Ophir, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids OphirNew South Wales |
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 Ophir
Location in New South Wales
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| LGA(s) | Cabonne Shire Council |
Ophir is a special place in New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Cabonne Shire. This area is famous because it was the first place where gold was found in New South Wales.
Contents
Discovering Gold in Ophir
Ophir is found near the Macquarie River. It is northeast of the city of Orange. This spot became very important in 1851. That year, gold was first discovered here. This discovery started the exciting Australian gold rushes.
The First Gold Find
Many stories say that Edward Hargraves, William Tom Jr., and John Lister found gold. They found it in February 1851. This happened at the Ophir gold diggings. This area is where Summer Hill Creek and Lewis Ponds Creek meet.
Hargraves received a large reward from the NSW Government. It was £10,500, which was a huge amount of money back then! William Tom's father, Parson Tom, suggested the name 'Ophir'. He named it after a place in the Old Testament known for its excellent gold.
After the discovery, many people rushed to the area. This was in 1851 and 1852. A village was planned for Ophir in 1851 by Major Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell. The first land lots were sold in 1852. Later, in 1868, Joseph Christopherson found a different type of gold called "reef gold."
Who Really Found the Gold?
While Hargraves was honored, some people believe someone else found gold even earlier. William Tipple Smith was a mineralogist. He might have found gold at Ophir in 1848. In 1852, Smith wrote to a geologist in England. He said that Ophir was the exact spot where he found gold nuggets in 1848.
A book written in 1986, "A Fool's Gold?", explores Smith's claims. The book suggests that Smith's discovery was indeed earlier. Professor David Branagan, a geology expert, agrees with this idea. He believes Smith deserves to be remembered for his discovery.
What Remains Today?
Today, you can still see signs of the old gold mines. These include places where gold was found in rivers, deep underground, or in rock veins. These remnants are within the Ophir Reserve. The old town site is also part of this reserve.
The town's cemetery is still there. There is also a tall stone monument called an obelisk. It celebrates the discovery of gold in 1851. It gives credit to Edward Hargraves, John Lister, James Tom, and William Tom.
William Tipple Smith's story is less known. All that remains of his work is a small gold sample. His grave was unmarked for a long time. Now, it has a headstone that recognizes him. It says he was the discoverer of the first payable gold in Australia.
