1894
1 Jan 1894 New Year’s day. My birthday. 59 years. I got my newspapers from the private box at the Burrowa River crossing going to Reid’s flat.
2 Jan 1894 James and I finished sluicing through boxes at the top place. Hot day.
3 Jan 1894 We removed the boxes lower down the race. We cleaned down the race, ready to take up the paving. Hot day.
4 Jan 1894 James and I cleaned up some of the races and fixed up the boxes. Great thunder and lightning and a little rain at dark.
5 Jan 1894 Sluicing through the boxes. Great rain after dark with great thunder and lightning. We got a sheep from Harris Brothers.
6 Jan 1894 James and I cleaning up the race. Great rain after dark.
7 Jan 1894 Sunday. At the camp. Burrowa River rose half a banker.
8 Jan 1894 James and I sluicing all day. I got my newspapers.
9 Jan 1894 Cleaning up the races.
10 Jan 1894 James and I sluicing. Harris brought some sugar.
11 Jan 1894 Cleaning up race and putting it through a sieve.
12 Jan 1894 John Connelly drove Steve Wright’s father of Cowra up to have a look at the claim. In the evening, I ran some of the black sand through a 12 feet box, 6 inches wide, 3 inches deep, flannel on the bottom, to catch the gold. I feed the box with my hand. Keep a bucket under the lower end.
13 Jan 1894 James O’Shaughnessy drove in to Cowra. Some heavy showers today. Harris came to see if I would let him have the black sand to take in to Cowra.
14 Jan 1894 Sunday. James O’Shaughnessy came back at 6 o’clock.
15 Jan 1894 James O’Shaughnessy and I sluicing. I got my newspapers.
16 Jan 1894 I was putting black sand through a small box to catch the gold in it. James O’Shaughnessy went to meet the Cowra coach on its return from Reid’s Flat but was too late.
17 Jan 1894 James and I cleaning up the race, and barrowing the sand into a small paddock and putting it through a sieve.
18 Jan 1894 Cleaning up the race, and putting it through a sieve.
19 Jan 1894 James O’Shaughnessy and I sluicing all day. We got a sheep from Harris brothers, Bennett Springs.
20 Jan 1894 James and I sluicing. I put some black sand through the small box.
21 Jan 1894 Sunday. At the camp all day. Very hot.
22 Jan 1894 James and I commenced to sluice, but the race broke away. We had to stop work.
23 Jan 1894 I was cleaning the weeds out of the race from the dam. James sifting sand.
24 Jan 1894 We put all the wash through for gold. Raining.
25 Jan 1894 I put some black sand through the small box.j filled up the paddock with the wash we put through the day before. We are going to put it through again for the black sand. Old Dickman came. Very much like rain.
26 Jan 1894 James and I put the wash through again for the black sand. James could not find the horses to go to Harris. I put some black sand through the small box.
27 Jan 1894 Raining all night and all day. I put up a fly over where I was putting the black sand through the box. James went to Harris Brothers, Bennett Springs for some rations.
28 Jan 1894 Sunday. James and I cleaning gold. I shot a young wallaroo. The Burrowa River a banker.
29 Jan 1894 James O’Shaughnessy and I cleaning gold.
30 Jan 1894 We finished cleaning the gold. There is not so much as we thought.
31 Jan 1894 James and I drove in to Cowra. Peter Finn died. Cancer inside.
1 Feb 1894 I went to Peter Finn’s funeral. James sold the gold to P Murray. 5 oz 2 dwt. We had a meeting at Poole’s. James O’Shaughnessy, Joseph Poole, William Boxall and me. It was agreed that when we got a return of the gold, we would settle up all accounts. James and I are going back to work for two weeks to put in a tunnel without any assistance from the other shareholders.
2 Feb 1894 I paid P Murray £2.0.0 on account. Paid Mrs Oll for papers. James and I rode up to Anthony’s Hill on the Burrowa River.
3 Feb 1894 James and I dried all the black sand and put it into bags.
4 Feb 1894 Sunday. I rode down to the Gulph near the old Battery Station on the Burrowa River and got some wood opal. I don’t feel very well today. I paid Harris £1.13.10 for sheep.
5 Feb 1894 I am not able to work. James commenced the tunnel.
6 Feb 1894 George Harris took 16 bags of black sand to be delivered at the Railway Station consigned to Clyde Smelting Works, Granville. James and I working at the tunnel. William Howey died at his residence in Cowra today. Supposed to be cancer on the passage to the bladder.
7 Feb 1894 I made a truck. James working in the tunnel. We got a sheep from Harris Brothers, Bennetts Springs Ash Wednesday.
8 Feb 1894 James O’Shaughnessy and I working in the tunnel. Mr Cooper came. He gave me permission to cut a load of pines.
9 Feb 1894 Working in the tunnel. Heavy shower in the evening.
10 Feb 1894 We fixed up the sluice boxes near the mouth of the tunnel.
11 Feb 1894 Sunday. James and I at the camp all day.
12 Feb 1894 James and I sluicing. John Connelly, Brewer of Cowra,drove up Mr Roberts, Assayer, of Sydney. DCJ Donnelly sent him up to prospect those claims. He is going to stay at Harris Brothers, Bennetts Springs and come here every day. Connelly went to Cowra.
