Mining the Landscape: The Archaeology of Mount Shamrock (Contributions To Global Historical Archaeology)

Mining was one of the primary elements of colonial enterprise in Australia and a factor in movement on colonial frontiers. In the second half of the 19th and early 20th century, mining―particularly of gold―saw transformations of the land itself, as well as in the way that people working in mining engaged with the landscape around them. Landscape archaeology provides a theoretical perspective that allows an articulation of how people created and understood the place in which they lived and worked. The impact of and narrative surrounding gold mining has meant that it has long been a focus of study, both historical and archaeological. The archaeology of mining has traditionally fallen under the umbrella of industrial archaeology, with analyses based on historical, economic and technological evidence. However this is changing. From an industrial focus, examining the remnants of mines and associated processing equipment, archaeology has progressed towards understandings of the social aspects of mining, recognising that people, not just equipment, occupied these landscapes. Nevertheless, there remains a separation between industrial/technology-based studies and purely social/ household-based archaeological studies―a division that overlooks the integration of home and livelihood. This work addresses these very challenges, using a landscape-based approach that articulates a nuanced, meaning-ladened and experienced mining landscape. Integrating the social and the industrial, the case study of Mount Shamrock, a gold-mining town in Queensland, Australia, demonstrates how this methodology can enhance our understanding of the past. The work presents an integration of social and industrial perspectives in a mining settlement, and provides an exemplar in the application of landscape theory to Australian historical archaeology. These concepts and approaches, developed in an Australian context, are of universalinterest. Preface Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: The Landscapes of Nineteenth Century Gold Mining Background The Archaeology of Mining “Industrial” Landscapes Mining Communities and Networks Social Aspects of Technology Perspectives of Landscapes Finding the Social in the Industrial Summary References Chapter 2: Landscapes, Places and Parts Structuring of Space and Place Landscapes: Meaning, Identity, Power Creation of Meaning, Attachment and Memory Mutual Constitution Structure and Agency World View, Multivocality and Power Scale Landscapes in Historical Archaeology Landscapes of Power Landscapes of Identity Landscapes of Industry Summary References Chapter 3: Colonial Mining: A Global Historical Context Global Gold Rushes Economic Imperative and Impact Movement of People Mining in Nineteenth Century Queensland Colonialism and Race Relations Exploration for Gold Access and Codification of Land Politics, Economics and Class Mining Legislation in Queensland Mining in the Burnett Summary References Chapter 4: Surveying the Past Approaches to an Archaeology of Landscapes Methodology Identity Spatial Relationships Meaning Linking Processes and Social Landscapes for an Industrial Township The Archaeological Evidence Township Area Mining and Processing Areas Site Formation Processes Summary References Chapter 5: The History of Mount Shamrock: Four Miles from Degilbo Head Station The Discovery of Gold The Making of a Town The Residents of Mount Shamrock School and Sunday School—Education and Religion Links to Paradise Mining at Mount Shamrock The Rise and Fall of Mount Shamrock Summary References Chapter 6: The Landscape of Mount Shamrock: A “Settled and Business Like Aspect” Social Construction of Identity Social Landscape Domestic/Household Material Culture and Social Identity Social Mobility Structuring of Space Homestead Leases, Land and Enclosure Ethnicity Movement and Permanence in the Landscape The Colonial Framework and Its Influence on Social Landscape Summary References Chapter 7: Scale, Meaning, Experience: Exploring Landscapes Local Landscape Landscape of Meaning Giving and Taking Meaning in the Landscape Wilderness Different Understandings Scales of Landscape Experiencing the Landscape Summary References Chapter 8: The Industry of Mount Shamrock: A Mine of Great Promise Social Influences on Industrial Methods and Technologies Used Mining Mineral Processing Chemical Treatments Chlorination Cyaniding The Role of Mining Administration Mount Shamrock—A Company Town? Mount Shamrock Gold Mining and Quartz Crushing Company Tribute Miners The Mining Landscape Environment and the Physical Landscape A Sensory Landscape Networks and Paths Global, Political and Economic Landscape Summary References Chapter 9: Towards a Social Landscape of Industry Landscapes of Mount Shamrock Marriage of Industrial and Domestic Conclusion References Glossary of Terms Appendix A Identified Features in Township Roadway, Drainage and Fence Line Features Structural Features Composite Features Appendix B Identified Features in Industrial Area Mining Remnants First Battery Area Upper Processing Area Lower Cyanide Area Outlying Industrial Features Sources Periodicals and Directories Personal Communications References Cited Index Mining was one of the primary elements of colonial enterprise in Australia and a factor in movement on colonial frontiers. In the second half of the 19th and early 20th century, miningparticularly of goldsaw transformations of the land itself, as well as in the way that people working in mining engaged with the landscape around them. Landscape archaeology provides a theoretical perspective that allows an articulation of how people created and understood the place in which they lived and worked. The impact of and narrative surrounding gold mining has meant that it has long been a focus of study, both historical and archaeological. The archaeology of mining has traditionally fallen under the umbrella of industrial archaeology, with analyses based on historical, economic and technological evidence. However this is changing. From an industrial focus, examining the remnants of mines and associated processing equipment, archaeology has progressed towards understandings of the social aspects of mining, recognising that people, not just equipment, occupied these landscapes. Nevertheless, there remains a separation between industrial/technology-based studies and purely social/ household-based archaeological studiesa division that overlooks the integration of home and livelihood. This work addresses these very challenges, using a landscape-based approach that articulates a nuanced, meaning-ladened and experienced mining landscape. Integrating the social and the industrial, the case study of Mount Shamrock, a gold-mining town in Queensland, Australia, demonstrates how this methodology can enhance our understanding of the past. The work presents an integration of social and industrial perspectives in a mining settlement, and provides an exemplar in the application of landscape theory to Australian historical archaeology. These concepts and approaches, developed in an Australian context, are of universal interest