Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud SITE NO. & NAME: 68.0 LORD

Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 68.0 LORD NELSON TAILINGS DUMPS 68.1 LORD NELSON MINE SITE

LOCATION: CHRYSOLITE HILL, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: 68.0 H7524-0039 68.1 H7524-0040

DIRECTIONS: St. Arnaud, tailings are located on the north side of Millet-Dally Road, and the battery foundations are in Pioneer Park, just north of the new swimming pool

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Unreserved Crown Land

HISTORY:

March 1860 (St Arnaud Division). The leaders on Chrysolite Hill, being worked by Doveton, Munch and Company, 1 are still looking well, and by report will yield over 10 oz per ton, this crushing.

November 1860 (St Arnaud Division). At the St Arnaud Gold Mining Company’s lease no great improvement has taken place since my last. They have succeeded in breaking through the western reef about eight feet thick, and are continuing their present level (at 100 feet) to strike the eastern reef. The western reef has but little prospect of gold in it, the shaft, in my opinion, being too far south; the same rule holding good on this and nearly every other reef on St Arnaud and that which I explained in my September report of the Chripolite and Ballaarat Reefs, viz. the dip of gold continuing with the strike of reef. On the northern end of this reef (Sebastopol) I washed from five buckets of debris 2 about 1/1-2 dwt of gold.

January 1861 (St Arnaud Division). On the older reefs things are still dull, except at Wilson’s Hill, Chrysolite Hill, and Sebastopol, where either machinery is being erected or preparations made for the erection thereof. Messrs Grierson and Company are also erecting machinery on the Chrysolite Hill and have applied for a lease of the 3 same.

April 1861 (St Arnaud Division). At the Chrysolite Hill, on the so called Musical Reef, No. 1 East has succeeded in striking what they presume to be payable quartz. From the Prospect Claim a kiln of quartz supposed to yield 7 or 8 oz per ton was lately crushed; from the first 5 tons they obtained a yield of between 5 and 6 oz per ton; the remaining 11 tons when crushed did not yield 1/2 an oz per ton, an apparent mystery that has not yet been solved; the quartz when landed from the shaft being thrown carelessly on the kiln to be burned, from thence carted to the machine and deposited outside, to be wheeled in barrows and weighed as required, so that it would seem almost impossible for them not to be well mixed, and from which a trial of 5 or 6 tons should be a fair sample; whether from a fault or defect in the mill or an unexampled peculiarity in the quartz, is as yet unknown, no such result has ever yet been found by using the same mill. Messrs Gurison, Edgar, and Company have nearly completed the erection of their engine, &c. for pumping and crushing from their deep shaft, situate on lease south of St Arnaud United Company. The progress of this company is watched with great interest by many ... The shaft at present is over 200 feet in depth. The piping on the ground is 4 Co. Anderson’s patent paper pipe, the use and result of which is watched with more than usual interest.

May 1861 (St Arnaud Division). On the Chrysolite Hill, Messrs Edgar and party have completed all their works, and the engine is I believe to be set in motion to day, so that this reef (the Ballaarat) providing the company are not 5 deceived in the capability of their engine, &c., will at last have a fair trial.

June 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Yarra’s engine (from sundry small workings around) Butcher’s engine ditto St Arnaud United Wilson’s Hill Chrysolite Company Chrysolite Hill Greenock Reef Prospecting Co., No. 1 & 2 South Main & Cross Reefs 6 Benson and Sutherland Spinster Reef

208 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

209 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

December 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision) The total number is thus distributed: Scrub Rush 40 Silver Reefs 30 Sawpit Gully 8 Freyberg 15 Master’s Reef 2 Sanderske’s Reef 4 Chrysolite Hill 21 Bristol Reef 8 Schewring’s Reef 10 Gap Gully 40 Armenian Gully 4 New Bendigo 80 Wagner’s Hill (Mogg’s) 3 Peevor’s Flat (Mogg’s) 6 Douglas Hill 3 Frenchman’s 8 Bell’s Hill, Carapooree 12 Forty-feet Peter’s 14 Butcher’s Engine 7 Wier’s Hill 8 Brigg’s Hill 8 Greenock and Pioneer reefs 17 Spinster and Sailor’s reefs 4 Peter’s 304 Dogbury 19 Emu 4 Rostron’s 8 Salter’s Hill 12 Banshee 12 Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Silver Mining Association Bristol Reef, Sebastopol Reef Freyberg Clark’s Reef Butcher’s & Company crushing Sundry claims Stuart Mill Crushing Company Greenock or Sailor’s reefs, Pioneer Reef 7 Chrysolite Company Chrysolite claim

210 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

March 1865 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: Silver & Sebastopol Reefs 30 Sawpit Reef 2 Freyberg Company’s Works 17 Master’s Reef 3 Sanderske’s Reef 34 Chrysolite Hill 30 Bristol Reef 16 Schewring’s Reef 10 Gap Gully 19 Tunnel Hill 6 Carapoore banks 8 Karney’s 2 Armenian Gully 6 New Bendigo 54 Cochrane's Hill 10 Butcher’s Engine 4 Warwickshire Reef 4 Bell Rock 2 McCredie’s Engine 4 Greenock Reef 15 Spinster Reef 4 Pioneer Reef 2 Bell’s Hill 4 Frenchman’s Hill 12 Salter’s Hill 10 Peter’s Diggings 282 Bald Hills 4 Scrub Rush 6 Wier’s Hill 4 Dogbury 25 Banshee 10 Emu 17 Douglas Hill 24 Forty-feet 10 Brigg’s Hill 20 Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Silver Mining Association Sebastopol Reef Master’s and Party Edwards’ Reef Butcher’s and Company Crushing Various reefs Dower and Sawpit Reef Rimmer and Co. Ballarat Reef Sundry parties Bristol Reef Chrysolite Company Various reefs Sundry parties Greenock Reef 8 Benson and Partner Spinster’s Reef

211 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

March 1867 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (Mr. John Phillips). Distribution of miners: Bristol and Gap Reef 36 Bell Rock and neighbourhood 27 Jerjaw, Queen Mary, and neighbourhood 34 Sebastopol and Stewart’s Hill 31 Blink Bonny and neighbourhood 16 Wilson’s Hill and Chrysolite 35 Greenock Reef and neighborhood 7 McCredie’s and Butcher’s engine 9 John Bull Creek 30 Gap and Armenian Gullies 15 New Bendigo 145 Carapooee Creek, bottom and top 31 Emu Diggings 10 Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Malcolm and Co.’s Auld Reekie, Pioneer Reef, Chance Reef, Caledonia Reef Chrysolite Sanderski’s, Blink Bonny, Chrysolite, Bristol Reef, Robinson’s, Jerejaw Reef, Hopeful. Silver Mining Various claims McCredie’s Robinson’s Reef, Edgar’s claim. Excelsior (Masters) Gold and silver Butcher and Co. Various claims Quartz Tailings & Cement crushed: Chrysolite 9 McCredie’s Engine

September 1867 St. Arnaud North Subdivision. Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Chapman and Co. (public crushing) Various reefs Bristol Reef (crushing) Various claims Chrysolite (public crushing) Various reefs Malcolm’s (public crushing) Caledonian and Fish-hook Reefs Lee and Co.’s (public crushing) Greenock Reef Sebastopol (crushing) Various places There are numerous reefs around us yielding gold to occasional small parties of miners. There are nearly as many reefs as quartz miners, and the privilege of picking out the golden spots and leaving the reefs all poor in sight is anything but conducive to steady work and regular mining. The tribute system here prevalent results in slovenly and personally unsafe mining, timbering and footways being neglected; the miner facing evident danger for a short time only, during his “take”, rather than preventing it at his own labour and expense. This last remark does not apply, however, to the Chrysolite tributors, who are working vigorously in spite of failure to get a drainage grant. The Bell Rock, the Bristol Reef, the Rising Star, the Greenock Reef, and perhaps other mines, may be regarded as 10 good and permanent; the Jerejaw, Chance, Blink Bonny, Hopeful, and Emu mines, coming in the rear with promise.

December 1868 St Arnaud North Subdivision. Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Tributors Carr’s Lease Hoskin and Co. Wilson’s Hill Jerejaw Jerejaw Reef Sanderske and Co. Sanderske’s Lease Tributors Bell Rock Lease Johnsons and Co. Bristol Reef Cenel and Co. Garibaldi Lease Chapman Chrysolite Hill Rimmer and Co. Chrysolite Hill Perry and Co. Hopeful Reef Penberthy and Co. Blink Bonny Brown and Co. Warwickshire Reef Croyden and Co. Bristol Reef

212 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

Mount Emu Mount Emu Reef St. Arnaud Walker’s Lease Malcolm and Co. Fishhook Reef McMahon and Co. Bristol Reef 11 Prospectors Greenock Reef

213 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

March 1869 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (John Phillips). There is nothing of special interest to notice in the working or success of the established mines of the locality. The Bell Rock, Bristol Reef, Wilson’s Hill, Walker’s, 12 Trinidad, Chrysolite Hill, Greenock Reef and Isabelle Reef being pursued steadily, with fair yields.

June 1869 (John Phillips). The Ballarat and St. Arnaud Company are down earlier to water in a new shaft than was thought of, and are now going to cross-cut at about 200 feet. There are a few who have faith in this enterprise of regaining the Chrysolite Hill veins in this direction at a proper depth, and I cannot but regard it as among the fair mining speculations. Although the heavy minerals are abundant and rich in gold, as coming from our greatest attained depths, the quartz owners are obliged to be satisfied with pennyweights instead of ounces to the ton in consequence of the difficulty of 13 separating the gold from pyriteous ores.

June 1870 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (P. Simpson). Mining matters have been much depressed during the last quarter, and this depression has exerted an influence over some of the best working claims in the division, including 14 some of those on the Chrysolite and Wilson’s Hills.

September 1870 St. Arnaud North Subdivision. I cannot report any general improvement in mining in this subdivision during the past quarter. Messrs Higgins and Co., Chrysolite Hill, are thoroughly testing their ground, and should their efforts prove 15 successful, it must, I think, produce a very beneficial effect upon quartz mining in the neighbourhood.

March 1871 St. Arnaud North Subdivision. Higgins and Co. at Chrysolite Hill, are at work at the 200-foot level, continuing the levels along the course of the lode, and also stoping out. They are driving also for Paddy’s Reef to the east. The Chrysolite Hill Company and Messrs Higgins have arranged so that the former will be enabled to work the reef from Messrs Higgins’ drive as soon as the latter have reached the common boundary, which is now about 40 feet distant. Messrs Higgins will drain the ground, haul to surface and deliver stone to the Chrysolite Hill Company’s 16 battery.

June 1871 St. Arnaud North Subdivision. The prospects of this division are looking decidedly better. On the Chrysolite Hill the reefs are more defined as they work deeper. The Chrysolite Company is working from the 400-ft level, out of Higgin’s claim. They are driving and stoping, with a view to communicate with their own shaft, which have been put in repair to the 27-ft level, and is being sunk to the 17 400-ft level. Two of Brown and Stanfield’s patent concentrators have just been erected.

September 1871 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Only a comparatively small quantity of stone has been crushed this quarter from Chapman’s and the Rising Star claims, Chrysolite Hill. This has been in consequence of Messrs Butcher and Co.’s mill having been idle for a great part of the time for the execution of repairs. The Chrysolite Hill Company (as may be seen from the return of quartz crushed) are now fairly at work; and lately, I 18 believe, on the Chrysolite and Ballarat Reef as well as the Western Reef.

December 1871 (St Arnaud North subdivision). Mining is extremely dull in this division at present; the only claims 19 that are doing much being the Rising Star and Chrysolite.

March 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Chrysolite Company’s ground is being worked by a Sandhurst tribute company, who has taken it for seven years. The arrangements with the adjoining claim (Messrs Higgins’), for 20 working the mine out of the ground at the 400-foot level.

June 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Rising Star Company, Chrysolite Hill, is stoping out from the 300- foot and 400-foot levels. An ordinary quartz claim(twelve men’s ground) has been taken up south of the above. The Chrysolite Hill Company is now engaged in crushing from the Western and Ballarat Reefs (270-foot level). The 21 main shaft is now down about 376 feet.

September 1872 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Quartz mining is steadily progressing in the neighbourhood of St Arnaud. The excellent yields obtained of late from several of the claims must soon, I think, draw to this locality the attention it deserves.

214 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

The Rising Star Company is driving and stoping in the new ground lately obtained by them. The Never-can-Tell Company--in the claim south of the above--has not yet been successful in cutting the reef. 22 The Chrysolite Hill Company is stoping out from the 270 and 335 foot levels.

215 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

December 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). At the Rising Star Company’s claim, working at the 400-foot level, another cross reef has been discovered in Chapman’s old ground. The Chrysolite Hill Company's shaft is down 381 feet, or to the 400-foot level in the adjoining claim (the Rising Star). 23 Ground is being applied for on lease in the neighbourhood of the Wilson’s Hill and Rising Star claims.

March 1873 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Rising Star Company is now engaged in crushing, which has been delayed by repairs to their crushing plant. The Sandhurst and Chrysolite Hill Company is opening up at the 380-foot level on the Ballarat and Western Reef, and cross-cutting east at the 335-foot level--about 70 feet from the common boundary of the Wilson’s Hill lease--for 24 the Wilson’s Hill Reef.

June 1873 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (Mr. P. Simpson). At the Rising Sun claim, in driving south at the 400-ft level, they have a very fine reef, showing gold freely. One hundred and forty tons of pyrites, treated by Chilian mills, have produced over 3 oz. to the ton. 25 The Chrysolite Company is putting in pumps to drain the mine.

September 1873 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Rising Star claim is now being worked by a Melbourne tribute company. They are sinking the main shaft 60 feet deeper, or to a depth of about 466 feet. 26 The Chrysolite Hill Company is preparing to drain the mine, and to sink the shaft 100 feet deeper.

December 1873 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Rising Star Claim, which is now being worked by a Melbourne tribute Company, the depth of main shaft has been increased to 470 feet; good sinking. They are engaged in opening out north and south on the Rising Sun and Western Reefs. The Chryosolite Company is now engaged in sinking their shaft between the Ballarat and Chrysolite Reefs. Present 27 depth, 480 feet; hard sinking.

March 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The strike at the Rising Sun claim, and the comparative suspension of work at the silver mines, have had a most depressing influence over mining. The Chrysolite Company has completed the sinking of the shaft, and is now putting in a cross-cut at the 500-foot 28 level towards the Ballarat Reef.

June 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Rising Star mining operations are progressing steadily. They are now raising stone from the 460-foot level on Paddy’s Reef. The Chrysolite Company is opening out north on the Ballarat Reef, which has been struck at 99 feet from shaft, at 29 the 500-foot level.

September 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Chrysolite Company is now engaged in stoping out from the 30 500-foot level on the Ballarat Reef.

March 1875 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Sandhurst and St. Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company have struck what is considered a continuation of the Wilson’s Hill lode in the 500-foot level. Stone crushed separately from this lode has averaged 1 oz. to the ton. The company is erecting a 25 hp pumping and winding engine, hitherto 31 pumping and winding have all been done by one engine.

June 1875 St Arnaud North Subdivision (W.G Couchman). Sandhurst and St. Arnaud Chrysolite Company is raising 32 good stone from the 500-foot level, and sinking the shaft deeper; present depth, 520 feet.

September 1875 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Company has sunk the shaft to 33 a depth of 571 feet.

December 1875. The Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company have sunk the shaft to a depth of 607 34 feet, and fixed new pump workings, and intend driving for the Western Reef at a depth of 600 feet.

March 1876 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company is working 35 at the 600-foot level.

June 1876. The Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company has been driving the 600-foot level north, and 36 stoping the backs.

216 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

217 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

September 1876 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). There is no improvement to note in mining operations during the quarter. The Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company has driven the 600-foot level north 120 feet and 37 south 60 feet.

March 1877 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Mining matters in this subdivision have been very dull during the past quarter. Wilson’s Hill. The Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company has been engaged breaking out stone from the 600-foot level ... This company has purchased the machinery of the New Isis Company, Stuart Mill, which they are going to add to that which they have already erected. The Lord Raglan Company is raising and crushing stone 39 from the 450 and 500-foot levels.

June 1877 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company has been driving a cross-cut at a depth of 680 feet ... During the quarter a new boiler and new winding gear and cages, &c., have 40 been erected and fitted up.

December 1877. The Sandhurst and St. Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company has been driving from a level from the 41 shaft at 680 feet.

42 June 1878. The Sandhurst and St. Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company have only been working on spurs.

March 1881. St. Arnaud North Subdivision. The Lord Nelson Company are steadily opening out the mine. 43 The Rising Star Company is stoping out from the 460-foot level.

December 1881 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Rising Star Company is sinking the main shaft from the 460-foot 44 level, a further depth of 100 feet.

March 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Company has been raising stone from 100, 200, 270, 45 400, 500, and 680-feet levels, the reef varying from 6 inches to 3 feet thick.

June 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Company has been crushing stone raised from various depths between the 100-foot to 680-foot levels, with very payable results; their mine is principally worked on tribute. The Lord Nelson Company has been crushing stone raised from various depths between the 100-foot to 680-foot 46 levels, with very payable results; their mine is principally worked on tribute.

December 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Co. has crushed 364 tons of stone during the quarter for a yield of 412 oz 6 dwts of smelted gold ... The company decided to cut down and re-timber the main shaft to 270 feet, which is now being done; after this is completed it is the intention to sink to a further depth of 100 feet. All work in the mine in the shape of breaking stone for crushing purposes will be stopped until the completion of the 47 shaft.

September 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Company has been sinking the main shaft, and is now down 770 feet ... This company and the Rising Star have been amalgamated, and it is purposed to work the latter 48 ground from the main shaft on the Chrysolite ground.

December 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Company has sunk the shaft to a depth of 790 49 feet.

March 1884 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Lord Nelson Company’s claim a winze has been sunk from the 50 680 to the 780-foot levels.

June 1884 St Arnaud North Subdivision. The Lord Nelson Company has been engaged raising stone from three 51 distinct lodes between the 680- and 780-foot levels. From 832 tons crushed 765 oz. of gold was obtained.

218 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

September 1884 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Company has been raising stone from between the 500 and 780-foot levels, and from 1,691 tons crushed, 834 oz. gold was obtained. They have recently erected a new 52 pulso-meter pump, for the purpose of raising the tailings and water which run from the battery tables.

219 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

December 1884 Wedderburn Division. Mining in both quartz and alluvial has been very quiet ... Harvest operations being in full swing, a number of miners 53 are engaged in the work for a time.

December 1884. The Lord Nelson Co. has been raising stone from 600 to 780 foot levels. From 1,713 tons crushed, 54 they had a yield of 666 oz.

March 1885 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Company has been raising and crushing stone from 55 between 680 and 780 foot levels, and is about to sink the main shaft 100 feet deeper.

June 1885 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Company has been raising stone from 180-foot to 680- foot levels, and 2,404 tons crushed gave a yield of 671 oz ... They are now sinking the main shaft 100 feet deeper (present depth 780 feet from surface). A parcel of 65-1/2 tons of pyrites was saved to be sent to Germany for 56 treatment.

September 1885 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Lord Nelson Company, Chrysolite Hill, is sinking main shaft below the 780-foot level, and which is now a depth of 862 feet. They have also been raising stone from between 600 and 57 680 foot levels, 2,159 tons crushed for 816 oz.

December 1885 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Company has been stoping between 600 and 680 foot levels; 1,331 tons of quartz crushed for 410 oz. They have sunk their main shaft a further depth of 94 feet, 58 making 882 feet from the surface. A 30 horse-power engine for pumping purposes is in the course of erection.

March 1886 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Lord Nelson Company has erected an 18-inch cylinder engine, to be 59 used for pumping purposes only ... The quartz crushed amounted to 1,857 tons for 987 oz.

June 1886 (St Arnaud North Division). The Lord Nelson Co. ... 2,485 tons for 1,299 oz. ... The whole of the thickness of stone is taken from both levels, passed through the batteries, and averages 10 dwt. per ton, besides being 60 very rich in pyrites, which are sold to the Intercolonial Smelting and Reducing Company, Spotswood.

September 1886 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Company’s prospects have materially improved during the quarter, 3,181 tons of quartz crushed for 1,734oz. ... Two dividends have been declared of 6d. per 36,000th share, amounting to £1,800. The prospects of the mine for future working are very good. Three new mining leases 61 have been applied for on this line of reef to the north.

December 1886 (St. Arnaud Subdivision). The Lord Nelson Company have crushed during the past quarter 3,822 tons of quartz for a yield of 1,450 oz ... The prospects of the mine still continue good, and the company is about to 62 erect new and extensive machinery.

March 1887 (St Arnaud North Division). Lord Nelson Company has been stoping between 680-feet and 900-feet levels; 4,720 tons of quartz crushed gave a yield of 1,439 oz 13 dwt 12 gr of gold ... They are now erecting a new 20- 63 in. cylinder engine for driving the battery; and making other improvements in their plant.

June 1887 (St Arnaud North Division). Lord Nelson Company has been engaged stoping from between 6809 and 880-foot levels, from 3,769 tons of quartz crushed, which gave a yield of 1,301 oz ... They have got their machinery 64 in good working order, and are erecting new poppet-heads.

September 1887 (St Arnaud North Division). The Lord Nelson Company has been engaged stoping from between 680 and 880-foot levels; 4,036 tons of quartz crushed, gave a yield of 1,304 oz 19 dwt 12 gr of gold. A new double winding plant and pit-heads are in course of erection, which will be completed and ready for use by about the middle 65 of October.

220 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

March 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). Lord Nelson Company has been engaged in stoping from between 780 and 67 880-foot levels; 4,163 tons of quartz crushed gave a yield of 1,288 oz.

June 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). The Lord Nelson Company ... 5,0004 tons of quartz crushed gave a yield of 68 1,579 oz.

221 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

September 1888 (St Arnaud North Division) Lord Nelson Company ... 3878 tons of quartz crushed gave a yield of 69 1,495 oz ... of gold.

December 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). The Lord Nelson Company is raising stone of a payable nature from 70 between 780-foot and 940-foot levels, and is about to sink main shaft deeper.

March 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). The Lord Nelson Company, Chrysolite Hill ... 3,769 tons of quartz 71 crushed yielded 1,779 oz ... of gold.

June 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). Lord Nelson Company ... 4,651 tons of quartz crushed gave a yield of 2,312 72 oz of gold.

September 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). Lord Nelson Company ... 3,932 tons of quartz crushed gave a yield of 73 1,751 oz ... of gold. Dividends to the value of £1,800 have been declared.

December 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). Lord Nelson Company ... 4,629 tons of quartz crushed gave a yield of 74 2,160 oz ... of gold.

March 1890. St Arnaud North. The only notable item in connection with mining matters in the St Arnaud North division is the amount of stone dealt with by the Lord Nelson Company; 3,335 tons of quartz were crushed, giving a 75 return of 1,576 oz ... of gold.

December 1890. St Arnaud North. The Lord Nelson Company is still on the dividend-paying list, having divided 76 during the quarter £1,800 ... A crushing of 4,466 tons from this mine yielded 1,973 oz.

March 1891 St Arnaud North. The Lord Nelson Company is still paying regular dividends, getting the gold from 77 stone found between the 780 ft and 1,030-ft levels.

Jan 1897. Lord Nelson, St Arnaud. Dispute concerning tailings had led the Wallace St Arnaud Tailings Company again commencing legal action. [At meeting of Lord Nelson Co.] ... advocated that the new tailings should be treated by cyanidation by the company as they came from the battery, and referred to the success attained in this direction by the South Star Co., Ballarat and 78 the South German and Derby United Companies at Maldon.