13 Feb 1894 James and I working in the tunnel all day. Mr Roberts prospecting on our ground.
14 Feb 1894 James and I working in the tunnel. Mr Roberts prospecting and putting gold in small bottles.
15 Feb 1894 James and I sluicing through boxes the wash we got out of the tunnel. Mr Roberts prospecting about the old workings. A daughter of Thomas Anthony’s, 5 years old, died from Diphtheria. She is to be buried at Gunning Flat.
16 Feb 1894 James and I working in the tunnel. We are in 42 feet 6 inches. Mr Roberts prospecting on Mr Donnelly’s lease.
17 Feb 1894 Working in the tunnel. W F Roberts prospecting at Mr Donnelly’s
18 Feb 1894 Sunday. James and I cut down a pine and squared it 7+7, 12 feet long. Connelly not come for Mr Roberts, according to promise. Warm day.
19 Feb 1894 James and I finished sluicing. I got my papers from private box at Burrowa River crossing. Connolly not come for Roberts.
20 Feb 1894 James and I sluicing.
21 Feb 1894 James and I cleaning gold.
22 Feb 1894 James and I drove in to Cowra. The gold weighed a little over 4 dwts. John Connelly in Forbes.
23 Feb 1894 James got £9.0.0 from W Boxall, his share of expenses at Anthony’s Hill. Poole refused to pay. I got a notice from the Mines Department to pay £10.0.0 rent mineral lease, North Broula.
24 Feb 1894 James got £9.0.0 each from Joseph Poole and John Connelly. Their share of expenses at Anthony’s Hill. James and I had £13.0.0. each to take.
25 Feb 1894 Sunday. James and I drove up to Anthony’s Hill.
26 Feb 1894 I got James to assist me to square some pines. Posts 7 x 7, 11 feet six inches long. One of the Harrises came to where I was working. Cloudy day.
27 Feb 1894 We squared 3 posts 7 x 7 and one 7 x 5. Cloudy day.
28 Feb 1894 James and I squared 4 posts 7 x 5. Cloudy and a few drops.
1 Mar 1894 We squared 3 posts 7 x 7. We measured the boards in the sluice boxes. 9 boards. 9 x 1½ by 42 feet long. 6 boards 8 x 1½ by 42 feet long. 677 feet.
2 Mar 1894 James and I squaring posts. Cloudy day.
3 Mar 1894 We finished squaring and brought tools to the camp.
4 Mar 1894 James and I at the camp. Joseph Smith paid me 8/- he owed me.
5 Mar 1894 James and I met James Harris at the gate with six bullocks and a dray. We put 17 squared posts and 50 round pines on his dray. He has to deliver in Cowra for £1.10.0. Cloudy day.
6 Mar 1894 Raining all night and up to 1 o’clock today. Paid Charles Harris 15/9 for sheep and £1.10.0 for carting load of pines to Cowra.
7 Mar 1894 James and I drove in to Cowra. Hot day.
8 Mar 1894 George Smith delivered the load of pines. I got him to bring a load of timber I bought at the old Cowra bridge sale. Good news from Wyalong. Mr J. Hackett of a son.[1]
9 Mar 1894 In Cowra all day. I paid James Smith £2.0.0 expenses for the Sugar Loaf copper mine. Hot day.
10 Mar 1894 At Cowra. Morongla Creek Races. Joe Mackay had a booth there. DCJ Donnelly failed to sell Anthony’s Hill. Hot day.
11 Mar 1894 James and I drove up to Anthony’s Hill. Windy.
12 Mar 1894 We drove in to Cowra. After 1 o’clock a thunder storm at lime kiln
13 Mar 1894 Getting ready to go to Wyalong gold rush.
14 Mar 1894 James O’Shaughnessy, George Hurst, Samuel Daly and I started for Wyalong. James and Sam riding, George and I in the buggy. Camped at Ellis’, bangalong Creek.
15 Mar 1894 To Grenfell 12 miles. To Bimbi on Sandy Creek road to Morangorellel. Camped. 1 public house and store and Post Office.
16 Mar 1894 Right hand road, Piper’s Hotel 2 miles. Williams’ Hotel on Bland Creek 20 miles. Cross there and follow down the creek through the second gate. Keep left hand road to Back Creek., Jameson’s Station 8 miles.
17 Mar 1894 Left hand road to Jones, Wyalong. Keep fence on the right to Jones’ woolshed to the Barmedman and Woolengough road to 16 mile tank. 4 miles to West Wyalong. Camped in Grenfell street.
18 Mar 1894 We put up out tents. People coming in very fast. There are 4 stores, 2 butchers, 2 bakers, blacksmith and stationers. Measured township 2 ½ miles east on the road we came here.
19 Mar 1894 Light showers all night and most all day. James O’Shaughnessy and George Hurst went to the new town and pegged out a claim.
20 Mar 1894 George Hurst, James and I prospecting on the claim we pegged out yesterday. We came back through the mallee. People are coming very fast.
21 Mar 1894 James, George, Sam Daly and I commenced to sink on our claim half mile south from the new township near the brush fence. Commenced to rain. We had to go to the camp.
22 Mar 1894 Hurst, Daly and I went to the claim. James O’Shaughnessy sick. Great number of swagmen coming. The unemployed from Sydney. Fine day.
23 Mar 1894 Good Friday. James and Sam went to the claim. Hurst and I went along the Mallee Bull Line, north into the mallee. There are two more lines of beef? going into the mallee half a mile apart. I got a letter from Minnie O’Shaughnessy by W Links. Cloudy day.
