Gday Folks

[Horse]

Hey Guys and Gals,

I have been lurking and reading the past few days, looks like a lot of knowledge among the group.

Born in Orange NSW and raised Bathurst.
My Dad originated from Carcoar and my Mum from Hill End....so I do not know why it took me to age 22 to get gold fever.
Now 44 and really itchy to chase the yellow again, and lucky enough to have a Wife more eager than I to do the same.

My fossicking travels have taken me to Nundle, Uralla, Ophir, Abercrombie River, Turon, Macquarie Rivers, Clear Creek, Winburndale Rivulet as well as all over the Hill End - Tambaroora District.

Hill End has a lot of history for my Mothers side of the family (being the youngest of 12 raised in the Hill End - Tambaroora area . From my Grandad running the Old "Alpha" Sheep Station, a great Uncle owning "Cannonball" property and another Owning the Royal Hotel in years gone by.
I still have two Aunts that have houses in town there, as well as a number of other distant relatives.

At 24, I was lucky enough to work at "History Hill" for a few months with Malcolm and Daphne Drinkwater...I only wished the job had not a been a temporary position.
Sitting and listening to Malcolm talk was always a pleasure...his passion for the gold fields is infectious.

"Steve" with the tin of nuggets...if this is the same guy I know who also has a tin of nuggets.. is a good bloke. I wired up his house for the generator. (sparky by trade here)
Steves Missus and my Mother had been friends for years, so again I was lucky enough to pick the brains of a local legend and watch the guy in action when he took me out for a scratch.

While living in Hill End, I played for the local cricket team in the Gold Country Cup ... Brian Hodge was Captain /Coach
Other teams included Sofala, Windeyer, Hargraves and Sofala/Wattle Flat. A good bit of fun...although one day during a local game..we all ended up fighting fires instead.

I now live in Taree NSW and travelled out around Kerripit, Dilgry, Barrington Rivers last weekend....first time there...but nothing seems to compare to my favorite haunts on the Turon and around Hill End.

The Wife is egging me on for us to buy a block of land around Hill End for a holiday, fossicking base, and I have to say the idea is getting to me more and more.
Living in Taree....feels like a million miles to the gold fields.

When work slows down in the Autumn, we will be going away for a week trip to Hill End/Sofala..wish it was sooner.

regards
Horse

 

[BigSam]

Welcome Horse!

 

[Wally69]

Welcome Horse

Rubies in them there hills somewhere near you I have been told. I have a brother that has moved to the area recently and had intentions of doing some research to see if there is some good ground on that side of the range.

Hope you get some good pointers from forum members, I am keen to see what prospects there are as we'll.

As for hill end, the camp ground in town is more than pleasant to stop at but a permanent setup....now you are talking.......good luck.

 

[thesmithy]

Welcome aboard Horse......why do they call you Horse.....?
I to am a friend of Malcolms...last visit last year I put a set of shoes on his riding horse.
had no gear with me.......just scrounged around his blacksmith shop as well as his old shoeing gear.
job done, Malcolm was impressed as it took me 40 minutes..... he said he can get it done in about 2 days.

I too can sit with him for hrs such a passionate man with such a long history in the district with gold.

He told me I could fossick around town as it was ok. I said it is national park reserve. Malcolm said there is no signage stating no fossicking on the road to hargraves......any gully on the left hand side has good colour. I said why don't you do it.....reply they know me with a cheeky grin. Just tell the rangers you didn't know as it is not sign posted.

We didn't do it as we knew the rule for Hill End.

We did come across the 2 rangers and struck up a conversation.
this is how it went.
Hey there you guys have a cushy job.
Yeah not to bad.
what time you start
Oh around 8am in winter
Wow wish I had them hrs
What time you knock off then.
About 3.30pm just in time for a beer.
Pretty good hrs there I'd say...we work 12 hrs shifts..real long days Eh.

Then said good bye and sitting in the 4x4 said to the son thats all the info We need.

These 2 blokes would have been talking to their... boss telling him about these two great blokes they met and the nature of the conversation they had had.

reply from Boss.
you stupid idiots.....start work at 6am from now on and watch out for the 2 great guys in the green Landrover.
Cheers
TheSmithy

 

[WalnLiz]

Great intro Horse and welcome to the forum. Sounds like you can well and truly call yourself a local in that area. Good to see you're getting back into the hobby and I'm confident you'll find the forum of great benefit with information.

The members are a friendly bunch, so if you need any advice or a place to share a story feel free to participate on the many varied threads.

All the very best of luck out there,

Cheers Wal.

 

[Horse]

Welcome aboard Horse......why do they call you Horse.....?
I to am a friend of Malcolms...last visit last year I put a set of shoes on his riding horse.
had no gear with me.......just scrounged around his blacksmith shop as well as his old shoeing gear.
job done, Malcolm was impressed as it took me 40 minutes..... he said he can get it done in about 2 days.

I too can sit with him for hrs such a passionate man with such a long history in the district with gold.

He told me I could fossick around town as it was ok. I said it is national park reserve. Malcolm said there is no signage stating no fossicking on the road to hargraves......any gully on the left hand side has good colour. I said why don't you do it.....reply they know me with a cheeky grin. Just tell the rangers you didn't know as it is not sign posted.

We didn't do it as we knew the rule for Hill End.

We did come across the 2 rangers and struck up a conversation.
this is how it went.
Hey there you guys have a cushy job.
Yeah not to bad.
what time you start
Oh around 8am in winter
Wow wish I had them hrs
What time you knock off then.
About 3.30pm just in time for a beer.
Pretty good hrs there I'd say...we work 12 hrs shifts..real long days Eh.

Then said good bye and sitting in the 4x4 said to the son thats all the info We need.

These 2 blokes would have been talking to their... boss telling him about these two great blokes they met and the nature of the conversation they had had.

reply from Boss.
you stupid idiots.....start work at 6am from now on and watch out for the 2 great guys in the green Landrover.
Cheers
TheSmithy

Great story there Smithy...some of the Rangers never seem to fit into their posting eh?..hehe.

With the initials of GG...my nickname of Horse was a mere formality

Thanx for the warm welcome to the forum folks.

 

[WalnLiz]

Eh Horse....GG is good initials.....my favorite Sapphire spot is called GG.

Cheers Wal.

 

[axeman]

G'day horse, welcome. Great intro but I must warn you, don't let on if you buy a block around hill end, It'll look like a commune with all the PA members moving in.
mick

 

[kleinman98]

Welcome Horse, my brother is looking for property around Mudgie so may use that area as a base.