Berringa

Berringa Miners Circa 1900. Believed to be the Birthday Tunnel Mine

Photograph - Poppet Head and Buildings Under Construction at the Berringa Mine, Berringa, Victoria, circa 1900 Source: Museums Victoria. Public Domain

Photograph - Miner in Winding Cage, Berringa Mine, Berringa, Victoria, circa 1900. Source Museums Victoria

 

The Birthday Gold Mine at Berringa 1904-1905 afternoon shift about to start work

A Brief History of Berringa

Originally called Kangaroo, Berringa comes from an aboriginal word for 'rainbow' or 'sunset'. The name Kangaroo changed to Berringa around 1879. Berringa was originally part of the Piggoreet Run, taken up in 1838 by pastoralists John James Barlow Smythe and Henry Gibb and was among the earliest district pastoral properties. Berringa was situated at the southern end of what was known as the Staffordshire Reef Ranges. Alluvial gold was first discovered within the ranges in the early 1850s. By 1864, quartz mining was the most successful form of gold extraction with three quartz crushing mills operating within the area.

Four distinct lines of reef were discovered at Berringa:

The Kangaroo Reef (F. W. Schreck in 1864) 

The William's Fancy Reef (Mr Boggin in 1875)

The Express Line of Reef (Mr Berriman in 1883) 

The Birthday Line of Reef (David Le Page and John Mitchell in 1897)

It was the rich Birthday lode (gold deposit) discovered in 1897 which led to prosperity for the area.

At this time the major mines of the district were: 

The Birthday Mine (1897), 

The Kangaroo Mine (1898)

The South Birthday Mine (1898), 

The North Birthday Mine (1899)

The Birthday Tunnel Mine (1900), 

The William's Fancy Mine (1901)

The Township of Berringa

Berringa had everything that was needed in a community, including:

doctors, ambulance van, chemist bakeries, bootmakers, butchers,

banks, brickworks. 

Churches: Church of Christ, Church of England, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic Church, the Salvation Army Hotels: O'Farrell's Hotel (originally known as the Kangaroo Hotel), Prince Alfred Hotel 

Newspaper: The Berringa Herald

Post office, railway station, INTERACTIVE MAP OF RAILWAY LINE schools, Tattersalls agent, timber merchant, undertaker - even a Mechanic's Institute and library. The only original buildings remaining are St Aidan's Church of England, the State school and the William's Fancy Mine manager's residence. 

Berringa had all the popular sporting associations of the time such as, cricket, football, iron quoits, a rifle club, turf club and fox terrier coursing.

The Recreation Reserve The current recreation reserve was gazetted on the 26th February 1902 and occupies an area of five acres. The cypress trees were planted in 1914 of which a few remain. The official population of Berringa in 1908 was 4,000 people, although estimates varied up to 7,000. The variation of population numbers was on account of the fluctuation or decline in the goldmining activity. The number of school children also ranged from 250 to 600 pupils.

The Berringa State School

The Berringa State School No. 905, currently used as our community hall, was the third school. It was officially opened on 10th February 1902 and cost a total of 760 pounds.

In 1910 there were 240 pupils attending; however, by 1930 attendances had declined to 7 pupils. The school closed on the 31st March 1931 and reopened again on a full time basis in August 1938. The school was eventually permanently closed in 1954. 

Berringa also had a Catholic and a private school.

The Misery Creek Road Bridge

Now a relic of the past, the Misery Creek road bridge, located two kilometres south on the Berringa to Dereel road, was originally opened with a great celebration in 1906, and spans 70ft in length and 17ft high. It was constructed at a cost of 630 pounds. Only the main framework of the bridge exists today. In its day, the Misery Creek road bridge was seen as another way of getting business into the township of Berringa.

The Staffordshire Reef Cemetery

Over 522 burials including 44 Chinese have been recorded from as early as 1854 in the Staffordshire Reef cemetery. There are also Chinese burials at the Chinese camp at Mt Misery - located in the Enfield Forest Park, to the north east of Berringa.