24 Mar 1894 We all went to the claim. George and James came back. Sam and I worked up to 2 o’clock. Came on to camp.
25 Mar 1894 Easter Sunday. I got some specimens from a prospecting claim of Neild’s, Mallee Bull Line. Hurst and I prospecting north in the mallee.
26 Mar 1894 James and Sam went to the claim. Hurst and I went out prospecting out by Dempsey’s slaughter yards. We turned east through the mallee, and back through the mallee to the camp.
27 Mar 1894 We all went out to the claim and pegged out 8 men’s ground and I went from there to a new find near Bolte’s selection and back to where James and Sam were working. Fine day.
28 Mar 1894 Working at the big blow. Tom Middlemiss came
29 Mar 1894 Hurst stayed at the camp. James, Sam and I went to Conway’s Erin Isle claim running north and south 1 ½ miles from the township. We saw some good gold here in ironstone. From there to Neild’s Pioneer claim – reef running east and west from there to our own claim. And back to camp.
30 Mar 1894 We went to the claim in the mallee where we got the specimens. Sam and Jim sinking on a leader. I went to the pine ridge. Coming back across the next claim to ours, I came across some men in the middle of the mallee. They had just found some gold in quartz within 20 yards of our boundary. Harry Henderson and Bob Anderson came to where we were working.
31 Mar 1894 James O’Shaughnessy, George Hurst, Sam D1 Apr 1894 aley and I commenced to trench to see if we could cut the reef. The white tank going down fast.
1 Apr 1894 Sunday. At the camp all day.
2 Apr 1894 Trenching all day. Harry Henderson and Bob Anderson came with two loads of forage and camped in Grenfell Street.
3 Apr 1894 Trenching. We put a notice on the claim.
4 Apr 1894 Trenching on the claim anout one mile south along the old brush fence from the new township. Peter and Bill Links came with a spring cart. Going to start baking.
5 Apr 1894 Sinking on the reef and trenching and getting timber for a windlass.
6 Apr 1894 George Hurst went with Peter and Bill Links to a rush 7 miles north from the new township, called Mallee Plain run, and pegged out two claims. We were putting up a windlass.
7 Apr 1894 We are trying to trace the reef from the prospectors today.
8 Apr 1894 Sunday. James O’Shaughnessy, Sam Daly, George Hurst and I went to Mallee Plains rush. Peter took our swags out in his spring cart. We pegged out a residence site and put up our tent. Hurst went back to Wyalong with P Links.
9 Apr 1894 We worked on our claims. James O’Shaughnessy and Sam Daly went back to Wyalong to work on our old claim.
10 Apr 1894 Working on the claim No1 south from the prospectors. People crowding in. Very hot day.
11 Apr 1894 Trenching on the claim.
12 Apr 1894 Working on No1 trenching. Hurst and Ford putting up a bakehouse for P Links. Sam Daly came from Wyalong to work here. James O’Shaughnessy left to look after the claim at Wyalong.
13 Apr 1894 Worked up to 12 o’clock. Reported alluvial rush 20 miles south west from Wyalong in the direction of Narranderra on the Murrumbidgee River.
14 Apr 1894 Working all day. Prospectors sinking down the side of the reef.
15 Apr 1894 Sunday. I worked with Harry Ford all day at the bake house. George Hurst and Sam Daly went to Wyalong.
16 Apr 1894 Working all day on the claim. Hurst and Ford finished the bakehouse for P Links. Great many miners leaving.
17 Apr 1894 Commenced to rain last night and continued all day. Light rain.
18 Apr 1894 Raining all day.
19 Apr 1894 raining all day. We went up to the claim. The ground is so boggy you cannot walk. A lot of tents flooded out.
20 Apr 1894 Trenching for a few hours.
21 Apr 1894 Worked up to 12 o’clock. Prospectors work in a new place.
22 Apr 1894 Sunday. W Guinan and I prospecting north west. Hurst gone to Wyalong. James O’Shaughnessy came from Wyalong. So did sam Daly.
23 Apr 1894 Working up at the claim all day.
24 Apr 1894 James started from Wyalong riding sam Daly’s horse going to Cowra. Harry Ford, W Guinan and I went to a rush ten miles north from Mallee Plains. The prospectors are on good stone showing good gold. We and two other men pegged out a claim. We got back to Mallee Plain at 5 o’clock. S Daly came from Wyalong.
25 Apr 1894 I worked at the claim. S Daly, H Ford, W Guinan went with Harry Whiteman’s cart to the new rush. People leaving fast.
26 Apr 1894 Working on No1 south from Cherry’s prospecting claim at Mallee Plains. Harry Ford came back from the 10 Mile rush on sandy Creek.
27 Apr 1894 Working on No1. Sinking on a leader. H Ford, Bob Floyd and I.
28 Apr 1894 We worked up to 12 o’clock and got a wood windlass from an abandoned shaft.
29 Apr 1894 Sunday. I got some belar? To make pick handles. Harry Ford went to Wyalong. Only 50 miners left on mallee Plains rush.
30 Apr 1894 I walked into our claim a mile south of the new township, East Wyalong. I met George Hurst and his brother there, and Harry Ford. Hunter’s Prospecting Claim are tracing the reef within 20 yards of our boundary. H Ford and I walked to Mallee Plains.
1 May 1894 Harry Ford and I walked out to the 10 mile. We saw Sam Daly and W Guinan there. Nothing fresh there. Harry Whitman and Dwyer leaving for Billy’s Lookout. Sam came with Bill Links from the 10 Mile.
2 May 1894 Harry Ford , Rube and I put a windlass on our shaft and worked all day on our claim next to Cherry’ prospectors.
