Araluen floods – over the years - Araluen Valley History

Araluen waterways. Adapted from a 1967 Map, held at National Library of Australia

The Araluen Valley is susceptible to flooding, with many watercourses that channel water to the coast. While not a definitive list, detailed below are excerpts from the newspaper reports of the time regarding the many floods. The reports chronicle the impact on the Valley, and on the lives and livelihoods of the people by the many flood events.

1853

Dated June 21 – ‘The very heavy rains have also necessarily retarded the labour of the diggers so that there is little to report this week. At Araluen the mischief has been considerable. Every hole and every “race” has been filled up, will have to be begun anew’.¹

Dated July 4 – ‘All the labour there has been for nought, it must all be done over again. The flood has reduced all to a level and thus many have been bitterly disappointed who were looking forward to very good returns in the sheltered and secluded valley. It would have been a favorite resort for the winter but for this untoward accident.’²

1857

Dated March 17 – ‘we have been visited with heavy rain, and judging from the flood of water which poured over the falls and rushed through the valley, we shall not be the only sufferers…. Occasionally the mist cleared from the side of the mountain, and we obtained a view of the Bell’s Creek Falls. It was a grand sight, and one not to be soon forgotten an immense volume of water, apparently one mass of foam, leaped from crag to crag with the roar of the Atlantic, disappeared behind a mass of trees, and issuing forth at some distance from the base of the mountain, swept past with fearful velocity, carrying destruction to the hopes of many… The race from Weedy Flat to the Creek (nearly a mile is filled up), a death-blow to the party, after eight months of unremitting toil, and while they were in treaty to sell their interest to another party of large capital.’³

1859

Dated February 8 – ‘the late rains have flooded out the miners in the valley, filling up the races, and doing other damage. All have suffered more or less, and it will take fully a month to remedy matters’ and at Bells Creek ‘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.’⁴

1860

In the February 1860 floods, the bed of the creek at the upper end of the Valley was widened about twenty feet [about 6 metres] and deepened about two feet [about 60 cm]. Trees, rocks, and everything that was in the way of the torrent, was torn up and carried away. The flood caused the enormous loss of property, such as tools, furniture, beds, bedding, carts, drays, tubs, and the loss of lives and livelihoods.

Dated May 4 – ‘the occurrence of another disastrous inundation-the second within the short space of two months-in this district… Great damage was, however, sustained from its effects at Araluen. No loss of life …The most serious loss of property is that which arises from the washing in of the claims… almost all the claims in the Happy Valley have been levelled. The races for the most part are entirely destroyed‘.⁵

Dated May 12 – ‘The last flood has done considerable damage, but notwithstanding this drawback, the miners, with an amount of perseverance, almost incredible, are again very forward with their races, and, their expectations are such as to warrant the continued prosecution of the works in hand.’⁶

Dated August 7 – At Upper Araluen The Dispatch’s correspondent was ‘obliged to record the distressing consequences of another terrific flood… The creek of the Upper Araluen, which but a few days since bore such striking manifestations of industry and perseverance, has been reduced once again to a desolate waste of sand and mud—paddocks, races, and tips, which but a few hours ago, as it were, sparkled beneath a cloudless sky, are now brought to the level of the creek.’⁷

1861

Dated February 16 – ‘Saturday last, the anniversary of the commencement of the fatal floods of 1860 passed off very gloomily … the rains of the previous three days having given rise to melancholy forebodings of the recurrence of a similar disaster… [In] Araluen, we regret to have to say that the reports are fearful in the extreme, all the claims having sustained damage to a greater or less extent… the valley is turned into a dark scene of desolation. Mr. Burnell’s claim was nearly bottomed, with a good prospect on the top vein, but it was completely levelled… At Crown Flat our informant states that an almost general and irretrievable loss has been sustained, and …some four months must elapse before things can be brought round to their recent favourable aspect… The claims … downwards to Mudmelong, between which two points a large number of claims were being worked, are all entirely filled in, and a large amount of labour will be required to re-open the ground.’⁸

