Crown Flat is on the valley plain in Lower Araluen, east of Clear Hills and north of Favourite Flat.
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 no indication in the newspapers as to exactly when the rush to Crown Flat began, but it appears to be some time in 1859. The first available report in early July 1859 in the Sydney Morning Herald1Sydney Morning Herald, 9 July 1859. indicates the rush had already started …
… Two or three large undershot wheels are being erected. One that was put upon Thursday last by Messrs. Gilchrist and Co. for Messrs. Carver and Carter answers well…. Messrs. Denney and party have now a wheel upon the stocks of even larger dimensions, and which we believe will be the largest down the mountain. The opening up of the new ground will no doubt cause the settling down of a considerable population, many of whom never thought of gold-digging before. An experienced digger with whom we rode down the creek gave it as his opinion that there was ground enough on the flats to afford occupation for hundreds for years to come.
And in August 1859 McGowan2McGowan, Barry The Golden South, p 55. tells us that there were two new public houses and other business houses. The population was increasing as evidenced by the increasing number of tents and the long pending dispute between the diggers and Hassall and Roberts over boundaries was still unsettled. Unfortunately earlier information about this dispute is no longer available.
In the Empire an ancestor of a current Araluen family gets a mention in their move from Upper Araluen3Empire, 13 August 1859 …
Mr. Harrison and party have taken land near Crown Flat, and anticipate working a claim there, equally as profitable as that which they are now leaving.
The Empire also costed basic provisions as a warning to those contemplating relocating to Araluen. A 3lb loaf of bread, 1s.6d ; beef, 6d per lb ; pork, 10d. per lb ; potatoes, 16s. per cwt ; onions, 7d. per lb ; butter(salt), 3s. per lb ; maize, 14s per bushel.
The Sydney Morning Herald continues to report positively on Crown Flat in August 1859 stating …
Leaving the Lower Araluen, [ie. coming north from Mudmelong] the first place that attracts our attention is the celebrated Crown Flat, where we find not the ordinary appearance of a digging community but a perfect township. Buildings are going up as if by magic. On Saturday last Mr Sweeney purchased the fifth share of a claim in Crown Flat, from Mr Denny, for the sum of 180 pound cash, and for which ten minutes afterwards he refused 220 pound. The claim is now ready for working, and judges are confident that it will yield to the extent of all expectations. We obtained a prospect from the loose sand on Saturday, by washing out less than a dishful, and from which we got something more than two dwt of coarse gold. No doubt when the bottom watershed is reached the labour expended will be amply remunerated.
A set back came at the end of the month due to rain. This time it was the lack of rain that prevented the washing of gold. As a consequence, men were out of work.4Sydney Morning Herald, 27 August 1859.
McGowan reported,5McGowan, Golden South, p 56. at this time, that as well as the new stores there was a restaurant where tea and coffee could be served, and a dispensary connected with the Miners Mutual Benefit Association was being built near North’s store.
In September 1859 Colo’s party struck upon a rich vein of seven dwt to the dish. Further down, Walsh’s, Gardiner’s and Crawford’s claims were doing well.6Empire, 24 September 1859.
In November most claims were still going strong but hoped for rain as soon as possible, so they could continue washing. Crawford’s party was employing about 18 men. They were mining 17 – 18 oz per diem, and as they have first claim to water as they were first on the ground, they were fully employed. Vicq’s and Pontin’s new engine was able to supply claims further down the creek with water.7Sydney Morning Herald, 14 November 1859. This was a big relief for the miners there. The Sydney Morning Herald had reported that Cole’s party who had been mining 100 to 120 oz per week, had been unable to work since the beginning of the month due to lack of water.8Sydney Morning Herald, 1 November 1859. The cost of the new engine exceeded 600 pounds, but it was thought that these costs would be recovered within six weeks to two months.9Empire, 22 November 1859.
Lack of rain on the goldfields is a big problem affecting the miners income. Too much rain also has it’s effect, which the population of the valley would soon experience.