So where did it all go? The permanency of the town was always debatable. The majority of the miners followed the gold rushes. The small wooden houses were of a temporary nature, hastily erected and easily removed by bullock wagon or traction engine. Houses that were removed and shifted to the north had to go via Staffordshire Reef as they were unable to pass under the railway bridge at Brownsvale (located near Newtown on the Cape Clear to Scarsdale road). Over the years proposals have been made to restart gold mining in Berringa. The most recent significant attempt was in the 1980s which left earthworks and a large dam as a reminder of the fraught nature of gold mine investment.

Age (Melbourne, Vic.: 1854 - 1954), Thursday 29 September 1898, page 7 

THE BIRTHDAY MINE, BERRINGA. 

At the half yearly meeting of the company, held yesterday at Ballarat, the operations at this somewhat phenomenal claim were reported as follow by the manager: — "The erection of machinery was completed on 7th April, and the water was bailed out, the skids fixed in the shaft, the chamber cut, and drive put into the lode a distance of 27 feet at the 100 feet level. The lode at this point was found to be 1 foot wide and carried good gold. Two drives were then started north and south on the course of the lode. The faces are now 650 feet apart, and the lode has carried payable gold for the whole distance. At a point 50 feet south from the crosscut the lode widened out to 2 feet, and it has averaged 20 inches for over 300 feet. Several intrusions of mullock have come in and died out again, a com mon occurrence in this kind of lode. At present there is one in the face of the south drive, which, however, does not go to the bottom of the drive, where the stone is still 20 inches, and showing gold.  

There yet remains 337 feet to go to the south boundary. Stoping has been done over this drive to a height of 49 feet by 175 feet in length, or to the crosscourse; and south to the crosscourse 3 stopes are going. In the north drive the lode has averaged 1 foot wide for a distance of 250 feet, and in the face at present it is 6 inches wide and carrying nice gold. Stoping has been carried on over the back of this drive to a height of 60 feet, and for a length of 60 feet, or up to the first break. Beyond this very little stoping has been done. The sinking of the shaft was commenced early in July, and since then 90 feet has been sunk, making a total depth of 190 feet from the surface. At 200 feet an opening set will be put in on both sides of the shaft, and as soon as the well is completed, skids fixed, and shaft connected, a drive will be put in west to the lode, a distance of about 45 feet. This work should be finished in about 5 weeks.  

The object of the opening set on the east side of the shaft, I might state, is to enable us to open out and crosscut in that direction. I am of the opinion that a parallel lode exists not far away, as nearly all the water in the shaft is coming from the east side. A winze has been sunk 120 feet south of the crosscut on the underlay of the lode to a depth of 48 feet, and the lode, which was 20 inches at starting has widened out to 2 feet 6 inches and carries good gold all the way. Crushing was commenced on the 3rd of June, and since that date 1797 tons have been put through for a total yield of 2842 oz. 15 dwt. 12 gr. of gold, averaging over 31 dwt. per ton. A new steel boiler is being built in, and additional concentrators, viz., Halley's percussion tables, are being constructed, and will probably be going within a fortnight. I am more than ever convinced as to the permanence of your mine and believe that it will pay handsome dividends for many years to come. As will be seen by the report of our Ballarat correspondent, another dividend of 1s. 6d. has been declared, and the credit balance is over £4000. The winze is down 66 feet on solid stone, carrying good gold. (text correction by Martin) 

 

Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848 - 1957), Friday 15 June 1900, page 7 

THE BIRTHDAY MINE, BERRINGA. 

ITS HISTORY AND PROSPECTS. (BY OUR SPECIAL MINING REPORTER.) 