Dated April 17 – ‘the recurrence of heavy and disastrous floods at Araluen and Majors Creek … Not one of the claims extending from Mr. Burnell’s down to Mudmelong was excepted from the consequences of the inundation. Wheels and machinery were carried off, engines were displaced, barrows, planks and every implement used in digging operations were washed away… Now the work of months is completely destroyed, and the prospects of the diggers completely ruined’.⁹

1862

Dated December 23 – ‘The Braidwood Despatch says, one of those immense volumes of water which from time to time rush down the gorges which intersect the mountains surrounding the Araluen valley, has once more swept all before it …in less than a few minutes the valley of the Araluen was swept from end to end by a rushing torrent which levelled in all the claims, burying carts and tools and other implements used in mining, and doing so much injury to the claims that months must elapse before they will recover themselves again. At the upper end of the creek Desmond’s engine was capsized, and in Burnell’s claim the work of destruction was complete… loss of life has resulted… Frederick Beetin, was swept away,… [he] had been for some time in the employ of Mr. J. H. Blatchford, of Major’s Creek, and was generally engaged in bringing up the gold on Mondays in company with the escort, for which purpose he was returning to Araluen when he met his untimely end’.¹⁰

1863

Dated January 21 – and reporting on the weather noted a thunderstorm ‘with torrents of rain … [and] the rush of water into the Araluen Valley below was tremendous and carried all before it, and consequently a considerable amount of damage has been done amongst the claims. Armstrong’s Caledonia Inn at the foot of the mountain was flooded, but independent of the damage done to the claims, the rain which fell all through Wednesday night will be of immense service to the parched and withered herbage in the valley, which had become so scant that many of the diggers had to send their horses to Reidsdale and other places at the top of the mountain to save them from absolute starvation’.¹¹

1864

Dated April 23 – ‘The rain ceased on Saturday last. So as soon as the creek fell operations of course recommenced; Watts’ party at Upper Araluen, had the misfortune to have their claim flooded … Other claims at Upper Araluen have fared worse, one is completely filled up.… Pepper’s party were not damaged. The other claims at Redbank have only suffered from severe leakage, excepting one on the creek, near Golden Point, which has been filled up altogether… Down to; and at Mudmelong wheels are stopped, races broken and a perfect disaster presents itself. All the claims near the creek have suffered more or less. …Araluen Star.’¹²

Dated June 22 – (From the Araluen Star, Issue 42) ‘On Saturday … afternoon the rain fell in torrents, and it then became evident that a flood of no mean extent would result. By night, columns of water were rolling down the mountain in every direction towards the main creek, and the other Creeks that run in right angles to, and fall into it during its course through the Valley. From that time until Monday morning the creeks, the main creek especially (in some places 50 or 60 feet wide) were filled with seething currents of water, rolling on at the rate of 12 or 14 miles an hour, sweeping all before them, levelling claims, carrying trees, houses, drays, fences, and creek banks as they coursed along. The wet continued without intermission during the whole of Sunday. On Monday morning it cleared up, and a heart-breaking scene of ruinous loss overspread that once thriving Valley. In forty-eight hours all bright anticipations were annihilated, and we were plunged from the very highest pinnacle of confidence to the depths of despondency…There is on [no] question but that this is the severest visitation ever experienced by the Araluen miners. The water did not reach so high as during the great flood of 1860, but the loss to the miners has been far heavier.’¹³

1866

Dated July 19 – ‘a perfect avalanche of rain. In an incredibly short space of time the whole of the creeks began to swell, and every precaution was taken by the claim holders to prevent the loss of their mining stock, even the gentleman connected with the two banks turn out, regardless of the elements, to lash the carts of Mr. Blatchford and other claimholders together…On Thursday morning the spectacle was disheartening in the extreme. 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 in 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.‘¹⁴

