AMALGAMATED HILL END LTD - FLYING FOX AERIAL ROPEWAY
(Information to be added when found)
The Beginning
The Flying Fox was built as part of the formation of the Amalgamated Hill End Ltd. mining operation on Hawkins Hill in 1911 to allow access to not only the Consolidated adit but also the future lower tunnel in the vicinity of Petersens Battery approximately 350 feet below the Consolidated ground, the lower tunnel is now known as the Amalgamated. The company undertook to acquire all the leading mining companies from Hawkins Hill covering an area of approximately 93 acres. see the Prospectus for full details.
The markers in the map above indicate the approximate location of the end landings of the two stages of the aerial ropeway.
1912 - Starting of the Amalgamated Hill End Battery
"The starting of the battery of the Amalgamated Hill End Limited was celebrated yesterday afternoon. Amongst the witnesses were the school children together with a large concourse of adults who were carried down by the flying fox tram. At 3p.m. the christening of the battery by Mrs. Eyre was performed. Refreshments were provided, and were followed by speeches."[Sydney Morning Herald, Pg.17, dtd 3 Aug 1912]
1912 - Starting of the Amalgamated Hill End Battery
"It was now over 12 months since the amalgamation of the mines was effected, and about £10,000 had been spent in extending the old Consolidated tunnel, picking up levels, developing Phillipson's and the Amalgamated veins, driving some 600ft to the lower tunnel, erection of 18 head of stamps (with a big compressing plant and two big boilers the erection of an aerial ropeway, or flying fox, the putting in of rock drills, building two dams, and the putting in of some 4000ft of pipe lines." [Sydney Morning Herald, Pg.11, dtd 5 Aug 1912]
1918 - The Flying Foxes Job
"The Amalgamated Hill End Company persevered despite numerous disadvantages, not the least of which was the necessity of sending firewood and mine timber from tho top of the hill down to the engine and battery or lower tunnel by two "flying-foxes", the top one of which has a drop of 320 feet, and the lower of 300 feet. Ore won from the lower tunnel has all to be hauled up by the lower "fox" 300 feet to the battery." [The Bathurst Times, Pg.1, dtd 21 Dec 1918]
1918 - Amalgamated Hill End Ltd disposes of the Mine
"In June, 1918, The Amalgamated Hill End Gold-Mining Company contracted to dispose of their interests to Marshall's Hill End Gold Mining Company, the capital of which is £15,000 in 75,000 shares. The old company retained a tribute right for two years to work the Star of Peace and Mica veins series below the tunnel level, the new company being allowed that time to complete the purchase." [The Bathurst Times, Pg.1, dtd 21 Dec 1918]
1918 - Flying Fox Stage 1 Original Upper End landing, circa 1918 [1]
The original stage 1 upper end landing.
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Image courtesy of: Mineral Resources No.27, The Hill End Tambaroora Gold-Field. by L.F. Harper, Geological Surveyor. 1918
1918 - Flying Fox view from a ridge west of Hawkins Hill [10]
This image looks across to Hawkins Hill from the ridge to the west of Hawkins Hill, showing the Flying Fox descending from the top stage 1 end landing down into Nuggetty Gully to the Consolidated ground. Also note in the right of the image the masonry wall of the Carroll and Beard GMC, and the companies adit down from the wall, to its right again is Rapps GMC and to the left of the masonry wall is Krohmanns GMC and to its left was Beyers and Holtermanns Star of Hope GMC, these three companies were to form Krohmanns Amalgamated GMC in 1879, image is circa 1918.
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Image courtesy of: Mineral Resources No.27, The Hill End Tambaroora Gold-Field. by L.F. Harper, Geological Surveyor. 1918
1925 - Mine Fire Destroys the Flying Fox
"A report states that a disastrous fire has occurred at Hawkins Hill mine. The flying fox, about eight cords of firewood, and many bags of charcoal were totally destroyed. The loss is estimated at about £50 to £100. Mr. E. Cock, manager of the mine, with assistance of others, managed to save about six cords of the wood. The cause of the fire is not known." [Lithgow Mercury, Pg.2, dtd 10 Oct 1925]
Unknown Era - Flying Fox Stage 1 Upper End landing Landing [9]
This image looks down over the Consolidated ground, the large shed was the battery and the shed on the right was the office, circa 1920's.
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Image courtesy of: eHive, National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW
Consolidated Ground and Flying Fox [11]
The plan and overlay below shows the layout of the Consolidated ground in Nuggetty Gully.