February 1899. Lord Nelson Co. After numerous experiments it has been decided to erect a cyanide plant 79 sufficiently large to treat the tailings as they come from the batterry, and was now at work.

September 1899. Lord Nelson. Foundations are being put in for a new engine to work on first motion. It will have 80 two 20 inch cylinders and be of 80-hp.

81 January 1900. Lord Nelson. Shaft sunk 1020 feet.

1903. St. Arnaud. The Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud, which is one of the most extensive and important quartz mines in the State, crushed 23,486 tons of stone, for a yield of 13,328 ounces of gold. This return was further supplemented by 1,033 ounces of gold from the cyanide treatment of the tailings; also gold to the value of £3,230 from the concentrates. A total of 197 men were employed, of whom 123 were working in connection with stoping 82 out the lode.

1904 St. Arnaud. At the Lord Nelson mine, work has been energetically carried on with highly profitable results. The milling power has been supplemented with an up-to-date 10-head battery. The stone crushed amounted to 24,912 tons, for a yield, including gold from pyrites and tailings, of 14,999 oz. The pyrites dealt with totalled 326 tons and yielded gold to a value of £3,618. The sand treated by the cyanide process aggregated 13,360 tons, for a return of 83 1,024 oz. of gold.

1905 St. Arnaud. Mining in this part of the district is in very active state at present, as shown by the amount of capital being expended in the erection of up-to-date machinery. The Lord Nelson Company is at present engaged

222 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud erecting an up-to-date crushing battery of 30 heads of stamp (the old battery being thrown out as obsolete) of the 84 most approved pattern, with rock-breaker, self feeders and Wilfley Tables.

223 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

1906. The Lord Nelson Company ... erected one of the most up-to-date crushing machines in the State. This consists of a 30-head mill of 1,250lb. stamps, with a complete concentrating plant, and also a very large and complete cyanide 85 plant.

1907 St. Arnaud. Lord Nelson Company has done a large amount of developmental work ... About 200 men are 86 engaged below and above the surface.

1908 St. Arnaud. The Lord Nelson Company sunk its main shaft 90 feet, making the depth from the surface 1,918 feet ... The ore treated was 24,681 tons, for a yield of 7,066 oz. The pyrites treated was 339-1/2 tons, yielding 855 87 oz., while by cyanide 35,035 tons of sand was treated for a yield of 3,255 oz. Number of men employed 192.

1909 St Arnaud. Mining in this locality has been confined to the township line of reef. The Lord Nelson--ore treated amounted to 31,909 tons for 7,933 oz. Pyrites 488 tons for 1,220 oz; sand treated by cyanide 43,730 tons for 3,092 oz. One boiler has been added to the plant ... This company has amalgamated with the Lord Nelson North 88 Company.

1910 St. Arnaud. Lord Nelson--32,387 tons for 7,857 oz; 42,620 tons sand cyanided for 2,494 oz; pyrites 479 tons 89 for 1,281 oz.

1911 St Arnaud. Lord Nelson Co crushed 28,639 tons for 8,636 oz; 32,830 tons of sand cyanided for 2,622 oz; slimes plant treated 8,919 tons for 802 oz; value of pyrites £15,180. The new slimes plant erected during the year is 90 giving good results.

1912 St. Arnaud. Lord Nelson Co.--22,417 tons treated for 7,133 oz; 666 tons of pyrites yielded 1,652 oz; 17,330 tons of sand cyanided for 1,324 oz; slimes plant 31,711 tons for 3,037 oz … and average number of men employed: 91 170.

1913. St Arnaud. Lord Nelson--11,913 tons for 2,176 oz; pyrites 242 tons for 726 oz; from 2,250 tons of sand treated by cyanide 248 oz. of gold; and slime plant put through 17,696 tons for 1,867 oz. The New Bendigo Company, at the old township, opened up 269 feet of ground in sinking ... There are large bodies of 92 ore opened up, and with a battery on the mine better results are expected.

1914 St Arnaud. Lord Nelson Co--15,591 tons for 3,587 oz; sand and slime treated 35,130 tons, recovered 3,218 oz; 93 pyrites saved 511 tons, yield 1, 752 oz.

1915 St. Arnaud. Mining in this locality has been very quiet, due to the Lord Nelson Company closing down early in 94 the year.

July 1922. Welcome Nelson mine ... official report by Govt. geologist, Mr Baragwanth. Inspected the mine of Geddes and party, known as the Welcome Nelson syndicate. The site of the operations lies about half a mile north-westerly from the old Lord Nelson mine, where payable reefs were worked to a depth of over 2000 feet till six years ago. The present workings consist of a main shaft 8 ft x 3-1/2 ft, 135 feet in depth ... A battery of 6-heads, driven by a portable engine, is in use at the present, but with large ore bodies in sight is too small for profitable output, and 95 should be enlarged.

January 1922. The erection of the poppet heads on the Welcome Nelson lease has been completed. It is expected that the engine and boiler will arrive during the present week ... The cyanide plant which is now working at the Lord Nelson has been purchased by the Welcome Nelson Co. The plant, which is up-to-date, and it was recently erected 96 by Mr Archbold, will be dismantled and installed on the Welcome Nelson property sometime in April.

January 1922. At the Welcome Nelson mine, the contractors, Messrs Denisland Bros, for the erection of the plant, are making satisfactory progress. The company has purchased the poppet heads formerly used at the Old Nelson 97 mine.

224 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

August 1922. Welcome Nelson Mine. Official opening. An important event in the history of St Arnaud took place yesterday when the Welcome Nelson mine ... was officially opened ... The company’s lease on which the buildings had been erected comprised 42 acres at the time the company was floated, and 40 acres have been pegged out on the south since, as well as 20 acres to the west (including Browning’s Luck shaft). The proposition in front of the Welcome Nelson was a good one, and he predicted a great future for the mine, similar if not surpassing the once famous Lord Nelson, which, as they were all aware, was a great gold producer ... It was to be hoped the Welcome Nelson would be a worthy successor to the famous Lord Nelson, which stood high up in the mining annals of Victoria as a dividend payer of about quarter a million sterling, besides 98 providing employment for many men for a considerable number of years.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 68.0. Lord Nelson tailings (the cyaniding of tailings at St Arnaud commenced c.1897). Tailings dumps. Massive dumps of treated tailings which are currently being re-processed and placed in modern tailings dams. Dumps cover an area approximately 400 square metres.

Site 68.1. Lord Nelson battery (remains of battery erected by the Lord Nelson Company in 1905). Battery site. The battery foundations are located in Pioneer Park, at the north end of the new swimming pool. The site is dominated by the remains of the battery’s upper floor—a raised concrete floor which has traces of wooden stamper blocks and bearers for 30-head of stamps. A shell of a Cornish Boiler covers part of the floor. There is also a large concrete and brick engine bed on the western side of the floor. Commemorative plaques and columns. Attached to the northern face of the concrete and brick bed is a plaque which was erected in 1937 to honour the pioneer men and women of the town and district. In front of the bed are two wrought-iron columns which were erected in 1988 by the Country Women’s Association to commemorate the nation’s bicentenary. Shaft site. To the east of the battery foundations is the Lord Nelson Co.’s shaft. The water from this shaft is currently being utilised by a company who is currently involved in re-treating the tailings.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Little survives of what was once St Arnaud’s (and the Mining Division’s) greatest gold mine. The battery foundations are still visible though have little integrity.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Site 68.0 is now being re-treated. The site has low cultural significance.

Site 68.1 has: • Historical Significance, due to the mine’s success as a gold mine and influence on the economic development of St Arnaud. • Social Significance, because the battery foundations have became a focus for the commemoration of the pioneer men and women of the town and district.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1860 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, November 1860 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, January 1861 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, April 1861 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, May 1861 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1864 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1864 8 Mining Surveyors’ Report, March 5 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1867 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec1868 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1869

225 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

13 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1869 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1870 15 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1870 16 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1871 17 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1871 18 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1871 19 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1871 20 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1972 21 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1872 22 Mining Surveyor’s’ Reports, September 1872 23 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1872 24 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1873 25 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1873 26 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1873 27 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1873 28 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1874 29 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1874 30 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1874 31 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1875 32 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1875 33 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1875 34 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1875 35 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1876 36 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1876 37 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1876 38 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1876 39 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1877 40 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1877 41 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1877 42 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June1878 43 Mining Surveyors’ reports, March 1881 44 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1881 45 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1882 46 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1882 47 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1882 48 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1883 49 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1883 50 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1884 51 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1884 52 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1884 53 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1884 54 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1884 55 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1885 56 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1885 57 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1885 58 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1885 59 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1886 60 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1886 61 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1886 62 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1886 63 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1887 64 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1887 65 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1887 66 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1887 67 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1888 68 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1888 69 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1888

226 Lord Nelson Company, St Arnaud

70 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1888 71 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1889 72 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1889 73 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1889 74 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1889 75 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1890 76 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1890 77 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1891 78 St Arnaud Mercury, 30 Jan 1897 79 St Arnaud Mercury, 1 Feb 1897 80 St Arnaud Mercury, 23 Sept 1899 81 St Arnaud Mercury, 17 Jan 1900 82 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1903, p71 83 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1904, p69 84 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1905, p97 85 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1906, p107 86 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1907, p131 87 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1908, p116 88 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1909 89 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1910 90 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1911, pp130-31 91 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1912, p107 92 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1913, p104 93 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1914, p93 94 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1915, pp43-44 95 St Arnaud Mercury, 2/7/1921 96 St Arnaud Mercury, 18/1/1922 97 St Arnaud Mercury, 25/1/1922 98 St Arnaud Mercury, 26/8/1922

227 Lord Nelson North Company, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 69.0 LORD NELSON NORTH MINE SITE

LOCATION: WILSON HILL, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0041

DIRECTIONS: St Arnaud township, mine site now occupied by St Arnaud Caravan Park

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Tourism Reserve

HISTORY:

1854. St Arnaud Diggings. The first record of gold discovery in the St Arnaud area was in a Commissioner’s report in October 1854, which said that a “vein of gold” had been discovered on squatter Davies’ (Strathfillan) run on the “northern extremity of the Pyrenees”. It is likely that the original discovery party at St Arnaud, which found gold on Strathfillan Run about this time, was responsible for this report. This party, consisting of Richard Higgs, Thoam Wembridge, Samuel Scott (or Cairns), Frederick Steward, Frederick C. Dutton, Robert Griffin and David Pilchard (alias Fultcher, but also known as “Old Davy Cook”), received the reward for the discovery ... The four first members of the party came from Avoca in an old spring cart, late in 1854, spent several weeks prospecting about Strathfillan, and eventually camped on Orr’s (St Arnaud) Creek near the site of St Arnaud, which was then a no-man’s land between runs--flat, timbered with large box and gum trees, enclosed by hills covered with dense scrub and mallee. They found a little gold and sent for the rest of the party, who arrived in 1854 before the year was out. The first payable gold was found by Pilchard about four miles north-west of the camp, near Bakery Hill, on 10 January 1855. The field got its original name--New Bendigo--when Wembridge went to his mate’s hole and said, “We’ve struck a new Bendigo”. The site of the discovery was near the sandy knoll called Bakery Hill, and near here Wembridge opened the first reef, the Gap Reef, on the watershed between New Bendigo Gully and St Arnaud. By February 1855 the rush had started on the field, with 400 there in March and 3000 in April, and the diggings were mainly confined to New Bendigo Gully, a narrow ravine running west. Some of the main quartz reefs were discovered at the period of the rush in the first half of 1855. The discovery party opened Steward’s Reef, near the Gap. Wilson’s Reef, later re-discovered by Charles Wilson, was known first by Wembridge, who covered it up. One of the first reefs opened was Nelson’s, on the line of Sebastopol Reef, a long granulated mass of quartz that ran over Sebastopol Hill and was known as “the old quartz reef” in August 1 1855. Shewrings’ Reef was opened by Charles Shewring, west of the gap at this time.

August 1860 St Arnaud Division. Reef Yield El Dorado from 2 to 4oz. Ballaarat from 1-1/2 to 4-1/2oz. Chrysolite 10 dwt. to 1oz. Trinidad 8 dwt to 1-1/2oz. Walker’s 1-1/2 to 24oz. Stuart’s Hill 1 to 10oz. Wheal Semiramis 2 oz. Sawpit Reef from 10 dwt to 5oz. Clarke’s 2 oz. Gap, west side from 2 dwt to 1 oz. Gap, north end 10 dwt. to 3 oz. The El Dorado and Gap Reefs were the first two discovered, and have been the most prolific in their yields, having been principally worked some years ago, and the returns from which, when crushed by such crude machinery as then existed, yielded as much as 40 oz to the ton on the former, and 35 oz on the latter, the general average being 2 oz per ton, and this taken 15 or 16 feet thick. The El Dorado on Wilsons Hill is now nearly abandoned, Messrs Lewis and Company being the only claimholders who have done any real amount of work; their claim is situate on the southern slope of the hill, the northern slope being held by three other claims, who are working some small leaders. Particulars and Descriptions of Claims in Plans--El Dorado Reef, Lewis and Company ... This claim has been one of the best on St Arnaud, being abandoned with the rest of the hill, after the first working, as unpayable, crushing then being five or six times its present rate. Messrs. Lewis and Company commenced to re-work it in 1858, and from their first crushing, at the depth of 70 feet, realised 2 oz per ton, and to the depth of 250 feet it has averaged 2 oz ... The claim is worked by six men and one horse machine, consisting of two bevelled wheels and shaft on which is affixed the

228 Lord Nelson North Company, St Arnaud drum for rope ... The whole of this claim where shown as worked, from the surface down, is timbered every three 2 feet, even between the sheds on which mullock is stowed.

November 1860 (St Arnaud Division). Wilson’s Hill has been purchased from the original claimholders by a company styled the St Arnaud United Quartz Mining Company. The yield of gold from the claims hitherto worked, and the quantity of stone yet unworked, if properly wrought, would almost guarantee this company rivalling any other as yet 3 in existence.

229 Lord Nelson North Company, St Arnaud

January 1861 (St Arnaud Division). At St Arnaud I have scarcely anything new to report except steady and energetic progress, especially among the quartz mining community, although to judge from the sluggish dullness of the crushing machines one would almost imagine both crushers and miners were asleep. It is only on visiting the reefs themselves one can see the prospect looming ahead. Several new reefs have this month been opened and all with a very fair show, although not grand, yet payable. On the older reefs things are still dull, except at Wilson’s Hill, Chrysolite Hill, and Sebastopol, where either machinery is being erected or preparations made for the erection thereof. On Wilson’s Hill the St Arnaud United Company is having a large dam erected and reservoir excavated, the cutting and filling in of puddled wall being completed 275 feet in length and 18 inches in the bed rock, and at the deepest point 13 feet in height. Tenders are out for sinking the main shaft, and the timber for same is on the ground, making 4 this portion of the place look like business.

April 1861 (St Arnaud Division). Messrs Gurison, Edgar, and Company have nearly completed the erection of their engine, &c. for pumping and crushing from their deep shaft, situate on lease south of St Arnaud United Company. The progress of this company is watched with great interest by many ... The shaft at present is over 200 feet in depth. The piping on the ground is Co. Anderson’s patent paper pipe, the use and result of which is watched with more than usual interest. At the St Arnaud United the works are still progressing vigorously, nearly all the machinery is on the ground (and contracted for) to be perfectly ready in eight weeks, during which time the company intends carrying a drive through the point or saddle of Wilson’s Hill, over 420 feet in length, so as to convey water from the reservoir to their engine 5 shaft, the latter being about 32 feet above the base of the reservoir.

September 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Silver Mining Association Sebastopol Reef Freiberg Company Walker’s Reef Yarrow’s engine Sundry small workings Butcher’s Sundry small workings St Arnaud United Wilson’s Hill Greenock Reef Prospectors and others, south Benson’s Company Spinster’s Reef 6 Prospectors Sailor’s Reef

June 1865 (St Arnaud North subdivision). Total value of all mining plant in the division (Wilson’s Hill lot lately sold 7 and taken away), £17,900.

230 Lord Nelson North Company, St Arnaud

Sept 1868 St Arnaud North Subdivision. Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: W. H. Thompson Star of the West W.W. Carr Gap Reef Rimmer and Co. Ballarat Reef Northern Bristol Reef Hosking and Co. Wilson’s Hill Chrysolite Western Reef John Thomas Gap Reef Perry and Co. Hopeful Pioneer Armenian Reef Sanderske Armenian Reef Higgins and Co. Rising Sun Bristol Reef Bristol Reef London Claim Bristol Reef Croydon and Co. Bristol Reef St. Arnaud Walker’s Reef Bishops’ Lease Jerejaw Penberthy and Co. Blink Bonny Caledonian Fishhook Reef 9 Brown and Co. Warwickshire Reef

March 1869 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (John Phillips). There is nothing of special interest to notice in the working or success of the established mines of the locality. The Bell Rock, Bristol Reef, Wilson’s Hill, Walker’s, 10 Trinidad, Chrysolite Hill, Greenock Reef and Isabelle Reef being pursued steadily, with fair yields.

June 1870 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (P. Simpson). Mining matters have been much depressed during the last quarter, and this depression has exerted an influence over some of the best working claims in the division, including 11 some of those on the Chrysolite and Wilson’s Hills.

March 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). Work has been resumed at the 300-foot level on the Wilson’s Hill Reef, 12 which has been so long idle.

September 1872 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Excellent yields are being obtained by the tributers of the Wilson’s 13 Hill Company. The reef in the bottom level is 3 feet wide.

December 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill tributers are stoping out at a depth of 360 feet. 14 Ground is being applied for on lease in the neighbourhood of the Wilson’s Hill and Rising Star claims.

March 1873 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill tributers are still getting out good stone; width of auriferous reef 4 to 5 feet. The Rising Star Company is now engaged in crushing, which has been delayed by repairs to the crushing plant. The Sandhurst and Chrysolite Hill Company is opening up at the 380-foot level on the Ballarat and Western Reef, and cross-cutting east at the 335-foot level--about 70 feet from the common boundary of the Wilson’s Hill lease--for 15 the Wilson’s Hill Reef.

June 1873 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (Mr. P. Simpson). At the Wilson’s Hill work cannot be carried on in the lowest level on account of water. Two reefs have, I believe, been struck at the 300-ft level. Gold is visible in the principal, or Wilson’s Hill Reef, and the prospects are stated to be above the average. The Chrysolite Company is 16 putting in pumps to drain the mine.

December 1873 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill claim is now being worked by a Melbourne tribute company. Hagle and Company, West Wilson’s Hill, have, I understand, struck a reef at a depth of 160 feet, showing gold, and 17 supposed to be the Storm Reef.

March 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill mine has opened out the 100 foot and 300 foot 18 levels.

231 Lord Nelson North Company, St Arnaud

June 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At Wilson’s Hill a new shaft on the west side of the hill is being sunk to a proposed depth of 400 to 450 feet; present depth, 200 feet. The St. Arnaud Creek battery is now engaged on 600 19 tons of stone from this mine.

232 Lord Nelson North Company, St Arnaud

September 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). A new crushing battery of 10 revolving stamps is being erected on 20 the Wilson’s Hill mine.

December 1874 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The new batteries at the Wilson's Hill are completed and have been 21 crushing for about two months.

March 1875 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill Tribute Company is driving north and south on the lode at the 450-foot level; 110 tons crushed separately from this level yielded 115 oz, and the lode seems to improve as it is driven on. The company is erecting pumping and winding machinery at the new shaft. The Sandhurst and St. Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company has struck what is considered a continuation of the Wilson’s Hill lode in the 500-foot level. Stone crushed separately from this lode has averaged 1 oz. to the ton. The company is erecting a 25 22 hp pumping and winding engine, hitherto pumping and winding have all been done by one engine.

June 1875 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill Company is driving north and south on the lode, and sinking the main shaft deeper; present depth, 485 feet. Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company is 23 raising good stone from the 500-foot level, and sinking the shaft deeper; present depth, 520 feet.

September 1875 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill Company has sunk the shaft to a depth of 530 24 feet, and is breaking out stone at the 450-foot level.

December 1875 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill Tribute Company has completed the erection of their large pumping and winding plant, and has also erected very substantial poppet legs and brace, and a tramway for trucking quartz to the batteries. They have driven the cross-cut at the 530-foot level and cut the reef at 26 feet from the shaft. The Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company has sunk the shaft to a depth of 607 feet, and fixed new pump workings, and intend driving for the Western Reef at a depth of 600 feet. Machinery has been erected on the 25 lease of the West Wilson’s Hill Company for treating the pyrites from this mine.

26 June 1876. The Wilson’s Hill Tribute Company has been stoping the backs form the 530 to the 430 foot levels.

December 1876 (St Arnaud North Subdivision) Wilson’s Hill. The Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company has driven the 600-foot level north to the boundary of the lease ... Sinking the main shaft has been carried on, the present depth being 657 feet ... A new company, the Lord Raglan and St Arnaud Company, has been formed 27 to work the lease formerly mined by the Wilson’s Hill Tribute Company.

March 1877 Wilson’s Hill. The Sandhurst and St Arnaud Chrysolite Tribute Company has been engaged breaking out stone from the 600-foot level ... This company has purchased the machinery of the New Isis Company, Stuart Mill, which they are going to add to that which they have already erected. The Lord Raglan Company is raising and 28 crushing stone from the 450 and 500-foot levels.

December 1877. The Lord Raglan Company, Wilson’s Hill, crushed 900 tons of quartz taken from the 450 feet level, 29 which yielded 244 oz.

30 March 1881. Munro and Co., Wilsons Hill. All the machinery has been removed from this claim.

June 1881. The ground held under lease at Wilson’s Hill has recently changed hands, and a new company has been formed to work the various lodes that intersect it. The company are about to erect new steam machinery for treating the stone, in order to save the silver as well as the gold, the stone having been found to contain a great quantity of the 31 former metal, which has hitherto, to a great extent, been lost.

September 1881. Wilson’s Hill Company is preparing for the erection of powerful steam machinery. 32 Lord Raglan Company is still raising payable stone from between the 200 to 680-foot levels.

March 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Wilson’s Hill Company has completed the erection of winding and pumping plant; and is now busy with the erection of 20 heads of stamps for crushing purposes, also appliances for saving gold and pyrites. They have started clearing out the main drives and passes preparatory to raising stone for 33 crushing.

233 Lord Nelson North Company, St Arnaud

June 1882. The Wilson’s Hill Company has been erecting powerful machinery for pumping, winding, and crushing purposes, also new appliances for saving pyrites; they will be ready to commence crushing in about a month. The 34 plant is, in my opinion, the best and most complete we have in this subdivision.

234 Lord Nelson North Company, St Arnaud

September 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill Company has just completed the erection of 35 machinery for the purpose of working a lode, which averages 6 feet wide, for the extraction of gold and pyrites.

March 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill Company has been engaged operating on sand; 1,200 36 tons were put through the mill, which gave a yield of 285 oz of gold.

September 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Wilson’s Hill Company has been sinking from the 500-foot 37 level to a depth of 600 feet.

March 1884 (St Arnaud North Subdivision) Wilson’s Hill. Operations in this mine were suspended till quite recently. 38 Since making a fresh start, 30 feet of driving has been done at the 600-foot level.

