Just three years later, in 1854, the bustling town that had once held tens of thousands of people had stabilised at a population of around 5,000–10,000. In the late 1850s, Chinese miners began arriving in the district, calling Australia the “Second Gold Mountain” after California, known as the “Gold Mountain.” By 1861, 642 Chinese miners were recorded on the Turon goldfields. Although some European miners were hostile towards them, the Gold Commissioner noted that Chinese miners caused far less trouble and were respected for their patience and determination.

Between 1871 and 1873, mining activity revived across the Sofala district, particularly at Hill End, with the development of quartz reef mining. In 1899, the Turon River Dredging Company commenced operations, eventually running three dredges along the Turon River and recovering an estimated 5,000 ounces of gold annually.