From late 1859 onwards, Cornishtown developed as a mining settlement along the Indigo Lead as it led south-west before joining Durham Lead. It was located on the Chiltern-Rutherglen goldfield and was only a short distance from Christmastown and Durham. The 1861 census collector appears to have combined the population of the three settlements, recording a total of 238 residents. Of these 200 were men and 38 women.