Clear Hills was the first property on the Araluen plain newly arrived miners came to when travelling up from Mullenderry, near Moruya, in 1851. However reports on the mining in this area were not reported in the newspapers until February 1859.1Goulburn Herald, 16 February 1859. It was then that new claims were taken up opposite Clear Hills station and above Favourite Flat. Andrew Badgery had taken up this land in 1827. He died in 1857 and his land was transferred to his nephew, William Roberts. William was often in partnership with Rowland Hassall, and later some of Clear Hills was also owned by Rowland.
NB – Burketown, as it appears in the map above, was named after an early settler, Mr William Burke. Authors and newspapers of the 1850s and 60s used the spelling Burketown, but from 1872 the newspapers referred to this area as Bourketown. I have used Burketown on the map and in notes, for the 1850s and 60s.
There is limited information on Clear Hills in newspapers and books. What follows is a collection of descriptions different writers about clear hills from 1851-1871.
In November 1851 a journalist, going by the initials G.K. wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald mentioning Mudmelong, Clear Hills and the Araluen Plain2Sydney Morning Herald, 4 November 1851 …
Gentlemen, Having just returned from the Araluen diggings, after a sojourn of a week, prospecting among the diggers, not for the purpose of digging, but for the sake of information, I trust the following account may prove interesting to some of your readers.
The road from Mullenderry is only accessible with pack horses, so that persons coming from Sydney by water should come as lightly equipped as possible. The usual charge for packing is £3 for one horse, £7 for two horses, a distance of thirty-two miles.
When within four miles of Araluen plain [this would be at [Mudmelong] I came on the first signs of the diggers, by the once beautiful clear stream, rendered by the rocking of numerous cradles so as to resemble the gutters in Sydney during a heavy shower ; the bed and banks of the creek torn up in all directions, for upwards of a mile and a half. These are termed the Lower Diggings. After passing which I caught the first glimpse of a station of Mr. [Andrew] Badgery’s, termed Clear Hills. At this station, diggers who bring their own horses can have them put in a good grassed paddock, charge 2s. per head per week.
Within a mile after passing Clear Hills I came in full view of Araluen Plain, one of the most beautiful spots imaginable : where, in the centre of the plains you would imagine it was impossible to get out of it again, being surrounded on all sides by immense mountains, the road leading to the next or middle diggings passes by Araluen house, at present rented by Mr. Badgery. Here diggers will meet a welcome to the milk-vat by the dairyman, Mr. Flanagan. At the same time the worthy old gent will have no objection to sell them good sound salt or fresh butter at 1s. per lb., or bacon, delivered at the mines at the same price twice a week by his men, to whom they can give fresh orders ; a great convenience to diggers, it saving so much time.
There are now only about twenty cradles at work at the two above mentioned diggings, the miners having been disheartened in consequence of not being able to keep the water from flowing in upon them. The Chief Commissioner, as well as Mr. Hargraves, stated as their opinion that the body of the gold laid in the flat, but from the above cause would not be available for some time.
In February 1859 it was reported that3Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 23 February 1859. …
Several new claims have recently been taken up opposite the Clear Hills station, and above the Favourite Flat. From the prospects obtained the parties have sanguine expectations, and are at work with spirit. This suggests the probability that, ere long, the whole of the intervening ground between the upper and lower diggings will be taken up, and the Upper and Lower Araluen thus [contained] in one continuous goldfield.
And in early June 18594Empire, 2 June 1859. …
Near the Clear-Hills there are some 24 persons at work. Groom’s party are stripping and wheeling, and from the prospects already got out there is no doubt the claim will prove highly remunerative when there is a supply of water. Denny’s party are carrying on very extensive works, they have stripped about one hundred feet, but are at a stand still for want of rain. This part of the valley as well as most of the land in the neighbourhood abounds in gold. We may mention that the party to which we have last alluded have erected two undershot water wheels, and are about to set to work a third of larger dimensions
And later in June5Sydney Morning Herald, 18 June 1859. …
I hear that it is Mr Robert’s intention to open some of the private land is soon as the surveyor has marked out the boundaries. The ground has every appearance of being rich, and those who are so fortunate as to get claims there will, no doubt, be well remunerated. The Greeks’ claim below Sweeney’s, is turning out on an average, 22 ounces per diem. Long Harry’s party between Carver’s and Sweeney’s are washing out dirt to their satisfaction. I was told that last week they got 55 ounces. The works on Cavanagh’s claims are very extensive and, no doubt, prove very remunerative. Water is sadly wanted, and it is to be hoped that when the clouds condescend to rain we shall have enough and no more. Should there be a flood, and I much fear there will he, the heaps of stuff now on the margin of the claims will be swept in, and the labour of many months lost.
McGowan adds …
… from Clear Hills to Moruya there was a hive of industry, with tents and buildings of a more substantial character on every side.6McGowan, Golden South, p 54.