1867

Dated April 3 – ‘ The valley of Araluen has been visited with one of those floods which prove so disastrous to its mining operations, and with which it is, for its prosperity, too often visited. …The rain came down in torrents during the early part of Monday, and continued till about four o’clock, when a lull took place, but too late, for by that time the main creek, with all its tributaries, had taken complete charge of the valley, and one claim after another was doomed. Pumps, engines, and engine-houses gradually disappearing as the waters rose. A melancholy sight to behold, the capital and wealth of the valley destroyed in one fell swoop. The amount of damage done has been generally more severe than on any former occasion. It has affected the valley from Upper Araluen to Mudmelong, companies, large claim owners, small claim owners, and those obtaining a livelihood by working old ground driving and fossicking, have all suffered alike…

The following is a brief outline of the fate of some of the principal claims in the valley. Commencing with Upper Araluen, Bishop’s claim escaped and the works will not be impeded; Desmond’s claim, now known as O’Brien’s, flooded in, and the engine gone down the main creek, and the water flowing over it; O’Hare’s claim flooded, and the engine buried; the Perseverance Claim flooded in, engine buried; Blatchford’s claim secure, and the works will not be stopped; the Great Extended Company’s claim, filled with water, engine secure; the Wooden Bottom claim filled, engine secure; the Big Engine Company’s claim flooded, engine secure; the Italian’s claim, now known as Berridge’s, escaped, and the works not stopped; Bolen’s old claim filled, engine secure; Pulford’s claim filled, engine secure; Knight’s claim flooded, no engine; Scantlebury’s old claim filled, engine secure, pump hole gone; Peter De Rome’s claim flooded, engine secure; Goodenough’s engine flooded in, but recoverable; Blatchford’s engine at Crown Flat secure; Messrs. Rey’s engine flooded, but supposed to be recoverable. The Chinese claims at Crown Flat are all more or less flooded, besides a large number of smaller claims, several driving-claims at Redbank, &c., &c. The weather to-day (Tuesday) is breaking, and if it continues fine the water will soon go down sufficiently for some of the claims to be pumped out. Hundreds of men are walking about, but it is to be hoped that, as soon as the water will permit, a good many will find employment again: The March flood of 1867 will be long remembered by many in the Valley.’¹⁵

Dated June 22 – ‘Never before in the history of this colony since it was first occupied by the white man have such a series of floods been experienced as we have had during the past three months. The first flood came down on Wednesday, the 24th of March last, since which we have had no less than five floods in all, the fifth, and apparently the heaviest of any of its forerunners, having commenced on Tuesday night last, and risen to a great height on the following day, Wednesday, and continued up to the time we write. This last flood is enough to crush the last spark of energy out of the mining community of Araluen. The claim holders there have since the first flood been doing nothing but re-opening their ground… the water had spread far and wide over the valley, the creek being flush with Mr. Armstrong’s house at the foot of the mountain, and the road as it is stated having given way’.¹⁶

1868

Dated February 20 – ‘ We have again been visited with another flood, and though sufficiently disastrous to entail a heavy loss to many of the claim holders, and throw a number of hands out of employment for some time, still I am glad to say the damage has not been so extensive as might have been anticipated… To those ground-sluicing at Upper Araluen rain is always welcome, and many of those so employed are doing well… The claim owners in Crown Flat and Favourite Flat have been great sufferers. Knight and Co.’s is completely filled in, the creek running through the claim. Bunn and Co., George and Co., Greenwoods and Blatchford’s are all filled in. The claims at Mudmelong have all more or less suffered, and it will be some time before many are open again. -Correspondent Braidwood Dispatch’.¹⁷

1869

Dated May 18 – ‘Among the various districts that have suffered from floods the Unhappy Valley has come in for its share… The extent of damage has not been so great, as on former occasions, but it will, nevertheless, entail a great loss on claim owners, and throw a number of hands out of employment for some weeks. The Break-o’-Day, St Vincent’s, Morning Star, Try Again, and All Nations claims have been filled in at Upper Araluen; and lower down, Knight’s old claim and Gibson’s has also been levelled. Gibson and Co.’s engines is buried in the sand. In addition to this many smaller claims down the creek have suffered… Washing in most of those claims is at present put a stop to, and in many instances it will be some time before it will be resumed. Extra pumps are being fixed, tail races repaired, and the shareholders, with the usual spirit which they always display under such trying circumstances are actively employed in making the best of their losses and reverses, and, if we are not visited with another flood, a month or two will see almost everyone fairly at work again.’¹⁸

