tinpan
Silver Member
"BLUESTONE BLOCKS AND PIT-PONIES OF THE DARK"
In 1857 just before full industrial gold-mining started,Several of the smaller mining claims tried using horses to pull the ore-carts from the mines.The idea didn,t work so well,so then a smaller horse or pony was used with a reason able amount of succcess.Once the gold mines started to get deeper and winze cable were used to pull cages up and down the main shafts .The ponies lived and worked in mines and often never came into the day light.The stables were often on the disused upper levels.Pit ponies were only used for a few years but in 1880 they made a come back.The ponies worked dis-used mines to pull out large slabs of blue-rock which was when cut into building block for different uses.House foundations,pavers and gutters and out-building.Gold mines only ever brought 2/5th of the total amount of rock ever mined was brought to surface.
The ore rock was graded underground and the crap was used a back fill in disused shafts and levels.Small ponies continued to work in the dark until about 1910 and then better methods of construction was used.
Tonight i went to site where once a pony and horse stock dealer lived.Most of the structures and stables have long disappeared but the old miner cottage was demo-ed the other night.On the street front the bluestone block gutter is still in place and has not changed for 127 years and got a pic of that and the demo block,Found a small ponies horse shoe,shards of glass and pottery from the era and one silver sixpence,english penny 1907 i think and a disuses 2 cent piece and half of a seemless bottle with a root going threw it along the fence line.
thanks Tinpan P>S this site is only 400 yards up the road from my front door
In 1857 just before full industrial gold-mining started,Several of the smaller mining claims tried using horses to pull the ore-carts from the mines.The idea didn,t work so well,so then a smaller horse or pony was used with a reason able amount of succcess.Once the gold mines started to get deeper and winze cable were used to pull cages up and down the main shafts .The ponies lived and worked in mines and often never came into the day light.The stables were often on the disused upper levels.Pit ponies were only used for a few years but in 1880 they made a come back.The ponies worked dis-used mines to pull out large slabs of blue-rock which was when cut into building block for different uses.House foundations,pavers and gutters and out-building.Gold mines only ever brought 2/5th of the total amount of rock ever mined was brought to surface.
The ore rock was graded underground and the crap was used a back fill in disused shafts and levels.Small ponies continued to work in the dark until about 1910 and then better methods of construction was used.
Tonight i went to site where once a pony and horse stock dealer lived.Most of the structures and stables have long disappeared but the old miner cottage was demo-ed the other night.On the street front the bluestone block gutter is still in place and has not changed for 127 years and got a pic of that and the demo block,Found a small ponies horse shoe,shards of glass and pottery from the era and one silver sixpence,english penny 1907 i think and a disuses 2 cent piece and half of a seemless bottle with a root going threw it along the fence line.
thanks Tinpan P>S this site is only 400 yards up the road from my front door
Attachments
Upvote
0
