Woods Point in the 1860s and 1870s

Margaret Knopp's scrapbook begins in the mid-1880s, but her family had been in the area since the initial gold rush of the 1860s. With few direct references in the scrapbook to Woods Point or Margaret's family history, it was necessary to revisit genealogical records, public archives, and the published histories of the region to learn more about the place where Margaret was born.

Adventurous prospectors along the Goulburn River discovered the Woods Point goldfield in the early 1860s. By August 1861 a small collection of huts and stores had been established to cater for the prospectors working the newly discovered reefs. The steep terrain made access difficult – the only way in was on foot or with a packhorse – but that didn't stop keen prospectors descending on the district hoping to make their fortune.

Margaret's father, John Knopp, and his older brother Peter were among the prospectors who arrived in Woods Point in the 1860s. The two men were born near the town of Nassau (then part of Prussia) and were the sons of farming couple Johann Knopp and Eva Kune. Leaving their homeland they travelled from Hamburg on the Magdalena and landed in Melbourne on 17 July 1860. The passenger list held at PROV reveals that most of their fellow passengers were single men aged in their 20s and 30s, some no doubt headed to the Victorian goldfields.² The Woods Point goldfield had not yet opened up when John and Peter arrived in Melbourne, so their initial destination is unknown. Perhaps they tried their luck at other goldfields before following the movement of miners to Woods Point. What is clear is that they were settled in Woods Point by 1864, when Peter died on 15 January after a short illness.

Eighteen months later John Knopp was recorded in the rate book of the newly formed Borough of Woods Point, but he did not remain long in the township itself.³ New reefs had been found near Black River, east of Woods Point in December 1864 and by early 1865 numerous claims had been pegged out. Mining surveyor Alfred B Ainsworth visited the area in January and named the creek where many of the claims were situated Standers Creek.⁴ Four mines were eventually established in the area – Royal Standard, Champion, Robert Burns, and Leviathan. John was one of the miners who joined this rush to Black River and was later associated with the Leviathan.

A group of unidentified miners. Photographer unknown. Author's collection

Access to the Black River mines was one of the initial concerns raised by the Borough of Woods Point in its meetings after the first council election was held on 6 July 1865. A Minute Book for the Borough survives in PROV's collection and includes transcripts of letters written to the Minister of Mines and Survey expressing concern about the expected traffic to Black River come spring, and the 'great necessity of immediately opening up the shortest route via Cherry's Point'. Not only would the route allow supplies to get through from Woods Point to Black River, but the improved access to the 'rich alluvial deposits would be a boost to the mining industry'.⁵ Despite the request, access continued to be an issue, though it did not stop the expected influx of miners and the population of the region was soon estimated at around 500, enough to warrant the establishment of a police station near the Royal Standard.⁶ Small townships developed around the mines with stores, hotels, butchers, bakeries and grog shanties to cater for the miners and the few families that joined them.

Two unidentified miners outside their cottage. Photographer unknown. Author's collection.
These two photographs were part of a collection of family photographs that were passed on to me with the scrapbook. Both locations are unknown, though they are likely to be either around Woods Point or Bendigo.