History Hill

24/09/2024

History Hill open all school holidays 10 am to 3:30pm, no booking required!

02/09/2023

You can see Malcolm's recent interview with 7NEWS Central West here!

01/09/2023

You can catch Malcolm being interviewed on 2BS tomorrow, 2 September at 9.20am, talking about The Monster Specimen and The After Party 2 DVD boxed set.

31/08/2023

Guess what?! We'll be on the local Prime7 News Central West tonight at 6pm, showing a review of The Monster Specimen and The Afterparty documentary. Tune in!!

14/07/2023

We were thrilled to welcome renowned photographer Mike Sea out to History Hill recently. He captured this stunning view of the night sky above our mine shaft.
If you need another reason to come out to visit our part of the world, here it is!

copyright Mike Sea - 2023. Phone 0418 208 008.

10/02/2023

We're excited to share that Michael McLaren from 2GB 'Weekends with Michael McLaren' will be interviewing our very own Malcolm Drinkwater this Sunday 12th February at 11.40am. Tune in to AM 873 this Sunday morning to hear Malcolm chatting with Michael about Australian gold rushes.


2GB Sydney

23/12/2022

Merry Christmas, everyone! We wish you a safe and happy holiday season 🎉
History Hill Museum and Underground Mine will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; and open every other day of the school holidays 10am - 4pm.
We have just completed an extensive maintenance program on our underground mine and we look forward to welcoming you over these holidays!








Visit Bathurst NSW

28/10/2022

Thank you Alan McCrae for these kind words on last Saturday’s special event:

‘Malcolm. Congratulations.

Wow what a day, well done and a great job. Brilliantly done, a real credit to you. The documentary flowed very well, you did a great job on it and easy to follow, good on you.

The marriage proposal was a surprise’

Bathurst District Historical Society
📷 taken by Ian Redpath at BMEC, 22/10/22, Gold:The Beyers & Holtermann Specimen

27/10/2022

📸 What a great turn-out for the premiere of Malcolm's documentary, The Monster Specimen, with B.O. Holtermann's descendants joining us, too. We had people coming to the region from far and wide to help mark the 150th anniversary of the discovery of the Beyers and Holtermann Specimen.
If you missed the presentation, The Monster Specimen book and DVD are for sale on our website: https://www.historyhill.com.au/shop/, and also on ebay.

23/10/2022

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for our special event at BMEC Bathurst yesterday, Gold: The Beyers & Holtermann Specimen, The True Story. It was a thrill to share Malcolm's documentary with you!
Our special thanks to John Holtermann for his kind words of introduction and the many members of the Holtermann and Holterman families who joined us. Thank you also to Robert ‘Stumpy’ Taylor - Mayor of Bathurst, Christopher Morgan and our wonderful friends and family who made yesterday's documentary premiere event, extra special.

And 💍 congratulations Jhob and Sarah on your engagement!

21/10/2022

Tickets still on sale!
You can still buy tickets to Gold: The Beyers & Holtermann documentary special event. Doors open 1pm for 1.30pm start.
Tickets will still be on sale tomorrow at BMEC ticket office or online. BMEC box office will be open from 1pm so you can come early, buy tickets and get settled.
We have created a life-size replica of the specimen for you to stand beside tomorrow and get a feel of the true magnificence of it.
Tickets onsale: https://www.bmec.com.au/gold-the-beyers-holtermann-specimen.html
Our website: https://www.historyhill.com.au/

📸 Left: Marcus the CEO of Storm Video (outside storm video in Gladesville) and John (right) the CEO of ‘The Weekly Times’ magazine, standing beside our specially crafted replica of The Beyers & Holtermann Specimen.

