AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L Archives

From: "Tom Woolman" <>
Subject: White Hills locations - again!
Date: Sat, 08 Feb 2003 08:38:35 +1100

Hi Listers,

In the past on this list theres been quite a bit of confusion about the
different localities called White Hills. Last year I promised to post
further information including all that from other listers, but this attempt
to clarify is going to be too long to do that in detail.

White Hills Bendigo has been a Births, Deaths and Marriage Registration
District since the gold era. There are at least seven white hills there,
known as the First White Hill, closest to Bendigo/Sandhurst, and so on
going north parallel with the Echuca rail line. These were used as building
addresses on registration certificates. Ive detailed the location of each
of these in my posting of 9 November 2002.

White Hills just north of Maryborough, Victoria, was a Births, Marriages and
Death Registration District in the 1850s, and perhaps later. The location
pre-dates Maryborough. That White Hills name refers to several things the
place gold was first discovered in the Four Mile Creek Valley, the town [now
totally gone] that grew up nearby, where presumably the BMD registration
office was, and the series of white hills which go from the First White
Hill, closest to Havelock, TOWARDS Maryborough. The booklet Maryborough
Maps by John Tully, 1997, shows the location of three White Hills. I have
an article on the town in 1858, and a 2002 digital photo of the First White
Hill if you want either/both.

[Charles Beasleys map of August 31, 1854 shows White Hill in a slightly
different location on the other side of the Four Mile Creek to the generally
known (First) White Hill, but I think he just drew the creek on the wrong
side of the hill. Last year I posted some advice that at least until the
1910s, there was a natural white quartz hill formation in the area of
Beasleys White Hill location, but Im now of the opinion that that was
never known as one of the White Hills were thinking of.]

Several listers posted other White Hill(s) addresses on the list in 2002.
These addresses seem to be very common, but only the Bendigo/Sandhurst and
Maryborough ones seem to be/have been registration districts. Family
historians trying to trace their ancestors around the country who come
across a family registration of White Hills in the 1850s-60s really need
to buy the full certificate to see if there are any other clues as to which
of the two locations it is. Others who are lucky enough to have other
references to White Hill/s as an address need to keep an open mind, as there
seem to be White Hill addresses in many goldfields areas. Search the
postings for November 2002 to see some of these.

Several listers provided suggestions as to why there were so many. All
seemed to be correct as in some locations the hills are of white clay, in
others of white quartz. Certainly at both Bendigo/Sandhurst and at
Havelock/Maryborough, the clay soil is very white in colour.

Many thanks to all who contributed to the White Hill(s) locations
discussion, including Christine Randall, Margie Lambert, Dianne Hughes, Judy
Meibusch, Dawn Webb, Dave of Wyoming, NSW and Bill White. Rather than
trying to provide all their information here, I refer you to their November
postings. Apologies, and for those with long memories, Ill post the
promised Back Creeks sort out soon. Well may you groan!

Tom









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• White Hills locations - again! by "Tom Woolman" <>