ. But, as we see later, this did not stop the miners objecting to the demands of the landowners. The discovery of gold happened before the necessary laws were enacted to streamline the process and to define the benefits to all concerned.

In February 1857 it was the landowners on the gold fields who were facing a problem with the Government over the gold on their land. This was highlighted in Henry Moreing’s letter to the Sydney Morning Herald. Henry owned land on the Jembaicumbene swamp.

He writes⁴⁸ …

Petitioners have learnt with surprise and dismay that a bill is in course of progress through the legislature altering the existing regulations for the management of the goldfields of the colony. It will abolish the present system of collecting the royalty due to the Crown by means of a monthly license and substitute a duty of 2s. 6d per oz on the gross amount of gold raised. This will stop further further development of the wealth due to gold in the district. In Braidwood the richest and most extensive fields are on private land. The gold here is of inferior value to that obtained in other parts of the colony averaging, after deduction of export fees and Mint charges only £3.13s.3d oz. A reduction of 2s. 6d [per] oz will prevent employers continuing an employment they have long followed and been accustomed to.

This petition had 150 signatures and quite possibly there were petitions from all gold mining districts. Despite this, the bill was passed in Parliament six days later on 12 February 1857.

The Clyde Road opened in January 1858. Ships arrived at Nelligen from Sydney on a regular basis, giving miners easier access to the Braidwood fields. In May 1858 several parties were earning £3 to £4 per week at the junction of Bell’s Creek and Deep Creek. Deep Creek was studded with comfortable buildings and numerous tents. Mining was deep and the expense was in building tail races for washing. By August though, it was too wet to work and many left for the Foxlow fields.

A meeting was held in Bell’s Creek on Monday 12 July 1858 to form a committee to erect a school house. The meeting was offered an already constructed building. This was purchased and a tradesman appointed to furnish it appropriately.⁴⁹ However the teacher was later seized by the raging gold fever and left for Port Curtis, where gold was discovered in September 1858.⁵⁰ This building also served/ as a place for Divine service on Sundays.

Unfortunately mining enough gold, poor roads and expensive supplies were not he only problems faced in the Araluen Valley. February 1859 saw the first of the many floods which would come in the ensuing years⁵¹ …

We are informed that the late rain has caused considerable loss to the diggers in this locality. On Sunday and Monday evening, the watery element came down in torrents ; sluices and races were entirely washed away, and rendered useless. The Messrs. Jackson, Hunt, and Jones are great sufferers ; their races, the cutting of which was the work of months, are totally destroyed. Mr. Forsyth, with his usual foresight, prepared for the coming storm upon first indication, and he has the satisfaction to find that his labour has not been misspent.- Braidwood Observer.

The gold lust …. there’s gold in them there hills …. the cry of miners throughout the world, or was it the lack of other options that brought out characteristics of determination and perseverance? For, less than three months later, in April⁵² …

We continue to receive satisfactory accounts from the various diggings. Harrison and party have just opened a claim at the junction of the Deep and Bell’s Creek, and are making liberal wages, with the hope of doing better. The cry is still for water ; those who have a sufficiency of it can yet do well. The storekeepers are reaping their own harvest, which tells well that the yield of gold is not diminishing but otherwise. -Braidwood Observer.

In June 1859, many left Bell’s Creek for Merricumbene. It was reported that the few that remained did well⁵³ …

Putney, Jones and Perry are succeeding every week ; say quarter to half dwt to the load and occasionally one dwt. The creek was irregularly worked at first, and has never been systematically worked since. The ground near the falls has not been tested yet. Captain Stove and party, opposite Mr. Armstrong’s, are doing well considering all things ; so are Harrison and party, at the junction of Bell’s Falls and Deep Creek. King’s party on the private ground opposite Goodenough’s are making wages, and something more.

By November 1859 Bell’s Creek population had increased again. Several shares in claims had changed hands at a satisfactory rate and there was hope of return to prosperity. Mr Forsyth obtained 77oz in October and hoped to do better. ⁵⁴

In February 1860 the Government had already determined to place in the Estimates for 1860 a sum of money to meet the expense of constructing a road to Braidwood. Mr. Surveyor Rowland recommended a branch to connect this road with the Clyde road via Reidsdale and Bell’s Creek. The Government were disposed to view this recommendation favourably, but had not yet finally determined the matter.⁵⁵ Even in the mid 1860s it was a four hour journey on horseback between Braidwood and Araluen.

