The 19th Century Victorian goldrush, particularly the deep-quartz mining that was practised in Bendigo from the 1870s to c. 1910, created one of the worst industrial health disasters the world had seen. Mine inspectors have been accused... more
The 19th Century Victorian goldrush, particularly the deep-quartz mining that was practised in Bendigo from the 1870s to c. 1910, created one of the worst industrial health disasters the world had seen. Mine inspectors have been accused of contributing to this tragedy, but just how responsible were they? This paper examines the career of one mine inspector, the author's great-great-grandfather, and suggests that despite their best efforts they were for an extended period hamstrung by a lack of legislated power.
