Lamplough, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Lamplough is a locality near Avoca, Victoria
in Australia
. It was the site of a gold rush
from November 1859 and up to 16,000 people were on the site. The lead was worked for a distance of nearly 3 miles (5 km) to the point where it ran into the water and was abandoned.
reported Lamplough as a "grand attraction; hundreds of miners are arriving daily from the more remote gold-fields. The yield of gold,together with the large extent of the already proven auriferous ground, indicates that the Lamplough presents every appearance of being the largest rush we have yet had in Victoria."
rush have materially improved its condition by withdrawing a portion of its surplus population, such as unsuccessful miners, storekeepers, &c. It may safely be presumed that those now remaining are all making at least a good livelihood".
In June 1860 he reported: "At Lamplough, the Deep Lead (with the exception of minor rushes in the immediate neighbourhood) offers sufficient inducements to remain. The lead appears still to adhere (as originally) to the southern reef, neither do the workings get into deeper or wet ground. It has been found payable more than two miles in length from the original prospectors’ claim, and three claims in width, the average yield being an ounce to the load, with one foot thickness of wash-dirt".
July 1860: "The Lamplough Deep Lead is steadily progressing. Several other shallow workings upon adjacent hills, and many of the neighbouring gullies, are being prosecuted; but, from what I can ascertain, are only attended with wages results. The population at Lamplough is rather on the increase, principally from Inglewood. A new rush occurred a few days ago about eight miles from Lamplough, on the Lexton road; but in the absence of any payable ground
(except the prospectors) having been discovered, it has nearly subsided again".
September 1860: "At Lamplough I cannot note any material change in mining since my last. Several of the small rushes in the immediate vicinity appear to give remunerative employment to a large number of miners whilst water for washing purposes is easily obtained; but in the absence of any natural or artificial means for securing it in this dry part of the district
, and that when the present supply is exhausted, I predict a considerable decrease in their numbers will result".
In November 1860: "Lamplough (with occasional small rushes, either to the deep lead or to the immediate vicinity) still retains its population."
In January 1861, the report was quite different: "The population at the new diggings
(Mountain Creek) is yet daily increasing, and from the fact of payable ground having already been found extending over a large area, together with new discoveries of frequent occurrence, .... Lamplough, and all the other sections of my division (in consequence of this rush), are now quite denuded of their European alluvial mining population".
In March 1864, 160 alluvial miners were reported to be working at Lamplough of a total of 1,605 miners working within the Avoca Division. This number remained fairly steady until the end of 1866 and in 1867 shrunk to 70 miners. In 1869, a company was mining in the area.
and to New Zealand
where there is a Lamplough Lead just north of Hokitika
.
Avoca, Victoria
Avoca is a town in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia, north west of Ballarat. It is one of two main towns in the Pyrenees Shire, the other being Beaufort to the south. At the 2006 census, Avoca had a population of 951.-Geography:...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was the site of a gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
from November 1859 and up to 16,000 people were on the site. The lead was worked for a distance of nearly 3 miles (5 km) to the point where it ran into the water and was abandoned.
History
In August 1859, the Mining Surveyor at MaryboroughMaryborough, Victoria
-Education:Maryborough has three schools:*Highview Christian Community College*Maryborough Education Centre Years Prep–12*St Augustine's Primary School Grades Prep–6-Music:...
reported Lamplough as a "grand attraction; hundreds of miners are arriving daily from the more remote gold-fields. The yield of gold,together with the large extent of the already proven auriferous ground, indicates that the Lamplough presents every appearance of being the largest rush we have yet had in Victoria."
Reports
In January 1860, the surveyor reported that "Lamplough may safely be classed amongst the permanent and payable gold fields of Victoria". He did note that the field was overpopulated, particularly by those in business pursuits: "there appears to be nearly one place of business to each miner’s tent". In March 1860, the surveyor reported: "Lamplough, during the last few weeks, presents the appearance of one of the settled gold fields. The late departures to the InglewoodInglewood, Victoria
Inglewood is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Calder Highway, in the Shire of Loddon. At the 2006 census, Inglewood had a population of 834...
rush have materially improved its condition by withdrawing a portion of its surplus population, such as unsuccessful miners, storekeepers, &c. It may safely be presumed that those now remaining are all making at least a good livelihood".
In June 1860 he reported: "At Lamplough, the Deep Lead (with the exception of minor rushes in the immediate neighbourhood) offers sufficient inducements to remain. The lead appears still to adhere (as originally) to the southern reef, neither do the workings get into deeper or wet ground. It has been found payable more than two miles in length from the original prospectors’ claim, and three claims in width, the average yield being an ounce to the load, with one foot thickness of wash-dirt".
July 1860: "The Lamplough Deep Lead is steadily progressing. Several other shallow workings upon adjacent hills, and many of the neighbouring gullies, are being prosecuted; but, from what I can ascertain, are only attended with wages results. The population at Lamplough is rather on the increase, principally from Inglewood. A new rush occurred a few days ago about eight miles from Lamplough, on the Lexton road; but in the absence of any payable ground
Ground
Ground may refer to:* Earth's surface* Soil, a mixture of clay, sand and organic matter present on the surface of the Earth and serving as substrate for plant growth and micro-organisms development...
(except the prospectors) having been discovered, it has nearly subsided again".
September 1860: "At Lamplough I cannot note any material change in mining since my last. Several of the small rushes in the immediate vicinity appear to give remunerative employment to a large number of miners whilst water for washing purposes is easily obtained; but in the absence of any natural or artificial means for securing it in this dry part of the district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
, and that when the present supply is exhausted, I predict a considerable decrease in their numbers will result".
In November 1860: "Lamplough (with occasional small rushes, either to the deep lead or to the immediate vicinity) still retains its population."
In January 1861, the report was quite different: "The population at the new diggings
Diggings
The Diggings was a colloquial term used to describe the gold rush locations in Australia during the 1850s. Gold miners - the diggers - would describe their journey "to the diggings" and say they were "at the diggings"...
(Mountain Creek) is yet daily increasing, and from the fact of payable ground having already been found extending over a large area, together with new discoveries of frequent occurrence, .... Lamplough, and all the other sections of my division (in consequence of this rush), are now quite denuded of their European alluvial mining population".
In March 1864, 160 alluvial miners were reported to be working at Lamplough of a total of 1,605 miners working within the Avoca Division. This number remained fairly steady until the end of 1866 and in 1867 shrunk to 70 miners. In 1869, a company was mining in the area.
Next rush
The next rush was to Moonambel, then known as Mountain Creek at the end of the Pyrenees Ranges, north of Avoca. Other miners moved to Kiandra, New South WalesKiandra, New South Wales
Kiandra is an abandoned gold mining town and the birthplace of Australian skiing. The town is situated in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, in the Snowy River Shire inside the Kosciuszko National Park. Its name is a corruption of Aboriginal 'Gianderra' for 'sharp stones for...
and to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
where there is a Lamplough Lead just north of Hokitika
Hokitika, New Zealand
Hokitika is a township in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island, south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. According to the 2006 census, the usually resident population of the Hokitika urban area was 3,078, a decrease of 12 people since 2001. A further 828...
.