Welcome back to our exploration of the legendary Ballarat Gold Mine in Upper Bingara! In Part 1, we introduced you to this remarkable ridge that became home to some of the richest gold discoveries in Australian history. Today, we delve deeper into the fascinating stories of the pioneering families who made it all possible.
Discover Bingara's Rich History at Rodney's Relics
At Rodney's Relics, we're passionate about preserving and sharing Australian history, particularly the captivating stories from Bingara - an old gold and diamond mining town that remains a fossicker's haven to this day. Gold is still being discovered in the Bingara mountains and streams, keeping the spirit of adventure alive!
We stock a large range of Bingara history books, many written by local authors who write out of pure love for their town. What makes this even more special? 80% of our Bingara history book sales go directly to the Bingara Historical Society, helping preserve this incredible heritage for future generations.
Featured Book: Bingara Federation Families
One of our most treasured titles is "Bingara Federation Families" - a comprehensive social study of family life in a country town from the 1890s to the 1930s. This remarkable book features 211 chapters dedicated to pioneer families - the trailblazers who helped make Bingara great.
Within its pages, you'll discover the stories of squatters, graziers, townspeople, and the gold and diamond miners who shaped this region. The book includes history-making photos and features prominent families including the Bulls, the Macks, the Hoggs, the Kerrigans, the Connollys, the Munros, the Bilsboroughs, the Kings, and many, many more.
Today, we're spotlighting two families featured in the book whose names became synonymous with the Ballarat's extraordinary wealth: the Hantons and the Neals.
The Miners: Masters of the Ballarat
The late John Hume, in his book Bingara's Golden Past, provides a vivid description of the Ballarat:
"The year 1881 was one of great significance as this year saw the opening up of Upper Bingara's most famous and most highly productive reef mine – The Ballarat. The Ballarat is really a ridge running down off the tableland and not a mine. It actually supported a number of mines, two of which were extraordinarily rich – the Neal's and the Hanton's, both named after their owners."
John Hanton (1837-1915) and Frances (Fanny) Hanton (1864-1936)
John Hanton arrived in Australia with a wealth of mining experience from New Zealand's Otago gold rush. Born in Wexford, Ireland in 1837, John came to Australia with his two brothers, Harry and Mathias, bringing expertise that would prove invaluable.
Historian Harold Batterham noted in his Random Jottings:
"Mr. John Hanton was aware that a copper bar intersecting a buck reef would most certainly result in gold and at Ballarat no less than six copper bars had converged almost together where they struck the buck reef."
This geological knowledge led to one of the richest gold finds in the region. After arriving at Upper Bingara, John met Frances Reeves, daughter of James and Eleanor Reeves (the first family to settle in the Elcombe area), and they married in 1885. Together they had five children: Matthias, John, Frances, William, and Joseph.
John's business acumen matched his mining expertise. He purchased a quartz-crushing machine from Nundle - no small feat to transport to Upper Bingara - and a steam engine to drive it. This investment not only boosted his own operations but transformed the entire Upper Bingara mining community, as he made the equipment available to other miners. Later, John purchased the farming property 'Spring Hill' on the Barraba Road, cementing his family's legacy in the region.
James Neal (1810-1885) and Sarah Neal (1828-1913)
James Neal's journey to the Ballarat began far from the goldfields. Born at Richmond on 23rd October 1810, he was the son of James Kell Neal and Lucy Lane. According to records from the Family History Society of Singleton Inc., James married Sarah Jones on 27th March 1843.
Before striking gold, James was a publican, holding licences for several hotels from 1849 until the mid-1860s, including the Cross Keys, the Plough Inn (also called the Plough and Horse), and the Bridge Hotel. In 1858, the family departed the Bridge Hotel for Piedmont Station, where they commenced gold mining at Tea Tree Creek on the Crow Mountain goldfield, south-east of Barraba.
By the mid-1870s, the Neals had moved to Upper Bingara. As Elizabeth Adams recorded in her book Gold & Old Bush School:
"New arrivals like the Neal and Hanton families with experience, expertise and most importantly, capital were to make their mark and progressed local mining in the 1880s. Arriving in 1873 with his family, James made no significant gold finds at first but he opened the Welcome Inn in 1873 and was to make bonanza, with son William, on Barack Creek."
That "bonanza" on Barack Creek (the Ballarat) would secure the Neal family's place in Bingara's golden history.
More Than Just Bingara: Explore Australian History at Rodney's Relics
While Bingara history books are a specialty, they're just a small part of our extensive range of Australian history titles. At Rodney's Relics, you'll find compelling true stories covering:
- Murder mysteries that gripped the nation
- Biographies of fascinating Australian characters
- Missing people cases that remain unsolved
- Bushrangers and their daring exploits
- True crime and tales of carnage
- Police stories - both the good and the bad
Coming Soon: Bingara Our Town Our People - Volume 2
Exciting news! Rodney of Rodney's Relics has already published "Bingara Our Town Our People - Vol. 1", and Volume 2 will be published in just 4 weeks! These books represent a labour of love, documenting the people and stories that make Bingara special.
Visit Rodney's Relics - Your Destination for Australian History
Whether you're researching your family history, fascinated by gold mining heritage, or simply love a good Australian story, Rodney's Relics is your destination for quality history books. Our collection celebrates the pioneers, the adventurers, the criminals, and the everyday people who shaped this nation.
Explore our range today and discover the stories that built Australia - from the diamond fields of Bingara to the far corners of this great land.
Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we'll continue exploring the Hanton and Neal families and their remarkable contributions to Bingara's golden legacy!
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