Gold of Ophir

The Illusive Attraction of Gold

For ages people have searched for the illusive Ophir Mountain of Gold referred to in The Bible. Even in countries as distant from the biblical regions as Australia, people continue to search for the wealth attained by King Solomon. During the gold rush in the mid 1800's the New South Wales Township of Ophir reflected the desire to find mountains of gold.

One thing appears consistent in the story of gold: When gold is found in good quantities whether its the Gold of Ophir, Gold of South Africa, Gold of Australia, Gold of Mexico, or the gold of anywhere, the benefit are limited to the few, just as in The Bible. The local people are displaced or often enslaved for small returns, and the land that sustained them and others is destroyed. As history testifies, this occurs without any concern for the pre-existing flora and fauna and the future of the planet including human life.

Such is the greed for the illusive metal that does not corrode and in a modern context conducts electricity so well.

Now many who where attracted to the get-rich-quick nature of the stock market, are turning to glitter of gold, as the the stock market reveals it true fickle character. The result is that the price of the glittering none-corroding metal is rising, as it again becomes the material of choice to build long lasting monuments or statements about the success, power and trading/economic prowess of the few at the expense of many.

See Gold of Ophir on Facebook

In Australia

Panning for Gold

THE FIRST PAYABLE GOLDFIELD FOUND IN AUSTRALIA (OPHIR)

from users.tpg.com.au/dtdan

The first reported gold discovery in NSW was made by James McBrien, a lands Department Surveyor.

McBrien was engaged in the survey of a road along the Fish River, between Rydal and Bathurst and at one point in the survey recorded the following note in his field book: "At E. (End of the survey line) 1 chain 50 links to river and marked a gum tree. At this place I found numerous particles of gold convenient to river."

Following this report numerous gold discoveries were made in New South Wales but these were hushed up by a Government fearful of the consequences it would have on business enterprises and on the pastoral industry if workers left for the goldfields.

The first prospecting trip to discover gold in NSW was organised by Edward Hammond Hargraves who persuaded John Hardman Lister to guide him to Lewis Ponds Creek with the promise he would show Lister where to find gold. They arrived at the corner of Radigan's Gully, about 3km above the junction of Lewis Ponds and Summer Hill Creek, on the 12th February, 1851.

There Hargraves washed out six pans of gravel obtaining a grain of gold in five out of the six pans. Later Hargraves and Lister, joined by James Tom, prospected the Macquarie River where they won a little more colour.

In March 1851, Hargraves explained to Lister, James Tom and his younger brother ,William Tom how to make a cradle similar to those he had seen on the Californian goldfields. On its completion Hargraves demonstrated its use in the Lewis Ponds Creek. Hargraves then left for Sydney where he tried unsuccessfully to reveal to the Colonial Secretary where he had discovered a payable goldfield for an award of £500.

During the remainder of the month Lister and Toms won 16 grains of gold from Lewis Ponds Creek using the cradle they had built. In early April, Lister and William Tom moved with their cradle to the junction of Lewis Ponds Creek and Summer Hills Creek, later to become the site of the Township of Ophir. There between the 7th and 12th of April 1851 they recovered about 120g (4 oz) of payable gold; the first to be won in NSW and in Australia.

In accordance with their agreement with Hargraves, Lister and Tom sent news of their recovery to him. Against the wishes of both, Hargraves announced the discovery at a meeting he called at Bathurst.

By May 1851, between 400 and 500 claims were being worked on Lewis Ponds and Summer Hills Creek. News of the discovery of payable gold quickly spread and thousands of eager gold seekers from Sydney and Melbourne deserted their employment to join in the rush to the new (Ophir) goldfield.

Prospecting parties began settling out in all States to search for new goldfields. As a result, a number of newer and richer goldfields were discovered in the same year, not only in NSW but also in Victoria. Hargraves was eventually awarded a sum of £10,000 by the Government of NSW for his discovery and was appointed Crown Land Commisioner. Later he was also awarded £5,000 by the Government of Victoria.

Hargraves only drew one payment of £2,381 before the remainder was frozen after a protest made by James Tom. Hargraves held his job as a Commisioner until 1854, when he visited England and was presented to Queen Victoria.

In 1877 he was granted a pension of £250 per year by the Government of NSW and drew this pension until he died in Sydney on 29th October, 1899. Two official enquiries were held into Hargraves' claim to be the discoverer of the first payable goldfield in NSW. The first in 1853 upheld his claim. The second held just before his death dismissed his claim and upheld the claim of John H. Lister and William Tom that they had discovered the first payable goldfield. They were awarded £1000 each.

Reprinted from an Article by Joe Evans, Gold Gem and Treasure, January 1988

Visit Historic Ophir

Visit B & B Ophir Gold a bed and breakfast accommodation on Ophir Road on the way to the very small unkept gold mind at Ophir. The gold in this mine was of very good quality at the time of the gold rush in NSW after 1851. Sofala is about a one hour drive from here where more gold was also found in the past.