The Birthday Company, Berringa, has a unique history. In its infancy few mines were more generally mistrusted, and fewer still have been so splendidly and so consistently successful. When it struggled into existence the promising goldfield that that has since grown up around it had been discredited for many years, and prejudice was so strong that visiting experts were uncompromising in their condemnation of the property, which has become the leading gold producer in the entire district. 

The township of Berringa is five-and-twenty miles southwest of Ballarat, and the road passes through sleepy villages, which were once bustling mining camps, und past grass-covered relics of old mines and shallow alluvial diggings, that recall the tireless energy, pluck, and perseverance of pioneers and the thrilling incidents of early days on the summit of one of the heavily wooded Silurian ridges Staffordshire Reef the old workings are extensive. From a crest of the range the South Glenfine and other mines of the Pitfield Plains are visible, hundreds of feet below, and a few miles away to the southwest, and on the southern slope of the hill, nestles the hamlet of Berringa. 

The Birthday lode was discovered by Mr "Dave" Le Page in May 1897, at a point about a mile south of the township. Messrs. J. Mitchell and F. Malone became his partners, and a lease, originally named the "Queens Birthday," was secured on May 24 of that year. The syndicate was enlarged to six shares, and several small shafts were sunk along the line of reef, proving the stone to be highly payable for a length of 700ft. In spite of this, considerable difficulty was experienced in inducing anyone to undertake the flotation, but eventually Messrs. R. Ditchburn and A. Lamb, in conjunction with Messrs. Bayly and Morgan and T. Stoddart, having satisfied themselves that the prospects were favourable, purchased the property, and formed a company of 24,000 shares of 10/ each, the original party receiving 6,000 shares paid up to 7/6 and 1,200 (pounds) in cash. Ten thousand shares were issued to the public at 4/, and 1,000 (pounds) was placed to the credit of the company on September 18. Mr. T Morgan was appointed legal manager, and Mr. A. Jones mining manager. a main shaft was sunk to 100ft., a 10-head battery erected, and a steam winch purchased. The lode, which strikes north, 15deg. west, and has an average western underlie of 1 in 5, was cut 27ft. west of the shaft. The stone was a foot thick, and carried good payable gold Driving was started along its course, and the mining manager having resigned, Mr. Philip Lewis, the present manager, was appointed to the position. The lode continued to open up well, and the first four crushing's, aggregating 1,034 tons, gave the handsome return of 1,503oz., and within ten months of the formation of the company, on July 19, 1898, the first dividend of 1/ was declared, only 3 calls of 6d. each hiving been made. Since that time there have been uninterrupted monthly disbursements to the fortunate shareholders. 

A substantial winding & pumping plant, 10 additional heads of stampers, Halley's percussion tables, an electric lighting plant, and a plant for the thorough treatment of sand and slimes by cyanide, have since been added. the cyanide works were erected under the supervision of Mr. W.B. Gray, of the South German mine, Maldon, and Mr. F. J Coote is in charge. The whole of the extensive machinery is now complete, and in first-class order, not a single day having been lost through a mishap of any kind since the inception of the company. 

The various levels at which the mine has been opened out are 100ft.,200ft., 275ft., and 350ft. The shaft is down 550ft., and they are almost ready to crosscut at that point that point and at 450ft. for two additional levels. 

After the stone was cut at the No. 1 level, it continued southwards for a distance of 50ft to maintain its average thick ness of 12in. For the next 350ft. it averaged 30 in., when it was contracted, and for 300ft was 15in. wide. except for a very small portion of the lode, it continued payable light up to the south boundary, and a block about250ft. in length by about 70ft remains to be stoped. In the north drive the reef averaged 12in. wide for 400ft. Two breaks were encountered, giving the lode a slight eastinging, but without affecting its size or quality. Most of the stone here has been beaten out, making a total length of about 800ft of stopes. The formation now showing in the face is about 2ft. wide, comprising quartz and slate, carrying gold. 

