1851
25 June 1851
The following communication from the Government Geologist Mr. Stutchbury, to Mr. Commissioner Hardy, was posted opposite Mr. Meyer's store, as formerly stated, by our Correspondent. At the information contained may be of service to intending gold diggers, we gladly give it insertion:- Geological and Mineralogical Survey. June 9, 1851. Sir. - I have the honor to advise you of points, which, I believe, would repay parties working for gold. They are as follows: - 1. The great bar in the Macquarie River, at Walgumbulla, about three miles below the junction of the Turon. 2. The bar at the junction of the Turon, on the Macquarie River. 3. The several bars on the Turon for three miles up, especially the first three from the junction. 4. On the Macquarie, at (Neeli) Nelly's Corner, and the bars above and below - 3 or 4 miles either way. At each of the above named places I found gold by prospecting with a small pan, and without going any depth. I have the honor to be, Sir. Your most obt. servant,
(Signed) To Mr. Commissioner Hardy.
S. STUTCHBURY.
From our Turon Correspondent.) Since my last communication I have done very little in the way of gold finding. My time has been principally occupied in examining the Warrangunnia but better known as the Crudine Creek of which I have prospected over a considerable scope, and from appearances I expect to find gold in almost every creek that runs into the Turon river. So far at my explorations have proceeded the precious metal appears to be less plentiful in the Crudine than in most of the other creeks. The great drawback, as I anticipated, proves to be the scarcity of water, particularly to the tributary creeks, and if this be an obstacle now in the winter season, how will expensive mining operations be conducted in the summer, with perhaps not more than one mile of water frontage in ten miles of most of our rivers and creeks? A shepherd of Mr. Richards found about an ounce of gold a day or two ago on the top of a hill just behind the head station. The large particles he picked up with his fingers and the small ones with the point of his knife. He sold it tonight to Mr. Richards for £3. It is the first gold bought in the Turon. The creek under this hill does not contain any water1
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9 August 1851
A long and difficult descent conducted us at last to the Crudine Creek, the cold clear waters of which discharge their superabundance in a wide stream down the side of the mountain. We now came upon many parties excavating for the primitive rock on the bed of the creek. Very large quantities of the precious metal have been obtained by those diggers during the last fortnight. Our friend, T. Smith, of Brucedale, sold £93 worth of gold last week, to Mr. Hawkins of Bathurst, and on yesterday, another of his party, named Rouvun, sold £35 worth at the diggings. Riley's party of three, this week, sold £24 13s. worth. Con Malonie’s party of three, sold £21 worth, being the produce of their week's labour. The quantity of gold procured by several parties, for the week, on the Crudine Creek - better known as the Warrangonia Creek, amounted to six ounces. We saw two men digging in the bed of the creek, near its junction, and washing with a small tin dish, they showed us the produce of their week's work, and from the quantity we have seen, they have got enough to pay their licence for the next month2
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1852
5 January 1852
Saturday May 8th. at 8 o'clock this morning we left our uncomfortable quarters and travelled over a piece of country often rich and beautiful; 11 o'clock crossed the Crudine Creek, when we observed at a distance close to a water hole about half-a-dozen of cradles rocking away the auriferous soil of the Crudine, and commenced ascending that tremendous mountain called the Pyramul Hill, at the foot of which a Mr. Clapham is busily employed in erecting a large and commodious building which he intends opening for a public house on the 1st. of July next; on going up the hill the horses showed symptoms of fatigue, however, the poor brutes endeavoured creditably to reach the top in less than an hour, and from thence to Louisa Creek there is a splendid table land which extends over a piece of country about 18 miles3
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1857
15 December 1857
The Crudine is all the talk about these diggings, and the accounts given are very conflicting and unsatisfactory. So many rushes have taken place to the Crudine that it requires careful enquiry before a start is made for the Creek. The locality which is the same of the last excitement is situated about eight miles from the present Pyramul Diggings, and is somewhere within a mile or two from Buckley's station, and about 3 miles above Kennedy's public-house on the Crudine. The sinking runs from 20 to 30 feet and is very easy, but the results so far are by no means promising. Gold has certainly been obtained in some of the shafts, but up to the present time it is very doubtful whether any one of them is payable. Many who went from this to the Crudine returned after remaining two or three days quite satisfied, or rather dissatisfied, with the place. The Crudine, however, may yet turn out well for all that4
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1858
4 January 1858