39 June 1884. The Wilson Hill Company has suspended operations.

March 1886 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Wilson’s Hill Company has disposed of the whole of the steam 40 machinery, which has been removed; and I am informed that the right to the lease has also been sold.

March 1891. At the Wilson’s Hill mine an important discovery of a reef has been made at the 500-ft level, but no 41 trial crushing has yet been taken.

June 1897. Lord Nelson North mine, formerly known as the Wallace Gold Mining Co. has been underwritten and the 42 prospectus will be issued today.

43 August 1897. Lord Nelson North. Poppet heads were being erected.

44 September 1899. Lord Nelson North. Shaft is down 900 feet.

45 January 1900. Lord Nelson North. Main shaft sunk 1014 feet.

1903. The Lord Nelson North Company’s mine is shut down, but a diamond drill bore has been put down to a depth 46 of 2,300 feet.

1905. The Lord Nelson North Company has just completed the erection of an up-to-date winding engine, the drums being fitted with steam brakes, which are evidently very effective. I understand it is the intention of this company to 47 deepen its shaft from the present depth of 1,400 feet to 2,000 feet.

1906. The Lord Nelson North Gold Mining Company ... erecting an up-to-date winding engine and compressor ... 48 also has deepened the shaft from 1,400 to 1,750 feet.

1907. The Lord Nelson North Company adjoining is sinking the main shaft, and proposes opening out at 2,000 49 feet.

1908. The Lord Nelson North Company has been developing at the 2,085-ft level ... average number of men 50 employed 18.

1909. St Arnaud. Mining in this locality has been confined to the township line of reef. The Lord Nelson--ore treated amounted to 31,909 tons for 7,933 oz. Pyrites 488 tons for 1,220 oz; sand d treated by cyanide 43,730 tons for 3,092 oz. One boiler has been added to the plant ... This company has amalgamated with the Lord Nelson North 51 Company.

1915. St. Arnaud. Mining in this locality has been very quiet, due to the Lord Nelson Company closing down early 52 in the year.

235 Lord Nelson North Company, St Arnaud

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Lord Nelson North mine site (Originally known as Wilson’s Hill. The reef was discovered on the hill in 1855). Several large mining companies operated on the hill, the last to do so was the Lord Nelson North Co. from 1897 to 1915. Mine site--reclaimed and now occupied by St Arnaud Caravan Park.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has been completely flattened and now used as a caravan park.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p452-453 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports - August 1860 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, November 1860 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, January 1861 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, April 1861 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1865 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 9 Mining Surveyors'’ Reports, Sept 1868 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1869 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1870 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1972 13 Mining Surveyor’s’ Reports, September 1872 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1872 15 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1873 16 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1873 17 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1873 18 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1874 19 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1874 20 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1874 21 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1874 22 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1875 23 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1875 24 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1875 25 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1875 26 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1876 27 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1876 28 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1877 29 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1877 30 Mining Surveyors’ reports, March 1881 31 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1881 32 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1881 33 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1882 34 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1882 35 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1882 36 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1883 37 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1883 38 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1884 39 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1884

236 Lord Nelson North Company, St Arnaud

40 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1886 41 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1891 42 St Arnaud Mercury, 30 June 1897 43 St Arnaud Mercury, 4 August 1897 44 St Arnaud Mercury, 23 Sept 1899 45 St Arnaud Mercury, 10 Jan 1900 46 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1903, p71 47 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1905, p97 48 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1906, p107 49 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1907, p131 50 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1908, p116 51 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1909 52 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1915, pp43-44

237 Welcome Nelson Company, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 70.0 WELCOME NELSON MINE SITE 70.1 TAILINGS DUMP/CYANIDE VATS

LOCATION: ST ARNAUD

HI NO: 70.0 H7524-0042 70.1 H7524-0043

DIRECTIONS: Site 70.0. St Arnaud, 200 metres north-east of junction of Butcher and Hopetoun Streets. The tailings are located on the hill above the site.

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Unreserved Crown Land

HISTORY:

July 1921. Welcome Nelson mine ... official report by Govt. geologist, Mr Baragwanth. Inspected the mine of Geddes and party, known as the Welcome Nelson syndicate. The site of the operations lies about half a mile north-westerly from the old Lord Nelson mine, where payable reefs were worked to a depth of over 2000 feet till six years ago. The present workings consist of a main shaft 8 ft x 3-1/2ft, 135 feet in depth ... A battery of 6-heads, driven by a portable engine, is in use at the present, but with large ore bodies in sight is too small for profitable output, and 1 should be enlarged.

January 1922. The balance of machinery from Moliagul for the Welcome Nelson mine has arrived, as well as the contractor with a staff of men. The work of erection will be commenced this morning. Men are also engaged preparing the timber for the shaft and the work of cutting down will be commenced as soon as the poppet head is erected. The old battery on the lease is being dismantled. The reef in the prospecting shaft still maintains payable 2 values.

January 1922. The erection of the poppet heads on the Welcome Nelson lease has been completed. It is expected that the engine and boiler will arrive during the present week ... The cyanide plant which is now working at the Lord Nelson has been purchased by the Welcome Nelson Co. The plant, which is up-to-date, and it was recently erected 3 by Mr Archbold, will be dismantled and installed on the Welcome Nelson property sometime in April.

February 1922. The poppet heads at the Welcome Nelson mine have been erected. The engine has arrived from 5 Ballarat. The erection of the battery is now in progress; also the cutting down of the main shaft.

February 1922. The main shaft at the Welcome Nelson is now down to a depth of 50 feet. Four Wilfey tables, 6 complete have been purchased from the Ajax gold mine, Daylesford. The battery housing is nearing completion.

March 1922. The erection of the first ten head of stampers at the Welcome Nelson mine is practically complete, and in probability the winch will be working next week in connection with the sinking of the shaft, which has been cut and 7 timbered to 145 feet.

March 1922. The contractor has completed the work on enlarging the dam. Steam will shortly be available for the winch for haulage purposes. A hundred cords of firewood are now being delivered and stacked at the mine. Portions of an additional 10 heads of battery is now on the site. The whistle was blown for the first time yesterday at the 8 mine.

April 1922. The battery on the old site has been dismantled. The contractors will shortly make a start to erect the 9 office and an additional 10 head of stampers.

10 May 1922. The main shaft is now sunk to a depth of 200 feet.

238 Welcome Nelson Company, St Arnaud

June 1922. It has been decided by the directors to install gas on the mine and arrangements have been made with the 11 Gas Co. to do so.

239 Welcome Nelson Company, St Arnaud

August 1922. Welcome Nelson Mine. Official opening. An important event in the history of St Arnaud took place yesterday when the Welcome Nelson mine ... was officially opened ... The company’s lease on which the buildings had been erected comprised 42 acres at the time the company was floated, and 40 acres have been pegged out on the south since, as well as 20 acres to the west (including Browning’s Luck shaft). The proposition in front of the Welcome Nelson was a good one, and he predicted a great future for the mine, similar if not surpassing the once famous Lord Nelson, which, as they were all aware, was a great gold producer ... It was to be hoped the Welcome Nelson would be a worthy successor to the famous Lord Nelson, which stood high up in the mining annals of Victoria as a dividend payer of about quarter a million sterling, besides 12 providing employment for many men for a considerable number of years.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Welcome Nelson (Plant installed in 1922). Machinery foundations are located in a grazed paddock. All earthworks, such as mullock heaps, have gone. Machinery site. Site dominated by a set of large concrete mounting beds. Each of the beds measures 22-1/2 ft x 3-1/4 ft and stands 4-1/2 ft high. The beds are set 9-1/2 ft apart. Between the two beds, at the north-east end, are two smaller beds measuring 7 ft x 1-1/2 ft. The iron mounting bolts have all been removed from the large beds, but the smaller beds still have 1/2-inch bolts. Running across the north-easterly end of the set of beds is a single concrete bed that measures 16 ft x 4 ft. This bed has 1-1/2 inch mounting bolts. Shaft. 17 metres north-west of the single concrete mounting bed is a collapsed shaft. Boiler setting. To the south-east of the machinery foundations are the remains of two, 21 foot long concrete boiler settings. Battery site. South-east of the set of concrete mounting beds are wooden stamper blocks and concrete footings for two battery boxes of 4-head of stamps. Nothing else is visible of the battery. Dam. Above (north-east) of the foundations is a large water dam. Tailings dump. On the slope of a hill, to the west of the mine site, is a large raised tailings dump. On the dump’s flattened surface are two cyanide vat impressions, a third impression has been largely destroyed.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Little integrity as a mine site but foundations are a landscape feature.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Site 70.1 has poor integrity and little historical importance and hence low cultural significance.

Site 70.0 has: • Social Significance, because it is more a landscape feature than a site that promotes an understanding of past mining.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 St Arnaud Mercury, 2/7/1921 2 St Arnaud Mercury, 11/1/1922 3 St Arnaud Mercury, 18/1/1922 4 St Arnaud Mercury, 25/1/1922 5 St Arnaud Mercury, 1/2/1922 6 St Arnaud Mercury, 22/2/1922 7 St Arnaud Mercury, 15/3/1922 8 St Arnaud Mercury, 29/3/1922 9 St Arnaud Mercury, 12/4/1922 10 St Arnaud Mercury, 10/5/1922 11 St Arnaud Mercury, 14/6/1922 12 St Arnaud Mercury, 26/8/1922

240 Sebastopol Hill sites, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 71.0 SEBASTOPOL REEF TAILINGS DUMP 71.1 QUEENSLAND CO. ‘S BATTERY 71.2 ARMENIAN REEF OPEN CUT 71.3 SEBASTOPOL REEF OPEN CUT 71.4 LADY NELSON MINE SITE, ROTTEN REEF 71.5 ARMENIAN GULLY TAILINGS DUMP 71.6 ST ARNAUD GOLD MINING CO.’S DAM

LOCATION: SEBASTOPOL HILL, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: 71.0 H7524-0044 71.1 H7524-0045 71.2 H7524-0046 71.3 H7524-0047 71.4 H7524-0048 71.5 H7524-0049 71.6 H7524-0050

DIRECTIONS: This group of sites is located 2 km north-north-west of St Arnaud, east side of Wycheproof Road.

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Site 71.0, 71.5 and 71.6--Unreserved Crown Land Site 71.1 to 71.4--Public Purpose Reserve (RS number 5257)

HISTORY:

March 1860 (St Arnaud Division). I wish I could report the same of the Sebastopol Company, who with all these works already finished and a prospect of 12 dwt to the ton, from quartz on the surface averaging 6 feet thick, are still 2 in the same embryo state they were months back.

August 1860: St Arnaud Division. Reef Yield El Dorado from 2 to 4oz. Ballaarat from 1-1/2 to 4-1/2oz. Chrysolite 10dwt. to 1oz. Trinidad 8dwt to 1-1/2oz. Walker’s 1-1/2 to 24oz.

241 Sebastopol Hill sites, St Arnaud

Stuart’s Hill 1 to 10oz. Wheal Semiramis 2oz. Sawpit Reef from 10dwt to 5oz. Clarke’s 2oz. Gap, west side from 2dwt to 1oz. Gap, north end 10dwt. to 3oz.

242 Sebastopol Hill sites, St Arnaud

The population, in general, is settled, the greatest proof of which being the survey and sale of nearly two thousand acres of town and suburban allotments, the whole of which have been purchased by the residents, the majority of whom are miners at present engaged in mining, and in some instances cultivating their ground, and in every case improving it; another proof of their permanent settlement being no inclination to leave for any rush that has occurred, even Inglewood of the Snowy River, although many, both from Adelaide and elsewhere, have passed through St. Arnaud on their way. Some have returned, and in many instances have remained in preference to leaving. The gold workings in my district consist principally of quartz reefs ... The El Dorado and Gap Reefs were the first two discovered, and have been the most prolific in their yields, having been principally worked some years ago, and the returns from which, when crushed by such crude machinery as then existed, yielded as much as 40 oz to the ton on the former, and 35 oz on the latter, the general average being 2 oz per ton, and this taken 15 or 16 feet thick. The El Dorado on Wilson’s Hill is now nearly abandoned, Messrs Lewis and Company being the only claimholders who have done any real amount of work; their claim is situate on the southern slope of the hill, the northern slope being held by three other claims, who are working some small leaders ... The Gap, like Wilson’s, is being worked by three parties, two of whom are working leaders on the west side, the third working the continuation of the Gap on the northern strike. The Trinidad Reef, for some time past, has had only one party of work. Stuart’s Hill. The hill is situate about one mile and a quarter to the N.N.W. of St. Arnaud, and in a line with Wilson’s Hill, the main reef from which extends to this hill, rising and dipping with every undulation of the surface, and, in one or two places, appearing above the surface for many yards, and at one (called Sebastopol) rising for a height of 30 feet, and still keeping its width of above 15 feet--(a company have leased 25 acres of this); again, dipping and crossing Armenian Gully, it shows on Stuart's Hill ... On Wilson’s, Sebastopol, and Stuart’s Hills this mass is found to have numerous leaders on either side and, with the exception of Sebastopol, these leaders are being worked instead of the main reef; those on Stuart’s Hill are the richest, 24 oz per ton being obtained from unpicked stone, this being Messrs Walker and Company’s claim. Messrs Cunningham and Company are also working another leader to the east of this reef ... at Sebastopol, it shows along the surface ... about 200 feet long; the St. Arnaud Gold Mining Company, having a lease of the same, have employed men to sink a shaft to cut the reef on its underlay ... they have also had men at work on the surface ... The company’s dam in Armenian Gully has just been completed, the excavated reservoir being nearly 100 feet square and 10 feet deep at base, the embankment 7 feet above this; the site being most advantageously chosen, both for the convenience of machinery and the delivery of the spoil from the mine. Immediately below the 3 dam the Chinamen are working the alluvial, depth of sinking from 18 to 22 feet, and averaging 1/2 dwt to the tub.

November 1860 (St Arnaud Division). At the St Arnaud Gold Mining Company’s lease no great improvement has taken place since my last. They have succeeded in breaking through the western reef about eight feet thick, and are continuing their present level (at 100 feet) to strike the eastern reef. The western reef has but little prospect of gold in it, the shaft, in my opinion, being too far south; the same rule holding good on this and nearly every other reef on St Arnaud and that which I explained in my September report of the Chripolite and Ballaarat Reefs, viz., the dip of gold continuing with the strike of reef. On the northern end of this reef (Sebastopol) I washed from five buckets of debris 4 about 1/1-2 dwt of gold.

January 1861 (St Arnaud Division). On the older reefs things are still dull, except at Wilson’s Hill, Chrysolite Hill, and Sebastopol, where either machinery is being erected or preparations made for the erection thereof. At the Sebastopol lease Messrs Cameron and Company are sinking their main shaft about 200 feet to the north of 5 their 100 feet shaft.

February 1861 (St Arnaud Division). At the Sebastopol lease (C.T. Cameron) the work is going on in the same 6 sleepy style as hitherto.

7 April 1861 (St Arnaud Division). At the Sebastopol Company there is nothing at present doing.

May 1861 (St Arnaud Division). The Sebastopol lease (C.F. Cameron’s) has been jumped by some parties and the 8 evidence taken as to the cause by Mr Warden Webster last court-day--the result is not yet known.

243 Sebastopol Hill sites, St Arnaud

9 Prospectors Sailor’s Reef

244 Sebastopol Hill sites, St Arnaud

December 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Silver Mining Association Bristol Reef, Sebastopol Reef Freyberg Clark’s Reef Butcher’s & Company crushing Sundry claims Stuart Mill Crushing Company Greenock or Sailor’s reefs, Pioneer Reef Chrysolite Company Chrysolite claim Quartz Tailings and Cement crushed Eddleston & Co. Middle Creek, cement hill caps 10 Williams’ Engine Peter’s Hill, caps of cement

June 1868. The pioneer Silver Mining Co. has crushed from the Rotten Reef, stuff broken from the depth of 100 feet 12 to the surface, 774 tons, yielding gold and silver alloy, 2505 oz. 9 dwts.

March 1873 (St Arnaud North subdivision). Work has been resumed at the silver mines. The machinery at the old Silver Mines Reef is being put in order, and the shaft, which is 324 feet deep, cleared out preparatory to sinking the same still further. The whim has been removed from Sebastopol Hill and placed at the Rotten Reef shaft, which has been sunk an additional 100 feet. A complete alteration is being made in the crushing plant; a dry process is to be adopted. Roasting furnaces are being constructed at a cost of £1500. Another quarter will probably not pass over 13 without some interesting results from this large undertaking.

March 1881. At the Queen Semiramis Reef the shaft is being sunk from the 370 feet to 400 feet, preparatory to 14 stoping out.

June 1881. St. Arnaud North Subdivision. The Queen Semiramis Company is making arrangements for obtaining 15 steam pumping and winding machinery, to work their mine deeper.

September 1881. The Queen Semiramis Company, from the last crushing, of 70 tons, obtained an average yield of 2 oz. 1 dwt. of smelted gold per ton. This stone was taken from the 300-foot level ... They are now making preparations for the erection of steam machinery, which has been purchased, and will, it is expected, be ready for 16 work in about eight weeks.

December 1881 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Queen Semiramis Company has finished the erection of new winding machinery, and is getting out water which had accumulated, fixing new ladder ways, and putting the mine in 17 order.

March 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Queen Semiramis Company has been engaged timbering their underlie 18 shaft from 300-feet to 400-feet levels.

December 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Queen Semiramis Company has driven a cross-cut 35 feet from 19 the shaft at the 52-foot level.

245 Sebastopol Hill sites, St Arnaud

June 1885 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). On the Rotten Reef, which was included in the silver mines lease (now void), several claims have been taken up and worked under miners’ rights, three of which are raising stone of a payable 20 nature.

December 1885 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). Higgins and party, Rotten Reef, crushed 125 tons for 126 oz. of 21 gold.

246 Sebastopol Hill sites, St Arnaud

September 1886 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). Several parties are working on the line of Rotten reef in the old 22 silver mines ground. W. Hicks took out a crushing of 9 tons of quartz which gave a yield of 22 oz.

September 1887 (St Arnaud North Division). The New Guinea Star Company, Rotten Reef, is driving on the course 23 of the lode north, at 160-foot level.

24 September 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). The New Guinea Star Company is still prospecting Rotten Reef.

July 1897. Crushing of 186 loads from Higgins and Eckersley’s claim on the Rotten Reef, west of Sebastopol Hill 25 yielded 118 oz. of mixed metal.

September 1897 Queensland Co. Operations being pushed on from the Sebastopol shaft about 500 tons have been raised ... the company has also started work on the Armenian shaft ... 20 head battery now being erected ... the stampers are now in position and the tables now being put on. The engine is on its bed and the boiler being built in ... also dam. Queensland North. Lease taken up by Wright, Hunter, Murrells and Love included in which are the Comstock and Sawpit shaft. Hayes Queensland West--a trial crushing has been bagged. Murrell’s Cyanide Works--still engaged on New Chum sand. The first oil engine ever introduced to St. Arnaud has been added to the plant to work the shaking tables and pumps in place of the portable steam engine and boiler, which are to be removed to the Queensland mine. The oil engine, manufactured by Tarrant Co. of Melbourne had previously 26 been employed at the company’s works at Stuart Mill.

27 February 1900. West Queensland, St Arnaud--drive extended 10 feet.

May 1900 Queensland Quartz Crushing and Cyanide Co. An effort is being made to fully develop the property. The lease comprises about 34 acres on which there have only recently been erected a first class battery of 20 heads, compound engine, Wifley tables, all substantially housed in, and altogether some £4,770 being spent ... a large dam has 28 been built.

1904. At the Lady Nelson mine, which is situated at the extreme northerly end of the field, steady work of a prospecting nature has been carried on ... Winding machinery has been erected, and the shaft sunk from 200 to 375 feet ... A battery, handy to the mine, has been secured, and crushing will be commenced as soon as water is 29 available.

1905. St. Arnaud. The Lady Nelson and the Lady Nelson Extended Companies are also carrying on good prospecting 30 work, both being engaged in shaft sinking, with a view of opening up the reef at deeper levels.

1906. The Lady Nelson Company has done a large amount of developmental work in deepening the shaft 100 feet 31 and cross-cutting ... It has been decided ... to erect a new winding engine boiler, and a crushing battery.

1907. The Lady Nelson Company has been operating on large bodies of low-grade ore, and making additions to the machinery, and has erected a cyanide plant. The Lady Nelson Extended and Economic Companies are making preparations for carrying on further prospecting 32 work.

1908. The Lady Nelson Company has made good progress in prospecting ... The ore treated 2,60 tons for 638 oz. of gold; average number of men employed 27. The Lady Nelson Extended Company, idle for over 12 months, has been re-started by a co-operative party; 450 feet 33 of the shaft and mine workings has been unwatered.

34 1909. St Arnaud. The Lady Nelson has been pushing on developmental work under difficulties.

35 1910. The Lady Nelson Company ceased operations early in the year.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 71.0. Tailings dump (cyaniding operations at St Arnaud commenced c. 1897).

247 Sebastopol Hill sites, St Arnaud

Treated tailings dump. On west side of track (continuation of Hopetoun Street) is a partly quarried large dump of treated tailings. The dump would have a diameter of about 70 metres and stands two metres high. The southern slope of the dump partly covers the remains of a large sludge pond.

248 Sebastopol Hill sites, St Arnaud

Site 71.1. Queensland Co.’s battery (battery erected in 1900). Battery site. Uphill (south-west) of the tailings dump are the foundations of a battery. The most visible feature of the site is what survives of the loading ramp. At the base of the loading ramp are the concrete footings and iron mounting bolts (wooden stamper blocks and bearers have mostly decayed) for four battery boxes (20 head of stamps). The foundations are obscured by vegetation. A linear depression and spread of brick on the west side of the stamper foundations may mark the site of the battery’s engine and boiler. The rest of the site has been flattened. Sludge ponds. Between the large dump of treated tailings and the battery foundations are the remnants of two small, largely quarried sludge ponds. Water dam. In the gully below the large dump of treated tailings is a dry water dam. The dam’s embankment, which has been breached, is a 100 metres long and 2 metres high.

Site 71.2. Armenian Reef open cut (probably dates to the early period of mining, c. mid 1850/1860s). Open cut. 70 metres uphill (south) from the battery site is 30 metre x 5 metres, 8 metre deep partly filled open cut/stope. The excavation has been fenced. On the west side of the open cut are the remains of a once large mullock heap. No machinery foundations found.

Site 71.3. Sebastopol Reef open cut (probably dates to the early period of mining, c. mid 1850/1860s). Open cut. 75 metres to the south of the Armenian Reef open cut is another open cut. This open cut has been largely filled. Close to the open cut is a large protruding rock known as the Pinnacle.

Site 71.4. Lady Nelson mine site (operated c.1904 to 1910). Machinery site. 100 metres south of the Sebastopol Reef workings, on the opposite side of a gully, is a mine site. The majority of earthworks and machinery foundations of the mine have gone. All that has escaped the flattening/demolition process is a large U-shaped concrete mounting bed. The bed is topped with red bricks from which protrude 1-1/4 inch iron mounting bolts. The mounting bed measure 15 ft x 11-1/2 ft, and stands 6 ft high. 8.5 metres west of the U-shaped bed is a large slab of concrete which contains the remains of a 3 ft wide rectangular pit. This pit and U-shaped bed are in alignment suggesting the former may mark the site of the shaft. Water dam. In the gully between Sebastopol Reef workings and the machinery site is a small silted dam.