Further developments occurred in July 18597Empire, 5 July 1859. …
On Wednesday night last considerable excitement was caused at Lower Araluen and more especially about the Clear-Hills, on a report being spread that gold had been found in paying quantity, in the government land above Mr. Scantlebury’s public-house. Some excellent “prospects”, had been got out and so eager were the diggers to take up claims that candles were lighted and figures might be seen flitting here and there with tomahawk and pegs making the boundaries of claims. Eight or ten extended claims have already been selected and the whole land has been pegged out to the old shepherd’s hut. Application has been made to Messrs. Roberts and Hassall to open up the private ground in this neighbourhood. We understand that the subject will receive their earliest attention, and with the view of ascertaining how far they would be justified in complying with the application they visited Araluen yesterday, in company with Mr. T. W. Wallis. We have no doubt that the whole ground between Favourite Flat and Upper Araluen will turn out well. ……. Water is abundant at the present time and the diggers calculate on their having a month’s supply. ……. The drought did not, to a certain extent, affect the diggings as the same water was used by one party whilst another was stripping and vice versa. Had not this been the case it would have been impossible to have carried on operations down below ; however, it is not expected that there will be any diminution in the quantity of dust transmitted by next opportunity.
Reports abound, and ten days later we have the news that8Sydney Morning Herald, 16 July 1859 ….
The diggers in this locality are beginning to erect huts and make themselves comfortable homes. The ground is being turned up in all quarters, and every sign of industry exhibited. Those who saw the spot a month or so back would not now recognise it, so great has been the change. Denny’s party have been constructing a race in which eight parties have been joined : this race is one mile and a quarter in length. Tracey, one of Messrs. Denny’s party, has sold out his share in the claim for £100 to Messrs. North and Biss. The share is to be worth considerably more, and had the vendor held out he would have got half as much again. Messrs. Welch and party have been at a great outlay in order to obtain water. They have only just now received a supply, consequently but arrived at the reimbursing point of their speculation. At no distant day Messrs. Roberts and Hassall will open up their land at the Clear Hills for digging purposes, a tract of country which l believe is abounding in gold.
Miners were able to sell their claims, or part shares on the claim to raise some capital. The value of these claims, often before any gold was found, is perhaps surprising. In August 1859Sydney Morning Herald, 17 August 1859 …
With the present state of things down the Valley, your readers may judge of the worth of claims, when I tell them that from £50 to £100 is the price asked and readily paid for a share in a claim before a prospect is ever procured. Last week a fifth share in Walsh’s party (to which I referred some time ago) was sold for £180 cash, and an hour afterwards the purchaser was offered and refused £40 advance on his bargain. No gold has as yet been procured from this claim, which is situated on Clear Hill Flat. This spot is likely to be the “township ” during next summer, as shops of all sorts are being daily erected, also public-houses. Before one month passes away, and within a space of one quarter of a mile, there will be four public-houses (if licenses are granted to all) and about fifteen other places of business. There is, besides, at least one store at every mile down the creek for a distance of eight miles.
In 1853 and again in January 1859 floods in the valley damaged claims and held up mining activities. There is no information on these floods, for Clear Hills, but perhaps the possibility of flooding was part of the reason for9Empire, 23 August 1859 …
We understand that Messrs. T. W. Wallis, Cowan, North, Mullen, and others, are about to enter into arrangements for the introduction of steam power for diggings purposes in the neighbourhood of the Clear Hills, and we sincerely trust that they will meet with every encouragement from the owners of the land, and from the miners who are likely to work in the locality. Several sales have been effected lately, amongst which we may mention that Messrs. McDonald and Douglas have sold out two shares to Messrs. Vicq and Portland, of Adelong, for £160, the claim having only 1OO feet frontage. Denny and Walsh’s claim has turned out a magnificent prospect, the gold strongly reminding us of the Ovens gold. Crawford’s party have done well, during the week, and O’Hara’s people have done a fair average stroke.