Also in February 1860, the whole valley was subjected to the next flood. This one was horrific, the like of which had never been seen since gold was discovered. Five Chinese miners were washed over the Bell’s Creek Falls. The mangled remains of three Chinese were found. They were swept away by the torrent and hurled over the mountain to a depth of 1000 feet. When found portions of their bodies were missing. One of the five miners almost at the edge of the falls, managed to escape. The remains of the unfortunate men were interred close to the spot where they were found.⁵⁶ At Bell’s Creek the flood had washed away large quantities of soil and saved months of hard work removing the same. Again the miners recovered quickly from the flood in this location, the damage being less widespread than on the plains and by March 1860 things were going well.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 1860 reported on the Chinese population saying that 18 months ago there were no Chinese at Bell’s Creek, but now many were present. The diggers encouraged them as they paid heavily for every inch of ground. The diggers were no doubt also appreciative of their race building skills. Like other miners the Chinese were transient and by the end of August many had moved to the Snowy or Abercrombie, near Bathurst.

Mining continued to be profitable through July and August 1860 and at the end of August the last heavy fall of rain was again of material advantage to the diggers, as the force of the water caused the banks on both sides to shelve in and give way, thereby exposing rich deposits of gold.⁵⁷ However the good times did not last and by November the Sydney Mail stated that things at Bell’s Creek were dull.

!861 – 1865

The population began increasing again in February and March 1861. Some rather expensive works were carried out by some Europeans. It was reported that Forsyth’s party who spent money in opening up their ground, were now hoping to get it back, with interest.⁵⁸

The population fluctuated again and by April 1861 there were only about 40 people at Bell’s Creek, the majority being Chinese. Then there was another severe flood, but by June things were repaired. Water was also available from a new water race, allowing sluicing. The numbers then increased, everyone working from sun up till sun down. Parties obtained gold in quantity.⁵⁹ The good times continued for the rest of the year. Much of the gold now came from quartz reefs which indicated that the alluvial gold was all but exhausted. The numbers of Chinese had increased as well and by the end of the year their number was in the majority.

Insufficient water, for washing the gold, was at many sites a huge problem, not only in physical labour and expense, but also in negotiations. Larry Goodman’s endeavours typified the problem. The Sydney Mail reported in February 1862 that Goodman’s party have completed their extensive works, and will shortly begin sluicing. But in April this sluice was abandoned and now it was reported that he intended to bring a race down from the head of Sheep Station Creek, a distance of six miles.⁶⁰ In October, Goodman was still held up due to negotiations with the land holders on whose land the race had been built. Water races built across private lands were always going to need official regulation to prevent arguments and facilitate mining and it was hoped that the miners would soon be successful.⁶¹

To better understand the scope of this sluicing project we need to look at an article in the Empire in 1863⁶² …

We spent some time on Monday last in going round the works, and were completely taken by surprise at the gigantic character of the undertaking. In the course of its construction large boulders and stones had to be removed, some of them weighing a ton ; massive embankments have been erected therefrom. About two hundred yards of sluicing or fluming boxes, two feet in depth, and sixteen inches wide, with false bottoms, are laid at a depth of fourteen feet below the level of the creek, with a fall of water of two inches in every dozen feet, over the falls into the Araluen, so that all the gold which is to be found in the deposit, must be caught in the false boxes after the drift has been subjected to the action of the current. At the head of the race the party are busily employed in clearing the sides of the creek of the dirt to be washed, and as the party intend to add a length of eighty feet more to the sluicing boxes, and to repair some damages about midway, which were sustained from the recent floods, a handsomer return than has yet been experienced may be expected. The present returns are better than £1 per day, but the general washing will take place in a couple of months, when a considerable number of pounds of gold will be taken.

Unfortunately there were no further reports on the success of this venture.

Another Drowning Disaster⁶³ …

FATAL ACCIDENT AT BELL’S CREEK.—On Sunday evening a young man named John Bell, a horse breaker of this town, was returning from Araluen in company with James Parker: at the top of the mountain rain began to fall and the two men therefore took shelter in Mr. Potton’s public house, where they remained for some time until the rain had partially subsided, when they started on their way to Braidwood. On arriving at the Sheep Station Creek a perfect torrent of water was rushing down, some ten or twelve feet in depth. Bell, who was riding one horse and leading another, plunged into the boiling torrent for the purpose of crossing it, but he was washed down, and up to a late hour yesterday his body had not been found, although the police were busily engaged searching for it. The horse upon which he rode was discovered at some distance down the creek wedged in between the rocks, and when extricated was in a fearful state from cuts and bruises through having come into contact with the numerous trees which are lying in the creek. The horse has since died. The rush of water from the mountain must have been extraordinarily rapid as not ten minutes before the fatal accident occurred, Mr. William Greenwood and another person, on their way from Araluen to Braidwood, crossed the same creek at the same place.—Braidwood Despatch.