Site 71.5. Tailings dump (cyaniding operations at St Arnaud commenced c. 1897). Tailings dump. 200 metres down (north) the gully from the Lady Nelson mine site is a massive dump of treated tailings. The dump measures approximately 130 metres x 30 metres and stands 10 metres high. Running along the eastern side of the flattened surface of the dump is a row of partly quarried cyanide vat impressions.

Site 71.6. St Arnaud Gold Mining Co.’s dam (completed by August 1860). Below the north-west corner of the tailings dump is a large dry dam. The dam’s embankment, which has been breached is 100 metres long, 10 metres wide and stands some 3 to 4 metres high. There is a well preserved stone and brick by-pass at the western end of the embankment.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Most of the features recorded above have low integrity. The dam in Armenian Gully, constructed by the St Arnaud Gold Mining Co., has high integrity due to its age, size and intactness. Also there a few relatively well preserved features associated with the Queensland Co.’s battery.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Sites 71.0, 71.2, 71.3, 71.4 and 71.5 have poor integrity and hence low cultural significance.

Site 71.1 has: • Scientific Significance, because of the survival of a number of features associated with the Queensland Co.’s battery (battery foundations, sludge pond and water dam).

Site 71.6 has: • Scientific Significance, because the dam’s age, size and well preserved by-pass.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

249 Sebastopol Hill sites, St Arnaud

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p452-453 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1860 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports - August 1860 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, November 1860 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, January 1861 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, February 1861 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, April 1861 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, May 1861 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1864 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1868 13 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1873 14 Mining Surveyors’ reports, March 1881 15 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1881 16 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1881 17 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1881 18 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1882 19 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1882 20 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1885 21 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1885 22 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1886 23 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1887 24 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1889 25 St Arnaud Mercury, 24 July 1897 26 St Arnaud Mercury, 23 Sept 1897 27 St Arnaud Mercury, 14 Feb 1900 28 St Arnaud Mercury, 30 May 1900 29 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1904, p69 30 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1905, p97 31 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1906, p107 32 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1907, p131 33 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1908, p116 34 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1909 35 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1910

250 Silver Mines, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 72.0 SILVER MINES

LOCATION: SILVER MINES REEF, STUART HILL, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0051

DIRECTIONS: 2.4 km north-north-west of St Arnaud, north of Sebastopol/Rotten Reef workings.

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Unreserved Crown Land

HISTORY:

1854. St Arnaud Diggings. The first record of gold discovery in the St Arnaud area was in a Commissioner’s report in October 1854, which said that a “vein of gold” had been discovered on squatter Davies’ (Strathfillan) run on the “northern extremity of the Pyrenees”. It is likely that the original discovery party at St Arnaud, which found gold on Strathfillan Run about this time, were responsible for this report. This party, consisting of Richard Higgs, Thoam Wembridge, Samuel Scott (or Cairns), Frederick Steward, Frederick C. Dutton, Robert Griffin and David Pilchard (alias Fultcher, but also known as “Old Davy Cook”), received the reward for the discovery ... The four first members of the party came from Avoca in an old spring cart, late in 1854, spent several weeks prospecting about Strathfillan, and eventually camped on Orr’s (St Arnaud) Creek near the site of St Arnaud, which was then a no-man’s land between runs--flat, timbered with large box and gum trees, enclosed by hills covered with dense scrub and mallee. They found a little gold and sent for the rest of the party, who arrived in 1854 before the year was out. The first payable gold was found by Pilchard about four miles north-west of the camp, near Bakery Hill, on 10 January 1855. The field got its original name--New Bendigo--when Wembridge went to his mate’s hole and said, “We’ve struck a new Bendigo”. The site of the discovery was near the sandy knoll called Bakery Hill, and near here Wembridge opened the first reef, the Gap Reef, on the watershed between New Bendigo Gully and St Arnaud. By February 1855 the rush had started on the field, with 400 there in March and 3000 in April, and the diggings were mainly confined to New Bendigo Gully, a narrow ravine running west. Some of the main quartz reefs were discovered at the period of the rush in the first half of 1855. The discovery party opened Steward’s Reef, near the Gap. Wilson’s Reef, later re-discovered by Charles Wilson, was known first by Wembridge, who covered it up. One of the first reefs opened was Nelson’s, on the line of Sebastopol Reef, a long granulated mass of quartz that ran over Sebastopol Hill and was known as “the old quartz reef” in August 1 1855. Shewrings’ Reef was opened by Charles Shewring, west of the gap at this time.

1856. The Silvermine Reef at St Arnaud first came known in 1856, and in 1857 it was being worked by G.D. 2 Edwards and party, who applied for a reward to the gold rewards board in 1864.

August 1860 (St Arnaud Division). The El Dorado and Gap Reefs were the first two discovered, and have been the most prolific in their yields, having been principally worked some years ago, and the returns from which, when crushed by such crude machinery as then existed, yielded as much as 40 oz to the ton on the former, and 35 oz on the latter, the general average being 2 oz per ton, and this taken 15 or 16 feet thick. The El Dorado on Wilson’s Hill is now nearly abandoned, Messrs Lewis and Company being the only claimholders who have done any real amount of work; their claim is situate on the southern slope of the hill, the northern slope being held by three other claims, who are working some small leaders ... The Gap, like Wilson’s, is being worked by three parties, two of whom are working leaders on the west side, the third working the continuation of the Gap on the northern strike. The Trinidad Reef, for some time past, has had only one party of work. Stuart’s Hill. The hill is situate about one mile and a quarter to the N.N.W. of St. Arnaud, and in a line with Wilson’s Hill, the main reef from which extends to this hill, rising and dipping with every undulation of the surface, and, in one or two places, appearing above the surface for many yards, and at one (called Sebastopol) rising for a height of 30 feet, and still keeping its width of above 15 feet--(a company have leased 25 acres of this); again, dipping and crossing Armenian Gully, it shows on Stuart's Hill ... On Wilson’s, Sebastopol, and Stuart’s Hills this mass is found to have numerous leaders on either side and, with the exception of Sebastopol, these leaders are being worked instead of the main reef; those on Stuart’s Hill are the richest, 24 oz per ton being obtained from unpicked stone, this being Messrs Walker and Company’s claim. Messrs Cunningham and Company are also working another leader to the east of this reef ... at Sebastopol, it shows along the surface ... about 200 feet long; the St. Arnaud Gold Mining Company, having a lease of the same, have employed men to sink a shaft to cut the reef on its underlay ... they have also had men at work on the surface ... The company’s dam in Armenian Gully has just been completed, the excavated reservoir being nearly 100 feet square and 10 feet deep at base, the embankment 7 feet above this; the site being most advantageously chosen, both for the convenience of machinery and the delivery of the spoil from the mine. Immediately below the

251 Silver Mines, St Arnaud dam the Chinamen are working the alluvial, depth of sinking from 18 to 22 feet, and averaging 1/2 dwt to the tub. There is no defined gutter in this gully, the gold lying at the side of little hollows in the rock, and generally about 3 inches from the bottom, in fine red gravel, the bed rock being composed of micaceous schist. The gold found in the auriferous deposits in this district, is not in the gutter or deepest ground, but about half-way up the side of the low 3 reef, or even on the top, the gutter in nearly every instance being filled with sand.

252 Silver Mines, St Arnaud

November 1860 (St Arnaud Division). [In August] ... I remarked on the peculiarity of the reefs in Messrs Edwards and Company’s claim on Stuart’s Hill, as also the quality of gold contained therein. By this mail I beg to forward sample of unburned quartz, showing the nature of quartz and containing the silver spoken of. Messrs Walker and Company, on Stuart’s Hill, are still raising quartz averaging 8-1/2 oz per ton, the vein being from two to three feet thick. During this month £2500 was offered for one share in this claim. I am credibly informed 4 £3000 has been paid for a 2/6 share in claim and 1/3 in machine.

February 1861 (St Arnaud Division). Messrs Wright, Walker and Company’s claim still continues to yield well; the 5 mining dispute in this claim has not yet been decided.

April 1861 (St Arnaud Division). The quartz from Messrs Walker and Company’s claim do not now average 3 oz 6 per ton.

June 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Silver Reef tributers, at St Arnaud, are doing fairly well. The gold tributers alluded to in my last report did not, all of them, realise their expectations, while others of them are better satisfied. There seems to be an important element of efficiency in Balfour’s pulverizer, at the Freiberg Company’s works; and it may only require due experiment to ascertain the best working conditions of the principle to make it a valuable acquisition to their mining. They have some fifteen men employed testing parts of the ground and the powers of this 7 machine with its concomitant processes.

September 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The silver miners, 8 in numbers, are subject to fluctuating results, which sometimes disappoint. At the present time they are recording some hundreds of ounces of mixed amalgam daily. During the last week, they have had 3590 ounces, value yet unknown. The gold tributors in the same concern 9 have 250 tons which they reckon to yield half an ounce.

December 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Silver Mining Association has crushed 769 tons, yielding 3,690 10 oz of mixed metal, gold and silver.

253 Silver Mines, St Arnaud

Bell Rock 2 McCredie’s Engine 4 Greenock Reef 15 Spinster Reef 4 Pioneer Reef 2 Bell’s Hill 4 Frenchman’s Hill 12 Salter’s Hill 10 Peter’s Diggings 282 Bald Hills 4 Scrub Rush 6 Wier’s Hill 4 Dogbury 25 Banshee 10 Emu 17 Douglas Hill 24 Forty-feet 10 Brigg’s Hill 20 The Freyberg Company have lately added stampers to their plant; they have now an Appleton, a Balfour, and 11 Battery.

March 1865 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Silver Mining Association has crushed 804 tons, yielding 1,422 oz. of mixed metal, gold and silver. Besides Masters’s yield of 7 dwts of gold, there were 4 oz of silver to the ton. He has a much larger quantity awaiting water for crushing. 12 The Silver Mining Association’s ground shows better of late at both ends.

June 1865 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: Butcher’s and McCredie’s Engines 9 Armenian Gully 20 Bald Hills 6 Banshee 14 Brigg’s Hill 18 Bell’s Hill 4 Chrysolite 13 Dogbury 24 Carapooee 7 Scrub Rush 6 Douglas Hill 21 Wier’s Hill 4 Emu 16 Blink Bonny Reef 16 Switzer’s Gully 24 Frieberg Company’s 18 Frenchman’s Hill 10 Gap Gully 24 Geyer’s Gully 4 Greenock Reef 18 Karney’s 3 Master’s Claim 4 New Bendigo 118 Peters’s 250 Tunnel Hill 6 Warwickshire Reef 4 Wilson’s Gully 20 Rimmer’s Lease 6 Rostron’s and Higgins’s 5 Rostron’s Diggings 19 Silver Mining Association 18 Sawpit Gully and Reef 4

254 Silver Mines, St Arnaud

Sanderske’s Lease 6 St Arnaud United 11 Spinster Reef 2 Salter’s Hill 11

255 Silver Mines, St Arnaud

Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Messrs Butcher and Co. Public crushing Chrysolite Co. For self and others Frieberg Co. For self and others Crushed at Stuart Mill Greenock & Spinster Reefs 13 The Silver Mining Association from 274 tons 16 cwt had 868 oz of mixed metal, gold and silver.

March 1867 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (Mr. John Phillips). There is a pumping and winding engine of 20-horse 14 power nearly erected at the Silver Mining Company’s works, besides the 30-horse they already have.

June 1867 St Arnaud North Subdivision (John Phillips). In Walker’s lease they have been surprised by 150 oz. of 15 gold and silver alloy, worth 33 shillings per ounce for its gold, had from 24 tons.

Sept 1867 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). There were 130 tons of gold and silver ores raised from the silver mines 16 reef at Stewart’s Hill, awaiting final treatment.

December 1867 St. Arnaud North Subdivision. Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: McMahon's Lease Bristol Reef Golden’s Lease Shewring’s Reef Bell Rock Tribute Bell Rock Reef Chrysolite Tribute Chrysolite Reefs Bristol Reef Bristol Main Reef Grand Junction Blink Bonny Reef Leith Walk Warwickshire Reef Freiberg (silver) Trinidad and Walker’s Reef Rising Star Chrysolite Hill Reefs Wilson’s Hill Western Reef, Frenchman’s Reef, and Eastern Reef Greenock Reef Prospectors Greenock Reef Nicholl’s Lease Bristol Reef Caledonian Caledonian Reef and Fishhook Reef Mathews and Co. Chance Reef Perry and Co. Hopeful Reef 17 Carr’s Lease Gap Reef

March 1868 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The pioneer Silver Mining Company have preferred the surface 18 “gossans” in another part of their ground to the deeper ores first their object.

March 1869 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (John Phillips). There is nothing of special interest to notice in the working or success of the established mines of the locality. The Bell Rock, Bristol Reef, Wilson’s Hill, Walker’s, 19 Trinidad, Chrysolite Hill, Greenock Reef and Isabelle Reef being pursued steadily, with fair yields.

June 1870 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (P. Simpson). 136 tons of quartz crushed for the Freiberg Company yielded about 40 oz. of an alloy of gold and silver worth 50s. per oz. 7 tons of quartz at the silver mines yielded 10 oz. of an 20 alloy worth 28s. per oz.

21 June 1871 St. Arnaud North Subdivision. The silver mines are idle.

September 1872 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). A company to work the silver mines has been floated in the London 22 market.

June 1873 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (Mr. P. Simpson). Ore is also being taken out on Walker’s old ground; so 23 that on the completion of the machinery crushing will at once be commenced.

September 1873 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Silver Mines 185 tons of quartz have yielded 5200 oz. of 24 mixed metal, the estimated value of which is £565.

256 Silver Mines, St Arnaud

December 1873 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). Sixty-five tons of quartz from Excelsior claim (No 1 South Silver Reef) has yielded 250 oz. of mixed metal, worth £296. Two tons of sand from the same reef yield 110 oz. of mixed 25 metal.

March 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The strike at the Rising Sun claim, and the comparative suspension of 26 work at the silver mines, has had a most depressing influence over mining.

257 Silver Mines, St Arnaud

June 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Silver Mines the removal of machinery has been completed on to 27 their new shaft (Sec H., Walker’s) and mining operations have been commenced on the reef at the 300-foot level.

1874 Stetefield’s shaft furnace, specially designed for the chlorination of silver ores. Its dimensions are about 30 feet high, 4 to 5 feet square. The ore enters the furnace through a sieve at the top of the shaft, and falls through the 28 ascending current of heated gases from the fire. One of these furnaces has been erected at St. Arnaud.

June 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision) Messrs Scoles’ No. 1 S. Silver Reef has obtained, from 11 tons of quartz, 84 oz. of mixed metal, worth about £75. At the Silver Mines the removal of machinery has been completed on to their new shaft (Sec H., Walker’s) and mining 29 operations have been commenced on the reef at the 300-foot level.

September 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Silver Mines they have been engaged during the quarter in 30 driving cross-cuts and levels at a depth of 300 feet from their new shaft, Stewart’s Hill.

December 1874 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Silver Mines Company were engaged during the quarter in 31 driving levels and cross-cuts, at a depth of 300 feet from the new shaft.

June 1875 St Arnaud North Subdivision (W.G Couchman). The Silver Mines Company have three parties at work on tribute, who are getting payable stone. Prince of Wales Company are opening.

December 1875. London and St Arnaud Company (silver mines) are intending to devote more attention to working the gold-bearing stone, and leave the silver ore alone for the present; and are making alterations to the batteries so as to 32 be able to reduce and treat the auriferous stone.

June 1876. London and St Arnaud Gold and Silver Mines Company have a number of tributers at work, and the 33 company is also prospecting their ground in various places.

December 1876 (St Arnaud North Subdivision) Silver Mines. The London and St Arnaud Company have suspended 34 operations, except by tribute parties, pending the receipt of instructions from England.

June 1886 (St Arnaud North Division). The New Guinea Star Company, near Silver Mines, has crushed 68 tons of 36 quartz obtained from 120 feet deep, the yield 31 oz.

September 1886 St. Arnaud North Subdivision. Several parties are working on the line of Rotten reef in the old silver 37 mines ground. W. Hicks took out a crushing of 9 tons of quartz which gave a yield of 22 oz.

March 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). There is a great stir in this division in consequence of the ground about the old silver mines being taken up under mineral leases for silver mining purposes, and the country has been applied for 38 under mineral leases for miles both north and south of the ground.

June 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). The Comstock Silver Mining Company is about to erect powerful pumping and winding machinery, and is raising parcels of stone to test its quality. 39 The Bonanza Silver Mining Company is also raising a quantity of ore to be sent to Adelaide for further test.

September 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). Comstock Silver Mining Company has nearly completed the erection 40 of their winding and pumping machinery.

December 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). The Victoria Comstock Silver and Gold Mining Company has 41 completed the erection of pumping and winding machinery, and is about to open out on the course of the lode.

March 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). The Victoria Comstock Silver and Gold Mining Company has finished the erection of machinery, and has repaired main shaft, and put in new runners for cages; also cleaned out and repaired old drives at various levels, logged up winze between 160-foot and 320-foot levels, driven 320-foot level 100 feet further

258 Silver Mines, St Arnaud south, and driven 200-foot level 57 feet south, where the reef is 20 feet wide ... Twelve tons of stone have been sent 42 to Footscray, 1 ton to Ballarat, and 1 ton is to be forwarded to School of Mines, Sandhurst, to test its quality.

259 Silver Mines, St Arnaud

June 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). Victoria Comstock Silver and Gold Mining Company ... 193 tons of stone 43 obtained ... gave a total yield of 289 oz 4 dwt of mixed metal, value £1 3s per oz.

September 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). Victoria Comstock Silver and Gold Mining Company are prospecting at various levels, and raising stone of a payable character. They are about to call for tenders for the erection of a 44 crushing battery.

December 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). Victoria Comstock Company has driven along the course of the lode south of the main shaft at 200-foot level a distance of 140 feet, making 540 feet in all ... A dam has been excavated on the surface, 1,500 cubic yards in extent, in addition to the one now in use; and it is the intention of the company to 45 erect a plant for the treatment of their ores.

September 1897 Queensland North. Lease taken up by Wright, Hunter, Murrells and Love included in which are the 46 Comstock and Sawpit shaft.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 72.0. Silver mines (Originally known as Stuart’s Hill. By 1860 the Messrs Edwards and Co. were obtaining gold bearing quartz which contained some silver. The hill was mined for both silver and gold throughout most of the nineteenth century). Majority of old workings obliterated by recent gravel quarrying operations.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Historical Significance, some of the few mining sites in Central Victoria to be linked to successful silver mining. Unfortunately all trace of these mining operations have been obliterated.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p452-453 2 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p452-453 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports - August 1860 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, November 1860 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, February 1861 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, April 1861 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1864 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1864 11 Mining Surveyors’ Report, March 5 12 Mining Surveyors’ Report, March 5 13 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1865 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 15 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1867 16 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1867 17 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1867 18 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1868 19 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1869 20 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1870 21 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1871 22 Mining Surveyor’s’ Reports, September 1872 23 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1873

260 Silver Mines, St Arnaud

24 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1873 25 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1873 26 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1874 27 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1874 28 Vpp. 1874, V.3, No.96 Report on Pyrites 29 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1874 30 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1874 31 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1874 32 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1875 33 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1876 34 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1876 35 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1885 36 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1886 37 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1886 38 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1888 39 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1888 40 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1888 41 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1888 42 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1889 43 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1889 44 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1889 45 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1889 46 St Arnaud Mercury, 23 Sept 1897

261 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 73.0 NEW BENDIGO CO. MINE SITE 73.1 NEW BENDIGO SOUTH NO 1 MINE SITE 73.2 NEW BENDIGO SOUTH NO 2 REEF WORKINGS 73.3 GAP/BRISTOL REEF WORKINGS

LOCATION: BRISTOL REEF, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: 73.0 H7524-0052 73.1 H7524-0053 73.2 H7524-0054 73.3 H7524-0055

DIRECTIONS: New Bendigo Co. 3.1 km north-west of St Arnaud, 50 metres east of Sunraysia Highway, near Woolpack Hotel. New Bendigo South No 1. 2.9 km north-west of St Arnaud, east of Sunraysia Highway. New Bendigo South No 2. 2.6 km north-west of St Arnaud, east side of Sunraysia Highway. Gap/Bristol Reef. 2.1 km north-west of St Arnaud, east side of Sunraysia Highway.

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Sites 73.0 to 73.2--Unreserved Crown Land/Historic Reserve Site 73.3--State Forest

HISTORY:

1854. St Arnaud Diggings. The first record of gold discovery in the St Arnaud area was in a Commissioner’s report in October 1854, which said that a “vein of gold” had been discovered on squatter Davies’ (Strathfillan) run on the “northern extremity of the Pyrenees”. It is likely that the original discovery party at St Arnaud, which found gold on Strathfillan Run about this time, were responsible for this report. This party, consisting of Richard Higgs, Thoam Wembridge, Samuel Scott (or Cairns), Frederick Steward, Frederick C. Dutton, Robert Griffin and David Pilchard (alias Fultcher, but also known as “Old Davy Cook”), received the reward for the discovery ... The four first members of the party came from Avoca in an old spring cart, late in 1854, spent several weeks prospecting about Strathfillan, and eventually camped on Orr’s (St Arnaud) Creek near the site of St Arnaud, which was then a no-man’s land between runs--flat, timbered with large box and gum trees, enclosed by hills covered with dense scrub and mallee. They found a little gold and sent for the rest of the party, who arrived in 1854 before the year was out. The first payable gold was found by Pilchard about four miles north-west of the camp, near Bakery Hill, on 10 January 1855. The field got its original name--New Bendigo--when Wembridge went to his mate’s hole and said, “We’ve struck a new Bendigo”. The site of the discovery was near the sandy knoll called Bakery Hill, and near here Wembridge opened the first reef, the Gap Reef, on the watershed between New Bendigo Gully and St Arnaud. By February 1855 the rush had started on the field, with 400 there in March and 3000 in April, and the diggings were mainly confined to New Bendigo Gully, a narrow ravine running west. Some of the main quartz reefs were discovered at the period of the rush in the first half of 1855. The discovery party opened Steward’s Reef, near the Gap. Wilson’s Reef, later re- discovered by Charles Wilson, was known first by Wembridge, who covered it up. One of the first reefs opened was Nelson’s, on the line of Sebastopol Reef, a long granulated mass of quartz that ran over Sebastopol Hill and was known as “the old quartz reef” in August 1855. Shewrings’ Reef was opened by Charles Shewring, west of the gap at 1 this time.

March 1860 (St Arnaud Division). North of the prospecting claim on the Bristol Reef, situated on the eastern side of 2 the Alluvial Gully, New Bendigo. No. 4 has been raising quartz said to yield 8 oz per ton.

February 1861 (St Arnaud Division). On the eastern side of the old alluvial gully, New Bendigo, Messrs Miller, 3 McMahon, and Company have struck at the depth of 70 feet the cap of a reef they have called the Bristol.

April 1861 (St Arnaud Division). On the Bristol Reef, New Bendigo, the claims are nearly all being steadily worked. For some little time they were all but abandoned, but the discovery of gold in No. 4 North and No. 3 South, has given 4 an impetus in the right direction to those who were doubtful.

March 1864 (St Arnaud North Division). The total number is thus distributed: Rostron’s 35

262 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

Peter’s, Dogbury & vicinity 830 New Bendigo 70 Greenock Reef 25 5 St Arnaud (Proper) 127

263 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

May 1861 (St Arnaud Division). At St Arnaud, the Bristol Reef or supposed continuation thereof has lately 6 produced some splendid stone, supposed by those who have the claim to yield 8 or 10 oz per ton.

