Rising Sun Gold Mine, Tennant Creek, Barkly Region, Northern Territory, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Rising Sun Gold Mine	Mine
Tennant Creek	Creek
Barkly Region	Region
Northern Territory	Territory
Australia	Country

'At the first Christmas at the Rising Sun mine, Mrs Weaber offered a prize of 2 pounds, which in 1934 was like a million dollars, to anyone who could ride the bucking kangaroo. Jack Noble, in his forties at that time, was half full of rum, and got on his hands and knees, and started bucking- he was the bucking kangaroo. The kids and some grown-ups too had a try, and ride on his back to a stand still to win the 2 pounds'- Nancy Ford.

One eyed cattleman Jack Noble had trekked with camels to Tennant Creek in 1931 after hearing rumours of gold. He was joined in 1933 by blind Kimberley cattle baron, William Weaber, who financed the prospecting. They discovered several rich deposits including the Rising Sun. One source which cannot be confirmed, states one of the party R. Baker, left to prospect on his own, hobbling camels for the night. At this spot he discovered the deposit, soon after re-joining Noble and Weaber.

Jack soon sold his share, while the Weabers remained living at the mine. The Christmas celebrations started at the mine was later moved into the Tennant Creek town site, and is continued to this day, with a giant Christmas tree, gifts for kids, barbeque for adults, a street parade, and local residents dressing as cartoon characters.

With little than two potholes dug, a battery was installed in 1936, and until 1939, around 9000 tonnes of ore had been mined for 8800 ounces of gold. Ore was obtained from a small open pit,and underground via a shaft. 1200 shares had been created, and four leases pegged. The Weabers held 800 shares, Rudolph Schmidt 300, and C. Gregg 100. Offers of 50 000 pounds for the mine were refused. The first crushing was sent by road and rail thousands of kilometres to Petersborough South Australia, with 54 tonnes achieving 315 ounces.

In 1948, the Weaber's Rising Sun NL was floated to re-open the mine, after the war embargo on mining saw operations cease. This entity was part of the Australian Development NL, headed by R.M. Williams, future cattle baron, and clothing retailer. While much gold was found at nearby Nobles Nob, after much development work, they abandoned the Rising Sun option late 1951.

Excalibur announced high grade gold found from a drilling campaign at the Rising Sun in 2008, but two years later downgraded its assessments as un-economic.

The Rising Sun location is 17 kilometres south-east of Tennant Creek, and 3 kilometres east of the Nobles Nob open pit. The site is just south of the track which heads east of Nobles Nob. The small historic pit appears more like a sinkhole, with the remains of the shaft 100 metres to the west.

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