20/10/2022

We're really looking forward to sharing more of They Beyers and Holtermann Specimen story with you this Saturday at BMEC. Doors open 1pm, documentary event starts at 1.30pm. Afternoon tea provided.
Thank you 7NEWS Central West for coming to History Hill Museum and Mine and Hill End to learn more about the extraordinary find that sparked a gold rush and put us on 'the map'.
https://fb.watch/ggo3s5phm_/

18/10/2022

150 years ago today!
At 2 a.m. 19 October 1872, the lives of these two gentlemen changed course completely, with the discovery of the world's largest single mass of gold, The Beyers and Holtermann Specimen.
The stunning find of The Beyers and Holtermann Specimen was a story with three main characters: The monster specimen of gold, and the two individuals that gave it it’s name, Ludwig Hugo Louis (Lewis) Beyers and Bernard Otto Holtermann. Recent accounts seem to have forgotten about Beyers although without his input Holtermann would not have become involved. While time has faded Beyers from the records, but it should be remembered that Beyers and Holtermann were business partners and brother-in-laws having married two sisters, and both dug for gold until their deaths. Correctly the gold was found in the aptly named, ‘Star of Hope Mine’ under the banner of ‘The Beyers and Holtermann’s Mining Company’.
Most important is the gold content. It is a rounded figure of 3,000 ounces. Complications arise when there are two different ounce ratings for ounces. The imperial ounce has 16 units to the pound while gold is weighed in Troy ounces which has 12 units to the pound. Both pounds weigh the same. Back in 1872 they got the ounces (troy) value pretty correct. Over time the Sydney Mining and Geological Museum along with many other facilities made an official calculation and came up with approximately the same result and they saw no reason to alter the original amount.
Did you know that a cubic foot of gold in kilos weighs 546 kilos? At the time of the Beyers and Holtermann find the entire chunk weighed-in at 630 pounds, and signs in front of original photos confirmed this equals, in round figures, 300 kilos or more precisely 286 kilos. While some local facilities and internet pundits tout the ‘Holtermann nugget’ or specimen as holding over 75% gold, calculations by a professional mathematician show that this is not physically possible.

Mathematical equations confirm there was, in round figures, 2 ½ cubic foot of mass in total in the specimen, this would mean the entire weight would be over 1 ¼ ton; a total physical impossibility for it to contain this much gold.

Find out more about The Beyers & Holtermann Specimen and other great finds here:
https://www.historyhill.com.au/the-biggest-and-the-best/
and don't miss out on our special documentary presentation event with Holtermann's descendants, details here: https://www.historyhill.com.au/event-150-years-beyers-and-holtermann/

05/10/2022

GOLD: THE BEYERS & HOLTERMANN SPECIMEN, THE TRUE STORY
Book your tickets today!
Our documentary premiere event, complete with 'meet Holtermann's descendants' opportunity, great lucky door prizes and afternoon tea, is on this month.
22 October, Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre
For more info and links to tickets visit: https://www.historyhill.com.au/

BMEC Bathurst

21/09/2022

We love visitors! And remember to check out our special event in Bathurst 22 Oct - https://www.historyhill.com.au/event-150-years-beyers-and-holtermann/

21/09/2022

THE TRUE STORY//
Who was Louis Beyers? How well did he and Holtermann know each other?
Did you know Louis Beyers was B.O. Holtermann's brother-in-law?
Come along to Malcolm Drinkwater's special event and documentary premiere, at Bathurst on 22 October, to find out more about the men behind the find; the Beyers and Holtermann Specimen, the world's largest single mass of gold.

For link to tickets and event information: The Beyers and Holtermann Specimen, The True Story
https://www.historyhill.com.au/event-150-years-beyers.../

07/09/2022

THE TRUE STORY//
During its gold heyday, each Monday morning, a gold es**rt wagon procession would depart from the Mining Registrar in Hill End, for a five day journey eastward to the Royal Australian Mint, in Macquarie Street Sydney, where the gold was processed.

Through his documentary premiere and Q & A session on gold, on 22 October at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Malcolm Drinkwater will take us through the details of the Beyers and Holtermann Specimen’s early journey from the Star of Hope Mine, through the streets of Hill End and onward.

