Mining history missing

By Lachlan Ellis

A historical plaque has gone missing in Blackwood, and the community are eager to have it back where it belongs.

The plaque at Jackson’s Gully in Blackwood was installed around 20 years ago, and commemorates the first gold found in the area on Sunday 14 November 1854 by teamsters Harry Athorn and Harry Hider.

But Blackwoodians were stunned to find that the plaque had gone missing this month, with the disappearance believed to have occurred over the weekend of 16 to 18 December.

Secretary of the Blackwood & District Historical Society, Elizabeth Hall, said she hoped the plaque was returned soon.

“A couple of CFA guys noticed it had gone missing over the weekend. It was put there I’d say approximately 1996. The Progress Association decided to put a plaque there, and after some discussion they decided a rock with the brass plaque on would be the way to go,” Ms Hall told the Moorabool News.

“It’s sat there with nobody touching it until now. It’s not really worth anything, you can’t sell it off or anything…we just hope somebody might return it to Carol at the post office.”

If you find the plaque or have any information regarding its whereabouts, visit the Blackwood Post Office or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.