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a8 local
Saturday 4 OctOber 2025

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

Unbeknownst to the boy
and his father, they quite
literally struck gold, and
as word got out, a gold
fever spread among the
locals who started search-
ing for more gold. About 25
pounds worth was found.

At the same time, the Aru-
ban government took im-
(Oranjestad)—The Bushiri- dates back to 1725, when mediate actions, and in-
bana Gold Mill Ruins is one a first exploration for gold formed Curacao that gold
of the most visited places on the island was commis- was found. At first, every-
by tourists on the island, sioned by the Dutch West one could look for gold,
as it lies along the north- India Company. Under the as long as they sold it to
ern coast line near the mini leadership of Mr. Paulus the government. However,
pool and on the way to the Printz, a three-year search after some time, the gov-
Natural Bridge. Despite its was conducted on Aruba, ernment decided to im-
seemingly plain appear- to no avail. Though they plement stricter rules and
ance, this ruin represents found some gold, it was banned local search par-
one of the most important enough to motivate a fur- ties.
histories of the island: The ther search, and the assign- volved grinding the rocks
Aruban Gold Rush. ment was discontinued by Over the years, concession- and letting the dust be The gold mill itself had a
Printz himself. holding had seen different blown away by the strong short life-span: only 10 years
Built in 1872 by English com- companies from around northeast wind, leaving in service, but its structure
pany Aruba Island Gold It wasn’t until 100 years lat- the world, all of which used clumps of gold behind. The remained relatively solid till
Mining Company Ltd, the er, in 1824, when a young primitive methods to dig next step was melting the this day, and is now a his-
gold mill at Bushiribana boy found a lump of gold and carve out gold from gold and letting it attach torical remnant.
was constructed in the while out herding his fa- the rocks. Aruba Island to quicksilver in order to
area where most gold was ther’s sheep. His father took Gold Mining Company Ltd. obtain pure gold. All these Sources: Etnia Nativa & gold-
found by locals. The story it to a local merchant who was no different, but used processes were done at mineranch.com.
of gold on Aruba actually then sold the lump for $70. a unique method that in- the Bushiribana Gold Mill.

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