3 May 1894 Working at the claim. All the ground around the camp pegged out for alluvial. Frost this morning.
4 May 1894 Harry Ford, Rube and I working. White frost this morning.
5 May 1894 Working on the claim No1 south of Cherry’s prospecting claim.
6 May 1894 Sunday. At the camp. Harry Ford went to Wyalong and back.
7 May 1894 Harry Ford, Peter Links and I walked to the new township, East Wyalong. I went to our claim. No one there. I walked to the old township at the white tank, and arranged with George Hurst to remove camp to the new town tomorrow. Peter Links and I walked back to the Mallee Plains rush.
8 May 1894 I got Ridley’s butcher’s cart to bring in my things to the new town. Harry Ford and I walked in and put up our tents on Neild’s selection. Only a street between it and the new town.
9 May 1894 I went up to the claim and back to dinner. We worked a shift in the evening.
10 May 1894 George Hurst got a job from Frazer, Brewer, of Grenfell to put up a small place. Sam and I sinking all day.
11 May 1894 Sam Daly and I sinking all day.
12 May 1894 Sam Daly and I worked up to 12 o’clock. Sam got a horse from Ted Markham and shifted camp from the old town to where I have my tent. Hurst finished for Frazer. I saw James Middlemiss.
13 May 1894 Sunday. Fixing up camp all day.
14 May 1894 Sam and I working on the claim. George Hurst and H Ford putting iron on a place for W Hunter in the new town.
15 May 1894 Sam and I working. Hurst and Ford finished for Hunter.
16 May 1894 Working on claim. Hurst and Ford putting up a place for a baker in the old town.
17 May 1894 raining all day. No work.
18 May 1894 Sam and I working on the claim.
19 May 1894 We worked up to 12 o’clock. I walked down to the old town to where hurst and Ford were working. Neild gave us notice to shift our camp off his selection. Rain at dark.
20 May 1894 At the camp. Showers and very cold.
21 May 1894 Sam and I working at the claim. We commenced to drive at 40 feet.
22 May 1894 Driving all day. Cold showers.
23 May 1894 Working all day. Light showers. Ted and I went to Spring’s Hotel and saw Slee, Inspector of Mines. He would not give us permission to peg a claim on Neild’s selection.
24 May 1894 Sam and I driving in our claim. Queen’s Birthday Sports at the old township.
25 May 1894 Working. Hurst and Ford working at the baker’s shop.
26 May 1894 Working up to 4 o’clock. Great fog this morning.
27 May 1894 I walked to Hildebrand’s Hiawatha, 12 miles, to have a look at the old piebald and black Paddy. I had a long walk in the paddock before I found them. Got some dinner at Hildebrand’s and walked back to the camp, 24 miles. Brands on Paddy (9 over backwards D) black, both hind feet white.
28 May 1894 Sam Daly and I driving. Got a letter from Mary O’Shaughnessy, Cowra. And one from James O’Shaughnessy, Cowra. The bank has put Beasley out of his place, Wattamondara. A man named Matheson? from Mount McDonald. Typhoid. This is the first man died on Wyalong. White frost this morning.
29 May 1894 Working on the claim. White frost.
30 May 1894 Driving in the claim. I bought a rope 66 feet long. Shower of rain.
31 May 1894 We fixed up our windlass. Light showers.
1 Jun 1894 Working on the claim. We put on the newrope. George Hurst bought a new hook. Very cold day.
2 Jun 1894 Worked up to 10 o’clock. Raining all the evening.
3 Jun 1894 Sunday. At the camp all day.
4 Jun 1894 We worked up to 12 00. Some person pegged out a portion of our claim. Sam went to Wyalong West to register it but the clerk would not register. I went to Spring’s Hotel and saw Mr Slee, Inspector of Mines. He advised me to make a fresh application and register it. Sam went back to Wyalong West and put in a fresh application and registered it. Raining most all day.
5 Jun 1894 Working all day. Raining up to 12 o’clock.
6 Jun 1894 Sam and I driving all day.
7 Jun 1894 Sam Daly and I working all day.
8 Jun 1894 George Hurst and I working all day. Sam Daly gone to Hiawatha, Hildebrand’s, paddock for old Paddy and the skewbald horse. Sam paid agistment to date.
9 Jun 1894 George Hurst drove Paddy in the buggy and led the skewbald behind going po Cowra by Williams and Bimbi and Grenfell. I went with him to the first tank. Neild’s selection thrown open. We pegged out an allotment.
10 Jun 1894 W Guinan went to No2 on Stanley’s Line and to Neild’s prospecting claim near Plumb’s battery and on to the white reef and Gorman’s. We got some good specimens.
11 Jun 1894 Sam Daly and I working all day. We opened out on the north side of the shaft. Telegraph line working to Wyalong West.
12 Jun 1894 Working on a leader, 60 yards west of the shaft.
13 Jun 1894 Sam and I working on a leader.
14 Jun 1894 Sinking a shaft on the leader.
15 Jun 1894 We came back to our old shaft and commenced to drive both ways.
16 Jun 1894 Worked up to 12 o’clock. I got a letter from James O’Shaughnessy, Cowra. The Government would not grant him aid to work Anthony’s Hill.
17 Jun 1894 At the camp all day. Cloudy.
18 Jun 1894 Working on the claim. Driving both ways.
19 Jun 1894 Working on the claim.
20 Jun 1894 Sam Daly and I working on the claim. George Hurst came from Cowra with the horse and buggy. I got a letter from Mary O’Shaughnessy. Frost.