Ophir Gold Bed & Breakfast is set in a 5 hectare rural setting with park-like vistas only 7 minutes from the City of Orange and the CBD. It is easy to find, peaceful and quiet. On the same road are Dudley Private Hospital, Banjo Paterson Memorial, Orange Campus of Charles Sturt University (rear entrance).

Gold of Ophir in The Bible

A country to which the ships of Solomon traded, and which had for a long time been celebrated for the purity and abundance of its gold, Job 22:24 28:16. "Gold of Ophir" was proverbially the best gold, Psalms 45:9 Isaiah 13:12. The only passages which give us any information as to the location of Ophir are 1 Kings 9:26-28 10:11,22 22:48, with the parallel passages in 2 Chronicles 8:18 9:10,21 20:36,37; from which it appears that the so called "ships of Tarshish" went to Ophir; that these ships sailed from Ezion-geber, a port of the Red Sea; that a voyage was made once in three years; that the fleet returned freighted with gold, peacocks, apes, spices, ivory, algumwood, and ebony. Upon these data interpreters have undertaken to determine the situation of Ophir; but they have arrived at different conclusions. Josephus places it in the peninsula of Malacca. Others have placed it at Sofala, in South Africa, three mines of God and silver have been found, which appear to have been anciently and extensively worked. Others still suppose it to have been Southern Arabia.

Some region famous for its gold (1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:48; Job 22:24; 28:16; Isaiah 13:12). In the LXX. this word is rendered "Sophir," and "Sofir" is the Coptic name for India, which is the rendering of the Arabic version, as also of the Vulgate. Josephus has identified it with the Golden Chersonese, i.e., the Malay peninsula. It is now generally identified with Abhira, at the mouth of the Indus. Much may be said, however, in favour of the opinion that it was somewhere in Arabia.

The eleventh in order of the sons of Joktan. (Genesis 10:29; 1 Chronicles 1:23) (B.C. after 2450.) A seaport or region from which the Hebrews in the time of Solomon obtained gold. The gold was proverbial for its fineness, so that "gold of Ophir" is several times used as an expression for fine gold, (1 Chronicles 29:4; Job 28:16; Psalms 45:9; Isaiah 13:12) and in one passage (Job 22:24) the word "Ophir" by itself is used for gold of Ophir, and for gold generally. In addition to gold, the vessels brought from Ophir almug wood and precious stones. The precise geographical situation of Ophir has long been a subject of doubt and discussion. The two countries which have divided the opinions of the learned have been Arabia and India, while some have placed it in Africa. In five passages Ophir is mentioned by name - (1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:18; 2 Chronicles 8:18; 9:10) If the three passages of the book of Kings are carefully examined, it will be seen that all the information given respecting Ophir is that it was a place or region accessible by sea from Ezion-geber on the Red Sea, from which imports of gold, almug trees and precious stones were brought back by the Tyrian and Hebrew sailors. The author of the tenth chapter of Genesis certainly regarded Ophir as the name of some city, region or tribe in Arabia. It is almost certain that the Ophir of Genesis is the Ophir of the book of Kings. There is no mention, either in the Bible or elsewhere, of any other Ophir; and the idea of there having been two Ophirs evidently arose from a perception of the obvious meaning of the tenth chapter of Genesis on the one hand, coupled with the erroneous opinion, on the other that the Ophir of the book of Kings could not have been in Arabia. (Hence we conclude that Ophir was in southern Arabia, upon the border of the Indian Ocean; for even if all the things brought over in Solomon’s ships are not now found in Arabia, but are found in India, yet, there is evidence that they once were known in Arabia and, moreover, Ophir may not have been the original place of production of some of them, but the great market for traffic in them.)

More Biblical Ophir Gold References

Gold of Ophir - Genesis 10:29

And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan. more

Gold of Ophir - 1 Kings 9

And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon. more

Gold of Ophir - 1 Kings 10

And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. more

Gold of Ophir - 1 Kings 22

Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. more

Gold of Ophir - 1 Chronicles 1

And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. more

Gold of Ophir - 1 Chronicles 29

Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal. more

Gold of Ophir - 2 Chronicles 8

And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon. more

Gold of Ophir - 2 Chronicles 9

And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold of Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. more

Gold of Ophir - Job 22

Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. more

Gold of Ophir - Job 28

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. more

Gold of Ophir - Psalm 45

Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. more

Gold of Ophir - Isaiah 13

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. more

Links

Text coutesy of http://www.readyed.com.au/Sites/minehist.htm more

What's new on the prospecting front? Excerpt from Government Gazette OF THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES more NSW Government gazettes here

Gold of Ophir Pty Limted

Update - September 2011

Gold of Ophir Pty Limted has withdrawn these applciations: 4264,4266,4267,4271,4272,4273,4274 and 4275.