Unknown Era - Flying Fox Transversing Nuggetty Gully [2]
Shows the path the upper stage of the Ropeway took across Nuggetty Gully (faint line in upper part of the image), the lower stage can be seen descending pass the Amalgamated adit. It appears that the end of the lower stage is anchored to or close to the ground and not by an end landing.
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Image courtesy of: eHive, National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW
1934 - Company and Plant at the Consolidated Adit
"Mining operations are being conducted by the North Bismarck Lucknow Gold Mine N.L. (This was a Marshalls Company) ... This consists of two Colonial Type under fired boilers. These have been recently tested. A battery engine serving as a prime mover for an 18 head stamp battery, each stamp weighing 8 cwts. The battery is equipped with amalgamating tables and 220 mesh screens but no necessary equipment for the making of a concentrate. A Roberts straight line air compressor and a receiver is also included.
[DiGS, Devon Gold NL - Hawkins_Hill_Group_of_Mines,_Orange_R00049150_2024-06-02]
Pre 1945 - Flying Fox Stage 1 Upper End landing [3]
The original upper end landing with Edward Wtyhes and others. This image is pre 1945 as Edward passed away in 1945.
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Image courtesy of: eHive, National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW
Pre 1945 - Flying Fox Stage 1 Upper End landing [4]
The original stage 1 upper end landing with unknown woman. This image is pre 1945. Note the pulley arrangement which allowed the trays to go up and down the hauling cables. Two small pulleys suspended from the top cross beam and a large pulley supported by the lower cross beams. Also note the lightning rod secured to the pole above the top cross beam.
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Image courtesy of: eHive, National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW
1951 - Devon Gold N.L. - Mine Incident 5 Apr 1951
GAS FUMES CAUSE WORKERS' COLLAPSE
Overcome by carbon monoxide fumes in the New Devon gold mine at Hill End shortly after 8 o'clock yesterday morning, two men narrowly escaped death.
Four other men who went to their rescue were also overcome and two were admitted to Sofala Hospital.
The director In charge of the mine, Mr. J. Paul Jones, said last night that a charge had been fired at midnight on Wednesday and the fumes had apparently not lifted. By coincidence, the Mines Inspector Mr. Edwards, of Orange was in Hill End on business and was informed immediately by Mr. Paul Jones, of the men's collapse. Mr. Edwards enlisted the help of mine workers and was mainly responsible for the rescue of the trapped men.
The entrance to the mine is in a deep gorge and is reached by means of a "flying fox". The injured men were transported to the top of the gorge by the "fox" where they received first aid. The Paxton Vein, which the men are trying to reach was last operated in 1873 when 50 tons of gold bearing ore was won. Mr. Paul Jones said all men worked unceasingly to get the trapped miners to the surface, and he said much thanks was due to Mr. Edwards who, with improvised rescue material, helped save the lives of Frazer and Longmore. [National Advocate, Pg.1, dtd 6 Apr 1951]
1953 - Devon Gold N.L. - Particulars of Machinery
"Jaw crusher, ten head battery, 2 Colonial boilers, steam driven compressor, steam engine, Diesel driven compressor."
The report noted that "Flying fox head frame has been reparied and double drum lowering winch installed. Diesel operated air compressor overhauled and operating."
This image shows workers either loading or off loading parts from the trays using block and tackle, note that both trays are up at the top landing and connected by the steel bar through the eyelets suggesting changes made to the functioning of one tray being up at the landing and the other tray being down at the Consolidated, note also the sign on the landing corner post "Devon Gold Hill End", circa 1950's.
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Image courtesy of: eHive, National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW
The report noted that "Early in the year severe bushfires completely destroyed the crusher, battery, diesel plant etc. comprising the treatment plant, and Woolard's output of over 20 ounces was recovered by hand drill, dolly-pot and dish." This bushfire would have also consumed the three end landings in Nuggetty Gully. There is no evidence that the stage 1 upper end landing was destroyed by fire, images show there was no damage done.
1960 - Marshall Interests - Plan to construct a roadway to the Consolidated Tunnel Portal.
Two men cleaning up machine site at Consolidated Tunnel portal. Present plans are to construct a roadway to the subject area, install compressed air plant and prospect below the Consolidate Tunnel Level.
1960 - Marshall Interests - Surface works to the Consolidated Tunnel Portal.
On the surface 3 men are cleaning up around an old burnt out battery. Diesel engine and compressor have allegedly been overhauled but air receiver R.908 has been condemned as not fit for further use.