21 Jun 1894 Working on the claim. George Hurst took old Paddy the horse to Hiawatha, Hildebrand’s paddock.
22 Jun 1894 Sam and I working on the claim.
23 Jun 1894 Raining all day.
24 Jun 1894 Sunday. Raining all night and most all day. I removed my tent and fixed it up better.
25/26 Jun 94 Raining all day. No work.
26 Jun 1894 Raining all day. No work.
27 Jun 1894 Sam and I working all day. Gough’s battery finished the white reef stone. 1 oz 14 dwt per ton.
28 Jun 1894 Working on the claim. Carting stone from Hunter’s claim to Gough’s battery, about 1 ½ miles to cart.
29 Jun 1894 Sam and I working. I found a small quartz leader in the drive at 40 feet. No gold in it.
30 Jun 1894 Worked up to 12 o’clock. Following.
1 Jul 1894 Sam, Guinan, Ford, and I went to Prospectors Pine Hill and on to King’s sawmill and from there to another Pine Hill prospector’s claim. All this country is hard blue rock.
2 Jul 1894 Working in the face of the drive, taking out some good looking stone, but no gold. W Guinan and H Ford removed their camp to a claim they are working, south west from the white tank, West Wyalong.
3 Jul 1894 Working all day trying to follow the leader.
4 Jul 1894 Working in the drive.
5 Jul 1894 Sam and I working in the drive. All Hunter’s stone carted to Gough’s crushing machine. I got two letters from Mary O’Shaughnessy.
6 Jul 1894 Sam Daly and I went to Gough’s battery and saw the last of Hunter’s stone through. They commenced to clean up. It looks very poor. Sam and I came back to the camp. No work.
7 Jul 1894 Sam and I went to the claim and did some work in the west shaft. 32 tons of Hunter’s stone went 1 oz 14 dwt 10 grams.
8 Jul 1894 Sunday. Harry Ford, W Guinan and I went to the Christmas Gift and Pioneer claims, Neilds, and on to Conway’s Erin’s Isle and the Ledger claims.
9 Jul 1894 James Herd and I pegged out Hunter’s claim as abandoned and a part of our own claim. Sam Daly and George Hurst went to West Wyalong and put in an application. James Herd and I sinking up to 5 o’clock. Sam and Alf came on and worked up to 12 o’clock tonight.
10 Jul 1894 Herd and I sinking until 4 o’clock. Alf and Sam came on to 12 o’clock.
11 Jul 1894 Herd and I struck reef at 40 feet, carrying gold.
12 Jul 1894 Following the reef down. Frost and fog this morning.
13 Jul 1894 Herd and I sinking all day. Light showers and very cold.
14 Jul 1894 Working. Showers all day and very cold. Heavy shower after dark.
15 Jul 1894 Sunday. At the camp. Cloudy.
16 Jul 1894 Raining all night and all day. No work.
17 Jul 1894 Raining all night and all day. Election day. Polling place at the new township Court House.
18 Jul 1894 Raining all night. Jim Herd and I worked up to 3 o’clock. Heavy rain.
19 Jul 1894 Herd sick. Sam and Alf went to work. I got some bags and put them over the shaft. Mr Meldrum measured the allotment we are camped on and put my name down in his book for it. A cold and miserable day.
20 Jul 1894 Herd and I working all day.
21 Jul 1894 Sam and Alf worked after dinner.
22 Jul 1894 Sunday. At the camp. Cold windy day.
23 Jul 1894 Herd and I sinking. George Hurst and Alf find a windlass on another shaft that was logged up.
24 Jul 1894 Herd and I driving. After the reef it went almost flat. George Hurst and Alf sinking the other shaft.
25 Jul 1894 Herd and I driving in another direction trying to trace the reef. Hurst and Alf sinking.
26 Jul 1894 Herd and I driving. Hurst and Alf sinking.
27 Jul 1894 Herd and I driving. Sam Daly went to Hiawatha, Hildebrand’s, and brought in Paddy the horse.
28 Jul 1894 Herd and I broke into Hunter’s old workings.
29 Jul 1894 Sunday. Paddy broke the halter and went away with Parcel’s horse. Could not find him until 2 o’clock. Peter Links started for Marsden at 11 o’clock. Sam started on Paddy at half past 2 o’clock for Marsden.
30 Jul 1894 James Crouch and George Hurst splitting stuff to fence an allotment for Wag Ingrey, Miller, Grenfell. Alf working on the reef in the west shaft. Herd and I sinking east shaft.
31 Jul 1894 Herd and I sinking. Alf working on the reef..
1/3 Aug 1894 Herd and I sinking.. Light showers. Alf working on the reef.
4 Aug 1894 Herd and I sinking. Hurst and Crouch carting in fencing stuff with Parcel’s horse and cart.
5 Aug 1894 Sunday. I went to Plumb’s battery and up to the Black Snake Line. I got some good specimens.
6/9 Aug 1894 Herd and I sinking all day. Cold bleak weather. Alf Castles gone to Marsden.
10 Aug 1894 Herd and I sinking. Hurst and Crouch finished Ingrey’s fence. Bolte’s selection thrown open for mining.
11 Aug 1894 Herd and I sinking up to 12 o’clock. In the evening, I put our own windlass on the shaft.
12 Aug 1894 Sunday. I walked out to the back of Bolte’s fence to a claim there and got some specimens. In the evening, I got some specimens from the Christmas Gift claim and some from the Pioneer, Neild’s. Fine day.