Reports of mining are few and far between over the rest of the decade. This may indicate the difficulties associated with mining the gold ore, as opposed to the alluvial gold where returns were quicker. Or miners are less inclined to advertise their successes. In April 1863 the Freeman’s Journal states that at Bell’s Creek there were some few men at work mining, due to the amount of the rock blasting, which had been the cause of two or three accidents. By August the Sydney Morning Herald states this area was nearly devoid of population. Later in August it reports that the Bell’s Creek crushing engines are working profitably, and before long we may have another two more engines at work crushing quartz on which the future prosperity of this place depends. The quantity of alluvial soil that is now raised is small, but the inclemency of the weather is the cause of the falling off.

A Mining Fatality⁶⁴ …

On Friday afternoon last, Owen Matthews, of Bell’s Creek, who was working in a claim with a second party, was killed by the embankment giving way. It appeared that the companion of Matthews left the claim for a few minutes before, leaving Matthews behind, when the embankment caved in, burying the deceased. When the circumstances became known, the company employed at the race commenced to dig him out, but before they could gain their object another fall of earth unfortunately took place, and some time elapsed before he could be extricated. Upon getting him out, which was done at some risk, the poor man was found to be quite dead. His neck was dislocated, several bruises were also observed, and a deep wound in the forehead. On the following day a magisterial enquiry was held, before Mr. F. A. Cooper, J.P. when the necessary depositions to enable the Attorney-General to fill up the inquisition were taken. Matthews was an old resident of the district. He leaves a thrifty wife and ten children to lament their unexpected loss. – Braidwood Observer, 20th May.

There was much excitement towards the end of November 1863 when Dr Beer discovered a gold vein near the bottom of his shaft. The Freeman’s Journal, 25 November 1863, covers the story⁶⁵ …

A Splendid Prospect. – We were shown yesterday, by Dr. Beer a splendid prospect, which had been obtained at the bottoming of a new shaft which he and his party have sunk at Bell’s Creek. The quantity shown to us was two and a half ounces, and was composed of clean round shot like gold. This quantity had been obtained from a hole about eighteen inches in diameter, the washing stuff being about three feet deep, and averages about two and a half dwts to the dish. the shaft is run into the side of a hill for about thirty five feet, and the doctor is sanguine as to his having hit upon what will turn out to be a lead as far as the hill goes to the creek, about two or three hundred yards. He and his party have purchased the ground from Mr. Forsyth, and they are confident of being well remunerated in their speculation. – Braidwood Dispatch.

In December 1863 the Kiama Independent & Shoalhaven Advertiser⁶⁶ reported that one claim at Bell’s Creek was sold for £600 and another for £80.

By July 1865, mining in the Bell’s Creek valley had changed again, as witnessed by a journalist …

I descended into the Araluen Valley by the Bell’s Creek Road. This creek was once worked in different parts, but now the mining operations are confined to the works carried on by a party of Americans, who have been on the ground for the last three or four years. They have just completed a very fine race which they have been engaged upon cutting during the last two years. In some places they have taken it through channels cut out of the solid rock, at great expense and with much labour. This race brings the water down from the head of the creek with a fine fall for ground sluicing ; and, after rain, when they have a good body of water for their sluice boxes, they can run through a very large amount of earth and make a tolerably good haul.

They have been known to net 100 ounces in a very few days after a good fall of rain, and in this way they are rewarded for the energy and perseverance they have displayed in the heavy work they have constructed.

Mining continued to be a life-threatening affair with death from blasting⁶⁷ …

Last Saturday afternoon, a Chinaman in Matthew’s party, who are engaged in bringing a race down the Sheep Station Creek to Bell’s Creek, and who were blasting out some rocks a short distance above where the Araluen road crosses that creek, suddenly met his death by some sudden and unforeseen explosion of a blast which had been put in. The poor fellow’s body was almost blown into atoms.—Braidwood Dispatch.