1870

Dated March 30 – ‘every claim is level with the water. Sunday evening ushered in the elements of destruction…I think I can venture to sum up in a very few words:-“All claims are level.” It will take two months before operations can be made to carry on gold washing, and in the meantime numbers will be thrown out of work, with large families to maintain upon nothing… This is one of the greatest floods the Valley has ever experienced since the great flood of 1857. The destruction of property is very considerable this time… The creek presented a grand appearance, large trees being floated down as easily as corks… Some very large mounds usually designated “Tips”, were made islands of, and on which several men were kept without food or shelter for thirty-six hours, the velocity of the current rendering it utterly impossible to approach within stone-throw of them‘.¹⁹

Dated April 26 – ‘Mr. Thomas Crew, late of West Maitland, but now living in Araluen, sends us (dated Araluen, April 26) the following particulars … we have again been visited with a flood, but the damage is not so great as the last. … The Creek has risen considerably, and is nearly as high as the last flood … All the claims are filled in. It was only last week that most of them commenced operations, which had been suspended since the last flood’ … Wednesday, April 27 1870. The flood reached its highest point last night, and I am sorry to say it has proved the highest flood ever known in Araluen. Every engine, together with the engine-houses, have sunk. One or two houses have also fallen into the Creek, and several were flooded…. Fortunately, no lives have been lost.²⁰

Dated May 7 – ‘The Braidwood Dispatch reports that- The flood in Araluen has been as high as in other parts of the district. The centre of the valley over a very wide area was covered with water… The main creek from Major’s Creek and Bell’s Creek cut right into the Burketown side through Mr. Mullin’s paddock, where it made its way at the last flood, but where it cut in a good deal further during the late flood… It then took a direction over to the Newtown side, where together with the Dirty Butter Creek, it committed a good deal of damage. Several huts at the foot of Dirty Butter Mountain were washed down, several more been taken down and removed to a firmer foundation in other localities.

The main creek went right through Blatchford’s paddock on the Plain, taking away a quantity of fencing and a good deal of land, besides one or two houses. The main channel went up on this side of the valley as far as the huts at the Chinese camp. Had it not been for the breaking of the main channel, through the Fenian claim, a greater portion of the Plains would have been swept away, as well as a great portion of that populous locality Newtown, and probably a portion of Redbank also… The creek made a clean sweep through the Fenian claim which, with the Perseverance, escaped the former flood. It has, however, gone through both of them on this occasion, the Perseverance engine being buried…The only other claim which was opened since the last flood was De Rome’s, which has been again, filled in… Some damage has been sustained by the miners at work in the creek about Mudmelong but it has been nothing very great…

The creek in the course which it has taken has swept away a great number of “tips”, as they are called, or heaps of dirt which have been stripped from former workings. The ground was not rich enough to pay for the removal of these tips, but now that they have been swept away without labour, a good many blocks of new ground will be available for working. So that the floods, disastrous as they have been, have left come compensating advantages even in the Valley.’²¹

1871

Dated January 5 – ‘The rains of Christmas week did considerable harm at Araluen and other gold-fields … The whole of the claims from one end to the other are full of water: the unfortunate “Forties” being the only claim in the valley that is filled with sand; the engine is also partly buried; but will not take long to get out. This party are, without exception, the most unfortunate lot of men that ever started in the Valley. The claim, which has only been worked about eighteen months, was originally opened by Herbert and Co., and was twice filled in during the year by floods – on one occasion an engine, the property of Mr. Blatchford, being completely lost, which up to the present time has never been seen. The present party was then made up, consisting of forty working men, who went into it with a will in order to support their families. The majority of these men were supported by the storekeepers, for very few, after the first month or two, could keep up their payments for goods supplied to keep them going. The claim has, since these men first started in March last, been filled in completely on five different occasions. Since that time they have only been able to wash for about three weeks, and were getting on some good gold when down came the flood and filled them up … They have proved that there is good payable gold in the ground, and I feel sure that they will yet get it. We are surely not going to have much more of this sort of weather, and with the New Year their luck may change.’²²

