Gold At Pleasant Creek - The Incredible Stawell Goldfield

The discovery of gold in Victoria was officially announced in July, 1851, and with great excitement the colony's rich goldfields were opened up one by one.
While all this madness was going on, an old hand named William McLachlan was employed as a shepherd's hut keeper all the way out on the Concongella pastoral run, about 80 miles beyond Ballarat and far beyond the scope of any known goldfield.
Prior to his employment at the Concongella run, McLachlan had spent some time at Buninyong, one of Victoria's first discovered goldfields, and he knew a bit about prospecting for gold.
So there he was in 1853, perched on the bank of Pleasant Creek, peering into his cooking dish which he was using as a gold pan. And a small but beautiful show of colour was shining back at him.
Although it wasn't much, McLachlan's discovery would soon lead to the opening up of one of Victoria's most prominant quartz mining fields, which is still yeilding gold to this day.
In this video, we're going to take a look at the brilliant gold mining history of Stawell!
----------
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Greg Cameron, Kate van Dyck, Ron Coward,
and The Stawell Historical Society
for their tours, help and hospitality throughout
the research and production of this video.
Stawell Rifle Club for allowing access to the Chilean mill ruins
Krause Bricks
for allowing access to film the brickworks
Northern Grampians Shire Council
for allowing access and photography of historical paintings of Stawell
Parks Victoria
for allowing access to film mine ruins at Stawell
Stawell Gold Mines
Tony “Ashcat” Marsden
for technical advice
Simon Cunningham
for the frying pan full of gold
Clint Hickson for footage of the berdan pan
Noel Laidlaw for insights into historical mining law
The Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria
www.pmav.org.au
----------
REFERENCES
Video script with references (including for images, maps and plans) - www.goldfields...
The Gold Mines of Stawell, A Pictorial History. Greg Cameron
Shepherd’s Gold. C. E. Sayers
Stawell Past and Present. Maynard Ord
The Golden Years of Stawell. Robert Murray and Kate White
Chronology of Stawell, Gary Withers
The Pleasant Creek News
www.trove.nla.gov.au
----------
Researched, written, filmed and produced by Michelle Ross
www.goldfieldsguide.com.au
© 2024

[@adzoutnabout8666]

Incredible documentary, I really appreciate the effort you put in to make this video 😎🇦🇺

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@stephenarnold9986]

Just fabulous and beautiful commentary

[@xr6lad]

Thank you for keeping our colonial gold rush history alive here in Victoria. It’s fascinating and something I have held dear for many decades myself in road trips to many small and often former towns visiting old buildings. We achieved so much in a short time in Victoria. Always look forward to your videos.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks! 🙂⚒

[@WilpenaPound359]

​@@goldfieldsguide Well done 👍

[@splintergg]

Thanks for sharing your fantastic stories. We love them!

[@simosdiygarage5063]

Awesome Rossy, One of your bests ones.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks 🙂

[@jasonhill9064]

Love your work keep it coming

[@chrisbrent7487]

Definitely no Lee Enfield rifles in the 1870's. The colonial armies were still using muzzle loaded rifles then. The Lee Enfields predecessor the Lee Metford only came into existence in 1888 and the Lee Enfield in 1894 due to the advent of smokeless powder.

[@openmodalguitar61]

Great channel, very well researched and presented How about a video please on the McIvor (Heathcote) diggings, it was the big rush of 1853, perhaps the most dangerous goldfield of the era for crime, also there was the first ever gold escort robbery The Port Curtis rush in Queensland is worth a video too, not in Victoria but very many Victorians were stranded there when the surface gold ran out and provisions got scarce, there was an official rescue by the Victorian Navy steamship And something on the Chinese on the diggings would be good, also the Chinese contribution to keeping miners fed through market gardens

[@Jobsright]

I have lived at Stawell for over 30 years and this is the best historical documentary I have seen. Well done!

[@georgeduro2699]

Well Michelle you've done it again...impressing us all by your passion for this our Australian Gold mining history, reckon I've watched all your presentations up to date, and you have inspired me to get out my detectors and get out there again soon. I will contact you if I uncover something interesting... Cheers

[@ernuren3205]

you have excelled at this production, your research and blending of old photos with beautiful narration are excellent. Thank you, for all your hard work and dedication. Channel just keeps getting better and better.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks so much 🙂

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Excellent production, thanks for going to the extra trouble of producing in 4K.

