The 1860’s and 1870’s were the golden years of gold mining activity in New South Wales.

In 1861 the New South Wales Government legislated to control Gold Mining Companies to undertake underground mining, as the availability of surface alluvial gold had became scarcer.

 

 

Under the provisions of the Limited Mining Partnership Act of 1861, agents for each new mining company were required to publish in the New South Wales Government Gazette the following particulars:

o Name of Company and place of operations         o Names and residences of the initial shareholders          o Value of each share          o Number of shares held by each person.

Over the period 1861 to 1879, over 23,000 persons took up initial share holdings in 450 gold mining companies. In the Gold Mining Companies and Investors Database, History Services has a full index of the names and residences of the initial shareholders and the number of shares held by each.

The database DOES NOT include the names of persons who subsequently purchased shares from these initial shareholders, as this information was not required to be published.

For a fee of AU$25 for each search, History Services will undertake a search of the database for a nominated person.

You will receive a Result of Search by email in the following format which summarises all the information held for all persons with that name.

  

Sample Result of Search

For a "Result of Search for John Breen", click here (PDF) To see a sample of Gold Mining Companies that have been researched, click here

Should a search be unsuccessful, you will be advised by email.

By ordering a search of the Gold Mining Companies and Investors Database you acknowledge that you have read and accepted the  Terms and Conditions.

History Services NSW will consider undertaking further searches of its databases to accommodate any special research requests. Please email your request.

Kevin McGuinness

© HISTORY SERVICES NSW