Dated May 6 – ‘Saturday night the rain came down in torrents for about five hours, and all the creeks rose rapidly. When daylight appeared on Sunday morning not a claim was visible; the creek had made a clean sweep through them all, filling up claims, overturning engines, and sweeping all before it… claims have lost their engines, buried or otherwise injured… Total, 7. This is certainly the greatest flood we have had for many years… No loss of life has occurred. This time the main creek took another course, the body running nearly parallel with Brissett’s Hotel, [The Rising Sun] sweeping away the bank, when the verandah fell down, and to save the house from total destruction I believe a portion of it was removed. Several small huts were washed right away.‘²³

Dated May 10 – ‘In some of the claims the flood broke in so suddenly and unexpectedly that carts, and picks and shovels, and tools of all kinds had to be abandoned, the men having to fly for their lives. It is in vain to attempt to depict the ruin which this last flood has entailed on the community down here. The terrible consequences are too plainly depicted in everybody’s countenance... After previous floods the necessity of immediately setting to work again to repair disasters has been always the uppermost topic, and has left people no time to brood over their losses. But now they appear to have lost a portion of that pluck which has been so predominant a feature of the community here… Mostly all of our miners who have no family ties to hold them have of course left the unhappy valley; and it is very desirable that they should, so as to leave whatever work can be found to be given to the married men with little ones at home to find bread for. I hear of several prospecting parties having been made up to go out in search of “fresh fields and pastures now”, the researches extending to different parts of the colony in spots where there are auriferous indications of a favourable char[acter] which have not yet attracted attention.’²⁴

‘The floods of 1871 were clearly a watershed for Araluen, for the devastation was such that it did not recover its former status as a leading gold producer except for a brief period in the 1880s and the dredging boom of the 1900s.’²⁵

1873

Dated November 25 – ‘the Horse and Jockey Inn at Burketown, Araluen West, has been swept away by the heavy rains of last week…[there] was a flood, but not of that devastating, devouring character which visited us on too many former occasions: consequently the few claims that are exposed to the influence of the rushing current did not suffer much, and those that are clear of the stream, although they had to turn the horses into close quarters, had only the downpour to contend against, which the pumps would relieve them from in the course of the day and night’.²⁶

1879

Dated October 1 – ‘After the heavy flood of last week we all thought that our troubles were over, but … by midnight on the 16th the flood down here was at its height, and no such volume of water has been in the Araluen Creek since the memorable flood of February, 1860. All the principal claims are filled in, with the exception of the Golden Bend (late last Chance Company), The Southern Cross (W. H. Johnson and Co.) have, it is reported, saved their valuable covered tail-race, so that after the flood waters subside it will be easy to reopen the ground; but it will be a work of extreme difficulty and expense to open the Perseverance (T. U. Alley and Co), and also the New Venture. The unfortunate men who have been employed as labourers are the greatest sufferers, as they are left destitute; their wages have only kept them in the bare necessities of life, and now that the claims are stopped, they have no means of obtaining a living for their families, unless the Government at once provide road work for them.’²⁷

1891

Dated July 25 – ‘The £100 granted by the Government towards furnishing work for the miners who have been temporarily thrown out of employment by the recent floods in Araluen will be devoted to repairing the road at Redbank, which is in a most dilapidated condition… By the time that the road in question is repaired, many of the claims which were filled in will have been re-opened.’²⁸

1898

Dated February 26 – ‘It was in the Araluen Valley that some of the heaviest rain fell during the recent downpour, between 20 and 30 inches being recorded there in a few days. The result has been disaster to the miners. Claims in many instances have been buried, and machinery has been covered by sand and drift… some engines which were entombed by a previous flood have not been found since, and two engines and boilers buried by a flood as far back as 1861 have only recently been discovered.’²⁹

