First Chance Gold Mine
History
The First Chance Gold Mine was registered on 18 November 1895.[1]
Site
The mine shaft was at what was later known as 40-42 Eastwood Street. Neighbours remember the shaft being filled with dirt then old railway lines and car bodies.[2]
Timeline
18 November 1895
First Chance Gold Mine was registered as a company.[3]
1898
Being worked by Tributers under the name First Chance Company.[4]
1902
The First Chance claim was 25 acres in size and was down to a depth of 500 feet and was operating no what was known as Western Slates.[5]
June 1902
Declared first Dividend[6]
1911
Burst of Water in First Chance Mine, which exited in the neighbouring Last Chance Mine (with which there is a connection). The flow of water was checked after about 1 hour, and was thought to have come from old workings.[7]
- MINE FLOODED.
- The men employed in the First Chance Mine, at Ballarat had a sensational experience to-day. Four men were working at the 600ft level when a sudden burst of water took place the roar of the water pouring down the rise alarmed the men working in the other parts of the mine and there was a general rush for the shaft about 1,000 ft. away from the rise. When the break took place the lights were extinguished, and this added to the difficulty of escape. All but three got to the surface and the matter was reported to the manager. The manager and two miners descended but searched a long time without discovering any trace of the missing men, but at last they were found in a long idle rise, up which they had climbed to a height of 70 ft., none the worse for their adventure.[8]
1912
The directors of the FIRST CHANCE have entered into an arrangement to exploit an area of the NORTH FIRST CHANCE mine along the line of the Sulieman Pasha lode. The adjoining company's ground has been penetrated, and the indications presented are regarded as distinctly encouraging.[9]
The People
A. Bell, Chairman of Directors <1998>[10]
R. Gilpin, Manager
W. Pearce (1), Mine Manager
Alfred G. Sergeant, Mine Manager <1898>
See also
Notes
- FIRST CHANCE COMPANY
- The half-yearly meeting was held on Saturday night; Mr A. Bell, chairman of directors, in the chair. Directors’ Report.—“ During the term under review your tributors raised a quantity of fair average stone, ad is shown by the mine manager’s report submitted herewith, but on account of the excessive royalty to be paid to the freehold property owners the financial position has not been enhanced. The forfeited shares in hand, referred to in your last balance-sheet, were not all- taken up, consequently the revenue from-that source was not up to expectations. The sum of £20 shown in trust in your mine manager's name will be dealt with in the early part of the ensuing term, and was placed there to meet a con tingent liability. We would urge on share holders the necessity of paying the calls, so as to get the shaft sank as rapidly as possible. The May call uses all the available capital, and makes all shares then rank alike, and yon will be called upon to order an increase of capital at an early date. Your directors — Messrs A. Bell, J. B. Cameron, J.R. Elsworth, W. H. Sewell, and D. Cameron — all retire from office, and you will please elect five directors and fix their order of retirement. Your auditor, Mr R. M. Lambert, retires and seeks re-election.—A. Bell, Chairman; R. Gilpin, Manager." Mine Manager’s Report. — “I took charge of your mine on the 24th of December, 1897. Work on the present level has been carried on continuously by the tributors. The main drive south has been extended 72 feet and the main drive north 21 feet; both drives carrying fair bodies of stone of average quality. A start has been made to sink your shaft, which is now down 18 feet below the 350 feet level. I trust we shall be able to continue sinking, as there is every reason to hope that it will be the forerunner of a prosperous future. 805 tons of stone have been crushed by the tributors for 351 oz 15 dwt of gold, or 8 dwt 17 gr per ton. — ALF. G. SERGEANT; Mine Manager.” The financial statement showed that the receipts for the half-year totalled £2280 15s l0d, of which £2076 13s l1d was from the sale of gold. The expenditure, the chief item of which was £1756 17s 5d paid to tributors, amounted to £2315 13s 2d, leaving a debit balance of £34 17s 4d. The chairman, in moving, the adoption of the report remarked that there was no doubt that if the shareholders wanted a return from their investment the shaft must go down. The directors had not availed themselves of the increase to their fees, and the legal manager had voluntarily reduced his salary to £1 per week. The reports and balance sheet were adopted. Messrs A. Bell, J. B. Cameron, W. H. Sewell, R. B. Sewell, and F. Brawn were nominated for the directorate, and these being the only nominations received, they were declared elected. The retiring auditor having been re-elected, the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.[11]
References
- ↑ Gregory, J.W., Memoirs of the the Geological Survey of Victoria, No. 4: The Ballarat East Goldfield. Victorian Government Printer, Melbourne, 1907, p24.
- ↑ Neighbourhood reminiscences gathered on 24 November 2022.
- ↑ Gregory, J.W., Memoirs of the the Geological Survey of Victoria, No. 4: The Ballarat East Goldfield. Victorian Government Printer, Melbourne, 1907, p24.
- ↑ Ballarat Star, 16 May 1898.
- ↑ The Age, 14 June 1902.
- ↑ The Age, 14 June 1902.
- ↑ The Age, 14 February 1911.
- ↑ Broome Chronicle and Nor'West Advertiser, 18 February 2022.
- ↑ Australasian, 03 February 1912.
- ↑ Ballarat Star, 24 November 1906
- ↑ Ballarat Star, 16 May 1898.
Further reading
External links
--Beth Kicinski 14:39, 15 November 2016 (AEDT)