June 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: St Arnaud 149 New Bendigo 54 Forty-feet 8 Sawpit Gully 18 Armenian Gully 10 Gap Gully 7 Emu 12 Rostron’s 60 Scrub Gully 6 Bristol Reef 14 Canadian Reef 4 7 Greenock Reef & n’bourhood 23

September 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: Douglas Hill 10 Silver & Sebastopol Reef 32 Sawpit Gully Reef 4 Frieberg 10 Master’s Reef 2 Sindersky’s Working 4 Yarrow’s engine 3 Chapman & others, Chrysolite Hill 14 Frenchman’s 11 Carapoole Bank 7 Forty-feet by Peters’ 30 Bristol Reef 4 Butcher’s Engine 7 Shuring’s Reef 10 Gap Gully 175 New Bendigo 57 Wagner’s Hill 2 Peevor’s Flat (Moggs) 14 Cochrane’s Hill 6 Tunnel Hill 6 St Arnaud 2 Brigg’s Hill 10 Greenock Reef 10 Spinster & Sailor’s Reef 4 Peter’s 205 Dogbury 45 Emu 6 Rostron’s 50 Four-mile Gully 4 Doctor’s Gully 4 8 Gap Gully, towards St. Arnaud, is paying some fairly well, and others very well; there is no spare ground here.

264 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

December 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: Scrub Rush 40 Silver Reefs 30 Sawpit Gully 8 Freyberg 15 Master’s Reef 2 Sanderske’s Reef 4 Chrysolite Hill 21 Bristol Reef 8 Schewring’s Reef 10 Gap Gully 40 Armenian Gully 4 New Bendigo 80 Wagner’s Hill (Mogg’s) 3 Peevor’s Flat (Mogg’s) 6 Douglas Hill 3 Frenchman’s 8 Bell’s Hill, Carapooree 12 Forty-feet Peter’s 14 Butcher’s Engine 7 Wier’s Hill 8 Brigg’s Hill 8 Greenock and Pioneer reefs 17 Spinster and Sailor’s reefs 4 Peter’s 304 Dogbury 19 Emu 4 Rostron’s 8 Salter’s Hill 12 Banshee 12 The Gap rush has been worked steadily and has given most of the workers above par of wages. The Chinese occupy the whole of one hill in New Bendigo. They have been of late making from 10s to 20s or more 9 per day there, puddling the mass 10 or 12 feet deep, and taking all before them.

265 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

266 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

June 1865 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: Butcher’s and McCredie’s Engines 9 Armenian Gully 20 Bald Hills 6 Banshee 14 Brigg’s Hill 18 Bell’s Hill 4 Chrysolite 13 Dogbury 24 Carapooee 7 Scrub Rush 6 Douglas Hill 21 Wier’s Hill 4 Emu 16 Blink Bonny Reef 16 Switzer’s Gully 24 Frieberg Company’s 18 Frenchman’s Hill 10 Gap Gully 24 Geyer’s Gully 4 Greenock Reef 18 Karney’s 3 Master’s Claim 4 New Bendigo 118 Peters’ 250 Tunnel Hill 6 Warwickshire Reef 4 Wilson’s Gully 20 Rimmer’s Lease 6 Rostron’s and Higgins’s 5 Rostron’s Diggings 19 Silver Mining Association 18 Sawpit Gully and Reef 4 Sanderske’s Lease 6 St Arnaud United 11 Spinster Reef 2 11 Salter’s Hill 11

September 1865 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The total number of miners is thus distributed: Greenock and Spinster Reefs 17 Carapooee Hills above Edelsten’s 79 Rostron’s Diggings & Four-mile Gy 10 Peters’s Diggings 50 Sheaoak, Dogbury 46 Butcher’s and McCredie’s 13 Armenian and Gap gullies 33 Chrysolite Hill 14 Emu 11 St Arnaud United 23 Blink Bonny and Strathalbyn reefs 30 Stuart’s Hill 44 12 New Bendigo and Rush 250

267 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

December 1866 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The total number of miners is thus distributed: Association Reef 6 Carapooee Upper 25 Emu Diggings 8 Peters’s 20 Dogbury and Banshee 4 Gap Gully 4 Wilson’s Hill 4 Chance Reef 5 Hopeful Reef 12 Chrysolite Hill 12 Stuart’s Hill 24 Bristol Reef 42 Greenock Reef 12 Crushing Machines 19 New Bendigo 230 Armenian Gully 8 Bell Rock 10 Blink Bonny 8 Strathalbyn Reef 2 Prince of Orange 4 Jerejaw Reef 8 Queen Mary Reef 6 Caledonian Reef 4 Queen Mary Diggings 30 Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Prospectors and No. 1 S Greenock Reef Benson and others Bachelor’s Reef Chrysolite Public crushing Edelsten’s Engine Jerejaw Chance, Caledonia Wilson’s Hill Wilson’s Hill Tributors Bell Rock Tributors Bristol Reef Perry and Sons Hopeful Reef, Bristol Reef Silver Mines Public crushing McCredie’s Engine Queen Mary Reef 13 Butcher and Company Public crushing

September 1867 St. Arnaud North Subdivision. The Bell Rock, the Bristol Reef, the Rising Star, the Greenock Reef, and perhaps other mines, may be regarded as good and permanent; the Jerejaw, Chance, Blink Bonny, Hopeful, and 15 Emu mines, coming in the rear with promise.

268 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

March 1868 St Arnaud North Subdivision. Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Rising Star Rising Star and Cross Reef Rowan’s Lease Bristol Reef Chrysolite Lease Chrysolite Reefs Pioneer Armenian Reef Wilson’s Hill Eastern and Western Reefs Carr’s Lease Gap Reef Rimmer’s Lease Ballarat Reef Perry’s Lease Hopeful Reef Penberthy’s Lease Blink Bonny Reef Nicholl’s Lease Bristol Reef Freiberg Lease Walkers and Trinidad Tuckers Reef Emu Reef 16 The Bristol Reef is a busier scene of work in consequence of the new stamper fixed there.

September 1868 St Arnaud North Subdivision. Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: W. H. Thompson Star of the West W.W. Carr Gap Reef Rimmer and Co. Ballarat Reef Northern Bristol Reef Hosking and Co. Wilson’s Hill Chrysolite Western Reef John Thomas Gap Reef Perry and Co. Hopeful Pioneer Armenian Reef Sanderske Armenian Reef Higgins and Co. Rising Sun Bristol Reef Bristol Reef London Claim Bristol Reef Croydon and Co. Bristol Reef St. Arnaud Walker’s Reef Bishops’ Lease Jerejaw Penberthy and Co. Blink Bonny Caledonian Fishhook Reef 17 Brown and Co. Warwickshire Reef

March 1869 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (John Phillips). The Messrs Learmonth are erecting an engine on the 19 Bristol Reef for drawing water and stuff.

269 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

September 1870. St. Arnaud North Subdivision. At Messrs Learmonth’s the machinery has been removed from the old shaft, Shewring’s Reef, to the new one at the Bristol. They are now engaged in sinking this latter 50 feet, or to a 20 depth of 250 feet.

December 1870 St. Arnaud North Subdivision. At Messrs Learmonth's Bristol Reef, mining operations have been 21 much retarded by the influx of water on cutting the reef at the 250-foot level.

March 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). A Sandhurst company has just been floated for the purpose of working Messrs Clegg’s claims on the Shewring’s and Bristol Reefs (reefs which have, I believe, produced as good yields as 22 almost any about St Arnaud).

270 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

June 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The New Bendigo Quartz Mining Company is working at the 200-foot level, Shewring’s Reef, the stone looking well. 23 On the Gap Reef work has been recommenced at the water-level. The stone looks well.

December 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Sandhurst and New Bendigo Company, Bristol Reef, is driving at the 250 foot level on the course of the lode ... The water has been troublesome; about 2000 gallons per hour raised 24 by tanks.

March 1873 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Sandhurst and New Bendigo Company, Bristol Reef, is driving south on the course of the lode; width of reef 5 feet, gold visible therein. The Bristol Reef Company’s leases, with 25 crushing plant, have been purchased by the above company.

September 1873. St. Arnaud North Subdivision. Work is temporarily suspended at the New Bendigo’s Company’s 26 mine, Bristol Reef.

June 1877 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The New Bendigo Company, Bristol Reef, has resumed operations, the 27 mine being let on tribute.

March 1878 St Arnaud North Subdivision. There is very little improvement to note in mining operations in this subdivision during the quarter. Work has been resumed on the Bristol Reef by a company (the Working Miners’ 28 Company) formed to work the reef, and a crushing therefrom has given a yield of 1/2 oz. per ton.

June 1878 Inglewood Division. The Working Miners’ Company, Bristol Reef, has been timbering and clearing out the 29 main shaft, and is now ready to drive levels on the lode from it.

30 December 1880. The Working Miners, Bristol Reef, is preparing to deepen main shaft 80 feet.

June 1881. St. Arnaud North Subdivision. The quartz reefs in this subdivision are receiving more attention of late than they have done for some time past. Several new companies are about to commence operations--notably, Blink 31 Bonny, Hicks and Co., Gap Reef; and other claims on old abandoned reefs have been taken up.

September 1881. St. Arnaud North Subdivision. During the past quarter there has been a great revival in quartz mining ... owing, in measure, to the good yields obtained by the New Bendigo Quartz Mining Company and Queen Semiramis Company. The former, from their first crushing, of 240 tons, obtained a yield of 253 oz. of smelted gold. Eight new leases have recently been applied for on this line of reef, and companies formed to work them. Active 32 operations will shortly commence.

December 1881 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The New Bendigo Company has crushed 820 tons of stone for a yield of 662 oz 14 dwts of gold ... They have purchased new machinery for pumping and winding purposes, which is being delivered on the ground, and will shortly be erected. The Gap Reef Company has erected a new whim, cut down, timbered, and centred their shaft 120 feet from the surface. No. 1 South New Bendigo Company is sinking the main shaft by contract, 100 feet from the surface, 62 feet of which is now sunk and timbered. No. 1 North New Bendigo Company has let a contract for sinking the main shaft 200 feet from the surface, and it is now down 25 feet. No. 3 South New Bendigo Company has let a contract to sink the main shaft 100 feet from the surface, and it is now down 28 feet. 33 No. 2 South New Bendigo Company crushed 12 tons of stone for an average yield of 1 oz 2 dwts of gold per ton.

March 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). New Bendigo Company has recently purchased the mining plant of the Harvest Home Company, Dunolly, and Tenders have been accepted for its removal and re-erection. The contract time for completion of the work is the end of June next. They are now driving along the course of the lode at the 200- feet and 300-feet levels. No. 1 South New Bendigo is sinking the shaft, and are now down 142 feet. They have erected a whim, and intend to sink to 300 feet before opening out for the reef. No. 2 South crushed 72 tons, for 74 oz of gold, taken 75 feet from the surface, where the lode is 2 feet thick. No. 3 South is sinking the shaft to 150 feet, and are now down 130 feet. 34 No. 1 North New Bendigo Company has sunk the shaft 100 feet 6 inches, and are going down to 200 feet.

271 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

June 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The New Bendigo Company has been erecting powerful machinery for pumping, winding, and crushing purposes, which will shortly be completed. They have crushed 525 tons of stone for 236 oz 11 dwts of gold, and sunk the main shaft to 3709 feet from the surface. 35 The No. 1 South New Bendigo Company has sunk the main shaft to a depth of 200 feet.

272 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

September 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The New Bendigo Company has just finished the erection of powerful pumping, winding, and crushing machinery, and is about to erect percussion tables for the purposes of saving pyrites; the quantity of quartz crushed during the past quarter has been small, in consequence of the company having been occupied in sinking their shaft deeper; it is now down 400 feet from the surface. No. 1 South New Bendigo Company opened out at the 200-foot level, and let a contract to sink the shaft a further depth of 27 feet. In consequence of the influx of water, the contract was given up, and they are now driving north on the lode, and are within 100 feet of the New Bendigo Company’s boundary. No. 2 South New Bendigo Company has sunk the main shaft to a depth of 170 feet from the surface, where the stone 36 is 2 feet 6 inches thick.

December 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). During the past quarter the New Bendigo Company has been engaged sinking winzes on the lode from the 300-foot to the 390-foot levels, the stone obtained yielded an average of over 1 oz of gold per ton. 37 The No. 1 South Company is driving along the course of the lode at 200 feet.

March 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). In quartz mining, during the past quarter the New Bendigo Company has crushed 1,145 tons of stone for a total yield of 1,145 oz 15 dwt 13 gr of gold. 38 The No. 1 South New Bendigo Company is still sinking the main shaft, and is now down 310 feet from the surface.

September 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The New Bendigo Company has been driving at the 393-foot level ... they are now preparing to sink their shaft a further depth of 100 feet. 39 The No. 1 South New Bendigo Company has sunk the shaft to a depth of 321 feet.

December 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The New Bendigo Company has crushed during the past quarter 1,749 tons of quartz for a yield of 932 oz 12 dwt 12 gr of smelted gold ... they are now sinking the main shaft a 40 further 100 feet.

March 1884 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). In the New Bendigo Company a winze has been sunk 53 feet from the 400-foot level ... The shaft has also been sunk 85 feet, making a total depth of 485 feet from the surface ... An air compressor, receiver, drill, &c., has been purchased from the Lothair Company, Clunes, and will be in operation very shortly. 41 No. 1 South New Bendigo. Sinking the shaft in this mine has been continued to the 300-foot level.

June 1884. During the past quarter the New Bendigo Co. sank the main shaft to a depth of 514 feet. 42 No 1 South New Bendigo is sinking an air shaft to ventilate the mine.

September 1884. The New Bendigo Company has been engaged sinking a winze between the 400 and 500-foot levels, and in driving on the course of the lode ... The 8th dividend of sixpence per 20,000th share (£5,000) has recently been paid. The erection of a new air cylinder, compressor and receiver, has recently been completed for working the rock borers, of which the company have three. 43 No 1 South New Bendigo Co. The prospects of this company are very promising.

December 1884. The New Bendigo Company has been raising payable stone from the 240 and 500 foot levels. From 1,446 tons crushed, they obtained 897 oz. No 1 South New Bendigo Co. has been raising stone from the 200 and 300 foot levels, where they have large quantities of stone, and they intend to erect a crushing plant on the ground to treat it. No. 2 South Bristol Reef has been raising payable stone from 175 to 180 foot levels, and are now sinking their shaft 44 deeper.

March 1885. During the past quarter the New Bendigo Company has crushed 1,716 tons for 677 oz ... This company has declared £1,500 in dividends during the last 3 months. The main shaft has been sunk to a depth of 600 feet. 45 The No 1 South New Bendigo Company is considering the advisability of erecting a crushing plant on the ground.

June 1885. St Arnaud North Subdivision. The New Bendigo Company have crushed 1,316 tons ... which gave them a yield of 1,425 oz ... They have erected a Berdan basin for the treatment of pyrites, which is reported to answer the 46 expectations so well that it is their intention to erect a second one.

273 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

September 1885. St Arnaud North Subdivision. The New Bendigo Company has been engaged stoping between 400 and 500 foot levels, driving along the course of the lode at 60 feet ... They have also placed a new boiler in position, in order to prevent loss of time when cleaning out the others they already have. 47 No 1 South New Bendigo Company is driving south along the course of the lode at the 300-foot level.

274 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

December 1885. St. Arnaud North Subdivision. The New Bendigo Company has been stoping between 400 and 600 foot levels ... they are at present overhauling machinery and repairing Nos 1 and 2 boilers, and putting on new flat ropes of best Bessemer steel, and have called for tenders for a new air winch for the purpose of sinking the shaft 48 deeper, also new air compressor capable of driving five drills.

March 1886. St Arnaud North Subdivision. New Bendigo Company ... 1,100 tons of quartz crushed for 1,211 oz. A new air compressor, to be used for working two rock borers, has been erected at a cost of £470. A contract has been let for sinking new shaft on Shewring's Reef, 200 feet deep, which is situated 942 feet north-west of present main 49 shaft.

June 1886 (St Arnaud North Division). The New Bendigo Company--1,605 tons for 1,081 oz. ... They are also sinking a new main shaft on Shewrings Reef, the present depth of which is 163 feet from the surface. The manager informs me he has made a discovery for saving gold from pyrites. 50 The No. 2 South New Bendigo Co. has crushed 38 tons for 16 oz.

September 1886. St. Arnaud North Subdivision. The New Bendigo Company has been raising quartz from between 51 the 400 and 700-foot levels, and 1,047 tons crushed gave a yield of 555 oz

December 1886. St. Arnaud Subdivision. The New Bendigo Company has crushed 1,784 tons of quartz for a yield of 52 685 oz.

March 1887 (St Arnaud North Division). The New Bendigo Company has been engaged opening up the Shewring’s 53 Reef, which is situated north-west of their old workings.

September 1887 (St Arnaud North Division). New Bendigo Company is driving on the course of the lode at the 400- foot level. 54 No. 2 South New Bendigo Company is about to open out prospecting levels north and south.

March 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). New Bendigo Company has been stoping from between 400 and 500-foot levels. From 339 tons of quartz crushed, 340 oz ... of gold was obtained. 55 No. 2 South New Bendigo is prospecting the ground on the London line of reef.

June 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). The New Bendigo Company is driving on the course of the lode at 400-foot level south; met with quartz containing payable gold, sulphate of copper, arsenical pyrites, sinc-blende, and patches of felspar. From 404 tons of quartz crushed 323 oz 11 dwt of gold was obtained ... An air shaft is also being sunk 56 from the surface to meet the face of the drive in the 400-foot level.

September 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). New Bendigo Company is sinking an air-shaft near the south end of 57 their tunnel.

December 1888 (St Arnaud North Division). The New Bendigo Company has been stoping between 360-foot and 58 450-foot levels, and raised 358 tons of quartz, which yielded 232 oz of gold.

March 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). The Bendigo Company, Bristol Reef ... 345 tons of quartz gave a yield of 59 102 oz ... of gold.

June 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). New Bendigo Company are cross-cutting a new make of stone 500 feet south of the main shaft. Croydon and party struck a new reef about 1-1/4 miles south-west from the New Bendigo Company’s mine, and near 60 Clarke’s Reef.

61 September 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). New Bendigo Company are driving at various levels.

December 1889 (St Arnaud North Divison). New Bendigo Company are prospecting at various levels, from the 62 surface to 700 feet deep.

63 December 1890. A crushing of 377 tons from the New Bendigo Company realised 157 oz of gold.

275 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

64 July 1897. Gap Extended Co. Cleaned up 12 loads at the Comstock battery.

276 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

July 1897. Prospectus of the Bristol Reef Gold Mining Co. has been circulated--the property comprises 60 acres south of the famous New Bendigo mine ... the properties known as the Gap, the London, No. 2 South Bendigo, and 65 the ground held by the Star Syndicate are included in the lease.

October 1897. Bristol Reef Company--sinking shaft, cleared surface, logged up shaft and placed windlass in 66 position.

67 Jan 1899. Bristol Reef--main shaft sunk 277 feet.

68 1900. Bristol Reef Gold Mining Co.--will resume sinking shaft after meeting.

July 1900. Bristol Reef. Dam to conserve water for boiler will be finished this week. New Cornish high-pressure boiler being manufactured by Roberts and Sons, Bendigo. The winding plant of the New Chum Co. has been removed 69 to the Bristol Reef mine and the work of erection is being pushed on with.

70 October 1900. Bristol Reef. Poppet legs hoisted, housing in machinery. Plant completed.

1903. At the Bristol Reef mine work done was chiefly confined to prospecting by crosscuts, levels, and winzes between the 350 and 600 feet levels ... During the year 382 tons crushed yielding 187 ounces of gold and 19 men were employed. The Economic mine, which is owned by a numerically small syndicate, have erected a winding plant, and cleaned out 71 and repaired an old shaft.

1904. At the Bristol Reef, work chiefly of a prospecting nature was carried on with profitless results. At the Economic mine, prospecting work has been carried on in the 200-feet level ... Eight men on average 72 employed.

1906. St. Arnaud. The Economic Company has been formed to work the Little Bendigo mine at St. Arnaud North. 73 A very complete winding plant has been erected, capable of working to a depth of from 1,200 to 1,500 feet.

74 1911. The New Bendigo Mine, at the old township, has been refloated, and the old shaft put in order to 350 feet.

1913. The New Bendigo Company, at the old township, opened up 269 feet of ground in sinking ... There are large 75 bodies of ore opened up, and with a battery on the mine better results are expected.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 73.0. New Bendigo Co. (Foundations would date to the last period of mining which commenced in 1911). Machinery site. Set of well preserved concrete beds that stand 4 ft high. The southern bed in the set is roughly U- shaped and measures 19 ft x 8 ft. The northern bed is rectangular and measures 23-1/2 ft x 4 ft. Both beds have 1 inch iron mounting bolts. Iron chimney stack. Lying near the south-east corner of the concrete machinery beds is a collapsed 13 metre long iron stack. After 8 metres the riveted iron stack narrows down from 3 ft to 2-1/4 ft diameter. Shaft. 17 metres from the concrete machinery beds is an open 3-compartment shaft. The wooden bearers, slabbing and collar of the shaft are starting to rot. Battery. The battery is located 40 metres north-east of the shaft and its remains are largely hidden by large pepper trees and long grass. On the upper concrete floor of the battery (north end) two rows of 1-1/2 inch iron mounting bolts are visible and to the south of these (9 metres away) are two sets of wooden stamper blocks and associated wooden bearers and concrete footings. It would be likely that more of the stamper foundations lie buried by rubble and vegetation. The lower concrete floor of the battery is mostly obscured but enough is visible to suggest it is fairly intact. Modern processing plant. To the north of the battery side, on the south-west corner of a massive raised tailings dump, is a disused processing plant. The remains consist of a loading ramp (earth retained with sleepers), various concrete pits and mounting beds, wooden bearers and wooden posts. Treated tailings dump. The above dump of treated tailings measures approximately 130 metres x 60 metres, and stands some 10 metres high.

Site 73.1. New Bendigo South No. 1 (Mine was operating in 1880s).

277 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

Mine site. Small largely bulldozed mullock heap near the junction of Sunraysia Highway and Woolpack Dry Weather Track. Shaft has been filled and no machinery footings visible.

278 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

Site 73.2. New Bendigo South No 2 (open cut probably dates to the earliest mining period c.1854/1860s). Open cut. 350 metres south-east of New Bendigo South No. 1, on the east side of the track, is a partly filled open cut. The open cut measures approximately 40 metres x 5 metres and is about 5 metres deep. At the southern end of the open cut is a stope that has been used as a night soil dump and is littered with sanitary pans. The open cut has been fenced.

Site 73.3. Gap/Bristol Reef (open cut probably dates to the earliest mining period c.1854/1860s). Open cut/stope. 850 metres along Sunraysia Highway from its junction with Woolpack Dry Weather Track (east side of highway) is a partly filled, but still very deep, open cut/stope (measures approximately 30 metres x 20 metres, and about 10 metres deep). Associated with the open cut/stope are some largely quarried mullock heaps. Sludge pond. On the opposite side of the highway to the open cut/stope is a small intact sludge pond. A search of the area found no trace of any associated battery site.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Only Site 73.0 (New Bendigo Co.) has any integrity. This site also has archaeological potential.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Sites 73.1 and 73.2 have poor integrity and little historical significance and hence low cultural significance.