The most comprehensive article on the flood of February 1860, is from the Illawarra Mercury10Illawarra Mercury, 24 February 1860. …
We cannot do better than give Mr T. North’s version of the calamity at this place (Crown Flat). He relates as follows : —I rose at daybreak on Saturday morning, which might be about a quarter-past four ; I opened the bar door and looked out, but did not think there was any great danger from the flood, except as regarded the many claims ; as I had been up the two previous nights endeavoring, with others, to save the ‘Big Tail race, I felt tired, and returned to bed ; I had not been in bed more than half-an-hour when I was roused by Charley Mac and a German, who were sleeping in my house, who urged me to make immediate preparations for a move ; got up, and the-first thing I did was to move a family who resided near the creek into safe quarters went down the creek as far as the ‘ Star Hotel,’ but could not get any further ; at this time everything appeared to have been washed clean away from Favorite Flat ; …….. On Friday night, upwards of forty men were, with myself, doing all we could to save the ‘ Big Tail race,’ which had cost over 3000 pounds to make ; but all our efforts were in vain, for everything was swept away. Vicq’s engine was with great difficulty saved, the place where it once stood being now a portion of the creek. Up to twelve o’clock in the day it was thought that the best thing to be done was to move up the ranges, as the creek was fast rising. ….. I am informed, that several lives have been lost at Crown Flat, but it is impossible to arrive at anything like the truth. For the present, suffice it to say that all have suffered ; and it will be many days before we can come to any conclusion as regards the loss of life.
In March 1860 the Empire11Empire, 13 March 1860. recorded one of the many examples of civic help in times of trouble …
In the height of the calamity, the distressed found a sterling friend in John Gilligan, the landlord of a public-house, on Crown Flat, who kept his house open, with the best of fare on the table, whilst he himself stood at the door and invited everyone that he saw to step in and rest themselves. The engine recently brought up from Sydney by Mr. J. H. Vicq, was fortunately removed to a place of safety. The party in charge of it, fearing that the flood would carry it away, procured a number of horses and dragged it up a hill out of harms way, and lashed it to the trees with strong ropes.
Recovery of the goldfields was almost complete three weeks into March. Reports continued to be very positive12Sydney Morning Herald, 22 March 1860 …
Several of the claims at Crown Flat have been bottomed, and they turn out real jeweller’s shops ; the gold is visible to the naked eye on the washing stuff at the bottom of the paddock ; it is a common thing to procure forty ounces in one day’s washing. Some new ground is prospecting, three pennyweights to the dish. Everybody in the neighbourhood is most sanguine of hitting on the making of their fortune – there is ground for hundreds to work ; one steam engine is at present at work, and its owners were the first to master the disasters of the late heavy floods. Its services are now so well appreciated that several companies are already formed, and more of these pumping-engines will shortly be going in the Happy Valley. Then again will Braidwood be reckoned, amongst the best gold-fields of New South Wales. The Government relief for provisions still continues to be distributed, but there is a talk that it will soon be stopped as nearly every man is now at work.
And new financial arrangements were being explored13Ibid …
Mr. King’s claim at Crown Flat, has, we are happy to find, turned out to the expectations of the proprietors. The steam engine introduced by Mr. Vicq has now become the joint property of the claim holders, Mr, Vicq being a shareholder. We understand that a considerable amount of gold was obtained at the last washing. We have not heard the exact quantity, but believe it weighed about 3 lbs. Several other claims are just beginning to do well, prospects are satisfactory, if the weather holds up.
In August 1860 Crown Flat was the most populous mining area in the valley. Biss’ engine and two or three others were bought and being installed. Mining continued successfully and in September miners were leaving Mudmelong for Crown Flat.14Empire, 4 September 1860. And by October 186015McGowan, Golden South, p 58 …
… tradesmen, butchers, bakers, ginger beer and cordial manufacturers, blacksmiths, publicans and other were arriving in Crown Flat. At least two hotels to be relocated there, a school run by Henry Evers and a church to be opened soon. The miners were characterised by intelligence and unwearied assiduity. The Old House at Home had been relocated to Crown Flat and the Union Hotel from Mudmelong, leaving Watts as the only publican at Mudmelong. Mr Eaton had 50 – 60 pack horses arriving two or three times a week to and from the coast and was currently building a big store at Crown Flat. A new Church of England had been opened and Burnell’s engine had arrived. Hassall and Roberts had agreed to fence16Fencing was rare in the whole Braidwood district at the time and remained so for many years. a number of acres … charging 1s a week for those digging on their ground.