[@Gold_Hunt_Australia]

You are doing a great job. I particularly loved the drone shot coming out of the addit at the start.

[@goldfieldsguide]

I was very happy with that one, thank you 🙂

[@johnigoe7366]

Well done , very informative,I enjoyed 😊

[@jjoy]

Brilliant! Well done! and 'Thank you'

[@ray.shoesmith]

You're a wonderful story teller

[@gabivalla6279]

Thanks Michelle for the deep dive into Stawell's history, the connections with events elsewhere shaping that evolution, brilliantly explained and a visual feast of imagery, I'll look forward to repeat viewing on a much larger screen, but better still, the invitation of curiosity to visit, the showgrounds I'd seen by another KZbinr, Luke Phillips of "Dig It Detecting" shows the depth and breadth of community knowledge, keeping up working skills easily lost to time, and tons of relics regularly on display. Further out I'd look to visit Ararat with their ongoing mining works, including using a deep shaft for a NASA dark matter observatory, although we're totally happy remaining at all times on the surface! Cheers from Gabi of Narre Warren.

[@brendangrray8017]

History at it's best, the passion ,presentation & research is fantastic ,,Again, Thank you😊

[@chrismiddleton9088]

Thanks Michelle for another wonderful production.

[@kimbo3068]

A Terrific Historical Video Michelle with the best Photographs of Old Stawell i've ever seen , too bad my Stawell born father couldn't see this he would be thrilled! Thanks again

[@rodwilson2114]

hi just finished watching all, yes thats right all of your well put together informative vids, in one you ask if anyone knows of a state owned stamper or whats left of one. if you don;t already know there is whats left of the smiths creek stamper via phanton hills located near the old town site of queenstown. its well sign posted by parks victoria and has a nice little if some what over grown walking track along the creek side. well thanks again for taking the time and effort in making and posting the vids cheers all

[@swintondavid]

What a great Documentary! Instantly subscribed :)

[@barry7608]

Very enjoyable and detailed story, thanks. Always goes down well with those suffering gold fever. I detected across Oz in a very amateur fashion, with a total of 10g x 3 nuggets. It's a buzz when you pick up something no one else has ever touch. No fortune, but nothing is better, at least for me is to travel our great continent/island hoping to find that 2oz nugget and there are plenty still out there even now. You just need to have a certain resilience to heat cold and a 'rough life' and love of stars that go from horizon to horizon. I'm 73 and if I had the chance would teleport to WA to some favourite spots, alas Ive missed my chance. Thanks I have subscribed.

[@kabaottoemulsion1869]

Amazing research . I guess finding golds are not that easy. Once again, love the clear voice so I can understand. Thanx!

[@michaelcarydakis790]

great work michelle

[@basslinebennyb8543]

Awe inspiring Ore.. 😂 Great Vids. 🤙

[@DTGTDetectingTheGoldenTriangle]

I was over that way detecting about 3 years ago and seen a fellow dig up a 12 Oz nugget. It was amazing to see his face change and the excitement. Thanks for another awesome video 👌🍺

[@michaelcarydakis790]

i just got back from Stawell and it was great a few good samples to

[@karnovtalonhawk9708]

G'day, I grew up in Ballarat, know the stories and the history. The one thing left out is how did these people locate an area that might have gold and then, how much work did it take to get to it. I have seen a lot of the places shown in your video here. The little plaques on them do nothing to explain just how complex of a social structure was being built around a now rusting machine. Thanks for the video, live long and prosper. P.S. I used to be a stonemason, Doesn't matter who you are one day someone like me will be making your headstone. I have put in quite a few and read many others. It seems most people want to be seen as giving a shit about others and hoping their family gets on in life. That to me is people when boiled down to the basics. We are all people no matter where we are from.

[@paullang1961]

Hey Sweetie I'm just saying long time sub I'm only here because you are a beautiful doll and I love you're voice I can listen to you all day and as I said you are a doll cheers from me in Ballarat

[@lanehorsey5053]

Awesome delivery once again, thank you Michelle

[@andrewhall841]

Great presentation 👏 keep them coming

[@Biglukedozerlife70]

Hi, your blog was so well produced, please keep posting

[@TimothyTimmyDickson]

Thank you I really enjoyed watching that good job on your research

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you 🙂⚒️

[@wimmeraparanormal6581]

Nicely done Michelle, a pity you glossed over all of the amazing Alluvial gold digging history here in Stawell. For a couple years, there were over 30,000 people digging here with the massive rushes at Commercial St and 4 Posts producing over 100,000 oz's. One slight critique, the Police troopers who tried to protect the 'Jumpers' in the 1870's would have used the Snider-Enfield carbine, not the Lee-Enfield rifle which didn't exist for another 30 years. Keep up the great work!