Site 73.0 has: • Historical Significance, due to its importance as a gold mine from the 1880s until the First World War. • Scientific Significance, due to the survival of a range of well preserved features belonging to last, large scale mining operations to occur on the site.

Site 73.3 has: • Scientific Significance, because of the well preserved state of the open cut/stope.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p452-453 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1860 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, February 1861 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, April 1861 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1864 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, May 1861 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1864 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1864 10 Mining Surveyors’ Report, March 5 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1865 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1865 13 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 15 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1867 16 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1868 17 Mining Surveyors'’ Reports, Sept 1868 18 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec1868 19 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1869 20 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1870 21 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1870 22 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1972 23 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1872 24 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1872 25 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1873 26 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1873

279 New Bendigo Company, St Arnaud

27 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1877 28 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1878 29 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June1878 30 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1880 31 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1881 32 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1881 33 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1881 34 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1882 35 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1882 36 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1882 37 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1882 38 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1883 39 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1883 40 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1883 41 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1884 42 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1884 43 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1884 44 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1884 45 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1885 46 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1885 47 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1885 48 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1885 49 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1886 50 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1886 51 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1886 52 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1886 53 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1887 54 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1887 55 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1888 56 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1888 57 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1888 58 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1888 59 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1889 60 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1889 61 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1889 62 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1889 63 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1890 64 St Arnaud Mercury, 3 July 1897 65 St Arnaud Mercury, 28 July 1897 66 St Arnaud Mercury, 13 October 1897 67 St Arnaud Mercury, 21 Jan 1899 68 St Arnaud Mercury, 13 Jan 1900 69 St Arnaud Mercury, 11 July 1900 70 St Arnaud Mercury, 3 October 1900 71 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1903, p71 72 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1904, p69 73 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1906, p107 74 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1911, pp130-31 75 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1913, p104

280 New Bendigo Diggings, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 74.0 NEW BENDIGO DIGGINGS

LOCATION: NEW BENDIGO, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0056

DIRECTIONS: 4.5 km north-west of St Arnaud, south-east end of St Arnaud Reservoir, east side of Sunraysia Highway

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Gravel Reserve

HISTORY:

1854. St Arnaud Diggings. The first record of gold discovery in the St Arnaud area was in a Commissioner’s report in October 1854, which said that a “vein of gold” had been discovered on squatter Davies’ (Strathfillan) run on the “northern extremity of the Pyrenees”. It is likely that the original discovery party at St Arnaud, which found gold on Strathfillan Run about this time, were responsible for this report. This party, consisting of Richard Higgs, Thoam Wembridge, Samuel Scott (or Cairns), Frederick Steward, Frederick C. Dutton, Robert Griffin and David Pilchard (alias Fultcher, but also known as “Old Davy Cook”), received the reward for the discovery ... The four first members of the party came from Avoca in an old spring cart, late in 1854, spent several weeks prospecting about Strathfillan, and eventually camped on Orr’s (St Arnaud) Creek near the site of St Arnaud, which was then a no-man’s land between runs--flat, timbered with large box and gum trees, enclosed by hills covered with dense scrub and mallee. They found a little gold and sent for the rest of the party, who arrived in 1854 before the year was out. The first payable gold was found by Pilchard about four miles north-west of the camp, near Bakery Hill, on 10 January 1855. The field got its original name--New Bendigo--when Wembridge went to his mate’s hole and said, “We’ve struck a new Bendigo”. The site of the discovery was near the sandy knoll called Bakery Hill, and near here Wembridge opened the first reef, the Gap Reef, on the watershed between New Bendigo Gully and St Arnaud. By February 1855 the rush had started on the field, with 400 there in March and 3000 in April, and the diggings were mainly confined to New Bendigo Gully, a narrow ravine running west. Some of the main quartz reefs were discovered at the period of the rush in the first half of 1855. The discovery party opened Steward’s Reef, near the Gap. Wilson’s Reef, later re- discovered by Charles Wilson, was known first by Wembridge, who covered it up. One of the first reefs opened was Nelson’s, on the line of Sebastopol Reef, a long granulated mass of quartz that ran over Sebastopol Hill and was known as “the old quartz reef” in August 1855. Shewrings’ Reef was opened by Charles Shewring, west of the gap at 1 this time.

March 1864 (St Arnaud North Division). The total number is thus distributed: Rostron’s 35 Peter’s, Dogbury & vicinity 830 New Bendigo 70 Greenock Reef 25 5 St Arnaud (Proper) 127

281 New Bendigo Diggings, St Arnaud

September 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: Douglas Hill 10 Silver & Sebastopol Reef 32 Sawpit Gully Reef 4 Frieberg 10 Master’s Reef 2 Sindersky’s Working 4 Yarrow’s engine 3 Chapman & others, Chrysolite Hill 14 Frenchman’s 11 Carapoole Bank 7 Forty-feet by Peters’ 30 Bristol Reef 4 Butcher’s Engine 7 Shuring’s Reef 10 Gap Gully 175 New Bendigo 57 Wagner’s Hill 2 Peevor’s Flat (Moggs) 14 Cochrane’s Hill 6 Tunnel Hill 6 St Arnaud 2 Brigg’s Hill 10 Greenock Reef 10 Spinster & Sailor’s Reef 4 Peter’s 205 Dogbury 45 Emu 6 Rostron’s 50 Four-mile Gully 4 Doctor’s Gully 4 8 Gap Gully, towards T Arnaud, is paying some fairly well, and others very well; there is no spare ground here...

282 New Bendigo Diggings, St Arnaud

283 New Bendigo Diggings, St Arnaud

Frenchman’s Hill 12 Salter’s Hill 10 Peter’s Diggings 282 Bald Hills 4 Scrub Rush 6 Wier’s Hill 4 Dogbury 25 Banshee 10 Emu 17 Douglas Hill 24 Forty-feet 10 10 Brigg’s Hill 20

284 New Bendigo Diggings, St Arnaud

June 1865: (St Arnaud North subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: Butcher’s and McCredie’s Engines 9 Armenian Gully 20 Bald Hills 6 Banshee 14 Brigg’s Hill 18 Bell’s Hill 4 Chrysolite 13 Dogbury 24 Carapooee 7 Scrub Rush 6 Douglas Hill 21 Wier’s Hill 4 Emu 16 Blink Bonny Reef 16 Switzer’s Gully 24 Frieberg Company’s 18 Frenchman’s Hill 10 Gap Gully 24 Geyer’s Gully 4 Greenock Reef 18 Karney’s 3 Master’s Claim 4 New Bendigo 118 Peters’ 250 Tunnel Hill 6 Warwickshire Reef 4 Wilson’s Gully 20 Rimmer’s Lease 6 Rostron’s and Higgins’s 5 Rostron’s Diggings 19 Silver Mining Association 18 Sawpit Gully and Reef 4 Sanderske’s Lease 6 St Arnaud United 11 Spinster Reef 2 11 Salter’s Hill 11

285 New Bendigo Diggings, St Arnaud

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 74.0. New Bendigo Diggings (Opened in early 1855, these diggings established St Arnaud as a major goldfield). Shallow alluvial sinkings. Most of the old diggings have been obliterated by St Arnaud Reservoir. A small patch of sinkings survived south-east of the reservoir. They are poorly defined and form part of a picnic area.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Historical Significance, the New Bendigo alluvial diggings were responsible in establishing St Arnaud as a major goldfield.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

286 New Bendigo Diggings, St Arnaud

287 Black Ranges sites, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 75.0 TALLOW CANDLE MINE SITE

LOCATION: BLACK RANGE, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0057

DIRECTIONS: 1.6 km north-west of St Arnaud, west side of Sunraysia Highway

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: State Forest

HISTORY:

January 1897 Watson and Party. Original prospectors of the Black Range have made a find which promises very 1 payable results.

February 1897. William Patterson and party who lately discovered a new reef south of Clarkes Reef, which they named Prince Charley ... a trail crushing, 2 oz. per ton. The quartz was crushed at the Queen Mary battery ... quartz 2 from Black Range also crushed at the Queen Mary battery.

3 July 1897. The Model Reef Co., Black Range--crushing at Comstock battery.

1984. Bulletin No. 62. Deep Lead Gold Deposits of Victoria, Map No. 2, St Arnaud. Site of the above mine named 4 as No. 8 Tallow Candle.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Tallow Candle (worked around the turn of the century). Mine site. Remnant of mullock heap associated with a modern concrete bin. The latter probably relates to the dumping of night soil. Sludge pond. Upstream from the mine site is a small, partly quarried sludge pond. A search of the area could not find any associated battery site.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has poor integrity and little historical importance and hence low cultural significance.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 St Arnaud Mercury, 27 Jan 1897 2 St Arnaud Mercury, 13 Feb 1897 3 St Arnaud Mercury, 7 July 1897 4 Bulletin No. 62: Deep Lead Gold Deposits of Victoria, Map No. 2, St Arnaud

288 New Chum Company, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 76.0 NEW CHUM TAILINGS DUMP/CYANIDE VATS 76.1 NEW CHUM CO. MINE SITE

LOCATION: NEW CHUM REEF, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: 76.0 H7524-0058 76.1 H7524-0059

DIRECTIONS: 1.7 km north-north-west of St Arnaud, west side of St Arnaud-Donald Railway Line, south side of Strategic Firebreak Track.

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Site 76.0--State Forest Site 76.1--Unreserved Crown Land

HISTORY:

1 January 1897. New Chum, St Arnaud. Sank shaft total depth from plat 65 feet.

February 1897. Visit of the minister of mines and water supply. The first mine visited was the Lord Nelson ... The Sebastopol, Brownings Luck, New Chum and New Bendigo mines were afterwards visited … visit was paid Mr Ruddicks pyrites works ... pyrites being treated there by the cyanide 2 method.

3 March 1897. New Chum, St Arnaud. Shaft enlarged and timberwork down to 90 feet.

March 1897. New Chum Co. Overhauled the winding engine ... improvement also made to battery ... depth of shaft 4 411 feet.

September 1899. Murrells Cyanide Works. Still engaged on New Chum sand. The first oil engine ever introduced to St. Arnaud has been added to the plant to work the shaking tables and pumps in place of the portable steam engine and boiler, which are to be removed to the Queensland mine. The oil engine, manufactured by Tarrant Co. of 5 Melbourne had previously been employed at the company’s works at Stuart Mill.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 76.0. New Chum tailings (Site of Murrells Cyanide Works which was operating in 1899). Tailings dump. 100 metres along the Strategic Firebreak Track from the St Arnaud-Donald railway line (north side of track) is a silted dam. Running along the opposite side of the track from the dam is a raised dump of treated tailings. The dump measures approximately 100 metres x 30 metres and stands 5 metres high. On its flattened surface are several cyanide vat depressions.

Site 76.1. New Chum mine (Mine was working around the turn of the century). Sludge ponds. 500 metres along the Strategic Firebreak Track from the St Arnaud-Donald railway line (south side) are two small, largely quarried, sludge ponds. Areas of the ponds nearest the track have been covered by dumps of building rubble. In the gully below the sludge ponds is a small dry water dam. Mine site. On the side of the gully (to the east of the dam) is a flattened mine site--a 20 metre long low mound of brick, stone and mortar rubble. Possibility that a section of the mine’s chimney stack survives in the south-east corner of the mound of rubble.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor, but the mine site probably has foundations surviving under the mound of rubble.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Site 76.0 and 76.1 have poor integrity and little historical significance and hence low cultural significance.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

289 New Chum Company, St Arnaud

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 St Arnaud Mercury, 9 Jan 1897 2 St Arnaud Mercury, 10 Feb 1897 3 St Arnaud Mercury, 10 March 1897 4 St Arnaud Mercury, 24 March 1897 5 St Arnaud Mercury, 23 Sept 1899

290 Brownings Luck Company, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 77.0 BROWNINGS LUCK CO. MINE SITE 77.1 TAILINGS DUMP

LOCATION: ST ARNAUD

HI NO: 77.0 & .1 H7524-0060

DIRECTIONS: 1.3 km north-north-west of St Arnaud, west side of Whycheproof Road

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Unreserved Crown Land

HISTORY:

January 1897. Brownings Luck, St Arnaud. Finished skidding main shaft and everything ready for sinking when 1 engine is erected.

2 Jan 1897. Brownings Luck--driven north from air shaft.

February 1897. Visit of the minister of mines and water supply. The first mine visited was the Lord Nelson ... The Sebastopol, Brownings Luck, New Chum and New Bendigo mines were afterwards visited … A visit was paid Mr Ruddicks pyrites works ... pyrites being treated there by the cyanide 3 method.

4 March 1897. Brownings Luck. Started engine.

March 1897. Brownings Luck Co. The winding plant has been placed in position and is certainly one of the most compact in the colony. The hauling is done with a 20 hp. winch with double cylinder link motion supplied by Horwood’s and Sons, of Bendigo ... it occupies a space of only 12 ft square, set on solid concrete foundations which rise from the bed rock. It is capable of hauling the ordinary cages and trucks in use at a depth of 1500 feet. There are two drums of 5 ft diameter ... a large Cornish boiler with Galloway tubes fed with Penberthy’s injectors supplies the motive power ... The foundations for a 10-head battery are now being placed, and a 12-hp engine has been secured 5 from Thompsons and Co., Castlemaine ... also new poppet heads.

6 May 1897. Brownings Luck. Completed engine bed and got battery engine in position.

7 May 1897. Brownings Luck. Erected horseways from shaft to battery house.

8 January 1899. Brownings Luck. Completed preparations in winze.

9 September 1899. Brownings Luck. Portion of the machinery for the air compressor has arrived.

January 1900. Brownings Luck, St Arnaud. Machinery working well. Battery crushing. Erection of new machinery has been completed ... Commencing in proper way, the first piece of machinery erected was a powerful steam winch, and explorations underground prompted the addition os a 10-head battery and engine. Aided by a Government grant of £1000, they purchased and had erected a high pressure multi-tubular boiler, air 10 compressor, receiver and one of Taylor and Horsefield’s No. 2 drills, one of the best class of machine made.

11 April 1900. Brownings Luck. Removing pumping plant from Llanelly and re-erection at the mine.

May 1900. Brownings Luck. No more crushings until pumping plant completed ... Contractors have all pumping 12 plant at mine and horses in position and the engine on bed. Started bricking up bob-pit yesterday.

July 1900. The capacity of the pumping plant is far in excess of requirement ... The machinery has been covered in 13 with substantial iron building, and a large storeroom has also been placed on the lease.

291 Brownings Luck Company, St Arnaud

August 1922. Welcome Nelson Mine. Official opening. An important event in the history of St Arnaud took place yesterday when the Welcome Nelson mine ... was officially opened ... The company’s lease on which the buildings had been erected comprised 42 acres at the time the company was floated, and 40 acres have been pegged out on the south since, as well as 20 acres to the west (including Browning’s Luck shaft). The proposition in front of the Welcome Nelson was a good one, and he predicted a great future for the mine, similar if not surpassing the once famous Lord Nelson, which, as they were all aware, was a great gold producer ... It was to be hoped the Welcome Nelson would be a worthy successor to the famous Lord Nelson, which stood high up in the mining annals of Victoria as a dividend payer of about quarter a million sterling, besides 14 providing employment for many men for a considerable number of years.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 77.0. Brownings Luck mine (Operated around the turn of the century). Mine site. Remains are located on the east side of the Strategic Firebreak Track 700 metres from the St Arnaud- Donald railway line. The mine site has mainly been flattened and only two distinct features survive above ground. The first feature is a 12 ft square, one metre high, red brick winder bed. The bed has 1-1/4 inch iron mounting bolts. On the south side of the bed is a rectangular hole (probably a shaft) which is surrounded by post holes containing 1- 1/4 inch iron mounting bolts. 12 metres to the north of the brick winder bed/shaft site is a large tank-like bed which measures 30 ft x 9 ft. This bed, which stands the same height as the winder bed, has three walls which are 1-1/2 ft wide, the other wall (north wall) is a foot wider. A line of 2 inch mounting bolts runs along the north and south walls. The eastern end of the bed is obscured by a pepper tree.

Site 77.1. Tailings Dump (cyaniding commenced in this area c.1899). Treated tailings dump. 150 metres south-east of the mine site is a partly quarried raised tailings dump. The dump is approximately 50 metres wide and has traces of cyanide vat impressions.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Site 77.1 has poor integrity and little historical importance and hence low cultural significance.

Site 77.0 has: • Scientific Significance, due to the survival of some well preserved brick machinery foundations. These foundations are of an unusual design.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 St Arnaud Mercury, 13 Jan 1897 2 St Arnaud Mercury, 27 Jan 1897 3 St Arnaud Mercury, 10 Feb 1897 4 St Arnaud Mercury, 10 March 1897 5 St Arnaud Mercury, 24 March 1897 6 St Arnaud Mercury, 5 May 1897 7 St Arnaud Mercury, 19 May 1897 8 St Arnaud Mercury, 11 Jan 1899 9 St Arnaud Mercury, 20 Sept 1899 10 St Arnaud Mercury, 13 Jan 1900 11 St Arnaud Mercury, 7 April 1900 12 St Arnaud Mercury, 26 May 1900 13 St Arnaud Mercury, 11 July 1900 14 St Arnaud Mercury, 26/8/1922

292 Hopeful Reef, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 78.0 HOPEFUL REEF WORKINGS

LOCATION: HOPEFUL REEF, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0061

DIRECTIONS: 2.4 km north-east of St Arnaud, west of Grierson Road

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Unreserved Crown Land

HISTORY:

March 1867. St. Arnaud North Subdivision (Mr. John Phillips). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Malcolm and Co.’s Auld Reekie, Pioneer Reef, Chance Reef, Caledonia Reef Chrysolite Sanderski’s, Blink Bonny, Chrysolite, Bristol Reef, Robinson’s, Jerejaw Reef, Hopeful. Silver Mining Various claims McCredie’s Robinson’s Reef, Edgar’s claim. Excelsior (Masters) Gold and silver Butcher and Co. Various claims The yield of the Hopeful Reef for the last two quarters has been 15 to 20 ounces per ton, with a prospect of continuance for an indefinite period. The frequent discoveries of reefs and alluvial ground, showing this part of the country to be generally auriferous, the slowness of its development is owning to the want of water during most of the year, and the want of the right sort of diggers in sufficient numbers--men who understand data. There are few of them, however, lately arrived, who express 2 a strong conviction as to the paying character of the numerous gullies untouched.

September 1867 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Bell Rock, the Bristol Reef, the Rising Star, the Greenock Reef, and perhaps other mines, may be regarded as good and permanent; the Jerejaw, Chance, Blink Bonny, Hopeful, and 3 Emu mines, coming in the rear with promise.

293 Hopeful Reef, St Arnaud

7 March 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). At Messrs Thompson’s Hopeful Reef the stone is looking well.

December 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). A company has been formed to work the Hopeful Reef. They are 8 now driving south on the course of the reef at a depth of 265 feet.

294 Hopeful Reef, St Arnaud

March 1873 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Avoca Tribute Company, Hopeful Reef, have struck payable stone 9 in their old workings.

June 1873 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (Mr. P. Simpson). The Avoca Tribute, Hopeful Reef, are engaged in 10 prospecting the reef.

September 1873 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Victoria Association and Hopeful Company are engaged in 11 driving on the course of the lodes.

December 1881 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Hopeful Company has cleared out an old shaft to 130 feet, and put 12 down new ladders.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 78.0. Hopeful Reef (Main mining period for this reef appears to have spanned the 1860s and 1870s). Open shaft. Deep open shaft surrounded by a small mullock paddock. The shaft has been fenced. Several other shafts/mullock paddocks in the area.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has poor integrity and little historical importance and hence low cultural significance.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1867 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1867 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1868 6 Mining Surveyors'’ Reports, Sept 1868 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1972 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1872 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1873 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1873 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1873 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1881

295 Bell Rock Reef, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 79.0 BELL ROCK CO. MINE SITE

LOCATION: BELL ROCK REEF, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0062

DIRECTIONS: 2.5 km north-east of St Arnaud, north-west of Eucy Patch Track.

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Unreserved Crown Land

HISTORY:

March 1865 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The number of miners is as follows: Europeans Chinese Alluvial miners 428 107 Quartz miners 145 Total 573 107 The total number is thus distributed: Silver & Sebastopol Reefs 30 Sawpit Reef 2 Freyberg Company’s Works 17 Master’s Reef 3 Sanderske’s Reef 34 Chrysolite Hill 30 Bristol Reef 16 Schewring’s Reef 10 Gap Gully 19 Tunnel Hill 6 Carapoore banks 8 Karney’s 2 Armenian Gully 6 New Bendigo 54 Cochrane's Hill 10 Butcher’s Engine 4 Warwickshire Reef 4 Bell Rock 2 McCredie’s Engine 4 Greenock Reef 15 Spinster Reef 4 Pioneer Reef 2 Bell’s Hill 4 Frenchman’s Hill 12 Salter’s Hill 10 Peter’s Diggings 282 Bald Hills 4 Scrub Rush 6 Wier’s Hill 4 Dogbury 25 Banshee 10 Emu 17 Douglas Hill 24 Forty-feet 10 1 Brigg’s Hill 20

296 Bell Rock Reef, St Arnaud

December 1866 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The number of miners is as follows: Europeans Chinese Alluvial miners 157 168 Quartz miners 182 Total 339 168 The total number of miners is thus distributed: Association Reef 6 Carapooee Upper 25 Emu Diggings 8 Peters’s 20 Dogbury and Banshee 4 Gap Gully 4 Wilson’s Hill 4 Chance Reef 5 Hopeful Reef 12 Chrysolite Hill 12 Stuart’s Hill 24 Bristol Reef 42 Greenock Reef 12 Crushing Machines 19 New Bendigo 230 Armenian Gully 8 Bell Rock 10 Blink Bonny 8 Strathalbyn Reef 2 Prince of Orange 4 Jerejaw Reef 8 Queen Mary Reef 6 Caledonian Reef 4 2 Queen Mary Diggings 30

March 1868 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Bell Rock is now aided by a complete winding and pumping engine, and there is everything leading one to expect a lasting mine there. 5 The Bell Rock crushings have been suspended also during the quarter.

June 1868 St Arnaud North Subdivision (John Phillip). The Bell Rock indications are important for extensive mining; and this is the more important in consequence of its being isolated in a locality abounding in large reefs almost untried, 6 but, nevertheless, showing gold.

297 Bell Rock Reef, St Arnaud

March 1869 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (John Phillips). There is nothing of special interest to notice in the working or success of the established mines of the locality. The Bell Rock, Bristol Reef, Wilson’s Hill, Walker’s, 8 Trinidad, Chrysolite Hill, Greenock Reef and Isabelle Reef being pursued steadily, with fair yields.

9 June 1869 (John Phillips). The Bell Rock in now idle.

September 1870 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). Robinson and Party, Black Rock Reef (adjoining the Bell Rock) are working from the surface on the underlie, at a depth of about 70 feet, and are breaking out very good-looking stone, 10 the gold plainly visible therein.

11 March 1871 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Bell Rock Company have, I understand recommenced work.

June 1871 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision) Bell Rock. The lessees have purchased the tributers machinery, and it is 12 probable that work will be resumed in this claim before long.

March 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). A Sandhurst company has, I believe, been formed for the purpose of 13 working the Bell Rock Leases.

June 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Bell Rock Company is engaged in overhauling and altering machinery, 14 and is about to call for tenders for sinking a new shaft 500 feet in depth.