1925

Dated May 15 – ‘Sunday’s flood is declared by the proverbial oldest inhabitant to have been the highest on record. Araluen seems to have been the storm centre. With a rainfall of close on 13 inches in a little more than 24 hours it is quite understandable that the creek should run a banker, fed as it was by the waters rushing pell-mell down the mountain slopes. The sight was a glorious one, although the results were naturally disastrous to settlers. Fences were washed away in all directions, and the restoration of these will involve months of hard toil. Fortunately very little other damage was done.’³⁰

Dated May 30 – ‘At Araluen 25 inches of rain has fallen since Saturday. Araluen Creek was half a mile wide, and many fences and much stock were washed away. The village was not flooded, except for the bakery, where baking operations had to cease, and the residents were without bread till yesterday. On the river between Araluen and Moruya the telephone poles were washed away, and landslides have in many places completely blocked the road to the coast.’³¹

1945

Dated April 17 – ‘The main topic of conversation in Araluen on Sunday was beans and floods. A number of growers were unfortunate enough to lose some of their crops on account of the floods. In a couple of instances the crops had been cut and were ready for thrashing when the rains came. Part of the crops was washed clean away, representing a considerable loss to the growers…One grower who lost a lot of his crop told us that there was a gully six feet deep washed through his land.’³²

Present day

Floods and significant water flows continue to impact the Araluen Valley, with land slips and rising rivers and creeks preventing access and causing loss of life and property. This has necessitated the continuing work to stabilise and rejuvenate our waterways.

After mining, grass and other plants have helped stabilise the ground reducing damage caused by run-off. The local Landcare group is actively involved in rehabilitation of the creek banks.

References

1
Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser (NSW : 1848-1859), Saturday 25 June 1853, p 2.
2
People’s Advocate and New South Wales Vindicator (Sydney, NSW : 1848-1856), Saturday 23 July 1853, p 7.
3
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT. Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Thursday 26 March 1857, p 3.
4
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Tuesday 8 February 1859, p 3.
5
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Friday 4 May 1860, p 5.
6
Braidwood Observer and Miner’s Advocate (NSW : 1859-1862), Saturday 12 May 1860, p 2.
7
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Tuesday 7 August 1860, p 2.
8
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Saturday 16 February 1861, p 5.
9
Braidwood Observer and Miner’s Advocate (NSW : 1859-1862), Wednesday 17 April 1861, p 2.
10
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Tuesday 23 December 1862, p 3.
11
Freeman’s Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1932), Wednesday 21 January 1863, p 5.
12
Braidwood News and Southern Goldfields General Advertiser (NSW : 1864), Saturday 23 April 1864, p 2.
13
Braidwood News and Southern Goldfields General Advertiser (NSW : 1864), Wednesday 22 June 1864, p 3.
14
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Thursday 19 July 1866, p 3.
15
Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864-1881), Wednesday 3 April 1867, p 4.
16
Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856-1861; 1863-1889; 1891-1954), Saturday 6 July 1867, p 2.
17
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Wednesday 26 February 1868, p 4.
18
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Tuesday 18 May 1869, p 2.
19
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Wednesday 30 March 1870, p 6.
20
Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843-1893), Thursday 5 May 1870, p 2.
21
Sydney Mail (NSW : 1860-1871), Saturday 7 May 1870, p 7.
22
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Thursday 5 January 1871, p 3.
23
(From the Dispatch’s Araluen correspondent) Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864-1881), Saturday 6 May 1871, p 3.
24
(From the Dispatch’s Araluen correspondent) Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864-1881), Wednesday 10 May 1871, p 4.
25
Barry McGowan. The Golden South. A History of the Araluen, Bells Creek and Majors Creek Goldfields. Capital Fine Print, Canberra. 2000. p 76.
26
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Tuesday 25 November 1873, p 3.
27
Braidwood Dispatch. Monaro Mercury, and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser (NSW : 1862-1931), Wednesday 1 October 1879, p 4.
28
Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870-1919), Saturday 25 July 1891, p 15.
29
Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871-1912), Saturday 26 February 1898, p 442.
30
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 15 May 1925, p 2.
31
Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910-1954), Saturday 30 May 1925, p 4.
32
Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1914-1954), Tuesday 17 April 1945, p 2.