Week No. 22/2011 Friday, 3 June 2011

Department of Primary Industries

MINERAL RESOURCES

NOTICE is given that the following applications have been received:

EXPLORATION LICENCE APPLICATIONS

(T11-0138)
No. 4254, NEWMONT EXPLORATION PTY LTD
(ACN 006 306 690), area of 16 units, for Group 1, dated 18 May
2011. (Orange Mining Division).
(T11-0139)
No. 4255, NEWMONT EXPLORATION PTY LTD
(ACN 006 306 690), area of 12 units, for Group 1, dated 18 May
2011. (Orange Mining Division).
(T11-0140)
No. 4256, GOLD FIELDS AUSTRALASIA PTY LTD
(ACN 087 624 600), area of 21 units, for Group 1, dated
20 May 2011. (Orange Mining Division).
(T11-0141)
No. 4257, NEWMONT EXPLORATION PTY LTD
(ACN 006 306 690), area of 35 units, for Group 1, dated 23 May
2011. (Orange Mining Division).
(T11-0142)
No. 4258, GOODRICH RESOURCES PTY LTD
(ACN 150 737 563), area of 43 units, for Group 1, dated 24 May
2011. (Orange Mining Division).
(T11-0143)
No. 4259, MINOTAUR OPERATIONS PTY LTD
(ACN 108 925 284), area of 200 units, for Group 1, dated 24 May
2011. (Orange Mining Division).
(T11-0144)
No. 4260, SUMITOMO METAL MINING OCEANIA PTY LTD
(ACN 059 761 125), area of 112 units, for Group
1, dated 26 May 2011. (Cobar Mining Division).
(T11-0145)
No. 4261, WESTORIA INVESTMENT VEHICLE A PTY LTD
(ACN 137 509 141), area of 50 units, for Group 1, dated
26 May 2011. (Cobar Mining Division).
(T11-0146)
No. 4262, WESTORIA INVESTMENT VEHICLE A PTY LTD
(ACN 137 509 141), area of 84 units, for Group 1, dated
26 May 2011. (Cobar Mining Division).
(T11-0148)
No. 4263, MINCOR IRON HOLDINGS PTY LTD Withdrawn
(ACN 149 551 011), area of 8 units, for Group 1, dated 27 May
2011. (Cobar Mining Division).
(T11-0149)
No. 4264, P W ENGLISH AND ASSOCIATES PTY LTD Withdrawn
(ACN 002 052 913), area of 24 units, for Group 1, dated
30 May 2011. (Armidale Mining Division).
(T11-0150)
No. 4265, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 98 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Armidale Mining Division).
(T11-0151)
No. 4266, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD Withdrawn
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 100 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Armidale Mining Division).
(T11-0152)
No. 4267, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD Withdrawn
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 100 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Singleton Mining Division).
(T11-0153)
No. 4268, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 100 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Singleton Mining Division).
(T11-0154)
No. 4269, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 96 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Singleton Mining Division).
(T11-0155)
No. 4270, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 98 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Singleton Mining Division).
(T11-0156)
No. 4271, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTDWithdrawn
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 73 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Singleton Mining Division).
(T11-0157)
No. 4272, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD Withdrawn
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 89 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Singleton Mining Division).
(T11-0158)
No. 4273, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD Withdrawn
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 100 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Singleton Mining Division).
(T11-0159)
No. 4274, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD Withdrawn
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 99 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Singleton Mining Division).
(T11-0160)
No. 4275, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD (ACN 138 513 Withdrawn
587), area of 99 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Singleton Mining Division).
(T11-0161)
No. 4276, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 95 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Armidale Mining Division).
(T11-0162)
No. 4277, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 100 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Armidale Mining Division).
(T11-0163)
No. 4278, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 98 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Armidale Mining Division).
(T11-0164)
No. 4279, GOLD OF OPHIR PTY LTD
(ACN 138 513 587), area of 100 units, for Group 1, dated 30 May 2011.
(Armidale Mining Division).
MINING LEASE APPLICATIONS
(T09-0058)
No. 328, PINNACLE MINES PTY LTD
(ACN 000 289 627), area of about 52 hectares, for the purpose of stockpiling
or depositing of overburden, ore or tailings and any building
or mining plant, dated 25 March 2009. (Broken Hill Mining
Division).
(T09-0059)
No. 329, PINNACLE MINES PTY LTD
(ACN 000 289 627), area of about 30.908 hectares, for the purpose of
stockpiling or depositing of overburden, ore or tailings and
any building or mining plant, dated 25 March 2009. (Broken
Hill Mining Division).
(T11-0004)
No. 404, ASTON COAL 2 PTY LTD
(ACN 139 472 567), area of about 407 hectares, for the purpose of stockpiling
or depositing of overburden, ore or tailings and removal of
overburden, dated 30 May 2011. (Armidale Mining Division).
CHRIS HARTCHER, M.P.,

Gold of Ophir Pty Ltd

Who are they?

Gold Exploration Licence Granted

Gold Exploration Applications by Gold of Ophir Pty Ltd Dated 30 May 2011