13 Aug 1894 Herd and I sinking. Hurst came up to the claim.
14 Aug 1894 Herd and I working. Sent a telegram to Sam Daly, Cowra, to bring a horse and cart to Wyalong to take us to Cowra. A reply came that he would start for Wyalong on next Friday.
15 Aug 1894 Herd and I sinking.
16 Aug 1894 Herd and I driving to strike the reef. Shaft 66 feet deep.
17 Aug 1894 Herd and O went up to the claim. We made up our minds not to work the claim again.
18 Aug 1894 In the evening, I walked down to West Wyalong.
19 Aug 1894 Sunday. I met Harry Ford and Bill Guinan at the Post Office, West Wyalong. We went to Egan’s, McGrath’s, Conway’s, the Victoria and other claims.
20 Aug 1894 Sam Daly came at 12 o’clock from Cowra with my horse and two horses in a dray. A light shower.
21 Aug 1894 We started from Wyalong east at 9 o’clock. Sam had Toby and Link’s horse in the spring cart. I had Paddy in the buggy with george Hurst. Jim Crouch had Sam’s Darkie in his sulky. Raining. 10 miles to the first gate, 6 miles to white tank and 7 miles to the stinking tank and 12 miles to the second gate from Wyalong. 6 miles to Jameson’s on the Back Creek. Had to unload in the creek. Great rain at dark. Everything we have is wet.
22 Aug 1894 We took the road from Barmedman to Marsden 15 miles. Plains all covered with water. Bridge over Bland creek here. This is about 6 miles above Lake Cowal. We camped on the common. Corry and Irwin keep an hotel each, a store, and butcher’s shop and pound keeper.
23 Aug 1894 5 miles to the first gate. 5 miles to Caragabal. Gibson. Camped about one mile past. The plains are very wet. Fine day.
24 Aug 1894 4 miles to the boundary gate One mile to Caragabal. John Bremmer’s Welcome Hotel. Two miles further on, the right hand road goes to Bimbi. We kept the left for Grenfell. Passed a sawmill, crossed a bridge, and came on to an hotel, The Selector’s Return. Camped two miles at a culvert.
25 Aug 1894 8 miles to Bogo Bogalong, Bolter’s.Cricketer’s Arms. 5 miles to Grenfell. 12 miles to Bungalong Creek, Ellis. Camped. Very much like rain. We left Jim Crouch in Grenfell.
26 Aug 1894 Sunday. Came to Cowra. 22 miles. Heavy rain in the evening.
2/287 Aug 94 In Cowra. Raining.
29 Aug 1894 Went out to Mr Daly’s farm and assisted to kill a bullock.
30 Aug 1894 I went to Daly’s farm and killed four pigs.
31 Aug 1894 George Hurst and I putting up a frame of a house on Mary O’Shaughnessy’s allotment.
1 Sep 1894 Hurst and I putting up the building.
2 Sep 1894 Sunday. In Cowra all day.
3/4 Sep 1894 Working at the building myself.
5 Sep 1894 Cowra Show. Worked up to 12 o’clock and then went to the Showground. Very poor exhibits and not many people there. Kate O’Shaughnessy and Miss Fox came from Mount McDonald.
6 Sep 1894 Show day. Great crowd on the Ground. Commenced to rain at dark. Great fire in Lawler’s furniture shop, Sydney.
7/8 Sep 1894 Working all day at the house.
9 Sep 1894 Sunday. At the Australian Hotel all day.
10 Sep 1894 I went to Francis and got 150 feet of flooring boards and 150 feet of weather boards and enough boards to make a door. Hinges and lock and a pair of sashes. George hurst working with me all day..
11 Sep 1894 George Hurst and I finished the building. River a banker.
12 Sep 1894 I went to John Connelly’s Brewery and got his horse and cart and brought one load of my boxes from his place and put them in the new building.
13 Sep 1894 I got John Connelly’s horse and cart and brought the remainder of my boxes. I have a bad cold.
14 Sep 1894 Not doing anything. Cold getting worse.
15 Sep 1894 No work. Not able.
16 Sep 1894 Sunday. Lying down all day.
17 Sep 1894 Very bad today. Staying at Daly’s. Australian Hotel.
18/19 Sep 94 In bed all day.
20 Sep 1894 I got up for a short time.
21 Sep 1894 Up. Recovering a little.
22 Sep 1894 Getting better.
23 Sep 1894 Sunday. At the Australian Hotel all day.
24 Sep 1894 I am getting alright again. Robert Purvis Died at the Cowra Hospital. 93 years of age.
25 Sep 1894 I walked out to Daly’s farm for my horse. Mrs C. Nathong died.
26 Sep 1894 I drove up to Anthony’s Hill and found that both huts were broken into and a lot of things taken. This is the third time that those huts were broken into. Robert Purvis and Mrs Nathong buried today.
27 Sep 1894 I did not fin my horse until 12 o’clock. I started at 2 o’clock and got to Cowra at dark.
28 Sep 1894 Fixing up my specimens.
29 Sep 1894 Commenced to put up a chimney.
30 Sep 1894 Sunday. At home all day.
1/2 Oct 1894 Working at the chimney. Killed a pig for Mrs Daly.
3 Oct 1894 Railway Sports on the Showground. I went there with Mrs Daly and Clifton to assist them in the bar. Great number of children. We took £20.0.0 in the bar. A light shower in the evening.
