‘Ore What!’: The township of Hill End, 80 km west of Bathurst, was (and still is) a gold mining town with a population today of around 120 permanent residents. Once the scene in the 1870’s of all sorts of skulduggery, at its peak Hill End boasted a population of 7000 residents: Prospectors, miners, Chinese opium dens, bush rangers, tradespeople, sly-grog makers, twenty-seven pubs and ‘ladies of the night’ gave the town a reputation and legends that exists today. The town’s claim to fame came on the evening of 19th October 1872 when the Bayers-Holtermann nugget was unearthed. Weighing in at 630 pounds, this matrix of gold would today be valued at around 12 million dollars. It is still the largest single lump of gold ever discovered in the world.
Hill End’s fortunes waned with the along with the ore, but the yarns and urban myths continue today, related in Peter’s book ‘Ore What!’ by those for whom Hill End is home.
"…read a few stories at a time and savour the book as though you are eating chocolate!" Lorraine Purcell, Hill End Gathering Group
“You have brought the community together by peeling away the layers … as you do so well!” Sue Thompson, Hosies Guest House, Hill End
“I felt sad when I saw Bill's photograph, not for anything but this will last beyond our time
and it was all documented by you”.
Genevieve Moseley, Artist, Hill End
“…one of the most consistent, solid bodies of work I have seen.
Hard to pick a favourite because there are so many strong pictures.”
Bob Kersey, Meyer Gallery, Darlinhurst
“…Adams’ perceptive portraits provide an intriguing insight into the hopes,
dreams and realities of the people living in Hill End.”
Maryanne Jaques, Bathurst Arts Council
To see some of the pages from ‘Ore What!’ please click here
288 pages (24 x 30 cms), 90,000 words and over 500 photographs printed in five colours, makes this hard cover book a substantial, amusing, informative and beautiful addition to any library.
To see some of the pages from ‘Ore What!’, simply click here. Obtain your personalised copy of this hard copy book, directly form Peter Adams through the secure order system on this site or through fine book shops
(ISBN NUMBER: 978-0-9757813-3-3)
$80 each, plus $3 packaging + postage – send your details and Peter will write a dedication and sign your volume for you.
