Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 524

YIELD OF THE NORTHERN DIGGINGS

The yield of gold at these diggings is Considered to be as large if not larger in proportion to the population engaged in digging, than any of the other diggings at present afford in New South Wales.

OPHIR THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN GOLD MINE

June 1st 1854

The original gold field of New South Wales is now nearly deserted, - at least comparatively so. By some means or other the first favourite has fallen into neglect if not bad odour, new but whether more brilliant or permanent loves in other quarters is rather doubtful having attracted the attention of the western gold hunters, A gentleman well acquainted with the circumstances of the place, informs us that the total population of Ophir properly so called including men, women, & children, do not exceed
25 - souls, & of these not more than some 15 or 16 are diggers -To supply the wants of this small number, & a few small Southern parties here & there there [?] are two stores & two public houses, so that the inhabitants Cannot Complain of inattention to their bodily wants.
A party have lately been at work upon a water hole but their prospects of success, often bright enough, have been blighted by the floods - They have expo[?] a good deal of time & labour in pumping the Claim dry, & just as they began to reap the fruits of their toil, as often have they been driven from their work by the meading[?] torrent - Whilst actually engaged washing gold they did very well, & there appears little doubt that if favoured for a season with continuous fine
weather their speculation would turn out a profitable one - The few parties at work are doing
tolerably well - one on Seven [?] Ponds Creek lately made £60 in one week & Continues to do a
"Capital stroke."
The spot upon which they are at work is about two miles from the township, up the Creek, & is the locality in which Mr Hargrave first found gold. The idea still clings to the intelligent portion of the dwellers about Ophir, that with a large population, working Systematically Ophir would get pour[?] forth a large amount of hidden treasure, & prove a profitable digging ground. One thing must, at all events, be very clear, that with the run, inexperienced hands who first tried their hands at the pick & Spade, when the discovery was first announced, the Ophir mines were rooted & scratched up in a slovenly manner
unquestionably leaving ample scope for scientific operation -

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Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 524

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