A History of Gold Mining in Ravenswood

Authors

  • Lyndon Megarrity University of New England

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1017/S1321816600001707

Keywords:

Ravenswood, gold mining, technological progress, New Ravenswood Ltd. Company (1899–1917)

Abstract

Ravenswood is approximately 125 kilometres inland from Townsville. In the early 1900s, it was among the top gold producers in North Queensland. Now, in the 1990s, after several decades of limited activity, Ravenswood gold mining has undergone a revival. This paper will explore the history of Ravenswood from its inception to the present day, emphasising the importance of technology to the progress of the goldfield. Special attention will be drawn to the New Ravenswood Ltd. Company (1899–1917), which combined innovative technology with an effective management, thereby creating an unprecedented level of prosperity in the town of Ravenswood.

Author Biography

  • Lyndon Megarrity, University of New England

    LYNDON MEGARRITY is a PhD candidate in the School of Classics and History at the University of New England.

References

Vaughan, F., ‘History of the Ravenswood Gold Field and Mining District’, Queensland Votes & Proceedings (hereinafter QVP), Vol. 3, 1888, p.3.

Roderick, D. C., ‘Ravenswood: Surveying the Physical Evidence’, in Kennedy, K. H. (ed), Readings in North Queensland Mining History, Volume 1, Townsville, 1980, p.53; Clark, D., Australian Mining and Mettallurgy, Melbourne, 1904, p.305.

Wegner, J., The Etheridge, Townsville, 1990, p.46.

Menghetti, D., ‘Extraction Practices and Technology on the Charters Towers Goldfield’, North Australian Research Bulletin, No.8, 1982, p.6.

Roderick, D. C., ‘Ravenswood 1868–1917’, in Dalton, B. J. (ed), Lectures on North Queensland History, Second Series, Townsville, 1975, p.156.

Kennedy, K. H., Bell, P., and Edmondson, C., Totley: A Study of the Silver Mines at One Mile, Ravenswood District, Townsville, 1981, pp.5–8; Caspani, J. K., ‘A. L. Wilson and the New Ravenswood Company: A Study of the “Wilson Era” in Ravenswood 1899–1917’, BA (Hons) thesis. James Cook University of North Queensland. p.5.

Warden (Ravenswood). QVP, Vol. 4. 1892. p.27; Lougheed, A. L., ‘The Cyanide Process and Gold Extraction in Australia and New Zealand 1888–1913’, Australian Economic History Review, Vol. 27, No. 1. 1987, p.45; Neal, J., Beyond the Burdekin: Pioneers, Prospectors, Pastoralists: A History of the Dalrymple Shire 1879–1979, Charters Towers, 1984, pp.129–33.

Warden (Ravenswood) QVP, Vol. 3, 1887, p.886.

Curle, J. H., The Gold Mines of the World, London 1902 edition, p.182; Undersecretary for Mines, QVP, Vol. 3 1894, p.817.

Warden (Ravenswood), QVP, Vol. 2, 1900, p. 235; Warden (Ravenswood), QVP, Vol. 4, 1897, p.86.

Caspani, J. K., ‘A. L. Wilson and the New Ravenswood Company: A Study of the “Wilson Era” in Ravenswood 1899–1917’, p. 9.

Warden (Ravenswood). QVP, Vol. 3, 1899, p.378. For details on the cyanide process, see Moil, A., Mining and Mining Investments, London, 1904, p.41.

See John Bull Gold Mining Syndicate Ltd., Public Record Office (hereinafter PRO) File No. BT31 5778/40493. For biographical details see Caspani, J. K., ‘A. L. Wilson and the New Ravenswood Company: A Study of the “Wilson Era” in Ravenswood 1899–1917’, p. 7.

Warden (Ravenswood), QVP, Vol. 4. 1897, p.87.

Queensland Government Mining Journal (hereinafter QGMJ), 15 January 1901, p.19.

QGMJ, 15 March 1901, p.141; Warden (Ravenswood), QVP, Vol 4, 1897, p.87; Warden (Ravenswood), QVP, Vol 4, 1896, pp.112–114.

