Mr. John Robertson, the Legal Manager of the Davies Freehold Junction Mine was instrumental in the early rescue attempts of the trapped 27 miners at the Australasian Mine Disaster in 1882. His harrowing narrative of the rescue attempt is reported in "The Maitland Mercury", December 16, 1882 at the Related Web Page.
The Davies Freehold Company was formed in March 1879 by local speculators. By their fifth half yearly report the directors reported that the erection of the plant was complete. By September 1881 the shaft had been completed to a depth of 272 feet. Bores had also proved the existence of wash dirt in the southern portion of the claim, and a second shaft was sunk. The works had by October 1881 exhausted all capital, and the capital per share was raised to 24 shillings. The No. 1 shaft was eventually abandoned and the sinking of No. 2 shaft proved difficult due to heavy drift and influx of water. The first gold was recovered from No. 2 shaft in June 1884, and over the next four years the company produced 7533 ounces of gold.
Significance: The Davies Freehold Company was a minor producer of gold and a highly unprofitable mine.
This is a park and grab style small cache with log only, so bring a pen please..