Hi again Richard, My ancestors, the Hooper Family, came from Charters Towers. My Great-Grandfather was an engine-driver at the Mills Day Dawn United Mine, 1890-1916. There were many major mines in the Towers in the 1890's. The best of these was the Day Dawn P.C., 1875-1913. It was the first mine in QLD to produce one million pounds worth of gold. The Mills Day Dawn United worked the same shoot at a greater depth and the wealth generated by the Day Dawn P.C.led to the sinking of the Brilliant Mine shaft and the discovery of that reef. Among the mines working at that time were Day Dawn Block and Wyndham, 1883-1912; Brilliant Extended, 1894-1919; Queen Cross, 1890-1916; Brilliant Block, 1892-1917; Victoria and Queen, 1893-1911; DD Gold Mine, 1895-1911; Victoria and Caledonia Block, 1899-1911. There were many others but the list is too long to reproduce here! By 1914 the estimate of gold ounces won from the fields had risen to 6 million. What a fortune that would be today. It is no wonder the Towers was then known to the locals as "The World". Many fortunes were won and lost at the Towers Stock Exchange which opened in 1890 - I wonder if that is how your Grandfather lost his gold? Best Wishes, Judy ---------- > .........