Quartzville History

In October 1870, a settlement was formed on a small flat at the base of a spur of the lower Carrick Range, overlooking Smiths Gully and Bannockburn.  Its location was based around the Royal Standard quartz battery, which crushed ore from nearby mines, and it was accordingly named Quartzville.  Today, an expanse of grass, some mature trees, and a few building foundations are all that remain of this short-lived town, although until 1960s the remains of mud-walled cottages were clearly visible.
A number of businesses were established at Quartzville to supply miners with the essentials of life.  In the early 1870s, James Cossar and Gilbert Staite started a store and butchery, and the first hotel was opened there by John McCormack opposite the Standard Battery.  Other hotels, a blacksmith’s stables and residences followed.  The establishment of the township was celebrated by a ball and supper in October 1872.
The Quartzville settlement continued to develop in the mid 1870s.  A few more business premises opened – John Grindley’s butchery, James Lawrence’s Commercial Hotel, George Murchie’s drapery and Rueben Isaac’s fancy goods store.  Many of these people had previously come from Bendigo.  Around 1871, an access road to the many Carrick quartz claims was constructed up Carrick Spur.  Although by 1876 mining returns on the Carrick Range were falling, the settlement at Quartzville was still developing – in January 1876, there were tenders for a new butchery;  the  Walker Brothers had a new store and bakery; and Jesse Geer and E Aldridge ran a bakery, confectioners and restaurant.
However, by 1886, hard-rock mining returns were so low that the Quartzville settlement was virtually at an end.  Some of the miners’ residences were reused during the 1930s depression by the subsidised miners.  Tents were erected within the framework of the old cottages, reminiscent of the early tent camps of the 1860s.  On this later date, harsh living conditions were not balanced by good gold returns.