Ajax Mine

Ajax Mine Daylesford, c1905. State Library of Victoria H96.200/1784

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Ajax Mines, Daylesford, c1911, by John Lemon, Delta Studio, c1905. State Library of Victoria (H83.96/27)

Ajax Mine, Daylesford, c1906. Ballarat Heritage Services Picture Collection

Christenson's Ajax Mines, Daylesford, 1913. State Library of Victoria

History

Ajax Company commenced in 1905, and erected 10-head battery. It paid first dividends in 1907, £9,000. Throughout 1909 the Ajax mine was very prosperous, and by 1914 the shaft reached 1,150 ft in depth. By 1917 the mine had reached its maximum depth of 1240ft and had paid dividends then of £104,000. From 1917 to 1927 the mine operated on stopes and drives. A steel poppet head was erected in early 1920s. The plant was auctioned in Feb 1929. At its close had paid £149,437 in dividends from 223,168 tons yielding 102,110 oz.

At its peak the Ajax mine was the chief gold-producing mine in the division, and also one of the chief quartz gold-producing mines in the State.

In 1917 The Ajax Co. carried out developmental work at all levels and failed to make any fresh payable discoveries, but in 1918 The Ajax Co. discovered a new line of reef just in time to stop it from closing down, and promises profitable employment for sometime.

In 1923 the Ajax Mine became the last mine in Dayleford to close.

There are Sand dumps are northeast of tip, in Cobblers Gully, the gully running eastwards.

Site

Daylesford Goldfield

Situated about a mile north-west of the Borough of Daylesford.

The People

G. Buchanan, Chairman

Charles Vanina -Battery manager of the Ajax Mine <1914>

W.M. Williams, Manager

Also See

Gold mining companies

External links

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--C.K.Gervasoni 13:26, 25 July 2013 (EST)