1866 – 1870

In October 1869 the Goulburn Herald & Chronicle discussed the quartz reefs⁶⁸ …

The rush to the reefs at Bell’s Creek within the past seven or eight days has been something wonderful, and it would seem by the number of claims which are taken up there, which is we are assured not less than from one hundred and fifty to two hundred, that the reefs are more clearly defined and that there is a greater extent of them than in any other part of the district. The ground upon which the reefs have been taken up is situated at the head of the creek, near where Wilson’s old public-house stood in the palmy alluvial days. The reefs run across the small creeks at the head of Bell’s Creek on the Seymour estate, and are of various widths up to two and three feet. The stone is of a very solid character, and some of it which has been crushed in a mortar has given splendid prospects. We hear of one party having washed out over four pennyweights from 10lbs. of stone. The reefs were first discovered cropping out of the washed-away soil in the creeks ; but in the hills they are found under the clay some six feet from the surface, running in regular straight lines up the hills from the creeks. A number of the parties at work are tunnelling from the hill sides. There are between five and six hundred at work on them we hear ; and from all accounts they are likely to rival both the Little River and Major’s Creek reefs. It would appear that payable reefs abound in all parts of the district in which the alluvial deposits have been any way good ; and if the richness of the one is to be taken as any criterion of the richness of the other, Bell’s Creek will certainly be unsurpassed by any other reef-bearing locality as it was here that the richest washing-stuff was found on the first discovery of gold in the district.-Braidwood Dispatch.

In November 1869 most of the principal claims had suspended operations to attend a monster roll-up at Bell’s Creek, for the purpose of protesting against certain regulations recently issued as to working reefs on private land at Major’s and Bell’s Creeks. This was followed by a meeting on 10 November when the decision of the landowners, Hassall and Roberts of the Bell’s Creek and Jembaicumbene claims, was presented to the miners. Most of the miners, on learning the nature of the regulations, discontinued work, and a meeting was appointed to be held at Bell’s Creek on Thursday, 11 November 1869, on the afternoon of which day about one hundred claim owners were in attendance. Mr. Cowan was called upon to preside, and the following resolutions were passed unanimously: —

1. The regulations are so excessive that the miners will not be able to work under them. 2. The miners agreed to pay the same license fee that was charged in Araluen. 3. The owners would pay a royalty of 10 per cent after the expense of crushing is deducted. 4. A more permanent guarantee is given each month so that the claims can be worked out. 5. All quartz reefs should be measured on the frontage system, instead of block claims. 6. That all hands leave off work till lunch time as the regulations are issued and approved of by the majority of the miners. 7. The foregoing resolution be forwarded through Mr. Forsyth to the proprietor.

The meeting was adjourned until Monday, 15 November, for the purpose of hearing the reply of the proprietors of the estate to the above resolutions. We understand that Messrs. Hassall and Roberts have, so far as they are concerned, consented to amend the regulations in some of the most important particulars. — Braidwood Dispatch⁶⁹ …

There was then a large meeting at the Oddfellows Hall, Araluen, on Monday, 15 November, last, at which the reduced royalty charge of five per cent was made by the proprietors of the land was not accepted, the miners objecting to pay anything further than the monthly license fee which has hitherto been paid to private landowners in the district for the working and occupation of alluvial ground. It was decided at the meeting that the claim owners should go on working their claims and refuse to agree to pay any royalty.- Braidwood Dispatch.⁷⁰

In the Sydney Morning Herald, 7 December 1869 …

… the correspondent of. the Braidwood Dispatch writes:-“Our mining interests have improved in their aspect, and last escort was considerably “over” the average, being 4500 oz, for the month. ……. The amended tariff with regards to mining on private property at Bell’s Creek, which has been adopted, seems to have met the wishes and pockets of the holders of quartz claims, and working will now be resumed with earnestness, and there is no doubt but some of the claims will prove very profitable.

Thus 1869 ended with what was probably one of the first and the largest confrontations between miners and land owners in NSW. In these days there were very few mining regulations, gold only being discovered 18 years previously. Landowners had traditionally employed their workers and set the pay and conditions. But mining was different. Miners had their own parties that they worked with and they possessed the necessary skills for successful results. They could demand their own rules and conditions and go elsewhere if they weren’t satisfied. A new era, with new mining technologies and mining relationships was beginning.

