Kel York, Tarragower Times
On 2 June 1916 the Maldon News reported there was some excitement around Sandy Creek following the discovery of gold on the property of Mr Gordon, just below Cookman’s Ranges, about three miles (five kms) south of Maldon.
The lucky prospectors were John Annand and A Thomas. John had discovered gold in that locality in 1902, and had been prospecting there since.
News of the later discovery appeared in newspapers around Australia. The Launceston Daily Times reported that many of the old mining identities were of the opinion that the mine was one of the best ever discovered in those parts.
John, his brother George, and brother-in-law Richard Knight formed a private company, Annand Brothers and Knight, to operate the mine. In a short time extremely high yields of gold were being produced. Reports of the yields appeared regularly in newspapers around Australia. The Launceston Daily Times referred to it as the famous Annand Brothers and Knight Mine.
In September 1919, the Ballarat Star reported that 98 ounces had been recovered from a crushing of 12 tons, and that a total of 1,000 ounces had been recovered from the last 100 tons crushed. At today’s gold price of about £2,390 per ounce, that total would be worth about £3.6 million.
The Yearbook Australia – 1911 stated that the average yield from Australian gold mines was about 9½ pennyweight (about 1/3 of an ounce) per ton.
In January 1924 the Ballarat Star reported that ‘Annand and party who had successfully worked a private mine at Welshman’s Reef, and obtained 1,600 ounces of gold, have disposed of their interest. The mine is now under flotation, and 20,000 shares are offered to the public at 6 pence (5 cents) a share. The vendors are to be paid 210 pounds (£400) cash and 3,000 shares paid up to 10% per share, and in addition 400 pounds (£800) is to be paid to the vendors at 10% of gold won by the company.’
The new company was called Annands Reward, John was appointed a director of the company. The Star added that the vendors had obtained about 16,000 pounds (£32,000) worth of gold during the previous three years from various makes of stone. Their deepest shaft was 70 feet (21 metres).
At today’s gold price of about £1,750 per ounce, 1,600 ounces would be worth about £2,800,000.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 15 October 2021.