4 Oct 1894 Worked at the chimney and finished it.
5/6 Oct 1894 Lining inside the chimney with bricks. I finished the chimney.
7 Oct 1894 Sunday. At home. My uncle Thomas Byrnes (sic) died near Appin. His estate worth £4,070.
8 Oct 1894 I drove up to Anthony’s Hill and unscrewed some pipes.
9 Oct 1894 Finished the pipes and took the boxes apart.
10 Oct 1894 George Smith and george Harris took two loads and went to Bennetts springs. They left a load behind.
11 Oct 1894 I drove in to Cowra. Campbell, Jerula, can’t get shearers.
12 Oct 1894 george Smith came with the pipes and a part of the sluice boxes.
13 Oct 1894 I started at 7 o’clock and got to Anthony’s Hill at 12 o’clock. Had some dinner, and rode Paddy to John O’Connor’s, Hovell’s Creek and stayed there all night.
14 Oct 1894 Sunday. Much like rain. I got back to Anthony’s Hill at 12 o’clock. Light showers.
15 Oct 1894 I got the box out at the dam and took it to pieces. The Burrowa River half a banker. Raining during the night.
16 Oct 1894 At the camp, waiting for the river to fall. William Redfern Watt died in Sydney.
17 Oct 1894 At the camp. Water going down slowly.
18 Oct 1894 I got across the Burrowa River at 12 o’clock. Water came into the buggy. Cowra at 5 o’clock.
19 Oct 1894 Working at Daly’s Australian Hotel all day.
20 Oct 1894 At home all day.
21 Oct 1894 Sunday. I got a horse from Sam Daly. I rode by Binni Creek to The Islands and across the Mandurama and Canowindra road at the Walli cemetery to the Sugar Loaf copper mine and inspected the ore raised there. I am a shareholder. Coming back, I called in at James O’Shaughnessy’s camp on W McInnes’ Specimen Hill. Got to Cowra at 6 o’clock.
22 Oct 1894 At home. Had a meeting of the shareholders of the Sugar Loaf copper mine. It was agreed that Mr James Smith write to Mr Montague Rothery Clifton for permission to cart ore from the Sugar Loaf copper mine through his land on to the Canowindra road. I collected from Boxall, Poole and Connelly 15/- each to pay Carrier George Smith for carting plant from Anthony’s Hill.
23 Oct 1894 Mr Single Smith, Mr Single Harris came came with two loads from Anthony’s Hill . I paid Smith £3.0.0 and promised to pay him £1.0.0 for my hut. Boxall, Poole and Connolly said the hut was not part of the plant.
24 Oct 1894 I made two forms for Mrs Egan. Mrs Cummins died this morning. 85 years of age. Mrs DCJ Donnelly’s mother. They took the corpse away by the 6 o’clock train to bury her in Bathurst. Very hot day.
25 Oct 1894 Painted front door of the house. Light showers.
26 Oct 1894 I drove Mrs Daly out to the Burial Ground to fix up some graves. Cloudy day.
27 Oct 1894 Boxall and Poole gave me 10/6 each for work done by me getting plant ready for the carrier at Anthony’s Hill .
28 Oct 1894 Sunday. At home. James O’Shaughnessy got the old piebald from Daly’s paddock.
29 Oct 1894 I put up two posts. I am going to make my hut longer. Sent George Harris one pound for carting my hut from Anthony’s Hill . Hot sultry day.
30 Oct 1894 I put the wall plates on and put one panel of pines. Vloudy day.
31 Oct 1894 I put up another panel of pines. James O’Shaughnessy and Tom Nash struck rich gold on Specimen Hill, McInnes, Binni Creek.
1 Nov 1894 Putting up front posts.
2 Nov 1894 Putting up end with pines.
3 Nov 1894 Put up the rafters. Great heat.
4 Nov 1894 Sunday. At home. Great heat, wind, and dust.
5 Nov 1894 Putting on the iron. Cool day. A heavy shower.
6 Nov 1894 Finished the iron. Sam Daly and I took 300 bricks to the Burial ground.
7 Nov 1894 I drove Crosbie out to the Burial ground and assisted him to build a brick wall around Peter Finn’s grave, and one around Miss Garrety’s grave. The Fitzroy Hotel sold in Cowra today to Miss Challacombe for Pounds 3,650.
8 Nov 1894 I drove Crosbie out to the Burial Ground. We finished the graves.
9 Nov 1894 Cowra Races. Not many people at it. Hot windy day.
10 Nov 1894 I put some board on to keep the fowls from going under the house. I put a carpet on Daly’s stairs. Very hot day.
11 Nov 1894 Sunday. At home all day.
12 Nov 1894 I saw young Bartlett about going to Kelly’s Creek.
13 Nov 1894 I drove out to Kelly’s Creek to prospect for a reef. Got there at 12 o’clock. Found a reef. First lot crushed – 5 good colours. Next lot – not a colour. The next lot – a real good prospect. After that, I could only raise a colour.
14 Nov 1894 Crushing all day. Could only raise a colour. Can’t keep my horse. March fly in thousands around him.
15 Nov 1894 I came back by the old coach track to Cowra. Great heat and dust.
16 Nov 1894 I gave all the specimens to Bartlett. Wind and dust.
17/19 Nov 94 At home all day.
20 Nov 1894 I drove out to McInnes and had dinner with James O’Shaughnessy on Specimen Hill. Back to Cowra at 6 o’clock.
21 Nov 1894 I saw Stephen Wright about taking his share at Binni on tribute. He promised to give me an answer when they are done washing up. I got my Elector’s Right No294463.
