Howqua Hills Goldfields
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The lack of dedication from the potential miner lay perhaps in the character of the gold, it was at best patchy even when worked alluvially Quartz showed out in a number of places in the valley but gave no indication of bearing gold and therefore held no incentive to prospect. In 1882 this was further borne out by the Geological Survey in its report on Howqua Hills. R.A.F Murray examined the country to the heads of Lickhole Creek and ten miles up the river from Howqua Hills Station. He commented that the '...country contains one or two small proved auriferous belts, and may possibly contain others, though a considerable amount of prospecting has been done without making such discovery.' The reef originally worked by Chenery was inspected, the stone was composed of grey and blue quartz and impregnated with pyrites but Murray noted, 'Little or no gold can be seen in or obtained with ordinary crushing appliances from the mineralised stone...'  Hannay Wheel, supposed to be the largest wheel of its type in Australia. ( 63 Feet dia.) Click on image to enlarge Murray recognised that special treatment of the stone would result in good prospects, but stressed'... that though the development of the lodes will eventually furnish steady means of support for a moderate population the field, as a whole, is essentially one requiring capital for its development and by no means a good "poor man's diggings" for a large population.' Despite the fact that the soil along the flats was good there was nothing to attract an agricultural population either. |
According to his report the alluvial workings at this time were virtually deserted,' save by two or three men'. 1882 however, was to see the beginning of the Howqua Hills most industrious period. Chenery's old lease which had originally been abandoned because of poor yields due to its inadequate treatment process, was taken up by a party of miners from Clunes. Edwards and Kidd, the new proprietors called the mine the Mountain Chief and from rough assays, 'madc with primitive appliances, of indiscriminately selected samples,' obtained yields of between 5 dwt. to 14 ounces to the ton. A further lease situated between the Mountain Chief and the river was taken up by long standing resident J. Rowe. This was named the Rose of Howqua. Other miners moved in and staked claims in the surrounding area, by the end of 1883 the number of working miners totalled ?. With them came the demand for food, accomodation, equipment, grog and the luxuries of life. In 1883 H. Lavery surveyed the township of Howqua Hills, however its official life was to be short lived as the reserve was cancelled in 1885.  All that remains of the miners endeavor on the Howqua River. Click on image to enlarge Howqua Hills was certainly not a large town, but for a brief time boasted a smithy, post office, Police Reserve (but no official station), boarding houses and two hotels, and one would assume a general store. The Lovig family, already proprietors of the Merrijig Hotel opened another one at Howqua and in later years when William Lovig was involved, operated it as a store. Whilst the town was growing so too was the Mountain Chief plant. A water wheel was erected, as well as a battery and furnace. A water race was cut from the Howqua River to provide power to the battery. |
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