charterstowers

While gold mining was first introduced to Australia in the early years of settlement, during the second half of the nineteenth century on an expedition to locate some missing horses, a young 12-year-old indigenous boy named Jupiter Mosman made history. Jupiter, a stockman, was traveling with the prospecting team of Hugh Mosman, George Clark and James Fraser. While Jupiter located the horses sheltering at the base of what has come to be known as Towers Hill, he accidentally stumbled across a bright glimmer of gold nestled in a nearby stream. It was 24 December 1871, a pivotal year that marked the beginning of a new era of gold discovery in the greater Charters Towers area. This finds not only quickly placed Charters Towers firmly on the map in terms of lucrative gold mining prospects but in the process established it as a world-class district and as Australia’s richest major goldfield. While Jupiter Mosman’s find marked the discovery of gold in Charters Towers and heralded in a major windfall for the people of Queensland, it was with this same jubilance a century later in 1983, due to his historical role in shaping the northern state, that Jupiters Limited was incorporated and resulted in the establishment of the Jupiter casinos in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville, keeping the spirit and historical significance of Jupiter Mosman alive. This pinnacle in Queensland’s mining history, when Jupiter plucked that first gold nugget from the stream in Charters Towers, has also been captured on canvas by renowned Australian artist Marji Hill in her original oil painting ‘Jupiters Lucky Strike’ which is currently hanging in the foyer of Ville Resort Casino Hotel (previously Jupiters Townsville Hotel and Casino). Marji Hill has been involved in many aspects of Aboriginal affairs which have provided much of the inspiration and influence for her artworks. Source: www.citigold.com/charters-towers-story/

A rocker box (also known as a cradle) is a gold mining implement for separating alluvial placer gold from sand and gravel which was used in placer mining in the 19th century. It consists of a high-sided box, which is open on one end and on top,[1] and was placed on rockers. Rockers are usually homemade and display a variety of designs. A favorite design consists essentially of a combination washing box and screen, a canvas or carpet apron under the screen, a short sluice with two or more riffles, and rockers under the sluice. The bottom of the washing box consists of sheet metal with holes about 1/2 inch in diameter punched in it, or a l/2-inch-mesh screen can be used. Dimensions shown are satisfactory but variations are possible. The bottom of the rocker should be made of a single wide, smooth board, which will greatly facilitate cleanups. The materials for building a rocker cost only a few dollars, depending mainly on the source of lumber. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocker_box

Stepping back in the history of Charters Towers.

historicalaustraliantowns.blogspot.com/2018/03/charters-t...