[@goldfieldsguide]

Ah thank you, I do not know very much about firearm history. I said Lee Enfield because this detail was published in "Shepherd's Gold - The Story of Stawell" (1966) by C.E. Sayers, where it was stated that: "Twenty-five policemen from Melbourne passed through Ballarat on 31 July on their way to Stawell 'to assert the supremacy of the law against mobocracy' ... They were armed with Lee Enfield rifles and bayonets, with an extra supply of 40 rounds of ammunition." Yes I focused on the quartz mining history at Stawell in this video. There are so many other aspects to the goldfield which deserve videos all of their own, including the great alluvial rushes! Cheers 🙂⚒

[@wimmeraparanormal6581]

@@goldfieldsguide Yes, that book has several notable mistakes in it, but given that it was written many decades ago, and without the benefit of the internet for research, we can forgive the Author. I saw you filming here many weeks ago when I was walking the dog. Plus at Aldi in Ararat the following day. Your devotion to the gold mining history of Victoria is commendable, I look forward to every new episode.

[@brentonsmith2233]

What a amazing story thank you for your hard work and thanks for sharing

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks 🙂

[@karlmeyer3899]

Fantastic video loved that you used the big pano photo it took me many hours to restore and put it together well worth it.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video 🙂 you did a fantastic job with that panorama! What an incredible view over the mines and the town. Thanks for putting that together, it was brilliant to pan across it in the video.

[@rachelbuckley8222]

Fabulous research. Well done, Michelle. Your work is wonderful.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks Rachel 🙂

[@TheSilmarillian]

@21:06 riding the bucket for 1600 ft opal miner here Lridge NSW one does not ride the bucket all legislation aside its a guaranteed way if it fails to meet the monkey cut out at the bottom of the shaft, for those non miners the monkey is the ten feet or so before the bucket stops on a set point on rail or wood stops so it can be filled from the drive but I digress have been told upon occasions that I am prone 2 doing so , may I add Michelle followed your work on and off nice to see you gaining not just subs but confidence in your productions that in my humble opinion where always well researched and gathered the historical human aspect of the times, As a wordsmith I know all 2 well that 2 be able 2 place yourself in mostly forgotten times long past that you chose to visit and bring 2 life is not an art but is something 1 be born with you have that gift.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks so much 🙂

[@curvebuster]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😮 Excellent video 😊

[@garrynaylor5783]

Love your stories Michelle keep them coming

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you! Plenty more yet to come 🙂⚒

[@davidharrison1572]

Thanks.

[@trevorkay6002]

Hi. I just finished watching your video on Pleasant Creek. My 2nd great grandfather and his son were miners at Pleasant Creek from around 1858 to about 1861/2. His wife and the rest of the family arrived in Melbourne aboard the SS Great Britain in early February 1859. Upon arrival, she placed two adverts in the Argus newspaper to inform her husband that they had arrived in the colony safely and would wait for him at their logging on Richmond Flat, which is now called Richmond.

[@whiskeyinthejar24]

Fantastic production quality. It's impressive that you could acquire and smoothly blend that much material in a 41 minute documentary. One polite note though, there were no Lee Enfield rifles in the 1870s, they were made a few decades later. I suspect they were equipped with Snider Enfields, a breech loading conversion of the earlier Enfield muzzle loader.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks, yes this error will now bug me forever 😅 I'm afraid I don't know much about firearm history, but I said Lee Enfield because this detail was published in "Shepherd's Gold - The Story of Stawell" (1966) by C.E. Sayers, where it was stated that: "Twenty-five policemen from Melbourne passed through Ballarat on 31 July on their way to Stawell 'to assert the supremacy of the law against mobocracy' ... They were armed with Lee Enfield rifles and bayonets, with an extra supply of 40 rounds of ammunition." I should have double checked! Cheers

[@whiskeyinthejar24]

@@goldfieldsguide sorry, I don't wish to be overly critical and detract from a superb piece of work. I can only imagine how much effort went into this video. There were many english rifles between 1850 and 1900, as technology progressed at a rapid pace. Martini Henry, Lee Metford, Lee Enfield. Let alone the variants.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks, I appreciate the info 🙂 very interesting!

