Keep It Dark, West Wyalong, Gipps Co., New South Wales, Australiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Keep It Dark | Mine (Built Over) |
| West Wyalong | Town |
| Gipps Co. | County |
| New South Wales | State |
| Australia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
33° 55' 30'' South , 147° 12' 26'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Mine (Built Over) - last checked 2026
Deposit first discovered:
1893
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| West Wyalong | 3,191 (2013) | 0.3km |
| Mirrool | 211 (2018) | 37.1km |
| Reefton | 132 (2018) | 41.3km |
| Bland | 110 (2018) | 44.4km |
| Burcher | 187 (2016) | 45.9km |
Historic gold mine. Now built over with housing.
Knapman and Party held the first crushing in September 1894.
The mine produced regular crushings throughout its history, usually by tributors. One was called Billy the Frenchman. Dan Barnett is another around 1903-1906. A lack of shareholder capital often hindered the mine.
Nappin and Long from Melbourne were noted as shareholders in the mine in 1904. In 1909, the adjoining Golden Fleece mine purchased the Keep It Dark lease. While the shafts were then connected at the 50 foot level, it was the intention to work the mines separately. About thirty men were employed at the mine at this time.
In 1910, the Keep It Dark Gold Mining Company NL was registered, the mine purchased from Roderick Joseph King. Shareholders were West Wyalong farmers and merchants, and King himself. King continued developing the mine, along with mine manager A.A. Duncan. The company did itself no favours, by immediately asking the shareholders for more money, after they had already purchased the shares.
In 1911, George Burton (43) died underground in the mine. Burton, Alexander Sullivan, and Matthew Turve broke through into a flooded old winze. Sullivan reached the ladder, while Turve was washed by the torrent 160 feet to the ladder, and sustained severe cuts and bruises. Burton could not be located, and the workings were dewatered. He was found dead in a well with a fractured skull. He left behind a wife and several young children. The verdict at the inquiry, as usual, was accidental death with no-one to blame. The jury recommended old workings be de-watered before mining activities took place. Such suggestions were nearly always filed away with no action taken.
The company did not last long, with little shareholder support. Manager Duncan who had largely financed the mine in prior years, decided to take matters into his own hands, and formed Duncan Options in 1914, taking over several leases. The Keep It Dark lease still had a decent plant, which the company had a twelve month option to purchase. The company intended to mine from the Keep It Dark shaft, however after some development work, the money ran out again, and operations ceased for good.
In 1917, the government cancelled all of the Duncan Options leases for non payment of rent.
Knapman and Party held the first crushing in September 1894.
The mine produced regular crushings throughout its history, usually by tributors. One was called Billy the Frenchman. Dan Barnett is another around 1903-1906. A lack of shareholder capital often hindered the mine.
Nappin and Long from Melbourne were noted as shareholders in the mine in 1904. In 1909, the adjoining Golden Fleece mine purchased the Keep It Dark lease. While the shafts were then connected at the 50 foot level, it was the intention to work the mines separately. About thirty men were employed at the mine at this time.
In 1910, the Keep It Dark Gold Mining Company NL was registered, the mine purchased from Roderick Joseph King. Shareholders were West Wyalong farmers and merchants, and King himself. King continued developing the mine, along with mine manager A.A. Duncan. The company did itself no favours, by immediately asking the shareholders for more money, after they had already purchased the shares.
In 1911, George Burton (43) died underground in the mine. Burton, Alexander Sullivan, and Matthew Turve broke through into a flooded old winze. Sullivan reached the ladder, while Turve was washed by the torrent 160 feet to the ladder, and sustained severe cuts and bruises. Burton could not be located, and the workings were dewatered. He was found dead in a well with a fractured skull. He left behind a wife and several young children. The verdict at the inquiry, as usual, was accidental death with no-one to blame. The jury recommended old workings be de-watered before mining activities took place. Such suggestions were nearly always filed away with no action taken.
The company did not last long, with little shareholder support. Manager Duncan who had largely financed the mine in prior years, decided to take matters into his own hands, and formed Duncan Options in 1914, taking over several leases. The Keep It Dark lease still had a decent plant, which the company had a twelve month option to purchase. The company intended to mine from the Keep It Dark shaft, however after some development work, the money ran out again, and operations ceased for good.
In 1917, the government cancelled all of the Duncan Options leases for non payment of rent.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
1 valid mineral.
Detailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| Au | Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australia
- Lachlan OrogenOrogen
- Central NSW - Omeo ProvinceGeologic Province
- New South Wales
- West Wyalong GoldfieldGold Field
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
- Lachlan Fold Belt
- Wagga-Omeo Metamorphic ComplexOrogenic Belt
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