Join us for Gold: The Beyers and Holtermann Specimen, The True Story
https://www.historyhill.com.au/event-150-years-beyers-and-holtermann/

01/09/2022

THE TRUE STORY//
B.O. Holtermann is the recognisable figure standing beside the famous Beyers and Holtermann Specimen in its earliest photograph; but why is his business partner, Louis Beyers, not in the photo? If you'd like to know the true story of the discovery of The Beyers and Holtermann Specimen, book your ticket to the premiere of Malcolm Drinkwater's latest documentary to find out the answer to this and other questions. https://www.bmec.com.au/gold-the-beyers-holtermann-specimen.html

25/08/2022

It's just 2 months to go until it is officially 150 years since the discovery of The Beyers and Holtermann Specimen, the worlds largest known single mass of gold.
Check our short info film we've put together to give a little of the history.
You'll see lots of snippets to whet your appetite for our documentary premiere to be held on 22 October 2022, 1.30pm at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Gold: The Beyers & Holtermann Specimen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIK8gqI3_U


Visit Bathurst NSW

Channel 9 Story + interview with John Holtermann

20/08/2022

PRIZES!
We have some amazing prizes to be won at our 22 October special event at BMEC.
Do you have your tickets yet?

https://www.bmec.com.au/gold-the-beyers-holtermann-specimen.html

The True Story is ready to be told.

Check out the wonderful lucky door prizes to be given away at the upcoming 150th celebration BMEC Bathurst

A Holtermann book signed by all seven Holtermann great grand children with the most influence and interest in the subject matter.

1st and 3rd Editions of Hill End Gold books

1st, 2nd, & 3rd Edition of Holtermann books

One and only written in German edition of 1985 Holtermann book to commemorate Holtermann centenary festival marking his death on 29th April 1985.

All documentaries we have produced to protect and preserve history.

Finally as it is all about gold, a little package of Hill End reef gold. Yes the real stuff!
22 October 2022 | Gold: The Beyers and Holtermann Specimen, The True Story.
Celebrating 150 years since the discovery of The Beyers and Holtermann Specimen in 1872.
Doors open 1pm. Show starts 1.30pm and concludes at 5pm.
Tickets on sale now https://www.bmec.com.au/gold-the-beyers-holtermann-specimen.html

03/08/2022

Look at that gold!
Jhob's Gold Panning Tours are a great Hill End family fun activity.

28/07/2022

EXCITING NEWS! Tickets on sale now!
Join us for a very special event at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre
22 October 2022 | Gold: The Beyers and Holtermann Specimen, The True Story.
Celebrating 150 years since the discovery of The Beyers and Holtermann Specimen in 1872.
* Documentary premiere - The Monster Specimen
* Meet Holtermann's descendants
* Gold Q & A session
* Afternoon Tea
$25 p/ad
Doors open 1pm. Show starts 1.30pm and concludes at 5pm.
Tickets onsale at BMEC 02 6333 6161 or online at: https://www.bmec.com.au/gold-the-beyers-holtermann-specimen.html
Visit Bathurst NSW

Gold: The Beyers & Holtermann SpecimenA special event documentary premiere celebrating the discovery of the world’s largest known single mass of gold. 22 October 2022 | 1.30pm | Documentary Premiere | Meet Holtermann’s Descendants | Gold Q & A Session | Afternoon Tea | Great Prizes Presented by ...

19/04/2022

Come and visit us during the school holidays!
We're open every day during school holidays 10am - 4pm. Check website for more info: https://www.historyhill.com.au/opening-times/

21/03/2022

We have more GIVEAWAYS!
We were over supplied with draft DVDs for The Golden Days Revisited. They have some minor glitches and can't be sold, so we've decided to give them away!
One draft DVD giveaway per car visiting History Hill Museum and Underground Mine, while stocks last. Take a look at fascinating gold rush history!
We're open each Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4pm; and all days of NSW school holidays and public holidays. We're just 2km from Hill End. Come out and visit us! Feel free to call ahead to confirm hours and visit details.
0428 378 222
https://www.historyhill.com.au/opening-times/

15/12/2021

FREE GIVEAWAY WHILE STOCKS LAST:
We've got a great FREE giveaway welcome pack on offer for each car visiting History Hill from Saturday 18 December , while stocks last!
FREE Welcome pack includes first draft versions and early editions of Malcolm Drinkwater's highly regarded works:
⭐️ 2 x DVDs (first draft versions) The Golden Days; Gold & B.O. Holtermann
⭐️ 3 x 2nd editions of Hill End Gold; The German-Australian called Holtermann; Hill End Hearsay.
t&c: Offer exists only while stocks last.



Visit Bathurst NSW