Carcoar, NSW
The SWAGMAN is immortalised by Australia's unofficial national
anthem 'Waltzing Matilda'; roamed the outback in search of work.
His bedroll. 'swag' or 'Matilda' on his back, billy on his hand, he
was a familiar sight as he travelled the Australian bush.
THE MINEHEAD c 1872
The easily gleaned gold of the early fields did not last very long.
In order to reach less accessible alluvial gold, diggers began
sinking shafts as much as twenty feet down and the miners required
timbering and winches to bring the paydirt to the top. This syndicate
has been unable to afford the luxury of a horse (about 50 pounds) and
so everything must go up and down by windlass and rawhide bucket.
GOLD SLUICING c 1885
The man at the rear is working a 'Californian' pump to drain
the small area being worked. Pay dirt is then shovelled in the
top end of the sluice box allowing the gold to drop and catch
in the riffle bars of the false bottom of the trough. Plenty of
water was necessary and was usually carried to site by shallow
water races cut along the contours of the hills. After a period of
working, the trough was cleaned up and panned out.
