This picture shows the Balaclava Mine at Whroo about 1858-59. The open-cut mine was prosperous for many years and a significant town was established around it.
My great-grandparents Edward and Sophia Gorey settled on a nearby farm at Angustown in the 1880s when the mine was in decline. Edward was later involved with a syndicate which tried, successfully for a time, to revive the mine.
A book on gold mining in the area, Don John of Balaclava, by Miles Lewis (1977) contains the following references:
Page 80: “We learn that during 1906 Balaclava Hill was being worked by a party of four men, Northausen, Le Roy, Wickings and Gorey, who in 12 weeks took 36 loads of stone which they crushed in April for 136 ounces of gold. In November their return for the last quarter was reported as 207oz, 17dwt from 56 loads.”
From the same book, page 85: “In 1910 Cane, of 15 Temple Court, Melbourne, applied on behalf of the Whroo Company NL for leases over three distinct areas. One was a rectangular block taking in the open cut itself, another to the north of this was an area surrounding the dam, and the third consisting of 23 acres to the west of the Rushworth Road, including another dam and surrounding E Gorey’s residence . . . it does not appear that the Whroo Company had any great success.”
The dam and Edward’s residence are shown on a map that appears in the book. By that time Edward had moved from the farm into Whroo township.
The last residents left in the 1950s when it became a ghost town.
I’ve been to Whroo several times and there are no buildings apart from the relatively new visitors centre. It remains however, a very haunting place. The poignancy for me is that Whroo cemetery records show two children of Edward and Sophia were buried there in 1890 and 1892. The cemetery is the town’s lasting landmark.
My great-uncle James Gorey, who was killed in WW1, attended school in Whroo after the Angustown school closed.
I organised for a family group to visit Whroo for a reunion in 1991. The local historian from Rushworth who guided us was Nicola Thomson. Nicki wrote this great poem, which I reprinted in a book with her permission:
Whroo
By Nicola ThomsonDid you hear the silence, as you walked your way through Whroo?
Did you see the shadowed faces
Smell the traces, worn and pungent
Sense the anguish, see the places
Where lives were lived, all hope, some fear?Now the garden fences broken, fruit trees fruiting
Left to die for white ants feeding.
Can’t you hear the mothers weeping?
Left with many mouths to feed
On what she grows, or earns from cleaning.Small grassy mounds to jar the senses
Despair, hope and resignation
Time moved on, and left them here.
Rows and rows of little people
Playing now what games they will
Concrete stumps of iron maidens
Childish laughter, hear it still.If you didn’t, you weren’t listening
If you couldn’t, you weren’t feeling.
Today, Whroo is officially designated an historic area.
That photo just goes to show how little the early miners cared for the environment. It was the same around Bright, as you would know Michael. The original 'diggers' of the 1850s & 60s carved up the river & creek banks with their sluices & runs and left heaps of tailings (ie piles of rocks) that can still be recognised today. In many parts of Bright, even well away from the river, you can hardly stick a spade in the ground without hitting some rocks that probably originated from some other location.Then later they got the 'bright' idea of building barges and dredging the Ovens from Harrietville through to Bright & beyond I believe. I've seen photos of that destruction and boy, did they ever do 'neat' work? I think not.Time heals all but today if you look closely you can still see where the environmental vandals have left their mark. Bright in its early years must have been a really ugly place.Although I'm still hopeful that one day when I'm digging in my garden I'll hit a previously undiscovered nugget, retire and move north.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Mining is an extractive industry, of course, so it tends to involve the digging of holes and the piling of rock. Environmental regulations in the 19th century were non-existent and, as you say, the results are still visible
Mining companies today pay rehabilitation bonds to ensure the restoration of the natural environment.
My recollection is that the Buckland River was particularly bad.
I am enquiring affter a the words of a rhyme which is on a headstone at the Whroo cemetry. I first heard of this rhyme as a young student at Kyabram high school. It contains the words ” As you are now so once was I ” but I am unable to remember the rest of the verse. Any information you might be able to forward would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you ver much.
Hi there..the poem is used throughout the English speaking world actually. I have seen it several times in the UK.
Remember me as you pass by
As you are now so once was I,
As I am am now, so you must be
Prepare yourself to follow me.
(On the tombstone of John Welch)
thanks Nicola, I followed your link, to here.
Our grandmother used to recite the verse, but we never knew the author. The meaning remains the same despite the words being slightly different.
Remember me, as you pass by
As you are now, so once was I
As I am now, some day you’ll be,
Be prepared to follow me
My grand-daughter understands its message and also loves and recites it.