…or so the cry went out on three occasions during the second half of the 19th century when gold seekers tried their luck in the part of the Mornington Peninsula centred around the Tubbarubba* and Bulldog Creek areas. This inland plain area was called “Tubbarubbabel” by the original inhabitants, meaning “good camping place” as there was always a permanent water supply.
in consequence of the large amounts of water – were exhibited.” The subsequent representations resulted in the reservation of Crown allotments 3, 7 and 8, and appear to have launched Tubbarubba as an accepted goldfield causing the first, albeit minor, rush to occur. In 1862, Mr E Permenzel applied to the government for a reward for locating gold at Tubbarubba; his application was refused as people were already well aware of the existence of the goldfield.
Some interest in the area took place as early as 1851 after a small gold-bearing reef was found in Bulldog Creek. Subsequently a Mr Threader, who worked for a local roads board, spent several years prospecting in the Tubbarubba area. He was assisted by William Grover and other local men who found the ground to be auriferous (containing gold). Threader’s representation to the government led to the Geological Surveyor, Reginald Murray, being sent down to examine the area. His report was favourable.
Over the next few years many searched for the elusive gold reef at Tubbarubba without success. However alluvial gold was found, enough to keep interest alive, along the beds of the Tubbarubba, Bulldog and Mosquito creeks. In some quarters the Tubbarubba “goldfields” were referred to slightingly as the “Rubble Bubble alluvial diggings”.
In September 1862 The Argus newspaper reported that a large meeting had been held at Schnapper Point (Mornington) where it was decided to petition the Commissioner of Lands and Survey to withhold from alienation by the Crown the land “within a distance of six or eight miles of Schnapper Point”, which was believed to be a payable goldfield, until it was further prospected. “During the meeting, samples of gold found in sluicing the surface – the prospectors having been unable to sink
On December 30, 1862 a letter appeared in The Argus from “Digger”, who, somewhat disillusioned, wrote to inform readers that the men at Tubbarubba diggings were “just making tucker”. A week later “Experienced Digger” responded that some parties were making more than tucker. He stated that “for any willing digger with a five pound note which will enable a fair start, there is every chance of success”. Interest in the Tubbarubba goldfields dwindled later in the 1860s to desultory fossicking, although every now and then interest would be rekindled by a “find”. In March 1866, 40 miners were searching for alluvial gold along the three creeks (Tubbarubba, Bulldog and Mosquito) and a 50-foot (15-metre) shaft had been sunk on the first discovered reef known as Browns. In July 1871 the news was spread, mainly through the Mornington Standard, that three gold-bearing reefs had been struck in the valley of Tubbarubba Creek. And so the second rush to the locality took place, with a considerable number of claims being staked out and reports of a company being formed to work a claim. A shaft 20- to 30-feet deep was sunk (6-9 metres), and gold was said to be present in the quartz removed. It was estimated that 200 diggers participated in this rush. After a visit to the diggings J W Wood wrote in the Standard later in 1871: “I may safely say that gold in payable quantities will not be found either in the alluvial or in the misnamed quartz reef.” Soon most of the diggers came to agree with Mr Wood’s opinion and gradually left Tubbarubba. However a number of Chinese miners were attracted to the scene, apparently disembarking at Flinders and thereby avoiding the 10 pound poll tax levied at of-
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