No 2 Level. The lode was cut here at a point 48ft west of the shaft, proving to be 14in wide, and payable. When the drive had been extended 70ft south, the width increased to 2ft. Then, at 220ft. from the crosscut, it bulged out to 10ft. From this point for a length of 300ft. the average width of the quartz was about 3 and a half feet, and for another 100ft it. was 12in., the whole of the stone being of good quality, close up to where the drive was stopped, at 658ft south, in quartz of low grade. For 330ft. north the stone averaged 1ft., widening to 3ft for a distance of 35ft, when a break was met. From here to the pre-sent face about 649ft.t from the crosscut, the average width of the stone is about 5in. or 6in., but it is well defined and carries fair gold. The stopes have been carried north for 230 ft. The stone has been partially stoped south for upwards of 400ft., making a total length stoped of 650ft. It will then be seen that a fair reserve of stone, which is of average quality, is still, is still standing at this level. 

No. 3 Level. Here the crosscut intersected the lode 61ft west of the shaft, and it proved to be a foot wide and payable. At 108ft. south the drive met the break en-encountered in the levels above, and the water and the water soon drained from the 200ft. level. On the south side of the break the stone was found to be 18in. wide, of payable quality, and at a distance of 180ft., or 40ft. nearer the crosscut than where a similar feature was noted at the level above, the stone became 14ft. in width. From here, for a length of 360ft., its average width 4 and a half feet, and for the succeeding 100ft. 12in. , when the quality having deteriorated near the present face, 656ft., the drive was stopped, and the lode was picked up through the break at about 40ft. north, proving to be 3ft wide, solid, and with good walls, as heretofore. After the drive had been extended another 100ft the walls came in, and the average width of the stone for 300ft. was 6 in. Here it became even smaller, and at 466ft. the face was suspended. Only a moderate amount of stoping has been done at this level, large reserves of good quality ore being opened up for future milling. 

No.4 Level. the break was met at 53ft west, and the crosscut was then turned southwest along it. The northern extension of the lode was cut at 70ft., and the southern at 89ft. In the north drive the lode has varied in size and quality. The walls continue well defined, and the stone is about 12in thick. The face is in 240ft., and here there is 10in. of stone on the hanging-wall and 3in. on the footwall. The south drive was opened on a vein and continued in unsettled country between the two breaks, dipping towards each other for 40ft. when the southern break was cut and the 275ft. level drained. The lode remained small till, at 144ft., it widened rapidly to 16ft., and carried payable gold, the best stone, however, being on each side. Here again the widening occurred nearer to the shaft (about 15ft. in actual measurement) than at the level above. The stone has continued of considerable size between clean well-defined walls, and of excellent quality for 240ft., and at present it is 3ft. wide in the face, showing good gold. The drive at the time of inspection was 383ft. south, and it is clear that this is the best level yet opened up in the mine, magnificent bodies of stone being presented. A characteristic feature of the lode body is its remarkably regular and uniform structure. In one level after another the country is consistently favourable, and its stratification unaltered. there is no apparent change, except in regard to the increased strength of the lode formation. The walls are as clean and as true and as well defined as a t the 100ft. level, and it is cheering to note that the more prominent of the original shareholders have such unbounded faith in the future of the mine that they still figure in the register with large, practically unimpaired holdings. Mr W. Gra-ham and his son, Mr. J.A. graham, who are now the largest shareholders in the company came in later, and the last-mentioned gentleman, who is on the board of management has devoted much time and study to the development of the property, and at his instigation every facility was given by the officers for acquiring information. As previously shown, the breaks do not affect the lode, and it is obvious that the shoot of wide stone is increasing in length as it goes down. 

