General News
8 February, 2024
Local book on Bristol Hill recognised for insight
The Victorian Community History Awards returned last Friday, with local publication Quartz Hill: The Gold Mining History of Bristol Hill, Maryborough winning a commendation. The book, written by Craig Roberts in collaboration with the Maryborough...
The Victorian Community History Awards returned last Friday, with local publication Quartz Hill: The Gold Mining History of Bristol Hill, Maryborough winning a commendation.
The book, written by Craig Roberts in collaboration with the Maryborough Midlands Historical Society, explores the complete history of the mines on Bristol Hill, a story untold in other books covering the mining history of the Central Goldfields.
The book won a commendation for the Small History Publication Award, an award which has been running since 2012.
As a prospector himself and someone who often walked through the area with his dogs, Mr Roberts said his intrigue for the area inspired him to explore its hidden history.
“I was coming up to retirement and I was looking for a project as I didn’t want to sit around doing nothing,” he said.
“I was motivated by my own personal interest and curiosity and I wanted to solve the mystery as to what happened here — it was a piece of history that seemed to be forgotten about.”
After nine months of writing, researching and constant trips to the Public Records Office Victoria in North Melbourne, the book was completed in March of last year.
Mr Roberts said the commendation came out of the blue and adds extra meaning to his work.
“I heard about 10 days before the event that we had an invitation to go to the event,” he said.
“I am very proud to be awarded and all of the work that I put into it, but for me it was really something to give back to the town.
“It is also recognition to the pioneers that built the town, this town was built on the backs of these people who were working in these mines looking for gold and not always finding it.”
The Maryborough Midlands Historical Society, a volunteer-based community group which displays Maryborough’s history through historic records and community events, not only supported
Mr Roberts with his research, but nominated the book for the award.
Mr Roberts said the group’s extensive database and constant backing made the book possible.
“They supported the project from the very beginning when it was just a kernel of an idea,” he said.
“I would like to thank Barb Nielsen and all of the volunteers who nominated me and supported the project.
“I would also like to thank Peter McRae and everyone at Midland Typesetters for the book layout as well as Brad Wootton at Sovereign Press for the printing of the book.”
Following on from his success, Mr Roberts kept the door open on doing another deep dive into the detailed history of Maryborough.
“I would really like to, I have just got to find a topic which hasn’t really been done before and is something that I am interested in doing,” he said.