September 1872 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Bell Rock Company is engaged sinking a new shaft to a depth 15 of 500 feet. They are down about 80 feet.

16 December 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). At the Bell Rock the shaft is down 131 feet.

17 March 1873 (St Arnaud North subdivision). At the Bell Rock the shaft is down about 200 feet.

June 1873 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (Mr. P. Simpson). The Bell Rock and Blinkbonnie companies are still 18 engaged in sinking.

September 1873 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Bell Rock Company is sinking the shaft; present depth, 282 19 feet.

298 Bell Rock Reef, St Arnaud

December 1873 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Bell Rock they are still sinking shaft; present depth, 337 20 feet.

21 March 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Bell Rock they are down 370 feet.

299 Bell Rock Reef, St Arnaud

June 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Bell Rock Company has stopped sinking the shaft at 413 feet, and is 22 now putting in a cross-cut.

September 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Bell Rock, a cross-cut has been put in from the shaft to the reef, at the 400-foot level ... No stone has yet been crushed, owing to the only available battery being engaged. A new battery of 20 revolving stamps is about to be erected by the St. Arnaud Public Crushing Company, who is adding to 23 the machinery also Denny’s patent pulverisers, the erection of which is nearly completed.

December 1874 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Bell Rock Quartz Mining Company has erected a 20-head 24 battery at the mine, and expect to commence crushing very shortly.

March 1875 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Bell Rock Company has completed the erection of the 20-head battery, and crushed 186 tons of stone for an average of 4-1/2 dwts, which was not as good as expected ... An assay of the tailings has given a yield of 3-1/2 oz. per ton, and these are heavily charged with pyrites and galena, the 25 company has determined to erect buddles before resuming crushing.

June 1875. St Arnaud North Subdivision (W.G Couchman) Bell Rock Company has been opening up the mine, and 26 have stopped operations pending the erection of buddles.

June 1876. The St Arnaud Cross Reef Tribute Company (which is a company formed to work the mine of the Bell Rock Company on tribute) is extending the 400-foot level, and stoping the backs. They have erected a large buddle 27 for treating pyrites, and a tramway for trucking quartz from the shaft to the batteries.

September 1876 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Cross Reef Company (Bell Rock) has been driving the 400-foot 28 level, and is now stoping the backs from that level.

June 1877 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Bell Rock Company has been cutting trenches on the surface with the 29 view of prospecting the lease for new reefs.

September 1881. Bell Rock Company has got the water out of the workings, and is about to sink the shaft a further 30 depth of 220 feet, and open out on the reef at the present level, which is about 380 feet deep.

December 1881 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Bell Rock Company is sinking the main shaft from the 400-foot level a further depth of 100 feet; it is now down 15 feet. South Bell Rock Company has erected a new whim, and is 31 cleaning out old workings preparatory to further working the mine.

March 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). New Bell Rock Company has been repairing old and adding new machinery and appliances, and restoring the shaft from the surface down to 385 feet, and has cleaned up the level at that depth. 32 South Bell Rock Company has been driving on the course of the lode at 200 feet.

June 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The New Bell Rock Company is making good progress in raising stone for 33 crushing, and the batteries will be started immediately.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 79.0. Bell Rock Co. (The company erected a 20-head battery in 1875). Mine site. Largely intact mullock heap approximately 30 metres diameter and 10 metres high. On the south-west corner of the mullock heap is a partly excavated mullock paddock. No sign of the shaft on the mullock paddock but there are some iron mounting bolts exposed by the excavation. Battery site. To the north of the mullock heap is a small water dam. Between the dam and the mullock heap is a spread of red brick which marks the location of the battery. In the gully below the water dam is a small (20 metre wide) intact sludge pond. Tramway embankment/open cut. Above the battery site is a small (10 metre wide) open cut. Running from the open cut towards the battery site is the remains of a tramway embankment. Treated tailings. Between the sludge pond and the mullock heap is a small dump of treated tailings.

300 Bell Rock Reef, St Arnaud

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: The mine site contains a range of features but unfortunately most of them have been disturbed.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Scientific Significance, due to the survival of features which help to illustrate the range of mining operations which took place on the site. The site has the most intact mullock heap surviving on the St Arnaud goldfield.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 Mining Surveyors’ Report, March 5 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1867 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1868 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1868 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec1868 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1869 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1869 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1870 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1871 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1871 13 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1972 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1872 15 Mining Surveyor’s’ Reports, September 1872 16 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1872 17 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1873 18 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1873 19 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1873 20 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1873 21 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1874 22 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1874 23 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1874 24 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1874 25 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1875 26 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1875 27 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1876 28 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1876 29 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1877 30 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1881 31 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1881 32 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1882 33 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1882

301 Prince of Wales Reef, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 80.0 PRINCE OF WALES CO. MINE SITE

LOCATION: PRINCE OF WALES REEF, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0063

DIRECTIONS: 3.75 km north-east of St Arnaud, south side of Eucy Patch Track, 200 metres from junction with Eucy Still-Boadle Track

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Unreserved Crown Land

HISTORY:

December 1874 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales Companies are 1 obtaining good stone.

March 1875 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The yields from the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh 2 Companies, Duchess of Edinburgh Reef, are improving as the stone is worked deeper.

June 1875 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Prince of Wales Company is opening out the mine, and getting good 3 stone.

June 1876 Several parties still continue working at the Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales Reefs; Allardyce 4 and Co., at the latter reef, have obtained 114 oz 17 dwts 12 grs from 92 tons of stone.

June 1877 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Prince of Wales Company, Prince of Wales Reef, has crushed 38 tons 5 of stone from the 220-foot level.

December 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). On the Prince of Wales reef a new company is being formed called 6 the Prince of Wales Quartz and Gold Mining Company, and active mining operations have been commenced.

March 1884 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Prince of Wales Company. There is not much doing in this claim, the operations in the old shaft not having been successful, owing to the excessive quantity of water. It is intended to start 7 sinking a new shaft almost immediately.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 80.0. Prince of Wales Co. (mainly worked in the 1870s and 1880s). Mine site. On the south side of the track is a partly quarried mullock heap. A filled, but slightly collapsed, shaft is on the north-east corner of the heap. 15 metres from the shaft is an outline of a stone mounting bed which is associated with some bulldozed brickwork. Eucalyptus distillery. Near the track is a small water dam. On the eastern end of the dam’s embankment is a single (iron) Eucalptus vat. The rest of the site has been flattened.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has poor integrity and little historical importance and hence low cultural significance.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1874

302 Prince of Wales Reef, St Arnaud

2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1875 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1875 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1876 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1877 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1883 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1884

303 Blinkbonnie Company, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 81.0 BLINKBONNIE CO. MINE SITE

LOCATION: BLINKBONNIE REEF, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0064

DIRECTIONS: 6.2 km north-north-east of St Arnaud, west of Blinkbonnie Road

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land/perhaps some Road Reserve

HISTORY:

There is a newly found golden reef, about six miles north of St Arnaud township, named Blink Bonny, the specimens from which, and its appearance generally, are good and promising; there are several claims on it registered. The first thing the workers of this reef should do is to make a dam for a machine and another above it for their domestic use; 1 for, throughout the year, this is a comparatively dry part of the country.

304 Blinkbonnie Company, St Arnaud

September 1865 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The total number of miners is thus distributed: Greenock and Spinster Reefs 17 Carapooee Hills above Edelsten’s 79 Rostron’s Diggings & Four-mile Gy 10 Peters’ Diggings 50 Sheaoak, Dogbury 46 Butcher’s and McCredie’s 13 Armenian and Gap gullies 33 Chrysolite Hill 14 Emu 11 St Arnaud United 23 Blink Bonny and Strathalbyn reefs 30 Stuart’s Hill 44 2 New Bendigo and Rush 250

305 Blinkbonnie Company, St Arnaud

Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Malcolm and Co.’s Auld Reekie, Pioneer Reef, Chance Reef, Caledonia Reef Chrysolite Sanderski’s, Blink Bonny, Chrysolite, Bristol Reef, Robinson’s, Jerejaw Reef, Hopeful. Silver Mining Various claims McCredie’s Robinson’s Reef, Edgar’s claim. Excelsior (Masters) Gold and silver 4 Butcher and Co. Various claims

June 1868 St Arnaud North Subdivision (John Phillip). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Prospectors and No. 1 South Greenock Reef Leaseholders Jerejaw Reef Chrysolite Chrysolite Reef Edgar and others Leyden Reef Penberthy and Co. Blink Bonny Reef Perry and Co. Hopeful Reef Blackie and Co. Warwickshire Reef 8 Hosking and Co. Wilson’s Hill

306 Blinkbonnie Company, St Arnaud

June 1871 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). From the Blink Bonny Reef excellent yields are being obtained ... The width of the reef at the water level is from 6 inches to 1 foot. A fourteen horse-power engine, with Cornish boiler, is being erected on the claim and the battery of ten stamp-heads has been removed here from the Greenock Reef. This 10 will, I think, increase prosperity in the Mallee; a great disadvantage has been the distance to cart quartz.

March 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). At Messrs Biddington’s Blinkbonny Reef work is at present suspended. A Melbourne company has just been formed for the purpose of working it ... Up to the end of February they are engaged in stoping out. An accident to their crushing plant has prevented them obtaining much this 11 quarter.

June 1872 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The Blink Bonnie Quartz Mining Company has commenced to sink the 12 new shaft. They expect to strike the cap of the Arch Reef at 300 feet.

September 1872 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Blinkbonnie Company has sunk about 90 feet towards the cap 13 of the Arch Reef; sinking hard.

March 1873 (St Arnaud North subdivision). At the Bell Rock the shaft is down about 200 feet. 14 The Blinkbonnie Company has sunk about the same depth.

June 1873 St. Arnaud North Subdivision (Mr. P. Simpson). The Bell Rock and Blinkbonnie companies are still 15 engaged in sinking.

September 1873 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Blinkbonnie Reef they are still engaged in sinking shaft; 16 ground hard; depth attained 270 feet. They expect to strike the reef at 30 feet below present level.

December 1873 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Blinkbonnie Reef the shaft is now down 296 feet ... Work 17 has been stopped by influx of water. Arrangements are being made for working the mine by steam machinery.

March 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). At the Blinkbonnie Reef the shaft has been sunk and timbered to a 18 depth of 296 feet, at which depth the reef has been struck. Winding machinery has been erected.

June 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Blinkbonnie Company are still cross-cutting for the reef; water 19 heavy.

June 1875 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Blink Bonny Company are breaking out good stone, and have purchased a 20 crushing plant.

307 Blinkbonnie Company, St Arnaud

December 1875. Blink Bonny Company has resumed operations and is breaking out payable stone at 294-foot level, 21 the reef being 2-1/2 feet wide.

22 March 1881. At the Blink Bonnie claim a small but very good crushing has been obtained.

308 Blinkbonnie Company, St Arnaud

June 1881. St. Arnaud North Subdivision. The quartz reefs in this subdivision are receiving more attention of late than they have done for some time past. Several new companies are about to commence operations--notably, Blink 23 Bonny, Hicks and Co., Gap Reef; and other claims on old abandoned reefs have been taken up.

September 1881. Hicks and party, Blink Bonnie Reef, is now getting out the water from their old workings, with 24 steam power, and expect shortly to be raising stone for crushing.

December 1881 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Hicks and party, Blink Bonny Reef, has erected winding and crushing machinery (five stamp heads); they have been engaged draining their mine and repairing their shaft, which has 25 been some time idle.

June 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Hicks and party, Blink Bonny Reef, have crushed 43 tons of quartz during the past quarter for a yield of 96 oz 7 dwts of gold. They are at present breaking out stone from the 220-foot and 26 290-foot levels.

September 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Blink Bonny Company during the quarter have crushed 53 tons of stone, taken from the 300-foot level, which gave a total yield of 312 oz 12 dwts of gold. This company (Hicks and 27 party) is composed of working miners, who are now about to erect more machinery and sink the shaft deeper.

September 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Blink Bonny Company have, as will be seen from the tables, 28 met with some very good stone.

March 1884 (St Arnaud North Subdivision) Blink Bonny. The work done in this mine has been mainly at the 300- 29 foot level, driving north and south.

September 1884 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Blink Bonny Company are raising stone from 250 to 300-foot 30 levels. A recent crushing of 26 tons gave a yield of 27oz.

September 1887 (St Arnaud North Division). The Blink Bonny Tribute party crushed 50 tons of quartz, obtained 31 from between the 300 and 400-foot levels, which gave a yield of 25 oz of gold.

December 1889 (St Arnaud North Division). JereJaw and Blink Bonny properties have been disposed of to Miss 32 Cornwall (as I am informed), who is about to form a company and work them under one management.

March 1897. Messrs Love and Son crushed 21 loads for 17 oz. 14 dwts. of gold from reef named “The Lizard” is situate about four miles north of St Arnaud, and 1/2 mile south-west of Blink Bonny--quartz crushed at Messrs Lange 33 and Undy’s Queen Mary battery.

July 1897. The prospectus of the Blink Bonnie Quartz Mining Co. has been circulated ... the lease comprises 17 34 acres.

35 February 1899. Blink Bonnie. The contractors have sunk 437 feet.

36 April 1899. Blink Bonnie. Stone widening and showing gold.

May 1899. Blink Bonnie. Wm. Murrell senior, and H. Lyndon junior have bought a share in the Lizard Reef mine, near Blink Bonnie, successfully worked for several years by R. LOve. The shaft is down 100 feet ... a 5 head battery 37 is to be erected on the ground and subsequently a cyanide plant will be put up to treat the tailings.

38 Jan 1900. Blink Bonnie. Washed up at Queensland battery.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 81.0. Blink Bonnie mine site (Mine worked on a number of occasions between 1860 to the turn of the century). Mine and battery site. An undisturbed (by Mines Department’s shaft-filling project) line of reef workings. The workings commence with a partly quarried large mullock heap. At the rear of the heap is a battery site consisting of

309 Blinkbonnie Company, St Arnaud some decaying bedlogs, post stumps and the remains of a stone boiler setting. Below the battery site are traces of a small sludge dam and to the south is a small water dam. Reef workings. South of the water dam is a line of workings consisting of two long parallel open stopes and at least four open shafts/intact mullock paddocks. The stopes are collapsing and are quite dangerous.

310 Blinkbonnie Company, St Arnaud

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Mine site, and especially the reef workings, have escaped any serious disturbance. The site has high integrity but is very dangerous.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Scientific Significance, because of the undisturbed nature of the stopes and shafts. One of the few places recorded that has escaped the Department of Mines’ shaft filling program.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1865 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1865 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1867 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1867 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1868 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1868 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec1868 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1871 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1972 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1872 13 Mining Surveyor’s’ Reports, September 1872 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1873 15 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1873 16 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1873 17 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1873 18 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1874 19 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1874 20 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1875 21 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1875 22 Mining Surveyors’ reports, March 1881 23 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1881 24 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1881 25 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1881 26 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1882 27 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1882 28 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1883 29 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1884 30 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1884 31 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1887 32 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1889 33 St Arnaud Mercury, 17 March 1897 34 St Arnaud Mercury, 31 July 1897 35 St Arnaud Mercury, 24 Feb 1899 36 St Arnaud Mercury, 19 April 1899 37 St Arnaud Mercury, 3 May 1899 38 St Arnaud Mercury, 13 Jan 1900

311 Jerejaw Reef, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 82.0 JEREJAW REEF WORKINGS

LOCATION: JEREJAW REEF, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0065

DIRECTIONS: 6.5 km south-south west of St Arnaud, west of Centre Road

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: State Forest

HISTORY:

December 1866 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The total number of miners is thus distributed: Association Reef 6 Carapooee Upper 25 Emu Diggings 8 Peters’ 20 Dogbury and Banshee 4 Gap Gully 4 Wilson’s Hill 4 Chance Reef 5 Hopeful Reef 12 Chrysolite Hill 12 Stuart’s Hill 24 Bristol Reef 42 Greenock Reef 12 Crushing Machines 19 New Bendigo 230 Armenian Gully 8 Bell Rock 10 Blink Bonny 8 Strathalbyn Reef 2 Prince of Orange 4 Jerejaw Reef 8 Queen Mary Reef 6 Caledonian Reef 4 Queen Mary Diggings 30 Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Prospectors and No. 1 S Greenock Reef Benson and others Bachelor’s Reef Chrysolite Public crushing Edelsten’s Engine Jerejaw Chance, Caledonia Wilson’s Hill Wilson’s Hill Tributors Bell Rock Tributors Bristol Reef Perry and Sons Hopeful Reef, Bristol Reef Silver Mines Public crushing McCredie’s Engine Queen Mary Reef 1 Butcher and Company Public crushing

312 Jerejaw Reef, St Arnaud

Greenock Reef and neighbourhood 7 McCredie’s and Butcher’s engine 9 John Bull Creek 30 Gap and Armenian Gullies 15 New Bendigo 145 Carapooee Creek, bottom and top 31 Emu Diggings 10

313 Jerejaw Reef, St Arnaud

June 1867 St Arnaud North Subdivision (John Phillips). The Chance Reefs, a little south of the Jerejaw, which, like 3 the last-named are associated with elvan veins, have good quartz.

September 1868 St Arnaud North Subdivision Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: W. H. Thompson Star of the West W.W. Carr Gap Reef Rimmer and Co. Ballarat Reef Northern Bristol Reef Hosking and Co. Wilson’s Hill Chrysolite Western Reef John Thomas Gap Reef Perry and Co. Hopeful Pioneer Armenian Reef Sanderske Armenian Reef Higgins and Co. Rising Sun Bristol Reef Bristol Reef London Claim Bristol Reef Croydon and Co. Bristol Reef St. Arnaud Walker’s Reef Bishops’ Lease Jerejaw Penberthy and Co. Blink Bonny Caledonian Fishhook Reef 6 Brown and Co. Warwickshire Reef

September 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Jere Jaw Company has been engaged erecting winding and 7 crushing machinery. They have also sunk their shaft 70 feet further, making the present depth 170 feet.

8 December 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The JereJaw Company has let a portion of the mine on tribute.

March 1884 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). JereJaw. Since last report the shaft has been sunk 62 feet, total depth 9 216 feet.

10 June 1884. The JereJaw Company has also suspended operations for the present.

314 Jerejaw Reef, St Arnaud

December 1889 (St Arnaud North Divison). JereJaw and Blink Bonny properties have been disposed of to Miss 11 Cornwall (as I am informed), who is about to form a company and work them under one management.

315 Jerejaw Reef, St Arnaud

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 82.0. JereJaw Reef (Principal mining period for the reef spanned 1860s to 1880s). Reef workings. Line of bulldozed small mullock heaps/filled shafts. Whim platform. Associated with the largest of the mullock heaps are the remains of a poorly preserved circular whim platform.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Scientific Significance, because of the survival of a whim platform. Remains of horse-powered haulage whims, once very common on goldfields, are now quite rare in Victoria. Unlike the whim platforms found on Lisles Reef, Maldon, this site has little context.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1867 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1867 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1868 6 Mining Surveyors'’ Reports, Sept 1868 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1883 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1883 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1884 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1884 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1889

316 Queen Mary Reef, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 83.0 QUEEN MARY REEF WORKINGS

LOCATION: QUEEN MARY REEF, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0066

DIRECTIONS: 4.5 km south-west of St Arnaud, Queen Mary Road

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: State Forest

HISTORY:

Looking at the number of quartz miners, and the quartz and gold raised (leaving out silver this quarter, trivial), making due allowance for the few employed unproductively, but including prospectors and pioneers (tut-workmen), I estimate the quartz per man per day, 3 cwt 3 qrs 13 lbs, and the worth per man per day, 15s 9d, which I believe is rarely exceeded in the colony. 1 There are three new mining localities, viz: the Chance, Queen Mary, and the Prince of Orange Reefs.

317 Queen Mary Reef, St Arnaud

March 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). Some good stone obtained from the Queen Mary Reef. Depth, about 3 170 feet.

June 1874 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). A company has been formed to work the Queen Mary Reef, and a lease 4 of the ground applied for.

June 1877 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). A new reef has been discovered by Perkins and Company, near the Queen 5 Mary Reef, and is reported to have yielded from 4 to 10 dwts per ton.

December 1882 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Queen Mary Co. has sunk the shaft to a depth of 130 feet from the surface ... they have ten loads of stone at the surface ready for crushing, which will be put through the mill 6 shortly.

September 1883 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The Queen Mary Company has been sinking and driving on the 7 reef.

March 1884 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Queen Mary. The main shaft has been sunk an additional 45 feet, the 8 total depth now being 165 feet.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 83.0. Queen Mary Reef workings (Reef appears to have been mainly worked mid 1860s to 1880s). Reef workings. Bulldozed mullock heaps and filled shafts.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has low integrity and hence poor cultural significance.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1874 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1874 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1877 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1882 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1883

318 Queen Mary Reef, St Arnaud

8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1884

319 Gowar Flora Reserve, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 84.0 GOWAR FLORA RESERVE PUDDLER AND DAM 84.1 SALLY’S GULLY PUDDLERS 84.2 SALLY’S GULLY ALLUVIAL WORKINGS

LOCATION: GOWAR FLORA RESERVE, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: 84.0 H7524-0067 84.1 H7524-0068 84.2 H7524-0069

DIRECTIONS: Site 84.0. 7.2 km north-east of St Arnaud, junction of L. Brays and Hard Hills Tip Roads. Site 84.1. 7.1 km north-east of St Arnaud, south of Chandlers Road Site 84.2. 7.1 km north-east of St Arnaud, south of Chandlers Road

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Flora Reserve

HISTORY:

1985. Mining. No documented records exist on the mining history of the area. Wilkinson (1981) drew together anecdotal information on the alluvial gold mining that was carried out in and adjacent to the existing reserve. Gold was first discovered in the area in 1855. It was rushed again in August 1860, a part of the Erivan (Erwan) Hills rush. Shafts were reportedly sunk to depths of between four and six metres, and yields from half to one ounce of fine gold per load were recovered initially. By November 1860, diminishing yields had reduced the numbers of miners considerably. According to Wilkinson (1981) Sally’s Gully is probably the same run of alluvial workings as that known as the Erivan lead. The workings are quite extensive and include puddling mills. The extent of the alluvial mining activity is still evident today. Three puddling mills, minor earth works for the damming and channelling of water and numerous shafts are still well preserved. One of the puddling mills close to Sally’s Gully track includes the base of the centre pole. Mr Bob Watson worked the area around the turn of the century, and again with a number of other miners during the depression years. The gold was fine but insufficient quantity to provide Mr Watson and others with a living (F. Watson pers. comment. 1985). 1 The area was exempted “from occupation for mining purposes under miners right” in September 1941.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 84.0. Puddler and dam (Difficult to date, but state of preservation suggest a 20th century operation date). Puddler. Relatively well preserved 18 ft diameter puddling machine site. The puddler’s inner mound is well defined and the puddling trench is deep with sheer sides. No pivot post or tench slabbing present. The puddler lies below the embankment of a small dam. There is little wash with the puddler.

Site 84.1. Sally’s Gully puddlers (Difficult to date, but the state of preservation and isolated location suggests a nineteenth century operation date). Adjoining puddlers. Both puddlers are in a poor state of preservation and there is very little wash. The eastern puddler has a diameter of 20 ft and has a very eroded inner mound. This erosion has exposed part of the central pivot post and largely filled the puddling trench. The western puddler is in slightly better condition (well defined inner mound and deep puddling trench), is slightly smaller (17 ft diameter) and encroaches onto its neighbour. In fact, its outlet channel appears to drain into the puddling trench of the eastern puddler. The puddlers are associated with an 80 metre long low embankment. Well defined alluvial sinkings occur below and above the puddlers.