The miners at Crown Flat were complaining they still lacked a full postal service. To register a letter residents still had to go to Upper Araluen, which was about four miles. This was more than an hour’s distance away.
In December 1860 there was a minor flood at Crown Flat, and in February the flood was much more significant. It was thought that repairs would take four months. Mr Biss’ claim escaped damage, but the many claims towards Mudmelong were entirely filled in.17Empire, 16 February 1861. Burnell’s engine had to be moved further down the flat, being too vulnerable to floods in its present position.18McGowan, Golden South, p 63.
Later, according to the Sydney Mail,19Sydney Mail, 12 April 1861. many claims had recovered by April, and the works at Crown Flat were of a very extensive nature. And in June the Goulburn Herald states20Goulburn Herald, 6 June 1861 …
At the main point of attraction, Crown Flat, we heard of most extraordinary yields of gold, such as eighty ounces a week among five. Of the claims which are yielding so well, we may enumerate those of Dr. Curtis, Christie and party, Gilligan’s and King. At Huggett’s claim twenty hands are employed. A quarter share in Clowen’s claim was sold last week to Mr. Singer for £210. About three weeks since it would not have fetched as many pence. The Messrs. Clement’s, and Cohen’s claim, as also that of Tubbs, are in expectation of meeting similar luck, ….. Most of the engines are profitably employed, ….. One of the store keepers purchased 600 ounces last week, and we are informed the next escort returns from Araluen will be double those of the previous week. ….. it will take some time to recover the consequences of the great monetary drawbacks which have been experienced through the floods. Indeed, we have been informed in several quarters, that it will be six months, even if the present success continues, before all arrears will be paid up. …… It is also to be deplored that the creditors, have lost by the insolvencies occasioned by the floods a large amount of capital which would soon have been recovered.
In August 186121McGowan, Golden South, p 63. there were several public meetings on Crown Flat to petition the government to prevent the Chinese from working on Crown Land. This, aiming to prevent the situation that had arisen at Lambing Flat throughout 1861.22A good account of the riots can be found at https://www.mininghistory.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/6-KwokV20.pdf There were 300 people at the second meeting and a further proposal was passed to prevent the Chinese on any of the goldfields after December 1861. This resulted in the Chinese Immigrant Regulation and Restriction Act, but the restrictions only lasted a few years.23This Act reduced the number of Chinese and so it was repealed in South Australia, Victoria and NSW in subsequent years. Then from 1901 to 1966 the White Australia policy controlled immigration.
By February 1862 there was a questions as to the long term viability of Crown Flat24Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser, 20 December 1862 …
During the week we have paid a lengthy visit to these diggings. On the plains, great activity and industry is the order of the day, and many hands are profitably employed. It is the opinion of experienced miners that the claims on the Crown Flat and ground lower down are exhausted, and that a considerable area of fresh ground will be opened and remuneratively worked on the plains higher up. Araluen, notwithstanding, contributes largely to our weekly escort, and some six hundred ounces were purchased at one store last week. The population has decreased, owing to the attraction of the Gulph, (Nerigundah), about 56 miles distant25This Act reduced the number of Chinese and so it was repealed in South Australia, Victoria and NSW in subsequent years. Then from 1901 to 1966 the White Australia policy controlled immigration. . And in December 1862 as a result of another flood the destruction of Burnell’s claim was complete.
In March 1863 new diggings were opened between Lublin’s public house and Chrysties public house. This area, called Redbank, attracted diggers throughout the valley. By September 1863 there were 3000 at Redbank and Crown Flat was almost deserted, hence there was very little news of Crown Flat, although some miners did continue working in the Lower Araluen fields, including Crown Flat, with middling success.26McGowan, Golden South, p 66.
