Eidsvold and its goldfields, 1880s to 1910s.

This article provides a historical overview of the Eidsvold goldfields in Queensland from the 1880s to the 1910s. It explains how the discovery of the Gympie goldfield in 1867 led to increased immigration and capital in Queensland. The Queensland government actively sought immigrants and British capital for the mining industry, showcasing a quartz-crushing mill and gold-bearing ore at an exhibition in London in 1886. Gold discoveries in Eidsvold in the 1880s resulted in the establishment of a goldfield and the development of mines like Mount Rose and Stockman Junction. The Eidsvold goldfields experienced a peak in production from 1888 to 1893, but by 1901, their decline had begun. The goldfields played a crucial role in sustaining Queensland's economy during an economic depression and drought in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The article also provides information on the gold mining industry in Eidsvold, including differences in gold production compared to Charters Towers, working conditions and disputes faced by miners, political affiliations of the miners, challenges with sanitation and water supply, and the prevalence of typhoid fever in the goldfields. It concludes with details about the present-day population of Eidsvold and its mining history. [Extracted from the article]