flora, fauna and (sometimes) geology into some local and not-so-local history.
Of course there were the usual pleasures in identifying the vegetation and seeing what tiny plants are emerging and the conditions in which they are thriving or surviving.
The walkers came across a magnificent Golden Orb Spider’s web and were greatly pleased to find the owner at home. A few kangaroos bounded by in the distance and at different points, wallabies crossed our paths or were startled by our presence.
On reaching the mine we were able to clamber up and snoop around the fascinating remains. The Harry Lauder Mine began operations in 1910 and its Company became
the most successful of the Campbelltown mining companies. In a contemporary Echo article, it was said that some local residents were aware that gold existed in the stone and we could see evidence of earlier alluvial digs. However, nothing was attempted until ‘Miss Jones accidentally [saw] gold shining in the stone one day as she crossed the creek.’ This induced her brothers to ‘take
out a crushing’ but difficulties prevented further action. In other articles we learn that a lease was taken on Jones’s land and a public company formed. 40000 shares were
floated and taken up by 85 persons. The occupations for the 76 gentlemen were many and varied. Among these were: accountant, baker, commercial traveller, dentist, grazier, investor, police sergeant, sharebroker, speculator. Of the nine ladies, one was a postmistress, two were ‘spinsters’ and three were ‘married ladies’.
The Echo articles give no indication as to how the name of the mine was chosen. Harry Lauder was a famous Scottish singer, songwriter and entertainer - the first
British entertainer to sell a million records. Winston Churchill referred to him (by then, Sir Harry) as
‘Scotland’s greatest ever ambassador’. Harry Lauder’s career spanned almost 60 years from about 1890 until not long before his death in 1950. For 40 of these years Harry
toured the world, entertained the troops in the World Wars and came to Australia many times entertaining and visiting a brother living in Melbourne. According to some
reminiscences of Campbelltown, he was in Victoria in1910 and there is a notion that the naming of the Harry Lauder mine came from Miss Jones. If so, it would tie
together some otherwise loose ends. It would to nice to think of her crossing the creek, singing or humming one of Harry Lauder’s songs and then behold, there was the
gold in the stone.
Notes:
- on the mine - from Newstead & District Historical Society collections,
- on Harry Lauder - from Rotary Global History Fellowship webpage.
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