Mining

Gold mining in Redan began on the the Redan Lead in the 1850s.

List of mines

 * Click here to see a list of mines operating in Redan.

Early mining on the Redan Lead
January 1857: "REDAN.-Westward of the creek this lead does not present many signs of activity, only one or two claims have broken ground there yet. On the east side, Captain Finn's party, and that with which they amalgamated, are down about 20 feet with their second shaft, which is situated some 60 or 70 yards south of the old one. All the claims on this side of the lead are bottomed, and that on the east side of the Cornish prospecting party, and one on the west side are worked out. The claims east of the road are either paddocking or worked out. The one next to road has a whim erected, and the stuff hauled up there has the look of being good. The ground, however, has not been fairly tested yet there. As far as we could glean, yield generally on this lead has been satisfactory ; but there is considerable difficulty in obtaining veracious information."

June 1857: "REDAN. The newly assumed aspect of bustle and hopeful activity on this lead is rather heightening than otherwise. Finn's party have got their engine into firstrate play. They cleared their shaft in ' no time,' and are now busily engaged in sending up wash-dirt. There is every prospect that this company will be well rewarded. The same may be said of Clarke's party. Miners in that company are sanguine of success. With a capital engine and experienced workmanship, they are now down more than ninety feet in the rock. It is ' dead ' in their claim that the junction of the Miner's Right and Redan Leads is confidently expected, — a circumstance which has had considerable effect in raising the price of shares. The Golden Gate party is successfully through the first rock, and puddled up. The Great Redan extended miners are also in a fair way of doing handsomely. They are now down some one hundred and seventy feet, including seventy- five feet in the second rock. Shares run high, say from £70 to £90."