Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 560
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10
PEEL RIVER GOLD FIELD LIVERPOOL DISTRICT
The Peel river diggings generally known as such are divided into two classes. The field on the West side of the river belongs to the Australian Company.
The gold field at present worked is situated to the east side of Peel river & is five miles from the Hanging rock gold field.
This field was discovered in March 1852 - the gold got at these diggings in Coarse & nuggety and of a good rich colour. Throughout the ranges and down the creek, in this district gold is universally diffused in greater of less quantities & should the digging population increase there is every reason to suppose that new & rich deposits may found to give this auriferous region the same value and importance which attach to the western & Southern diggings.
HANGING ROCK GOLD FIELD.
This gold field was discovered in January 1852. The numbers of licences issued for the month of April were 188 in May 223. and in June 210. In July the first gold escort from the Hanging rock reached Maitland with 785 ounces of gold value £2972.
These diggings were thus four or five miles long. The hills come very abrupt into the creek, the bed of which is narrow affording little room for the exercise of the gold diggers skill So that the claim is no sooner opened than it is worked out. the rocks dip upwards at an angle of 15 [?] degrees then the small bed is worked out is some cases not three feet in depth.
The country is of Trap formation with quartz veins running through it.
The elevations taken of this field and that of the Peel river gold field. are
No 18 Summit of
Hanging rock 3413 above the level of
the sea
No 19 Dividing range
between Oakey creek
& Bernard river 3872 .. .. .. .. .. ..
No 20 Camp on Peel
river below [??] 1745 .. .. .. .. .. ..
No 21 Camp at [??} 1245 .. .. .. .. .. ..
No 22 Plain above
Junction of Goonar
Creek & Peel river 1030 .. .. .. .. .. ..
No 23 Peel near
Wallumburra 846 .. .. .. .. .. ..
no 24 Camp on
Cookham Creek near
Neemingah 1217 .. .. .. .. .. ..
PRODUCT OF GOLD NEW SOUTH WALES AND VICTORIA DURING THE YEARS 1852,1853, AND 1854
NEW SOUTH VICTORIA
WALES
1852 £3,851,392 £14,183,688
1853 2,192,212 12,772,236
1854 1,068,384 12,154,661
TOTAL
1852 £18,015,080
1853 14,964,448
1854 13,223,045
£46,192,573
The amounts in 1852 include the gold obtained for a few months in the preceeding [preceding] year when the discovery was made in both Colonies, the falling off in New South Wales is remarkable.