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The Original Turon Gold
Rush
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Departing
home or work to travel to the Rogaine…
Good by, my love, good by,
My Cradle’s on the dray,
To rock out Gold for thee, love;
To the Turon I must away.
(A Turon Widow, C. Rudston Read, 1853).
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Arriving at the Hash House….
“…, and looked down on the celebrated valley of the Turon; its banks,
the sides of the hills, and the bed of almost every creek and water
course for miles around it, are now cut up into diggings – that is,
into round holes or pits, like the mouths of wells, varying in depth
to an indefinite extent. These are the ‘dry diggings’. The ‘bed
claims’ which can only be worked in very dry weather, have a different
appearance, the pits are much larger, more like quarries, and being
fitted with a machinery of pumps and pipes to remove the water which
is constantly flowing in…”
(Journal of J. Godley. 1853). |
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A description of the Rogaine in progress…
“… The river in many places presents an animated appearance. Races are
being cut, California pumps are again in requisition. Toms and cradles
and all the paraphernalia of gold mining are in brisk demand, and if
we have an increase in population before the summer closes the
resources of the Turon bed claim will be considerably developed.”
(Illustrated Sydney News, January 21st, 1854).
A Rogainer’s comment after retiring to the Hash House…
“… As usual the rush to Palmer’s Oakey creek has resulted in wide
spread disappointment. Some few have done well, but the great majority
can reckon their profits with a cipher.”
(Illustrated Sydney New, June 30th, 1855).
Thanks to Phil Whitten for this piece
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