[@logic.and.reasoning]

❤ your work 😊

[@daveweston2692]

Thanks Michelle. Another ripper video. As always, well researched and informative.

[@tomazzo69]

Greatly put together,great narrative. Plus that girl ,OMG. Goddess in human form ,so smoking hot 🔥 ❤️

[@Izzys_ponys]

Great video ❤

[@stevewelchcinematographer4552]

Another brilliant watch. Well done and great work

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks 🙂

[@ohasis8331]

An interesting and informative video, well narrated with easy listening. Thank you for the video.

[@andypandyAU.6669]

Grateful for the fantastic history lesson, and the superb way you tell it. Excellent again, ❤it 😊

[@xr6lad]

This is why Stawell and Aarat have windy crooked main streets. Avoiding the mines and claims.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Very interesting how gold mining shaped towns in so many ways 🙂⚒

[@hoystyler]

@@goldfieldsguide I was told of a mine cap collapse under the bathroom of my Mums partners parent's house. Every time I had to go in there, I had visions of plummeting into some horrid, deep pit. I have a pet hate now for all uncapped & capped death holes in the bush. Don't help now, I live over Swiss-cheese Bendigo..

[@thugishrugishbone]

Iv been waiting for Stawell and deep lead info 😊

[@shineyrocks390]

These men and women who worked on and in these mines were hard as railroad spikes. Thanks for another well researched mine history lesson ❤

[@pkgoldopalhunting]

great vid girl love you vids keep it up mate

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you 🙂⚒

[@solanaceae2069]

"About 50 ounces to the ton" - that's the stuff dreams are made of

[@goldfieldsguide]

Unbelievable isn't it! 🙂⚒

[@jacquesjackcoomans2295]

@Goldfields Guide. I have watched many of your videos, and at the end of them, I am amazed and longfully await the next instalment. You have an incredible and soothing story telling voice that leaves one engaged and captivated. I have been a long time patreon, friend and YT fan of Ask Jeff Williams and loved if when he and his father would make a vid about American history, the wild west and Gold which led me to stumble a year ago on your channel. Being a fellow Victorian I was left intrigued and longing for more. Thank you for the incredible time you take in researching, filming and editing to bring us this incredible content.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you, much appreciated 🙂

[@robertjackson8280]

Thank you for your time and effort,you are amazing 😊

[@michaeldallimore8590]

Really interesting history and well presented. Thanks for these videos.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks, much appreciated 🙂

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

50oz to the Tonne!!!! What!.... lets go! I got everything we need to get it out

[@garysoden8601]

One of your best yet.. 👍👍👍

[@justafewdollars6726]

brilliant Michelle just what i wanted

[@648Roland]

Never prospected the Mt. Pleasant area though drove through Stawell many times too and from Adelaide. Living in Castlemaine I'm spoiled for choice though my age makes it difficult to do much nowadays. Thankyou Michelle.

[@markfryer9880]

Hi Michelle, you have really excelled yourself with this video. I think that it maybe your longest video to date? Either way 40 odd minutes of video would have taken a considerable amount of time to research, script, film, voice over and edit. Well done! I spent the last weekend visiting Wodonga to hear a lecture by Chris Vogusius on gold prospecting and then on the way back to Melbourne, I dropped into Benalla to check out the Visitors Centre and to buy a Book on the Kelly Gang. Family history has it that my Great, Great, Grandfather was the town Blacksmith with his workshop next to the Police Station and after the Siege at Glenrowan, the Police found his makers mark on some of the pieces of armour. He was questioned by the Police but his reply was "Would I make something like that here, right under your noses?" Other blacksmiths were able to demonstrate to the Police that some parts had been shaped over a smithys forge and other parts had been done over a camp fire. Big difference in heated temperature. Much of this has been confirmed in modern times and there is an ABC Catalyst program on the Joe Burne set of armour. Looking at the pieces, you can tell that some parts were shaped professionally and others were by amateurs. Given the timing of the Kelly Gang I find it surprising that they never tried their hand at prospecting or labouring on the Goldfields? I know that at one time Ned worked in a Sawmill cutting sleepers for the use by Victorian Railways. He could see that the days of the bushman and possible bushranger were diminishing due to the power and speed of the steam train and telegraph. Mark from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺

[@mezame1626]

This girl is on fire 🌹

[@gardnep]

I hope you were on the other end of that first dish, Michele. Thanks for the video, I think I need a trip to Victoria, Stawel looks good. I stayed at Dunolly last time but the train whistle every morning at 2:00 am was a bit much. You are a great historian.