The company has a valuable asset in 7,000 tons of high-grade tailings from the early crushings, the heap having accumulated before the cyanide plant was erected. The lease comprises 75 acres, having 1,500ft. along the line of lode and 2,100ft in width on the strike of other well-known parallel reefs, all of which will, no doubt, be driven for eventually Up to date 18,190 tons of stone have been crushed for 26,094oz. of gold, and the last months crushing of 1,053 tons returned 1,438oz., including 310oz. from two of the copper plates A sum of 52,800 (pounds) or 44/ per share, has been disbursed in dividends, about 10,000 (pounds) spent on plant, and £1,000, the nucleus of the re-serve fund, placed at interest, and as all this has been done out of gold produced during little over two years, to say nothing of heavy development work, it must certainly be regarded as a great record. The directors are Messrs. Jas. Coghlan (chairman), R. Ditchburn, J. A. Graham, T. C. Thomas, and A. Lamb. Mr. E. Gordon Ross is the legal manager. (Text correction by Tim) 

 

Ballarat Courier (Vic.: 1869 - 1884; 1914 - 1918), Monday 6 September 1915, page 5 

At the William's Fancy the south drive, No. 8 level, has been advanced 35 ft for the week, making a total distance of 641 ft, the big break was met at a point 526 ft from the shaft, and the last 15 ft has been going south-west around the break. About 70ft will be driven before the lode worked to such advantage in the levels being intersected. The No.1 rise has made a connection with No. 7 level, where the stopes maintain the usual output of profitable ore. The east crosscut, No. 6 level, is out 189 ft in nice slate country; and the north drive has been extended to 365 ft, the lode at present being of inferior quality. At the Birthday Tunnel the east crosscut from off No, 3 level north is going through quartz veins showing a little gold and minerals. The north drives off the east crosscut off No. 4 level south has been passed through, and the stone gives encouraging prospects. No 2 shaft has been sunk 76ft below the platform (text correction by Moya) 

 

Aisbett Bros. coach photographed beside a horse and buggy on the road to Berringa, Victoria in 1906. courtesty Woady Yaloak Historical Society Inc

Richard Aisbett established the Atlas Line of Coaches in 1879 offering passenger services between the towns of Scarsdale, Newtown and Ballarat, with additional routes to the outlying mining settlements of Kangaroo, Staffordshire Reef, Golden Lake, Piggoreet and Happy Valley to the south-west. In later years he operated a feeder service from Pitfield Plains and Berringa, meeting the train at Scarsdale or Newtown Railway Stations, however, the direct service to Ballarat was also maintained in competition with the railway, at the fare of one shilling each way. Three of his sons, David Malcolm, Edward John and James worked for the business as coach drivers and by the 1900s were also involved in the management. After Richard’s in 1911, they continued to operate the coaches under the name 'Aisbett Bros', until April 1916.

Highland dancing, Berringa, pre 1910. Berringa is south west of Ballarat. That stage gives me nightmares just looking at it; the perfomers obviously have better spatial awareness that what I have! Museums Victoria

Berringa State School 1912

A Family's home in Berringa, Victoria. Date unknown

BIRTHDAY TUNNEL CO. - Heritage Inventory Description 

This site is within a relatively steep sided gully. The shaft, winder and other foundations, mullock heap, open quarry are atop the west side of the gully. In this part of the site the brick winder and winding engine foundations are west of the shaft site together with a badly corroding boiler. The remains of a forge on a levelled bench is located south of the shaft, and some levelled areas formed by stone retaining walls are north of the shaft. Three fingers of mullock between 25 m and 45 m long fan around from the east to the southern side of the shaft. The main entrance to the adit is apparently located below the mullock heap but was not found during this inspection. A spectacular large open cut, apparently excavated from beneath, is located between 50 and 100 m north of the shaft. The remnants of a number of dams are located along the gully over a distance of a few hundred metres. While the remains of the most recent battery, that was constructed early in 1910 to replace the battery destroyed by fire the previous December, are on the east side of the gully, opposite the shaft. Also, on the east side of the gully approximately 200 m south of the battery is the explosives magazine, which was made by excavating a short adit into the side of the gully. An interesting aspect of this site is the method of working in steep country and particularly the 'glory hole' open cut, and the comparisons that can be made with the other mines at Berringa which worked on level sites. In steeper topography the plant was sited near the dams which had to be sited in the gullies, as opposed to level sites where dams tended to be excavated in the most convenient location near the shaft. 

