138 J. H. MAIDEN AND R. H. CAMBAGE. 



therefore signify an offset, and would read : — "At end of 

 line, 1 chain 50 links to river and marked gum-tree." The 

 locality of the first official record of gold in Australia has 

 been fixed by Mr. Wilson on portion 42 Parish of Eusdale, 

 Country of Roxburgh. 



The spot is nearly a mile and a half above the junction 

 of Sidmouth Valley and the Fish River, or a little more 

 than a quarter of a mile above the residence of Mr. W. R. 

 Hutchison, the owner of the property. It is about midway 

 between Tarana and O'Oonnell, and three miles above 

 Locksley. The original survey followed the right bank of 

 the river (Plates 6 and 7). The geological formation for 

 some miles around the locality is granite, over which area 

 gold in limited quantities, has from time to time since 

 been won. The small boulders brought down from the 

 Devonian country towards Rydal may be found in the river, 

 and also on the sides of the granite hills, at elevations 

 sufficient to show that in pre-historic time the bed of the 

 river was from 100 to 200 feet above its present level. 



Explanation of Plates. 



Plate V. — Site of first bridge over Fish River. 



„ VI. — Site of first recorded gold discovery in Australia. 

 „ VII. — Locality of first recorded gold discovery in Australia. 



