Puddling machines, Gulgong
1872
Glass photonegative
William Collins described the devastation caused by Gulgong miners in the D51, 16 May 1872.
When I arrived upon the diggings, and beheld the beautiful grazing country torn up with diggers, and hillocks of dug up earth the size of houses, I must confess that the strange sight made me feel quite wretched and miserable, as I had been used to seeing such country covered with sheep, cattle and horses.
From the Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 16 May 1872
There is, doubtless, plenty of gold on the Gulgong, but then it takes plenty of silver, and even sovereigns too, to provide for those who are indefatigably seeking for it. Many ere this have broken up good homes, and have left lucrative situations, to try their luck at gold digging, even to try the Gulgong, and have totally spent their all, and have not obtained one fraction's worth of gold. Such facts ought, therefore, to be taken into consideration, before men foolishly break up good homes, and abandon good situations, which may ultimately result in launching them into everlasting misery and woe. [The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 16 May 1872]
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