Heritage Inventory Significance: State 

Opened 1900 

Gold yield (1902-1916): 2,177kg 

 

Williams Fancy Co - Physical Description 1 

Victorian Heritage Register 

Description: 

The site contains features from a number of phases during the operation of the mine. The first part of the site is located around the shaft includes substantial concrete and brick winding and/or pumping foundations to the west of the shaft, part of the pump bob pit, a 40 m by 30 m dam and a large, 70 m by 30 m, mullock heap which runs south from the shaft. East and slightly north of the main shaft is an air shaft with low walls running along two sides. Further east are the foundations of the gas producers, suction gas plant and the battery, plus the foundations of the steam engine that preceded the more recent gas-powered plant. The foundations at the battery and gas plant are within an area of 50 m by 50 m, the foundations are in good condition and reflect the various upgrading's that took place. A large dam is located north of the battery site on the north side of Skye Road. 

Opened 1877 

Gold yield (1897- 1917): 3,000kg 

 

BIRTHDAY CO - Heritage Inventory Description 

Despite some disturbance there are several substantial brick foundations at this site as well as a very large mullock heap. The mullock is located at west of the shaft and consists of 5 large fingers fanning around from south west to north. The fingers are between 6 m and 20 m high and vary in length from 30 to 45 m. A large dry dam is located north of the mullock heap and a water race runs south from the dam down the west side of the mullock heap. There is a smaller dam, 25 m by 25 m, south of the mullock heap. A brick pump bob pit 10.2 m by 2.6 m in very good condition is immediately east of the shaft and 6 m further east are the winder foundations, part of which is has been broken down. 10 m south east of the pump bob pit are some other small sections of brick and concrete walling/foundation, and some depressions that may have been part of the boiler settings. North of the boiler settings are two brick compressor foundations, which together are 3.75 by 9 m. Another set of brick and rough concrete foundations are located south of the compressor. This may have been for the battery engine, unfortunately the battery foundations have been removed. The battery was moved to the New Jubilee mine. 25m further south are two cement rendered brick vats covering an area 6.2 by 6.2 m. The gully which runs south from the mullock was the site of the tailings dam. The tailings have been treated and/or removed. This area is now covered in grass and weeds. 

Opened 1897 

Gold yield (1898-1917): 2762kg 

 

SOUTH BIRTHDAY CO - Heritage Inventory Description 

The site is located on the west side of the gully. A depression marks the place where the shaft used to be. Only part of the mullock heaps remains to the east of the shaft. It is approximately 20 m in diameter and 4 m high. 15 m west of the shaft there are some stone walls which may be part of the winder and boiler setting. 12 m further west a levelled area 12 m by 10 m has been cut into the slope, there are several long narrow depressions in this levelled area. 18 m south from the position of the shaft another levelled area commences and runs 20 m west and 18 m south. A stone retaining wall supports the east end of this area. Part of this area is covered with concrete and broken pieces of concrete are scattered about. Two brick foundations which cover a total area of approximately 5.5 m by 2.3 m, are located in the north west corner of this levelled area. This levelled area is the likely position of the battery. Despite the presence of several features this site has suffered a fair amount of disturbance. Although enough still remains to interpret the site using of historic photographs. Corrugated iron tanks from a cyaniding operation which treated the tailings are located 100 m south of the main site. 

Opened 1898 

Gold yield (1898-1908): 746kg 

At the date of publishing this article, the gold price is at A$73,660.67 a kilo.

Total amount of gold listed from the above four mines is 8,685 kilos.

Value in todays dollars = $639,742,918.95

Note: there were many other mines in the Berringa area

Research: Andrew Parker, Gordon Talbett.
Compiled by Andrew Parker