In September 1863 Redbank was attracting diggers from all over the valley and Crown Flat was almost deserted, some miners continued to work in the Lower Araluen fields.
The Araluen valley was flooded again in April 1864. Claims from Upper Araluen to Mudmelong were affected, but there is no information about Crown Flat. This was followed by another flood in June. The only information on Crown Flat is that the tips were completely removed and the creek bank broken and covered with fallen trees.27Empire, 25 June 1864.
At the end of August 1864 the men at Crown Flat went on strike for better wages. They had been employed to work on a claim for free board and two pounds fifteen shillings a week, but decided they wanted more money and refused to work.28Goulburn Herald and Chronicle, 3 September 1864. Miners previously had been earning three pound ten shillings a week.29Empire, 10 September 1864. It was generally noted that wages had recently dropped. No reason was given, but perhaps the time off work due to flood damage was taking its toll on the employers. Many miners were also out of work at these times. There is no further comment on this topic.
Things were looking up in May 1866. There were a large number of Chinese miners at work from Crown Flat to Upper Araluen and the fine weather was allowing for continued work.
An account of the fields in 1866 was included in Baillere’s Gazetter. Crown Flat and Mudmelong workings were described thus30McGowan, Conservation and Heritage, p 39 …
Most of these workings are on private land, the mining being carried on upon the cooperative system, by means of stripping the ground to the auriferous bottom and washing the dirt in paddocks, engines being used to pump water from the paddocks.
In early April 1867 there was another flood affecting the whole valley. At Crown Flat Blatchford’s engine was secure, Rey’s engine was flooded, but supposed to be recoverable. The Chinese claims were all flooded, as well as a large number of smaller claims.31Empire, 3 April 1867. The men had just been able to return to work when the rain started again on 12 April 1867.
The Sydney Morning Herald laments that32Sydney Morning Herald, 17 April 1867 …
Great distress prevails here owing to the disastrous result of the flood, many people are literally starving. There is an appeal going to be made to the citizens of Sydney to open a relief fund, and also to the Government. Many have applied to the police for subsistence. A monster meeting was held to day to petition Hassall and Roberts to grant three months’ grace for the purpose of opening the claims that were filled in. The water rose 3 feet higher than the previous flood.
According to the Sydney Mail many left the valley, some going to Emu Creek, [Grenfell], others sailing for New Zealand.
In June 1867 there was another flood. Crown Flat was more severely affected. Peter de Rome’s dam gave way and there was considerable damage to many races. There were 300 men out of work in the district equalling 1000 people including wives and children. Subscription lists were opened at banks and other businesses and an application was made to the Mayor of Sydney for relief. Later that month there was more floods. Roads and creeks were impassable on the Araluen plain and all over the district as well.33McGowan, Conservation & Heritage, pp 39/40.
By February 1868 most claims had been recovered and gold sales increased. The greater part of the yield was, oddly enough, from Mudmelong and Crown Flat. Later in February34Empire, 26 February 1868. there was another flood in the valley. Crown Flat and Favourite Flat, to the south, suffered badly. Knight and Co’s was completely filled in, the creek running through the claim; Bunn and Co, George and Co, Greenwood’s and Blatchford’s were filled in. There were no further reports from this area.
In March 1869 the Sydney Morning Herald reported that35Sydney Morning Herald, 16 March 1869 …
There was a large number of small claims being worked both by Europeans and Chinese about Crown Flat, Mudmelong, and all along the creek, most of which are paying expenses while many may really be called good paying claims. The proceeds of the yield of all these materially help to make up the amount of our escort, and tends to distribute the money among a large number of our population.
This was the last report of gold mining at Crown Flat for the year and for this decade. With doubts about the future of Crown Flat in the early 1860s, there must have been doubts as to how long it would be viable. In later years dredging also occurred at Crown Flat, as it did along the length of the creek, giving hope and sustenance to the valley.