General News
2 March, 2023
New book explores Bristol Hill’s golden history
The largely unexplored goldrush-era history of Bristol Hill has been brought to life by a local eager to explore what the area was once like. Now known for the Pioneer’s Memorial, Bristol Hill was once a mining area, and Maryborough resident Craig...
The largely unexplored goldrush-era history of Bristol Hill has been brought to life by a local eager to explore what the area was once like.
Now known for the Pioneer’s Memorial, Bristol Hill was once a mining area, and Maryborough resident Craig Roberts has collated that history into a book, Quartz Mine - The Gold Mining History of Bristol Hill, Maryborough.
Regularly walking his dogs around Bristol Hill, and being a prospector, Mr Roberts said the book idea initially came from his own interest in finding out what the area was like during the goldrush.
“I was interested in what occurred there because there’s obvious signs of activity, but unlike other mine sites there’s nothing left — no buildings, foundations or machinery,” he said.
“I started out looking for historical photos and despite there being lots of photos of various mines in the district in the same era, there’s nothing from up there.
“In fact, the image on the front cover of the book is the only one that’s been positively identified as being from Bristol Hill.
“I then started looking for historical texts.”
Mr Roberts said previous works from authors Betty Osbourne and James Flett touched on Bristol Hill, but didn’t detail activities.
“I had to go back to all the historical newspaper articles. I started in 1854 and worked my way up,” he said.
“I was surprised there wasn’t much history on it because the open cut mines are still quite visible there, there was obviously a lot of activity.”
It took around eight months for Mr Roberts to research and collate all the information, which included the roundabout history of how the hill got its name.
“The hill was originally discovered by two Germans who were staying at the Bristol Arms Hotel which was on the corner of Elgin Road, Derby Road and High Street,” he said.
“They discovered a quartz reef that ran up through the hill. In some places it was five metres wide. For some reason they called it California Reef, then California Hill, then California Gully.
“In 1857 it was renamed Bristol Reef which I assume was because of its proximity to the hotel. It then became Bristol Hill.”
Mr Roberts also discovered the bushland that currently covers the hill is less than 100 years old, planted by school children in 1926 to cover what was then an almost completely bare hill.
The Maryborough Midlands Historical Society supported Mr Roberts during his research, and the society’s Barb Nielsen said the book is very well researched.
“We don’t get all that many non-fiction books written about the area,” she said.
“Craig’s put an incredible amount of research into it — he’s a meticulous researcher.
“They’re available at the local information centre and have been selling really well.”
The proceeds from the book are going to the historical society.
Mr Roberts will give a Q&A and talk on his research process for the book next Tuesday, March 7 at the Maryborough Regional Library from 2.30 to 3.30 pm.
The book is also for sale at the Central Goldfields Visitor Information Centre, currently located at 53 Burns Street, Maryborough, and can be ordered on the Historical Society’s website https://mmhs.net.au