Queensland

Recent Discovery of Gold at Oaks View near Rockhampton – Queensland Department of Mines Geological Survey No 199 – Lionel C Ball – 1905

Lionel Ball was the Assistant Government Geologist at the time and author of many of the good standard surveys at the very start of the 1900’s.

Bound in original olive green card covers. Title to front and repeated inside. A total of 11 pages with map of area and two images from photographs – the Hill and the Main Workings.has been folded at some time causing minor splits, generally a good copy.

Oaks View Hill is near Canoona, four miles north of the then Oaks Station and, 45 miles from Rockhampton.

The hill is about half a mile long and one third across rising to 150 feet – the rocks are chiefly quartzites and schists.

In October 1903, W.S. Thomason discovered gold on the surface at Oaks View Hill. Nothing was done until the following February when on showing the place to relatives, some minor effort showed payable gold. Reward claims were allotted and the good results started a mini-rush. By the end of 1904 a company was floated and capital raised. Other adventurers took up positions around the primary claim.

The small but detailed sketch map has some curiosity as in the finest of hands someone with clear interest has made annotations.

We do know that Ball came back the next year and things has moved forward significantly with heavy gear having been purchased. However, there were issues with the lack of water, and we are not sure what eventuated.

The history is difficult to track and can be easily confused with the Oaks Mine further north

The beginning of a story? The discovery of payable gold at oaks View Hill.

$50.00

Updating cart…

Gold Workings at Perry Scrub – Queensland Department of Mines Geological Survey No 184 – Lionel C Ball – 1903

Lionel Ball was the Assistant Government Geologist at the time and author of many of the good standard surveys at the very start of the 1900’s.

Bound in original olive green card covers. Title to front and repeated inside. Narrative comprises 14 pages with map of area and relevant diagrams.

“The Perry (Good-night or Tenningering) Scrub extends in the form of a narrow belt from saint Agnes Creek, on the north, to the Burnett River west of Paradise, on the south, crossing the Perry River about 6 miles above its junction with the Burnett”.

The conclusion is ambivalent – a number of early diggings have been abandoned – others showing some promise. The key thing being loads of surface quartz so really those trying were scratching. Even today a wonder around the area can show up some decent nuggets – see online.

Perry Scrub another neglected one to ponder about

$50.00

Updating cart…

Fangs of the Sea – Norman Caldwell [With Help from Norman Ellison] – First Edition 1936

An extremely rare first edition of Shark Hunter Norman Caldwell’s classic book.

Written in conjunction with Norman Ellison. Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1936.

Thick octavo, 282 pages, illustrated throughout with images from original photographs, diagrams of shark catching techniques, end paper maps. Missing the original dust jacket but rare as is in original green cloth covered binding. Some foxing as usual given nature of paper.

Caldwell could see money in catching sharks – his hunting ground was in Queensland between Repulse Bay and Gloucester Island taking in the Whitsundays.

Obviously if you don’t have the appetite for shark hunting this is not the book for you. Caldwell also went after and caught “big Fish” other than sharks and Rays and massive Grouper Fish were within his aim.

The book has taken on almost legendary status and sought after by those with a bit of Hemingway and Lee Marvin in them.

Caldwell’s Fangs one for the game fisherman

$190.00

Updating cart…

[Queensland] Thomas Welsby – The Collected Works – Two Volumes

Important two volume set constituting Welsby’s books on Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Stradbroke and Bribie Islands.

Published by Jacaranda Press, Brisbane in 1967/68. Large octavo, 397 pages and 427 pages with 54 plates, maps etc. Both volumes in very good condition with complete dust jackets.

Includes Schnappering in Early Moreton Bay [orig. 1905]; Discoverer’s of the Brisbane River [orig. 1913]; Memories of Amity (Stradbroke) [orig. 1922]; Sport and Pastime in Moreton Bay [orig. 1931 and Bribie the Basket Maker [orig 1937]. All very difficult to get in original form.

Born in Ipswich in 1858 worked first as a banker before becoming a member of the Legislative Assembly. He lived in New Farm and spent much of his leisure time on the Bay. A founding member of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, holding positions in numerous other organisations – he died in 1941.

The collective work of an important historic Queensland identity

$340.00

Updating cart…

Back O’ Cairns – Ion Idriess – First Edition 1958

Published by Angus and Robertson a first edition 1956.

Octavo, 310 pages end paper maps, other maps and illustrations from period photographs.Previous ownership name cut from corner of front free end paper otherwise a very good copy.

Ion Idriess at his best beyond and around Cairns in the Queensland Far North with amazing early photographs. Much about the pioneers, the land and the gold.

Idriess in the Far North a First Edition super copy.

$60.00

Updating cart…

Mount Morgan – Centenary of First Gold Discovery in 1882 – Rockhampton 1982 (Duplicate)

A nice example of the interesting medal struck by the Rockhampton Coin Club and made in Brisbane by A.J. Parkes in 1982.

An uncirculated commemorative, 40 mm diameter, 40gms in copper alloy. Strong relief and a super example.

The obverse carries a design by artists Don Taylor of a miner / prospector on his knee observing his gold pan with some intensity, other mining accoutrements in the background. On the reverse we have an image taken from a 1908 photograph of the working mine … an image all too familiar to Voyager.

Still with its original information with its brief history of the Mine.

Mighty Mount Morgan commemorated in medal form, and it deserves it!

$50.00

Updating cart…

Recent Discovery of Gold at Oaks View near Rockhampton – Queensland Department of Mines Geological Survey No 199 – Lionel C Ball – 1905

Gold Workings at Perry Scrub – Queensland Department of Mines Geological Survey No 184 – Lionel C Ball – 1903

Fangs of the Sea – Norman Caldwell [With Help from Norman Ellison] – First Edition 1936

[Queensland] Thomas Welsby – The Collected Works – Two Volumes

Back O’ Cairns – Ion Idriess – First Edition 1958

Mount Morgan – Centenary of First Gold Discovery in 1882 – Rockhampton 1982 (Duplicate)

Product Categories