The flood of February 1860 however, wrecked havoc on Clear Hills as well as the rest of the valley. The Sydney Morning Herald records the damage to Clear Hills, leaving nothing to our imagination10Sydney Morning Herald, 20 February 1860 …
The casualties to life began a little lower, [than Middle Araluen] the first victims being at the foot of Clear Hill. Two children, respectively aged five years and eighteen months, have disappeared under the following circumstances : Johnson and his family were residing within the enclosure of Clear Hill paddock, near the fence, when the water rushed in the tent the family were nearly all in bed, and at once sprang to the fence, which ended on high ground not touched yet by the flood, the whole of family were walking on the rails of the fence, the mother carrying her baby, when their hope of a rescue partly gave way, and the mother and the two children were precipitated into the torrent, the husband took hold of his wife, from whose arms the baby had been torn away, and rescued her from a watery grave. The two bodies have not yet been recovered. The next loss of life occurred close to Johnson’s tent. Carney’s public-house, with its contents, was swept away, and the family were all dragged with the roaring wet wall. The eldest boy, aged about sixteen, was swimming, holding on each side his mother and eldest sister, when the three of them came in contact with a tree that was covered with water ; the two ladies lost their grasp and never were seen any more. After a great deal of difficulty, the youth landed safe at about two miles from where a happy family had just parted, never to meet again in this world. Only one body of this numerous family of six-perished, has been recovered. The next calamity to human life occurred at the police camp. Trooper Smith, who had lately joined the force, was endeavouring to escape to Mr. Sweeney’s house, when the current carried him off, and his corpse was recovered when the water subsided ; it was entirely buried in the sand, part of the arm projecting. Several bodies not known have been recovered, and it is anticipated that at least seventeen human beings have lost their lives in the Araluen flood. Of the numerous narrow escapes and prodigies of valour it is useless to speak, they are too numerous. Of the losses to property there, as at Reidsdale, the amount and the number are too great to be able to mention all – thirty thousand pounds could not cover all the losses to property at the once ” Happy Valley.” Your readers can form an idea of the dangers of this memorable flood when waves as high as twelve feet were rolling on after each other, carrying away all before them, and the timber that accompanied them, helped greatly to the destruction. Newman’s boarding-house, Barrett’s public-house, Crosby’s butcher-shop, North’s old store, Dean’s habitation, Wise’s circulating library, Burt’s public-house, &c, are either sad fragments of their once lively state or are no more. In some places of the valley the water rose about thirty feet, as it was on the threshold of Mr. Vider’s store and of Messrs. Maher, Brother’s. Mr. Vider’s establishment had a very narrow escape from imminent ruin. A blind-creek at the back of the store was not able to contain the torrent that rolled within its banks, and the water, bursting over them, was near carrying away what was in its course, when a number of diggers (who, since danger became imminent, watched the safety of the store) at once worked picks and spades, and mastered the destroying element. At this time the water in front was just reaching the threshold of the door. Mr. Vider sincerely thanks, amongst others, his shop-man, Mr. Buckley, for his coolness and exertions in the time of danger. When I left the Valley to return home, I heard people were, in many instances, in a starving state ; the stores not being prepared for an extra demand, their stock of eatables was earned away in a few days, and the road between Braidwood and there being all destroyed, there is no probability of procuring provisions. Fowls had disappeared, or were disappearing, from poultry-houses, gardens, which had not been washed away, were made bare of their crops by the famishing, and some were speaking of going in the ranges to shoot for cattle. I must not omit mentioning that, in the middle of the disaster, Mr. Gilligan, publican, opened free to all the doors of his house, and hunger was relieved, free of expense, as far as provisions lasted. On the other part, Mr. Sweeney, butcher and baker, rose his bread, which for days before the flood was 1s. per loaf, to 2s ; and his beef from 4d. to 9d. ; cash or regular customers only were attended to. Mrs. Gordon’s mill, on the Shoalhaven River, has conquered the ferocity of the flood. Mr. Wallace’s house was not destroyed, as reported.
The Clyde Road is in a fearful state , all traffic is cut in that direction for several weeks to come. The name of the man who saved the Archibald’s and Matthews’ families, is Donald Mc Rae. We dread to hear the accounts from Moruya, where the disaster must have been worse, if possible, than at Araluen. This evening a public meeting is to be held in town for the purpose of taking immediate steps for relieving our sufferers, and to ask help from Government. I will forward you a full report of the proceedings.
Unfortunately there are no further reports for this area until the flood of 1866. We do know that the rush to Crown Flat began sometime in 1859, and no doubt after the flood of February 1860 many more people, stores and hotels would leave the mining areas of Lower Araluen. Those that were making good returns and preferred to work independently of the larger parties remained here, but there was minimal reporting of these claims. The new areas, Crown Flat, later Redbank and Newtown were further from the main creek and so received less damage from the many floods of the 1860s.
Lower Araluen does get a mention in the flood of July 186611Empire, 19 July 1866 …
The claims from the whole distance from Clear Hills to Mudmelong were completely filled in, and the tips completely levelled, more particularly near the Perseverance and Clunes’s claims. The loss sustained by the shareholders is the latter can scarcely be estimated. The boxes had just been made for the purpose of washing some very rich ground that had been stripped at a considerable outlay by the company, and it had been intended to commence these operations the following day. Generally speaking though, happily no corresponding loss of life can be reported – the effects of the flood are to be considered to be equally as disastrous as those of the flood of February six years ago. In the present case many of the carts were washed a considerable way from the tips on which they were left on Wednesday evening and it is fully anticipated that it will be two or three months before all the claims can be brought into a condition for washing out.
The last mentioned news item for the decade was the discovery in May 1869 of a new reef on the hill between Crown Flat and William Robert’s property, Biddidevine. Biddidevine was an old cattle property of the original settler, Andrew Badgery, of Clear Hills. The reef was only recently discovered. It was believed to be quite wide, but it was too early to even guess how productive it would be.12Sydney Morning Herald, 13 May 1869.
There were no further details of the claims at Clear Hills until 1871 when there was a rush to some newly discovered reefs on Goodenough’s claim13Sydney Morning Herald, 18 January 1871. which was on Hassall and Robert’s land. Again it was too early to tell how well the claim would work out, it was thought it would require a lot of crushing.