Gold Mining on the Dargo, Gipps’ Land.

Rare c.19th engraving of gold mining in Gippsland, Victoria in 1866.

The Dargo pastoral run had covered the river valley the township  of Dargo did not develop until gold was discovered in the rivers of the district. In 1860, a government prospecting party, led by A.W. Howitt, explored the tributaries of the Mitchell River, being the Dargo, Wonnangatta, Wongungarra and Crooked Rivers north and north-west of Dargo. Evidence of mining was found on the Dargo River. However, better prospects were found on the Crooked River and a rush quickly ensued. Hotels and stores were established at Dargo to supply the miners. In 1863, payable gold was discovered in the Upper Dargo River and several small settlements sprang up there. The the rugged terrain made access to the diggings difficult, so in 1864 government parties cut a dray road from Dargo to the Crooked River field and tracks, linking the diggings with Omeo and with Harrietville across the Dargo High Plains. In 1864, quartz reefs were discovered on the ridges in the course of cutting a track between the Crooked and Dargo Rivers.

From the original edition of The Illustrated Sydney News.

References:
Gibbs & Shallard. Illustrated Sydney News. ISSN 2203-5397.

Collections:
State Library New South Wales: F8/39-40
State Library Victoria: PCINF SLVIC=1853-1872
National Library Australia: Bib ID 440095