The History of Blackwood – Pioneers of Blackwood. Compiled by Margot Hitchcock, Historian for the Blackwood & District Historical Society. March 2021. (Copyright)
THE DRUMMOND FAMILY, and the Trojan Mine on the Yankee Reef.
In the area north of Blackwood towards Trentham is the area called Yankee Reef. On a road that is off to the right, is Yankee Road which is where the remains of the Trojan Mine now remains. Just past the Trojan Mine on the left amongst the trees and the surrounding bush is a headstone – a memorial to the Drummond family which reads “Erected 1946 – to the memory of our loving parents, Alex and Eliza A.E.L. Drummond. This was the site of their home in 1876 and our birthplace.” The monument marks the place where the Drummond family once lived, and the remains of a brick chimney is all that is left to mark the spot.
Alexander Drummond, who was born in 1841, son of Duncan Drummond and Ann McIntyre, came from Balnacuil, Perthshire in Scotland. Alex Drummond arrived in Melbourne in 1853 aged 12 years, with his father Duncan Drummond and his brother Peter Drummond. Within months the two boys were orphaned. Duncan Drummond died 1854. His parents were Alexander Drummond and Catherine, he was age 44 yrs when he died. Reg Number: 2898.
Ben Trewhella Sen. had pegged out the ‘Lucky Hit’ mine in 1862 on the Yankee Reef and a seam of gold was found just below the surface.
At this stage it is not sure when Alexandra arrived in Blackwood, but in 1869 when 28 years old he made the acquaintance of the Williams family of Blackwood and became a friend and partner with Robert Williams in prospecting the district. The partners struck the main seam of gold at Yankee Reef and the mine was about 600 metres from the Drummond’s home. It appears from records searched that their mine was called the Yankee Mine, although some records have the name of the Trojan mine in this area.
In 1876 Alexander married Elizabeth Ann Elevena Lang Williams, sister of his partner Robert Williams. They were married at Golden point and went to live at Yankee Reef where 12 children were born, three of whom died in infancy. John, their eldest child, born in 1877 died, age 3 years by drowning and was buried on the 21.3.1879 in the Blackwood cemetery. The youngest children of Alex and Elizabeth were twins, Emma and Maggie who were born on 28.7.1894.
Tragedy struck on the 1st December 1894 when an earth fall in the mine trapped Alexander Drummond in the mine whilst opening an adit downstream from the mine and he was killed. (Death cert. Reg. Number: 12269.)
This would have left Elizabeth with 9 children, the youngest being the twins of nearly 5 months old. The twins both died the following year in March 1895, Emma on the 10th and Maggie on the 17th March. They are all buried in the Blackwood cemetery. Methodist section J, 8 & 9.
Operations of the mine were then controlled by Elizabeth’s brothers, Edward and Robert Williams. In 1895 Elizabeth decided that the Drummond name against appear on the mine records, so the New Victoria Quartz Mining Co., Yankee Reef came into being.
This mine continued to operate until at least 1910. The 1906 mines Department report lists the Victorian Co., Yankee Reef and Williams and Drummond as obtaining 4,942 oz. to a depth of 320 feet. Records show the Yankee mine ceased operation in 1936.
Alexander Drummond’s wife Elizabeth A.E.L.Williams died on the 19.11.1925. She was buried in the Blackwood cemetery with her twin daughters.
(Info from – Truda Drummond, and Graham Mounsey – Drummond descendants)
Researched by Margot Hitchcock from her forthcoming book ‘The History and Pioneers of Blackwood’, hopefully to be published soon. Other books published by Margot Hitchcock – “Aspects of Early Blackwood”, Some History of Simmons Reef, Blackwood” and “The Billy Pincombe Tragedy”. See – www.blackwoodpublishing.com
For help with information on Blackwood ancestors contact Margot Hitchcock – email – margothitchcock@bigpond.com
Photo taken by the author in 2008 – Monument to Alex and Eliza Drummond and their house site.
The Drummond family home on Yankee Road at Yankee Reef. C. 1930, now demolished. (Courtesy of Bruce McKenzie.)
Grave of Elizabeth A.E.L. Drummond with kangaroos in the Blackwood cemetery. (Photo by Margot Hitchcock. 2008.)
Remains of the Yankee mine on Yankee Road, Blackwood 2008. (Photo by Margot Hitchcock. 2008.)
Remains of the Yankee mine on Yankee Road, Blackwood 2008. (Photo by Margot Hitchcock. 2008.)
Concrete slab at the remains of the Yankee mine on Yankee Road, Blackwood 2008. (Photo by Margot Hitchcock. 2008.)
Track from Yankee mine Blackwood 2008.
Yankee Road, Blackwood. 2008.
Yankee Road sign, Blackwood. 2008.
Yankee Road, Blackwood. 2008.
Yankee Road Bridge, Blackwood. 2008.
Broken Yankee Road Bridge, Blackwood. 2008.
Tres near Yankee mine, Blackwood. 2008.
