Band and Albion Company

The Band and Albion Company was a gold mining company in Redan.

Site
The Band and Albion Company had a number of shafts in Ballarat.


 * No. 9 Shaft - worked from 1889 to 1898, is off Extended Lane, between Cooke and Leith Street. Depth 701 metres.

Death of Samuel King
A miner, Samuel King, was killed in the mine on 22 July 1884: "A sad fatal accident happened at about 4 o’clock yesterday morning in the mine of the Band and Albion Consols Company, Redan, by which a miner named Samuel King lost his life. King, who was an elderly man, was engaged in the intermediate drive between the Nos. 8 and 9 levels, the timber used by him being sent down a shoot about 30 feet from the level above. One of the logs stuck in the shoot, and deceased must have, gone in to get out the piece of timber, when a truckful of mullock was tipped down the shoot from above. The boss of the shift, a few moments afterwards, saw the log fixed, and went to get it out. In doing so he saw the deceased’s hand, and with assistance the mullock was cleared away. On being extricated, however, King was found to be quite dead. The base of the skull had been fractured, and death must have been almost instantaneous. Dr Bradford, who had at first been sent for, arrived on the scene in a very short time, but his services, of course, were of no avail. Deceased had been spoken to by several of the men a few minutes before. The body was removed to the Atlantic hotel, where an inquest was held during the afternoon before Mr J. S. Cooper, deputy-coroner. A large amount of evidence was taken relative to the throwing down of the mullock. The trucker at the upper level, James Carey, stated that it was usual for him to call out to the man below, but that he had called out several times before going to tip the truck of mullock, after sending down the timber, and had received no answer. He did not know whether the platman, William Casley, had tipped down any in the interim. A number of witnesses gave evidence to anyone in the winze being able to hear a call from the upper level. The platman, William Casley, stated that he had trucked a few trucks early in the shift but had always called out before doing so. In giving his evidence, however, he prevaricated so much that the coroner refused to take his depositions and committed him for 48 hours. Mr Stewart, inspector of mines, deposed to visiting the mine after the accident. He was not of opinion that any great blame was due to the management of the mine, but certainly did not approve of the system adopted of throwing down timber as described, as should it get jammed in the shaft a man would have to get in to clear it. He did not think there was any risk, providing the tracker exercised common caution, as the man could hear the truck coming so easily, and could sing out. Dr Bradford, who made the post mortem examination, gave evidence as to the cause of death. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased, Samuel King, was accidentally killed by a truck of mullock being tipped down a winze in the mine of the Band, and Albion Consols Company, whilst deceased was below in the said winze. A rider was added—“ That the jury are of opinion that the practice of throwing timber down shafts should be abolished, and a windlass and rope provided for the purpose of lowering timber in all mines where such a system, now prevails.” King, who was an old resident of Redan, leaves a widow and grown-up family."

Memorial
In February 1938, it was announced that the State Governor, as part of the Ballarat Centenary, would unveil a second historical memorial at the site of the mine on March 11, described as Redan's premier mine.