A great many have recently gone from the Pyramul and adjacent diggings to the Crudine, and, as many ridiculous reports are afloat, a statement of the facts of the case may prevent much disappointment and travelling to many who have a notion of going to the place. It appears that some short time since a few Chinamen hit upon a patch of payable ground near Buckley's station, and a great many Europeans in consequence set in near the same spot. Some shafts from twenty to thirty feet deep were put down, but nothing payable was found. A point on the opposite side of the creek was next opened, and coarse gold was come upon, but this as yet is not payable. The sinking in the latter ground runs about eight or nine feet, and is very easy; the metal is found on a slaty bottom over a kind of pipeclay, in pieces from a grain or two up to a pennyweight; it has a very pure and solid appearance, and would seem to indicate a better deposit somewhere in the vicinity, but, except, where a coarse piece or so has been found half a pennyweight to the tub is about the best that has been got. If the few at present on the Crudine continue to prospect there, something good may be hit upon, but on present information nothing but prospecting is as yet going forward5
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4 January 1858
A great many have recently gone from the Pyramul and adjacent diggings to the Crudine, and, as many ridiculous reports are afloat, a statement of the facts of the case may prevent much disappointment and travelling to many who have a notion of going to the place. It appears that some short time since a few Chinamen hit upon a patch of payable ground near Buckley's station, and a great many Europeans in consequence set in near the same spot. Some deep shafts from twenty to thirty feet were put down, but nothing payable was found. A point on the opposite side of the creek was next opened, and coarse gold was come upon, but this as yet is not payable. The sinking in the latter ground runs about eight or nine feet, and is very easy; the metal is found on a slaty bottom over a kind of pipeclay in pieces from a grain or two up to a pennyweight; it has a very pure and solid appearance, and would seem to indicate a better deposit somewhere in the vicinity, but, except where a coarse piece or so has been found, half a pennyweight to the tub is about the best that has been got. If the few at present on the Crudine continue to prospect there, something good may yet be hit upon, but on present information nothing but prospecting is as yet doing there6
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5 January 1858
The Crudine, about eight miles from the Pyramul, is a place where it is very likely something may be struck, as coarse gold has been found, and a few parties are at present earning small wages there, although nothing has been found of sufficient importance to create a rush7
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9 February 1858
The intelligence from the Crudine is by no means improving; but two or three parties are doing anything, and but very few remaining on the creek8
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1869
18 March 1869
A correspondent at the Pyramul diggings, in the Mudgee district, informs that "To all appearance a payable gold-field has been discovered here. Lately a few parties made up their minds to try, the water being lower than ever it had been seen by any resident. There are not many on the ground yet, say about twenty men, and those are nearly all residents on the creek. Mr. R. Little is working by himself, and is making 20s. per day; Heath and Co., from 15s. to 20s. per day. Mr. R. Lowe bottomed on "Wednesday, got about 2 dwts. to the bucket. On Thursday I cannot say what he got, but it was payable, for he got one piece 6 dwts. Cummings and mate washed one bucket and in one dish go: 1½ dwts. Major McCaw and mates are making good wages; also Lasmont and Sons. The sinking is about twenty to twenty-five foot, and any amount of new ground to try. I will write you again if things look up a bit."
March 13th9
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1875
18 September 1875
The Homeward Bound Reef, Crudine Creek. - A short time back, a correspondent writing from Sofala, informed our readers that Mr. Louis Johnson had struck a rich reef on the Crudine, and that he entertained among hopes of soon being able to claim the £1000 reward recently offered by Government for the discovery of a payable and permanent gold-field. On Tuesday night Mr. Johnston passed through Bathurst on his way to Sydney with the object of putting in a formal application for the reward, and he informs us that 5 tons 6 cwt of stone, taken from the new reef, had been crushed at Pullen and Rawesthorne's battery, Hill End, and yielded 35ozs 16dwts of gold. The stone was dug out of a shaft 25 feet long, at a depth of 20 feet, and the quartz looks as good now as it did when first taken out. Mr. Johnston has secured a site for an engine and a water right, and, 40 or 50 acres having already been taken up north and south of the prospecting claim, he thinks himself now in a position to apply for the first instalment of the reward - namely, £500. How he will fare in his application to the Mines Department, remains to be seen. - Bathurst Times10
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