22 Nov 1894 Building an addition to my house. Great heat.
23 Nov 1894 Working all day. Great heat.
24 Nov 1894 Working all day. Tommy Gong Lee left Daly’s place. Removed opposite Boxall’s.
25 Nov 1894 Sunday. At home. Real hot.
26 Nov 1894 Working at Tommy Gong Lee’s old store repairing. 98 in the shade. 107 in Adelaide.
27 Nov 1894 Working at the old store. 102 in the shade.
28 Nov 1894 Working at home. 104 in the shade. John Chapman and I went to a small slate hill, 3 miles from Cowra on the Carcoar road. A son of Chapman’s found a specimen there 2 years ago.
29 Nov 1894 Working at home all day.
30 Nov 1894 I drove Chapman and another man out to a ridge south of the Flinty Ridge about 3 miles from Cowra on the Carcoar road. We pegged out a prospecting protection area.
1 Dec 1894 Working at home all day.
2 Dec 1894 Sunday. At home all day.
3 Dec 1894 John Chapman took two men out to the Flinty Ridge to prospect for a reef. I took the two hind wheels off the buggy and put hot raw oil on them. Very hot day.
4 Dec 1894 I put the two fore wheels and one hind wheel in the river. I boiled water and soaked the other hind wheel to make it swell and then put on hot raw oil. Miss Sarah Moore came of age today.
5 Dec 1894 Oiling the wheels all day and painting the buggy. Miss Moore left Taylor’s place.
6 Dec 1894 Oiling the buggy wheels all day.
7 Dec 1894 John O’Connor drove me out to his place on Hovell’s Creek. I am sent up by a syndicate from Cowra to report on his wolfram mine near Frogmore.
8 Dec 1894 John O’Connor drove me to his wolfram mine. It is a 40 acre lease on a timber reserve. After inspecting the ground, I came to the conclusion that there are three veins running north and south within 50 feet. We had a look at some gold leases at Frogmore.
9 Dec 1894 Sunday. At John O’Connor’s place Cloudy.
10 Dec 1894 At O’Connor’s. Mr O’Connor went to Frogmore. Cloudy day.
11 Dec 1894 I came in Tom Plunkett’s coach to Cowra. He charged 6/-
12 Dec 1894 I gave Mr Hyams some specimens from the wolfram mine at Frogmore. He agreed to give two men half share and £1.0.0 per week. Robert Thompson and I took the job.
13 Dec 1894 At home all day. Great heat.
14 Dec 1894 Assisting Mrs Daly to get everything ready to leave the Australian Hotel. I sent some tools by young O’Connor to be left at his place.
15 Dec 1894 Assisting Mrs Daly. A great shower.
16 Dec 1894 Sunday. At home all day.
17 Dec 1894 John Muir, John Connelly, and I had a meeting at P Hough’s Great Western Hotel to see what is to be done about the tools belonging to the Sugar Loaf Copper Mining Company. We agreed to call a General Meeting to decide what is to be done with the tools and the copper ore at the mine. I sent some specimens to the Mines Department.
18 Dec 1894 I spoke to James Smith, secretary to the Sugar Loaf Copper Mining Company. He appointed that next Thursday that there would be a general meeting of the Sugar Loaf Copper Mining Company at Boxall’s Hotel, Cowra. Assisting Mrs Daly.
19 Dec 1894 R Daly sold the Australian Hotel to Mr Winch for £1,200, and D Clifton, Brewer, has rented it from Winch and gave Daly £200 for the furniture and Mrs Daly has removed to their place opposite.
20 Dec 1894 Assisting Mrs Daly to fix up things. James Smith and I met at Boxall’s Hotel but it fell through as no other shareholders came.
21 Dec 1894 Fixing up the place and making a gate for Mrs Daly. Great heat.
22 Dec 1894 Made a gate for Mrs Daly. Very hot day.
23 Dec 1894 Sunday. At home all day. Great heat.
24 Dec 1894 I put the wheels on the buggy and got old Paddy shod and assisted to kill a pig for Mrs Daly. Grace and Kate came in the coach, coming from Mount McDonald. Tot Daly came from a place she was teaching, near Coonamble. A light shower at dark.
25 Dec 1894 Christmas day. I had breakfast, dinner and tea at Robert Daly’s, The Australian Hotel, Cowra.
26 Dec 1894 Boxing Day. I loaded up the buggy. Races at Robert Chivers’ Hotel, Back Creek. Real hot day.
27 Dec 1894 I drove up to John O’Connor’s on Hovell’s Creek, 30 miles from Cowra. A light shower on the road and a heavy shower after dark.
28 Dec 1894 I drove up to the wolfram mine 12 miles. And three miles east from Frogmore. There is a good hut there. A few light showers going up and rained heavily after dark.
29 Dec 1894 I drove back to O’Connor’s for some tools that O’Connor’s team brought from Cowra. I met Bob Thompson, my mate going up to the mine. I got back to the mine at 4 o’clock.
30 Dec 1894 Sunday. I rode to Frogmoore and got my newspapers. Bob rode to Downs’ place to arrange with him to put our horses in his paddock.
31 Dec 1894 We commenced to work on the wolfram mine. Bob bailing out an old shaft. I was making a windlass.
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- Gordon T. Hackett, mother Sarah (O’Shaughnessy) Hackett.↵