Summary

Original Title: 'Surfacings'.

Mining Model made by Carl Nordstrom, circa 1857, showing surface and shallow sinkings, puddling and all the modes of washing for gold in use in the various gold fields of Victoria up to 1859.

It is part of a series of ten models depicting aspects of mining techniques on the Victorian goldfields, built between 1857 and 1860, by the Swedish-born miner Carl Nordström for Professor Fredrick McCoy, founding director of the National Museum of Victoria. In May 1856, McCoy was appointed as chair of the three-member Mining Commission of Victoria, established by the Victorian Legislative Assembly to investigate 'the modes of working or procuring and treating ores' on the Victorian goldfields. McCoy was originally introduced to Nordström, through the mining engineer, Henry Smith, who he met when the Mining Commission visited Ballarat and it was through the Commission that McCoy secured government funding for the construction of the models.

'Surfacings' originally formed part of a set of three related models intended to represent the three main modes of alluvial gold mining practised in Victoria: surface workings, shallow sinkings and deep lead mining. Nordström began work on the model around April 1858, following the completion of his tramway model (ST 00804). The model was completed by July 1858, when it was put on public display.

Physical Description

Model of creek and embankments made of wood, sand, glass and coloured pigment with a scale of 0.36 (3/8) In to 1 ft, showing 49 male figues and two horses with tools and machines. On modern black metal support base.

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