1
(now Bells Creek – in 2018 the NSW naming policy removed the apostrophe in place names. This was to allow rapid retrieval of place names from emergency services databases.)
2
McGowan, The Golden South, Publ.by Barry McGowan, 2000, p 35.
3
David Reid, (1777 – 1840) Naval Surgeon until settling in Bungonia in 1823. He was insolvent and advertised his property for sale in 1839. Reidsdale is named in honour of David Reid.
4
Sir Michael Seymour, (1768 – 1834) He joined the Royal Navy when he was 12 years old, eventually becoming a Rear-Admiral. He never visited Australia.
5
Admiral Hawker, (1782 – 1860) he served during the french Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He never visited Australia.
6
Netta Ellis, Braidwood, Dear Braidwood, 1989, p 51.
7
Hargraves falsely claimed that he was the first to discover gold in Australia. He found some gold specs, but not payable gold. For his claim he was awarded £10 000 by the NSW Government and £5000 by the Victorian Government. Hargraves went to Sydney and registered his discovery after viewing the area that John Lister and William and James Tom had shown him, where they had recovered gold, at Ophir, near Orange, NSW. Hargraves funds were frozen when John Lister protested, but his discovery was upheld in 1853. In 1877 he was further awarded a pension of £250 per year by the NSW Government. However a Select Committee in 1891, stated,
8
Goulburn Herald, 14 October 1851
9
McGowan, Golden South, p 35.
10
Ibid.
11
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal, 30 October 1942. Richard Kennedy wrote his reminiscences in 1907. I have only quoted him when I could confirm his story in a separate newspaper article of the 1850s and 1860s.
12
The Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser, 8 November 1851.
13
Goulburn Herald & County of Argyle Advertiser, 1, 8 November 1851.
14
McGowan, Dust and Dreams, University of New South Wales Press Ltd., 2010. page 27.
15
Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser. 8 November 1851.
16
Ibid.
17
McGowan, Dust & Dreams, p 28.
18
McGowan, Golden South, p 38.
19
Goulburn Herald, 20 March, 1852.
20
Sydney Morning Herald, 13 March 1852.
21
Sydney Morning Herald, 1 April, 1854
22
Sydney Morning Herald, 1 April 1854.
23
Empire, 14 January 1852.
24
Empire, 23 January 1852.
25
Freeman’s Journal, 8 April 1852.
26
McGowan,
27
28
McGowan, Golden South, p 38.
29
Goulburn Herald, 18 September 1852.
30
McGowan, Golden South, p 38.
31
Sydney Morning Herald, 20 November 1852.
32
Freeman’s Journal, 16 December 1852.
33
Empire, 22 March 1853
34
Sydney Morning Herald, 26 February 1853.
35
McGowan, Golden South, p 18.
36
Ibid.
37
Empire, 25 March 1853. His full account is worth reading. He describes the valley and the lives of the miners. This account can be found in www.trove.nla.gov.au
38
Sydney Morning Herald, 17 August 1859.
39
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal, 19 June 1942.
40
The name Irish Corner was synonymous with Reidsdale. As the Dirty Butter track was only three feet wide, the steam engine must have descended down the Reidsdale track mentioned above.
41
Goulburn Herald & Chronicle, 17 August 1867.
42
Empire, 25 March 1853.
43
Empire, 20 July 1853.
44
Sydney Empire, 8 July 1854.
45
McGowan, Golden South. p 32.
46
Peoples Advocate and NSW Vindicator, 3 May 1856.
47
Sydney Morning Herald, 7 September 1858.
48
Sydney Morning Herald, 6 February 1857.
49
Northern Times,17 July 1858.
50
Sydney Morning Herald, 18 October1858.
51
Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 1859.
52
Kiama Examiner, 30 April 1859.
53
Empire, 18 June 1859.
54
Empire, 22 November 1859.
55
Sydney Morning Herald, 1 February1860.
56
Empire, 20 February 1860.
57
Empire, 28 August 1860.
58
Sydney Morning Herald, 5 February 1861.
59
McGowan, Golden South, p 63.
60
Freeman’s Journal, 9 April 1862.
61
Goulburn Herald, 8 October 1862.
62
Empire, 19 May 1863.
63
Goulburn Herald and Chronicle, 20 December 1862.
64
Sydney Morning Herald, 25 May 1863.
65
Freeman’s Journal, 25 November 1863.
66
Sydney Morning Herald, 9 July 1865.
67
Sydney Morning Herald, 3 October 1865.
68
Goulburn Herald & Chronicle,13 October 1869.
69
Freeman’s Journal, 13 November 1869.
70
Sydney Mail, 17 November 1869.

Gold Mining in Bell’s Creek in the 1850s and 1860s1(now Bells Creek – in 2018 the NSW naming policy removed the apostrophe in place names. This was to allow rapid retrieval of place names from emergency services databases.)

The Boom Years 1851 – 1856

Gold Mining in Bell’s Creek in the 1850s and 1860s¹