Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 549
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GUIRA GOLD FIELD
These diggings were discovered in March or April 1852 and are 12 miles from Armadale. Guira [Guyra] river is one of the tributaries of the Macleay which rises at Boulamond [?] and is an eastern water. The gold obtained at these diggings is nuggety, darker in Colour than that of the Uralla or Rocky river gold and resembles that got from the Turon fields. During the early working small nuggets of three pennyweight were found, At present heavier gold is obtained. Some of the nuggets [?] beautiful forms, these are obtained on the ridges at about two feet from the surface and at some distance from the river, the earth is carted there & washed by the sluice. This field is on the table land of New England, the soil is red earth & Clay mixed with gravel & small quartz.
The present workings at this field are on the banks of the Guira [Guyra] river, here shotty gold, & nuggets of the size of maize are procured. Scaly gold is also found at these diggings. This is a granitic gold field.
WOLAMUMBI GOLD FIELD.
Gold was discovered on this river in March 1854 which is situated ten miles to the eastward of Guira [Guyra] river or Camerons Creek diggings.
The description of gold got on the sandy ridges resembles the gold got from the Rocky river, That found in the banks and bed of the river is nuggety. The country in the vicinity where gold was first found abounds in quartz and slate. The bed rock of the river is schist. The Wolamombi is a tributary of the Macleay and rises at Chandlers Peak which is in a range dividing the waters of the Macleay and Clarence rivers, This Peak is elevated 4501 feet above the level of the Pacific Ocean.
GOLD FIELD AT MOUNT MITCHELL.
Gold was discovered at this station in March 1853. The gold obtained is rough of a granular
form, and a little water worn. At these diggings both fine & rough god can be procured, the fine almost any where on the hills and is found amongst the roots of the grass. The rough gold is obtained by stripping the earth off about two feet from the surface. These diggings are situated on the river Sarah [Sara] a tributary Clarence river and are fifty one miles from Armadale [Armidale]. At these diggings shafts are sunk the [indecipherable] of these bears the Rocky river diggings. In these shafts [?] is found bearing strong traces of igneous action, burnt quartz is also abundant, the sinking is hard. In one of the shafts at a depth of 21 feet a gold bearing vein was found. The cement [?] in one of the shafts was sunk through 21 feet.
GOLD FIELD AT OBAN IN THE COUNTY OF [INDECIPHERABLE]
This gold field is situated near the first line of northern falls. At present the diggings are confined to the alluvial deposits on the banks of the river Ann. The gold is rough and nuggety. This field is three miles from the head station at Oban 13 miles from the gold field at Mount MItchell and 38 miles from Armadale [Armidale].
The gold found at this field has been washed from the table land of New England. The present diggings are on the Table land on the banks of the River Ann about ninety diggers are at work the gold is nuggety & is obtained to pay those engaged. Stores are here for the convenience of the diggers. The Oban and Mount MItchell gold fields may be termed "Wet diggings" the most profitable workings are from January to July.