[@MarkStewart-rf9qq]

Well done and thanks for a very informative video of the stawell goldfields, I have fond memories of prospecting and detecting gold nuggets and specimens from this area and met some great people along the way, still have most of what I found and enjoy getting them out from time to time which brings the memories flooding back of the hard work but exciting times . Regards Mark Stewart

[@norsehall309]

G'day, wonderful presentation of the story of Stawell Golden history, because so many other towns had a large amount of Gold at the same time as Stawell it's importance was overshadowed in the history books of the time, this Goldfields are amazing and in the future will produce more gold than before, thanks again, cheers mate, Neil 🤠.

[@hoystyler]

I got to go underground in the Magdala decline when I was six (85/6) I still remember seeing the old timers diggings, intersecting with the modern tunnels. Couldn't see the top or bottom of the stope.

[@pattywickson9046]

Always great.

[@coincollectinganddetecting]

Great video. A fair bit must go into putting them together. Appreciate your efforts. ✅

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you, yes it’s a lot of work but so much fun 🙂⚒🎥 cheers

[@paulpurcell5658]

I find this very interesting, being a lover of history, I should do more about researching about the tunnel in the howqua valley and stamp that was built also, great video Paul

[@joshs_random_location]

Thank you for sharing!

[@chrislaniw4729]

Amazing video...thanks for sharing such great research 👏

[@bradpacker8370]

Great work definitely one of your best no sorry i love them all 😂😊great work more please 😊

[@conhatzi]

Asa new resident of Stawell, i cannot thank you enough for educating me as to the History of my new home

[@maclova7933]

Well done!

[@jasonvoigt6575]

Now im definitly going to be late.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Hope you weren't too late! Cheers 🙂⚒

[@mrbilly_k]

Appreciated that,past through Stawell a few times & never knew.

[@dmystify1381]

Outstanding...thoroughly enjoyed.....Thankyou.😊

[@karamoustos67]

hi , i love your presentations , keep them coming please .. 😀

[@MrSh8ky]

Well done…just brilliant, very fascinating and informative. Thank you very much for posting. Keep up the great work. Cheers Marty 👍😊

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you 🙂

[@Pa.PatriotProspecting]

A very well put together documentary!!! Congrats Michelle! 👏🏻👏🏻

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you 🙂⚒ I had a great time making this

[@alanakafang6143]

Got my subscription, have Family there … looking forward to watching more of your work. Nicely Done 👍 Thanks

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks 🙂⚒

[@ericwood1942]

where did you get your original interest in gold mining?

[@craigdutton6072]

Great video that was 🎉love my history ,gold doesn’t interest me one iota 😂it’s the peoples story’s I want to hear ✊🇦🇺and funnily enough I’ll go detecting but for trinkets and bottles 😂my display is worth more than any nugget to me ❤and my fave item iv ever found on a gold field was a clay pipe with a cherub 👼 little boys face and a hat on ❤

[@goldfieldsguide]

Awesome, sounds like a great find 🙂 thanks!

[@codyhall1091]

😊

[@longdogmcbarky1457]

Excellent work thank you.

[@DazGeary]

This was great Michelle, best one yet. Thanks for all your hard work. Daz

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks Daz 🙂⚒

[@SteveMack]

Always interesting videos Michelle 👍❤️

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you 🙂

[@SteveMack]

👍❤️

[@holeydump972]

Awesome video thank you

[@michaelbogemann536]

Thanks this was very informative you have done a great job with this project.

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks 🙂

[@herby375]

This was great, Thanks for all the info.

[@mattmorts]

Your editing and depth of research is amazing, thanks for the great videos!

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you 🙂

[@ShaneTLong]

Thanks for another great video, and history lesson. Love ya work ❤

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thank you 🙂⚒

[@corblimey8729]

Really great video. ❤

[@michaelvonharten7633]

Brilliant doco, should be on main stream tv. well done😁

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks! 🙂⚒

[@SteveMack]

Magnificent drone work too! 👍👍💕

[@goldfieldsguide]

Thanks! 🙂

[@unexplained3204]

@@goldfieldsguide

[@spencervandorssen1793]

Dream girl

[@bencrisp9776]

Good show.