Miners’ Common – Sapphire

The Rubyvale, Sapphire & Scrub Lead Miners’ Common… a long name with even longer historical ties and big community responsibilities.

Camels are among the livestock on Miners’ Common Image courtesy of Sarah Duguid
Camels are among the livestock on Miners’ Common
Cattle on the Common – Image courtesy of Sarah Duguid
Cattle roam free on the common
Home to local birdlife

Officially proclaimed on the 19th day of November, 1914, the Rubyvale, Sapphire & Scrub Lead Miners’ Common is reportedly the last remaining Miners’ Common in Australia. Covering 4,500 hectares and known as the heart and soul of the Sapphire Gemfields, the Miners’ Common is integral to the unique character of these ’fields.

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Living within the boundaries of the Common, early miners were allowed to free range their stock of choice. Most families kept goats for both meat and fresh milk as well as children’s transport. Horses were used for carting and for driving puddlers that broke up the heavy clay in the wash dirt.

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Mike Monteagle, founder of the Australian Miners Historic Centre, led a community crusade in the early 1990s to save the Miners’ Common when it was under threat of dissolution. Their battle was won and this Miners’ Common lives on! Today rate-paying residents enjoy the right to graze, by agistment, a limited number of livestock, being cattle, horses or camels but changes in legislation have restricted goats. The herd owned by Colleen Carson, affectionately known as the Goat Lady, was the only exception to this rule.

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Did you know? 

  • In more modern times, goats were no longer allowed on The Common. Colleen Carson was the only exception to this rule after she fought and won a civil case to allow her goat herd to remain.
  • It is believed that the Great War factored in to the proclamation of the Miners’ Common in 1914. That is, a common area for the miners made it easier in a time of war for families to be more self-sufficient. 

Location

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Download the what3words app to help you follow the Trail.
Here are the ///what3words identifiers for this location and for the three closest stops:

You are here: ///upbringing.restricting.songs

Where to next?

Piano Tuner’s Grave – ///occupier.unexplored.stunned

Centenary Stone – Sapphire – ///sufferings.moats.upstage

Welcome to Sapphire – ///totals.treat.condoned

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