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Gold Discovery MemorialPrint Page Print this page

24-July-2017
24-July-2017

Photographs supplied by Tom Bird

The memorial commemorates the gold discovery in the Forbes area. It was unveiled in 1957 and contained a brass plaque which has since been replaced. 

Harry Stephens, also known as ‘German Harry’, discovered gold at the site originally named Black Ridge in June 1861. The name Forbes (honouring Sir Francis Forbes) was declared from Sydney, possibly as the result of an administrative error – it is said that the name was meant for the town now known as ‘Hill End’ (near Mudgee, New South Wales) where gold was discovered around the same time. Initially about 30,000 people moved to the Lachlan goldfields, but by 1863 this had declined to about 3,500 because of the difficult mining conditions.

Location

Address:Lawler Street, Stephan Field, near Skate Park, Forbes, 2871
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -33.384271
Long: 148.005288
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Technology
Sub-Theme:Industry
Approx. Event Start Date:1861
Approx. Event End Date:1861
Monument Manufacturer:Forbes Historical Society

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:1957
Source: MA,H
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au