This story was first published in Bingara, our town, our people Vol. 2. It is about the start of diamond mining in Australia and the man who made Bingara famous.
Captain Rogers was a dynamo. A real achiever who went up a gear when all others had given up. After the first diamond rush in Bingara had died, the Captain kept plugging away to create the king of all mines, the mighty Monte Christo. Both are now firmly engrained in the town's history. The story begins when two old gold miners, McCaw and Westcott, chanced upon diamonds when prospecting for gold and this quickly launched a rush for leases. This occurred in 1872 at an area known as 'Eagle Hawk' and thanks to the publications of the late John Hume, a school teacher, the details of these exciting times are recorded for future generations.
Diamonds in Australia
According to the Australian Museum the largest and most economic diamond deposit is the Argyle Mine in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. Production started in the 1980s and for a while it was, by volume, the world's largest mine. However, most diamonds are for industry with only about 5% of gem quality. Many years prior to Argyle there were numerous occurrences of diamonds in NSW and the most productive mines were in the Bingara and Copeton areas. The leading mine in Bingara was the Monte Christo. But the richest area was around Copeton, where the Son of the South mine topped the production.
Discovery at Eagle Hawk
Bingara in 1873 was only a small mining town and gold was yet to be discovered at Whitlow, Borah and Four Mile Creek. Until then most of the action was at Upper Bingara where in 1861, it had a population of 1905 people. At the same time Bingara had a population of about 90 people. Thus, a visiting journalist, when reporting on the discovery of diamonds at Eagle Hawk, had a poor opinion of Bingara. Writing for the Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 1st March 1873, he said, 'This outlandish, though rising township, is quite in a state of fever caused by a recent and very extensive discovery of diamonds at Eagle Hawk. The lucky finders are Alexander McCaw and John Westcott, two old miners.' The journalist noted that the area was named after the Eagles who built many nests in the area, including one that was about 10 feet square. It was built on the highest tree on the highest mountain.
He also reported that McCaw was married and had an extensive family. Adding, 'The younger branches of which in a state of nature (nearly nude), to almost roam about at will amusing themselves.' Sadly, there is a plaque in the vicinity of the mining area, a lasting memorial of a five-year-old boy who died there. He was a son of McCaw.
At first McCaw and Westcott tried to keep their strike a secret. However, the word soon got out and a rush for ground started. Their discovery was on what was later called Eagle Hawk Creek and shortly after another gold miner, Tom Low, found diamonds at Ladies Gully, a tributary of Doctor's Creek. But the rush did not last long and John Hume in Diamond Mining in Bingara said,
'After the big rush things fizzled out in 1874 leaving a recorded production of about 600 carrots. There was little activity and no recorded production for the next few years. However, E. E. Pittman (Government Geological Surveyor) examined the field and published a very favourable geological report in 1882. This report stimulated interest and led to a resurgent of diamond mining in Bingara. It was at this time Bingara's most famous diamond miner Captain Rogers, first attracted public notice.'
With the renewed interest in diamonds, McCaw and Westcott were offered £4000 by the Bank of NSW for their claim but they wanted £20,000. Unfortunately, they refused the offer and soon after the Kimberly mines in South Africa opened up. The price of diamonds dropped and McCaw and Westcott left the district penniless. But against this background of failure Rogers had continued mining when all others had given up.
Captain Charles Rogers
Rogers was a tin miner in his native Cornwall and the title of 'Captain' was an honorary mining one, usually given to Cornish miners who were in management positions. When the tin prices collapsed he left for the Australian gold fields. He spent his early days in Victoria and later claimed he was the first person to work a quartz lease and the first person to erect quartz crushing machinery in Australia.
John, when discussing the various claims made by Captain Rogers, commented, 'I have no confirmation as to the accuracy of these claims but there is no doubt that Charles Rogers would have been familiar with Hard Rock mining and the use of crushing machinery in Cornwall.' He also argued that Rogers was a miner of above ability and therefor, his claims were probably correct.
About eighteen months after Rogers commenced prospecting on the Bingara fields he hit pay dirt. It was on an 80 acre claim that he called the Monte Christo. Later he sold all his claims to Australian Diamond Mining Company (ADM). This was something he regretted...