New Ravenswood Ltd., PRO File No. BT 31 16166/61222; Donnybrook Blocks Mining Syndicate Ltd., PRO File No. BT 31 8363/60768.

Neal, J., Beyond the Burdekin, p.135; Warden (Ravenswood), QVP, Vol. 4, 1897, pp.86–92; New Ravenswood Ltd., PRO File No. BT 31 16166/61222.

North Queensland Herald, 15 May 1899; MacLaren, J., ‘Queensland Mining and Milling Practice’, QVP, Vol. 4, 1901, p.540; Warden (Ravenswood), QVP, Vol. 2, 1900, p.234.

Neal, J., 1984, Beyond the Burdekin, p.135; Caspani, ‘A. L. Wilson and the New Ravenswood Company: A Study of the “Wilson Era” in Ravenswood 1899–1917’, p. 10; ‘List of Crushings 1899–1917’, Reel 6, (unpaginated section), New Ravenswood Mines Records (hereinafter NRM), held on microfilm at the James Cook University Library.

By 1902, the subscribed capital was £35 559. An additional 4 418 £1 shares were purchased at a premium of £4 per share during 1904. New Ravenswood Ltd., PRO File No. BT 31 16166/61222.

Undersecretary for Mines, Queensland Parliamentary Papers (hereinafter QPP), Vol. 3, 1912, p.623.

Mengheni, D., 1982, ‘Extraction Practices and Technology’, pp.13–14.

Ibid, pp.13–14; MacLaren, J., 1901, ‘Queensland Mining and Milling Practice’, p.540; Warden (Ravenswood), QPP, Vol. 2, 1903, p.978.

Undersecretary for Mines, QPP, Vol. 2, 1907, p.1010.

Reynolds, J., Of Men and Mines, Melbourne, 1974, p.106.

QGMJ, 15 January 1909, p.46.

QGMJ, 14 December 1907, p.662; Neal, J., 1984, Beyond the Burdekin, p.137.

Warden (Ravenswood), QPP, Vol. 3, 1911–12, p.375.

Wilson to Directors, 24 September 1901, NRM, Letterbook 1, p.177.

Wilson to Directors, 15 April 1903, NRM, Letterbook 1, p.490; Wilson to Directors, 5 May 1911, NRM, Letterbook 4, pp.765–766.

Wilson to Directors, 25 June 1908, NRM, Letterbook 3, p.900; Wilson to Directors, 9 November 1903, NRM, Letterbook 1, p.626; Wilson to Directors, 31 January 1901, NRM, Letterbook 1, p.39.

Wilson to Directors, 22 May 1906, NRM, Letterbook 3, p.174.

Warden (Ravenswood), QPP, Vol. 2, 1903, p.977. For details of Wilson's directorships, see Nash, R. L., The Australasian Joint Stock Companies' Year Book, Melbourne 1902, 1904 and 1907 editions.

Undersecretary for Mines, QPP, Vol. 2, 1905, p.64.

Neal, J., Beyond the Burdekin, p.136; Warden (Ravenswood), QPP, Vol. 2, 1907, p.1123.

Nash, R. L., The Australasian Joint Stock Companies' Year Book 1914, pp. 457–458.

Neal, J., Beyond the Burdekin, p.138.

For details see Hunt, D., ‘The Ravenswood Strike’, in Dalton, B. J. (ed), Lectures in North Queensland History No.4, Townsville, 1984.

Warden (Ravenswood), QPP, Vol. 3, 1914, p.678.

Warden (Ravenswood), QPP, Vol. 1, 1918, p.1507; Neal, J., Beyond the Burdekin, p.140.

Ian Black & Co., Ravenswood, Ravenswood 1976, unpaginated; QPP, Vol. 2,1906, p.1149; QPP, Vol.3, 1919–20, p.43.

MIM Holdings Ltd., Annual Report to Shareholders, 1989. unpaginated, held at the James Cook University Library; Bruvel, F, J., “Queensland Mineral Commodity Report”, QGMJ, January 1994, p.18; QPP, Vol. 1, 1918, p.1425.

Published

1998-05-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Megarrity, L. (1998). A History of Gold Mining in Ravenswood. Queensland Review, 5(1), 52-60. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1321816600001707