Mining

Gold mining in Redan began on the the Redan Lead in the 1850s with shallow alluvial gold workings along the Yarrowee River. The deeper leads, which required the deep mines, were discovered in 1856.

The main deep leads under Redan were the Golden Point Lead, the Milkmaid's Lead, the Malakoff Lead, the Redan Lead, and the Miners Right Lead. The Nightingale Lead is just to the north. Withers, in his 'Story of Ballarat' gives the dates as follows :
 * Nightingale Lead, February 1856
 * Golden Point Lead, May 1856
 * Malakoff Lead, August 1856
 * Miners Right Lead, September 1856
 * Milkmaid's Lead, November 1856
 * Redan Lead, end of 1856

List of mines

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

Early mining
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."

Milkmaids Lead, January 1857: "NEW GROUND.-The prospectors by the creek side below the Malakoff, and near the slaughter-yard have bottomed, and the ground has been proclaimed by the Warden under the name of the Milkmaid's Lead. Messrs. Robinson and Peebles, we believe, have been chosen surveyors. Our readers will remember that the first party reefed too high on the west side of the creek, and then went down on the opposite side as the reef dipped in that direction. They bottomed at about 112 feet, and reached the gutter at a distance of nine feet from the shaft, namely, under the bed of the present creek nearly. Here they obtained a prospect of nearly two ounces to the tub we are told, and they are now about to erect a whim. The other party reefed a few days ago a little shallower-as their ground is above the other-and have opened out at a depth of 106 feet. Claims have been marked out on both sides of the prospectors, and two or three parties are shaping to go down."

Miners Right Lead, January 1857: "MINER'S RIGHT.-The gutter here is tending towards the Redan at right angles nearly, and is now about under the tent above the Lemonade Manufactory. The party next the creek, on the Redan side, are down and in the gutter. The next party were beaten out by the water in the rock, and are now going down with a second shaft, and in the brow of the hill. The claims on the hill are in the rock. On the back part of the line, most of the claims are worked out and abandoned. The two whim claims, next to the creek on the Miner's Right side, are washing up large paddocks of stuff that yield from 2 dwt. to near 1/4 oz. to the tub. There is one Chinese party on this lead."

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 first rate 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."