1881 sees a gold rush at Sewells Creek described below. Joseph Sewell had died in 1885 and Sarah his second wife was running the property dare say with the assistance of her children.

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“ THE SEWELL CREEK RUSH.

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The following report has been received by the Department of Mines from the goldfields warden, Trunkey, in reference to the above rush and the prospects of the find : —

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Warden's Office, Trunkey, December 20, 1881. Sir, — I this morning have returned from the rush at Sewell's Creek, five miles east of Rockley, and report that, in my opinion, the red flag has been hoisted prematurely, and that nothing has been discovered to cause a rush. I, however, believe that a lead will be found by the prospectors, and I hope payable ; for, if payable, the area of country that would be proved is very great.

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The prospectors are sinking on a flat, or landing, 85 feet below the level of the hill. The shaft is 20 feet deep ; the bottom of the shaft is, therefore, 111 feet below the crown of the lull. The prospectors informed me that they were quite satisfied with their prospects, and have commenced an open cutting at the level of their shaft's bottom, intending to drive into the hill. They have done a lot of heavy work, which satisfies me they are acting bona fide. Golsby, Mendam, and party have bottomed No. 1 shaft, and are driving into the hill. The dip in both shafts (prospectors' and Golsby's) is one foot in 3 feet, prospects improving as the ground dips. The wash is, they report, 3 feet to 3 feet on a hard white cement. This cement, they say, carries most of the gold. The ground has been pegged for a considerable' distance, but little work will be done till after the holidays; and then I think it will take three months to prove the ground, Potato diggers need not rush to Sewell's Creek ; bona-fide miners will be required to test the ground ; and if it is proved payable, will be, of great extent. Unfortunately, the prospectors, if successful, will be hemmed in by a 40-acre purchase of Sewell's, and Goldsby will be stopped completely, also many other claims until the 40-acre lot is passed by. On the top of this dividing range, which is flat, Sewell has a 10-acre purchase, as if on the top of a table: the workings are as if halfway down, but driving under the table. Although Sewell's surface will not be disturbed, I presume the gold under his surface will be his. The ground can, if payable, be worked without breaking Sewell's surface. I have the honour to make this report, as all kinds of absurd rumours are afloat about the yields obtained. On my arrival here to-day, I was sur prised to hear that l0oz. to the dish had yesterday been washed out of a dish of stuff. No gold has been obtained to justify a rush. — I have ' the honour to- be, Sir, your obedient servant”[1]

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In 1886 an old subscriber of the Australian Town and Country Journal discussed the Mining Depression noting that Native Dog Creek was in fact a gem for silver mining:

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“ Causes of Mining Depression.

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There have occasionally been short articles appearing in the papers as to the cause of the mining in industry languishing, &o. No doubt some portion of the drawback is caused by delays of the department ; but ; that is not the main cause. The middlemen act more prejudicially than the holding of leases for sale ; they want too much of the lions share for nothing or very little : and a still greater obstacle is that the prospectors require too much money for their finds. There are no liberal offers made on their parts to men of capital, who would speculate provided the speculations were not so one-sided. The risk is too much on the side of capital. I consider if the moneyed men are willing to take up leases where there is any show of success, and test the ground 50 or 60ft, they should have at least six shares out of eight. In this quarter, at Silver Valley, Native Dog Creek, there is as fine a show of a permanent Silver field and can be seen, and judged by experts, scientific men, it is said, as their opinion, that it cannot be beat. Try where you will., from 2 to 6 1/2oz of silver is the assay at the surface, besides from 2 to l0 dwt of gold in some of the lodes, and they appear of incredible width, extending for miles. Now, this is all lying idle for the want of a more liberal combination of labor and capital. I am an old hand, and have watched this for many years, and am satisfied that this is the greatest drawback to successful mining in the colonies. No doubt many speculators have gone , foolishly into mining by laying out a lot of money, without testing the ground first at a . comparatively email outlay, simply because such a lode or reef 1 showed well eight or ton miles off. This, to experienced miners, is known to be a great folly, as the leading metals often occur in shoots, or in patches, or in flat lodes, according to the strata of the country where found. I am not sufficiently instructed in scientific pursuits to lay down any confirmed opinion on those matters ; but if you think the above worthy of insertion, I would be glad if you oblige.  AN OLD SUBSCRIBER.” [2]

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In 1887 the road between Rockley and Charlton was altered as follows:

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“ Confirmation of Parish Roads. — The following road has been declared open: —Deviation in part of road from Rockley to Charlton, viz. : — From the west boundary of W.A. Steel's (now C. McPhillamy's) 1,920 acres, portion No. 8, at Phantom-stroet East, village of Rockley, parish of Rockley, county of Georgiana, to a point in that road within T. Arkell's (now C. M'Phillamy's) 400 acres, parish of Arkell, county of Bathurst, counties of Georgiana and Bathurst — in lieu of parts of road confirmed in Government Gazette of 29th July, 1870, folio 1G00.”[3]

 

 

[1] Sydney Daily Telegraph (NSW : 1879 -1883), Saturday 24 December 1881, page 6

[2] Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907), Saturday 6 February 1886, page 24

[3] Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851 - 1904), Tuesday 11 October 1887, page 2