Site 84.2. Sallys Gully alluvial/cement workings (Continuation of Erivan Lead workings). Shallow alluvial sinkings. Narrow band of very intense, relatively undisturbed, shallow alluvial sinkings (shafts, small mounds, some trenching and dams) running up the gully and terminating at the base of a low hill. Some of the shafts still retain their original rectangular shape. The adjoining puddlers (Site 84.1) are situated near the head of Sally’s gully.

320 Gowar Flora Reserve, St Arnaud

Cement workings. On the slope of the hill above the alluvial sinkings are some cement workings, including some surfacing, a collapsed adit, some shafts and a small open cut. The working on top of the hill have been obliterated by gravel quarrying.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: All sites are in a reasonable condition

321 Gowar Flora Reserve, St Arnaud

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Site 84.0 has: • Scientific Significance, because of the intactness of the puddler.

Sites 84.1 and 84.2 have: • Cumulative Scientific Significance, because together they demonstrate the relationship between cement and alluvial mining.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 A Management Prescription for the Gowar Flora Reserve, Grant Hull, December 1985, p15

322 Moggs or Peevors Diggings, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 85.0 MOGGS ALLUVIAL DIGGINGS

LOCATION: MOGGS OR PEEVORS DIGGINGS, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0070

DIRECTIONS: 6.5 km north-west of St Arnaud, north of Sunraysia Highway

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land

HISTORY:

1862/1864. Jardine’s Lead was opened and rushed, west of St Arnaud in 1862, and in August Peevor’s Flat, about a mile ahead of the workings at New Bendigo Gully, was opened and rushed, at what was known as Mogg’s Rush, after the squatter. The diggers called it Peevor’s after the prospector. Wagner’s and Cochrane's Hills near Peevor’s Flat were also worked at this time. Other places then worked were Salter’s Hill, Bell’s Hill, and a place called Scrub Rush, 1 five miles east of St Arnaud.Geyer’s Hill was also worked at the time of Scrub Rush, in December 1864.

323 Moggs or Peevors Diggings, St Arnaud

The alluvial discoveries, Mogg’s Plain, and Cochrane’s and Wagner’s Hills, alongside, are retaining a few miners, and affording gold to pay them. There must be deep and very probably good ground north, east, and west, of Mogg’s Diggings, but the miners have not the needful support to test the deeper portions. Gap Gully, towards St Arnaud, is paying some fairly well, and others very well; there is no spare ground here. Note. On the 31st August, Mr Mining Surveyor Phillips forwarded a report to the Honourable the Minister of Mines, stating that two rushes had taken place; the particulars of one of which were as follows: depth of sinking, 30 feet; dry sinking, in cement, with very large waterworn quartz boulders; thickness of wash-dirt, 5 feet; average yield half an ounce of gold to the ton or load, sample not very coarse but shotty gold ... The workings were called Mogg’s Diggings. On the 14th September, Mr Mining Surveyor Phillips ... reported as follows: “The rush at Mogg’s is being dispelled, in consequence of few or none, excepting the prospectors, bottoming on gold ... The miners are passing forth, and back between this and Darling Flat” ... On the 15th September, Mr Phillips wrote as follows: “There are about 20 people shepherding, and otherwise, around the prospectors; another 20 have gone to a near hill which yields 4 dwts to the load, dry sinking, 40 feet; the greater number having left the place for Darling Flat, and elsewhere”. On the 26th September ... Mogg’s (by the miners called Peevor’s Flat). The first gathering of miners having very nearly all dispersed, the place exhibits a small, but sound beginning, that, by no means, belies the general indications of the locality, there being some half dozen claims giving over half an ounce to the load, as I understood the chief storekeeper. Then near this, about three-eights of a mile away south, on a made hill called Cochrane’s Hill, another prospecting claim has been registered, depth 38 feet, 1-1/2 feet of wash-stuff, dry sinking, pipeclay bottom; this place attracted some 40 or 50 miners, until a third discovery occurred in shallow ground, about five-eights of a mile NW of St Arnaud, in Gap Gully, but taking, apparently down in the township, on which there are to-day, over 100 miners, some of whom, they say, are getting 3 oz. to the load--there are unquestionably, many over half an ounce ... The ground in this gully is marked out close down to the private property, so that there is no more room for new arrivers. It would seem the first rush at Mogg’s has had the effect of exposing those appearances,which must strike the eye of 2 every practical alluvial gold miner coming into this division.

December 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: Scrub Rush 40 Silver Reefs 30 Sawpit Gully 8 Freyberg 15 Master’s Reef 2 Sanderske’s Reef 4 Chrysolite Hill 21 Bristol Reef 8 Schewring’s Reef 10 Gap Gully 40 Armenian Gully 4 New Bendigo 80 Wagner’s Hill (Mogg’s) 3 Peevor’s Flat (Mogg’s) 6 Douglas Hill 3 Frenchman’s 8 Bell’s Hill, Carapooree 12 Forty-feet Peter’s 14 Butcher’s Engine 7 Wier’s Hill 8 Brigg’s Hill 8 Greenock and Pioneer reefs 17 Spinster and Sailor’s reefs 4 Peter’s 304 Dogbury 19 Emu 4 Rostron’s 8 Salter’s Hill 12 Banshee 12 3 At Mogg’s diggings the number of miners is small, in consequence of better things turning up.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

324 Moggs or Peevors Diggings, St Arnaud

Site 85.0. Moggs or Peevors Diggings (Diggings were opened in 1862). Pastoral land with very high grass. No alluvial sinkings visible.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

325 Moggs or Peevors Diggings, St Arnaud

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has little integrity and hence low cultural significance.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p452-453 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1864

326 Erivan Lead/Hard Hills, St Arnaud

SITE NO. & NAME: 86.0 ERIVAN LEAD CEMENT WORKINGS

LOCATION: ERIVAN HILL LEAD, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0096

DIRECTIONS: 7.0 km north-east of St Arnaud, north of Old Wedderburn Road

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land--Shire of North Grampians rubbish tip

HISTORY:

1858/1860. St Arnaud. Diggers burned the mallee and worked reefs and alluvial areas north-east of St Arnaud. Another report in September that year of the discovery of a chain of gravel “made hills” suggests the discovery of the Erivan Hills, an east-west small range about four miles E.N E of the town, first mentioned by name and rushed in 1 1860. The Erivan Lead in a nearby gully was also worked in 1860.

August 1860 (St Arnaud Division). Near the Bald Hill at the Erivan Hill, situate about 4 miles to the E.S.E. of St Arnaud township, some parties are sinking on the cement hills, sinking from 13 to 20 feet deep, yield from 1/2 oz to 1 oz per load, gold fine, and the population daily increasing. At the Erivan Lead, about 2 miles NW of this, some parties are also prospecting, the yield and quality of gold being the same. At Peter’s Diggings, on the same line of 2 made hills, but distant about 5 miles, the same sinking prevails, the gold being heavier in character.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 86.0. Erivan Lead (Area first rushed in 1860 and now the site of St Arnaud’s Rubbish Tip). Cement workings. Most of the old workings have been obliterated by gravel quarrying and pits for rubbish dumping.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has poor integrity and hence low cultural significance.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p452-453 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports - August 1860

327 Carapooee Diggings

SITE NO. & NAME: 87.0 PETERS DIGGINGS

LOCATION: CARAPOOEE

HI NO: H7524-0071

DIRECTIONS: Carapooee. Cement workings on a series of small hills that run for some 12 kms along Carapooee-East Gower Road.

MUNICIPALITY: Northern Grampians Shire

LAND STATUS: Mainly Freehold Land. Only one patch of Unreserved Crown Land.

HISTORY:

1854. Peters’ Diggings (Carapooee). The First report of gold discovery at Peters’ Diggings, a place named after David Peters the licensee of Stathfillan Station, was late in 1854, when Higgs and party, the discoverers of gold at St Arnaud, got gold there, near Strathfillan Station. The first record of actual workings there was contained in a warden’s report by William Templeton, who said, in March 1856, that there were 200 diggers there.

1856. The first record of actual workings there was contained in a warden’s report by William Templeton, who said, 1 in March 1856, that there were 200 diggers there.

1856-1858. Peters’ Diggings opened and often rushed in the period 1856-58, was not sufficiently large a place to 2 warrant a reward, but there were a large number of isolated hill diggings worked in the vicinity.

3 1859. Peters Diggings. Sheoak Rises, worked in 1859.

August 1860 (St Arnaud Division). Near the Bald Hill at the Erivan Hill, situate about 4 miles to the E.S.E. of St Arnaud township, some parties are sinking on the cement hills, sinking from 13 to 20 feet deep, yield from 1/2 oz to 1 oz per load, gold fine, and the population daily increasing. At the Erivan Lead, about 2 miles NW of this, some parties are also prospecting, the yield and quality of gold being the same. At Peter’s Diggings, on the same line of 4 made hills, but distant about 5 miles, the same sinking prevails, the gold being heavier in character.

1861. Peters Diggings. Dogberry or Major’s Line Rush in 1861, Banshee Hill, Edelston’s Hill and others that year. 5 Edelston the prospector, had a crusher at Carapooee.

March 1864 (St Arnaud North Division). The total number is thus distributed: Rostron’s 35 Peter’s, Dogbury & vicinity 830 New Bendigo 70 Greenock Reef 25 6 St Arnaud (Proper) 127

June 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). Quartz tailings and cement crushed by: Eddlestein’s and Williams’s engines, at St Peters’ from surrounding hill caps. Although nothing of exciting interest has occurred, there are one or two of the alluvial hill caps by the Carripoor Creek, above Eddleston’s (among some scores of alluvial beds of the kind untried in the subdivision) that now present from 5 dwts to 1 oz to the load, the digging being dry and easy; the prospectors, thus far, have all the place to themselves. The people of the subdivision are thinly scattered over a large area; and I believe that whatever the present number are doing, whether 20s per week, more or less, ten times as many may do equally well, there being too much ground of the same character for the present force to explore. The quantity of alluvial gold for the quarter has been the minimum for the want of water. Four of the races for ground sluicing are completed, and as soon as the wet period comes, the quantity of alluvial gold will swell in all likelihood much above its late par. Dogsbury has attracted a few from distances of late, but I am not aware of any decided case of success there; the 7 “finds” being new by prospectors.

328 Carapooee Diggings

329 Carapooee Diggings

September 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The number of miners is as follows: Europeans Chinese Alluvial miners 594 50 Quartz miners 109 Total 703 50 The total number is thus distributed: Douglas Hill 10 Silver & Sebastopol Reef 32 Sawpit Gully Reef 4 Frieberg 10 Master’s Reef 2 Sindersky’s Working 4 Yarrow’s engine 3 Chapman & others, Chrysolite Hill 14 Frenchman’s 11 Carapoole Bank 7 Forty-feet by Peters’ 30 Bristol Reef 4 Butcher’s Engine 7 Shuring’s Reef 10 Gap Gully 175 New Bendigo 57 Wagner’s Hill 2 Peevor’s Flat (Moggs) 14 Cochrane’s Hill 6 Tunnel Hill 6 St Arnaud 2 Brigg’s Hill 10 Greenock Reef 10 Spinster & Sailor’s Reef 4 Peter’s 205 Dogbury 45 Emu 6 Rostron’s 50 Four-mile Gully 4 Doctor’s Gully 4 Quartz tailings and cement crushed: Eddleston’s and Company Carapoole Hill caps Williams’ engine Peter’s Hill tops Butcher and Company Tailings 8 McCredie & Company Tailings

330 Carapooee Diggings

Quartz Tailings and Cement crushed Eddleston & Co. Middle Creek, cement hill caps Williams’ Engine Peter’s Hill, caps of cement

The cement hills are dispersed far and wide from the one little crusher of six heads at Peter’s, and I verily think there is quite as much need of others as this one, for where carting costs so much, these cement beds cannot be touched. The following are registered discoveries, the latest I have made. At Dogbury, 1/2 oz to the load; at Sheoak, 8 dwt, another 6 dwt; at Carapooree Banks, 5-1/2 dwt, another 1 oz; Fyfe’s Hill, 5 dwt; Mogg’s Flat rush, 1/2 oz; Cochran’s Hill (near it), 5 dwt; Wagner’s Hill (near it), 6 dwt; besides these there are other discoveries, which will probably soon 9 be registered.

331 Carapooee Diggings

332 Carapooee Diggings

December 1866 (St Arnaud North subdivision). The total number of miners is thus distributed: Association Reef 6 Carapooee Upper 25 Emu Diggings 8 Peters’ 20 Dogbury and Banshee 4 Gap Gully 4 Wilson’s Hill 4 Chance Reef 5 Hopeful Reef 12 Chrysolite Hill 12 Stuart’s Hill 24 Bristol Reef 42 Greenock Reef 12 Crushing Machines 19 New Bendigo 230 Armenian Gully 8 Bell Rock 10 Blink Bonny 8 Strathalbyn Reef 2 Prince of Orange 4 Jerejaw Reef 8 Queen Mary Reef 6 Caledonian Reef 4 Queen Mary Diggings 30 Quartz Tailings & Cement crushed: Lancashire Stuart Mill Edelsten’s Engine Peter’s and Carapooee McCredie’s engine Public crushing 12 Williams’ engine Alluvial, Carapooee

December 1867 St. Arnaud North Subdivision. Quartz Tailings & Cement crushed: Wilson’s Hill Surfacing 13 William’s engine at Peters’ Cement

March 1868 St Arnaud North Subdivision. Quartz Tailings & Cement crushed: Wilson’s Hill Mullock from various reefs 14 Davis and Co. Carapooee Hills, Cement

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 87.0. Carapooee Cement workings (First worked in 1856 and now being re-mined). Cement workings. Workings along an old cemented lead. The workings are located on a series of small hills that run for some 12 kms along the east and west side of the Carapooee-Gower East Road. Most of the workings have either been obliterated by recent re-mining or are in the process of being mined.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Historical Significance, site of one of an early goldrush.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

333 Carapooee Diggings

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p451 2 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p451 3 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p451 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports - August 1860 5 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, p451 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1864 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1864 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1864 10 Mining Surveyors’ Report, March 5 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1865 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 13 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1867 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1868

334 Pryenees Company, Redbank

SITE NO. & NAME: 88.0 PRYENEES CO. MINE SITE

LOCATION: PYRENEES REEF, REDBANK

HI NO: H7524-0072

DIRECTIONS: 1.1 km south of Redbank, near Bridal Track Road

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land

HISTORY:

November 1860. Redbank. Hines Diggings. Redbank Rush, about three miles north of Moonambel, occurred at the same time as the rush to Mountain Creek ... (Nov 1860) ... and the major reward for the discovery was granted to John Parker, W. Hall and others, for the discovery of “Redbank, etc.”, which was stated otherwise as “Redbank Hines etc.” ... There was a further reward paid by the Prospecting Board also, to J. Dunleary, T. Smith and Joseph Henderson, for the discovery of “Redbank” in January 1861. A local paper mentions a J. White as a member of this party, and Henderson later told of this discovery, which was no doubt on the lower Grumblers Lead, near the town. In the first week in January 1861 there were 4000 diggers at Redbank, and a diggings had started close to Hine’s 1 Station, about two miles north of Redbank.

November 1860/Jan 1861. Redbank. Lower Grumblers Lead, and diggings near Hine’s Station, about two miles north 2 of Redbank ... Also opened in January 1861 were New Year’s Flat, a little to the west; and Pyrenees reef.

1861. Another lead was opened by Germans halfway between Grumblers and New Years Flat ... Soon after the opening of Redbank and Hines diggings, fresh discoveries were made on the west side of Peter’s Road, near the 3 Cherry Tree Creek. Sing Song Gully here was opened by Hunter and Party, and Union Flat by a German party.

September 1861. Victoria Gully and Hard Hill were also opened, and Fighting Flat, south-east of Redbank, were 4 opened in September 1861.

5 End of 1861. Redbank. Later that year the Crescent or Pinchgut Lead was opened.

July 1862. Redbank. Emerald Flat, about three miles on the Dunolly Road, east of Redbank, was opened by 6 Alexander and Soloman Lowry.

March 1864 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Division). Tonnage crushed Yield oz dwt Stuart Mill Crushing Co., Lancashire Reef 150 54 Stuart Mill Crushing Co., Oxonian Reef 2 4 Stuart Mill Crushing Co., Lancashire Reef 3 5 10 Redbank Crushing Co, Brighthelmstone Reef 2 3 Redbank Crushing Co., Richmond Reef 1 3 Redbank Crushing Co., Darling Reef 10 10 Redbank Crushing Co., Pyrenees Reef 10 15 Redbank Crushing Co., Perseverance Reef 19 3 17 Redbank Crushing Co., Pyrenees Reef 42 50 Redbank Crushing Co., Pyrenees Reef 23 11 10 Redbank Crushing Co., Perseverance Reef 14 5 10 Redbank Crushing Co., Perseverance Reef 20 10 Redbank Crushing Co., Darling Reef 36 17 7 Total 332 192 7

June 1864 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Division). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Stuart Mill Quartz Crushing Company Eureka Reef & Lancashire Reef

335 Pryenees Company, Redbank

Childe Bros. machine, Stuart Mill Sailor’s Reef 8 Redbank Crushing Company Donkey Hill Reef, Pyrenees Reef & Appenine Reef

336 Pryenees Company, Redbank

September 1864 (Redbank & St Arnaud South subdivision). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Redbank Crushing Company Pyrenees Reef, Rapphoe Reef, Appenine Reef, Liverpool Reef, Brighthelmstone Reef, Richmond Reef Stuart Mill Crushing Company Oxonian Reef, Lancashire Reef, Eureka Reef 9 McDonald’s engine Lancashire Reef, Eureka Reef

December 1864 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivisions). There is nothing of importance to report upon in this 10 division this quarter. Work on the Pyrenees Reef is suspended, awaiting the erection of pumping machinery.

June 1865 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivisions). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Pyrenees Quartz Crushing Company 12 & 13 South Pyrenees Reef, Brithelmstone Reef, 10 & 11 South Pyrenees Reef, Perseverance Reef On the Pyrenees reef the new pumping and crushing machinery will shortly be completed. 12 Leases have been applied for on the Pyrenees, Richmond, and Slaughteryard Reefs.

September 1865 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivisions). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Pyrenees Quartz Crushing Company Perseverance, Brighthelmstone, Appenines Stuart Mill Crushing Company Eureka, Unexpected, West of England, Lancashire On the Pyrenees Reef, the new pumping machinery has been completed, and good stone is now being raised from 13 several of the claims.

December 1866 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivisions). No quartz has been crushed in this division during the quarter. There is an almost total cessation of work on the Pyrenees Reef, and it is expected that full work cannot be resumed for some weeks until the repairs rendered necessary to the pumping engine, through the late fire, are 14 complete.

March 1867 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivisions). The pumping engine having been repaired, work has been 15 resumed on the Pyrenees Reef.

September 1867 Redbank and St. Arnaud South Subdivision. Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Duke of Edinburgh Quartz Mining Pyrenees Reef, Redbank Lancashire Reef Crushing Star of the East Reef,and Nuggetty Reef, Stuart Mill There is little new to report in quartz mining. The Duke of Edinburgh Company, Pyrenees Reef, is sinking the shaft 16 to a further depth of 100 feet.

March 1868 Redbank and St. Arnaud South Subdivision. Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Lancashire Reef Quartz Crushing Company, Macoboy Reef Stuart Mill 17 Duke of Edinburgh Quartz Mining Co. Pyrenees Reef

March 1882 (Redbank Subdivision). The only item of interest which has occurred in this division during the quarter is the floating of a company to work the Pyrenees Reef, Redbank. A contract has been let for the sinking of a new 18 shaft.

June 1882 (Redbank Subdivision) ... The contractors for sinking the shaft of the Pyrenees Reef Company are progressing favourably, and should success result from this venture, mining matters will be assuredly more brisk 19 here.

337 Pryenees Company, Redbank

September 1882 (Redbank Subdivision). The only item worthy of mention in this subdivision is the fact that the contractors for sinking the Pyrenees Company’s shaft are progressing as well as can be expected; by latest advices 20 they had reached a depth of 132 feet 6 inches.

338 Pryenees Company, Redbank

September 1887 (Redbank Division). In this subdivision, the most noteworthy event during the quarter is the starting of a company on the old Pyrenees Reef. Operations of a preliminary character were commenced about six weeks ago, the shaft on the company’s ground requiring to be bled. The party was not successful in the first attempt, but they have now decided on erecting machinery of the requisite power. It is thought that by next quarter a full plant will be 21 in operation on this reef.

December 1887 (Redbank Division). In this subdivision, the only noteworthy occurrence in mining during the quarter was the starting of the Pyrenees Reef Company’s machinery. The directors have purchased a plant for £750, the engine belonging to which is now on the ground, and it has been used, in conjunction with a Tangye pump, to drain 22 the old shaft. The battery has not yet arrived on the ground, not being required at present.

March 1889 (Redbank Subdivision). I have to report that the Pyrenees Reef Gold Mining Company has stopped 23 work, pending the issue of a new lease.

June 1889 (Redbank Subdivision). Pyrenees Gold Mining Company has not yet commenced to sink the new shaft 24 deeper.

February 1897. Forfeiture of Pyrenees Reef lease. The present holder, Mr. J Ward, has a battery erected on the lease 25 and has not been constantly working.

26 April 1897. Pyrenees Prop. All England lease ... incline shaft 136 feet.

27 January 1900. Pyrenees Reef, Redbank. Centering up shaft 170 feet completed.

28 June 1900. Pyrenees Reef. Shaft reached depth of 220 feet.

1903. The Pyrenees Company’s area at Redbank contains a favoured situation of the long, almost vertical thin kind-- a situation which to date is said to have yielded more than 10,000 ounces of smelted gold, taken from stone which yielded from a few pennyweights to four or five ounces to the ton ... There is a first class steam pumping, winding 29 and crushing plant at the main shaft ready for action.

30 1904. At Redbank, the only mine, the New Pyrenees, still remains shut down.

1908. Redbank. The Pyrenees Proprietary Company has been overhauling the machinery and unwatering the mine 31 preparatory to resuming work.

1910. The Pyrenees Company ... was delayed a great deal during the year owing to a breakage of machinery--1,782 tons treated for 1,133 oz. 32 A little gold has been won by small parties working in the Pyrenees Ranges.

1911. At Redbank, the Pyrenees Company has carried out a large amount of developmental work, and sunk the main shaft a further 100 feet in four compartments; depth from surface 425 feet; 4,065 tons of ore treated for yield of 2,620 33 oz.

1912. The Pyrenees Company sunk the main shaft to 445 feet ... treated 3,060 tons for 1,677 oz. There are several 34 thousand tons of battery sand on this mine to be treated by cyanide.

1913. The Pyrenees Company was idle for a few months during the year, owing to the ore values falling off; ore 35 treated 220 tons for 56 oz.

1914. The Pyrenees Company has been opening up the mine as funds would allow ... stoped out 1,214 tons for 541 36 oz.

1915. The Pyrenees Company ... compelled to stop for want of capital. This mine has produced a large amount of gold, its deepest level being only 350 feet, and certainly warrants further prospecting along the lode and at a greater 37 depths.

339 Pryenees Company, Redbank

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Pyrenees Company (Foundations date from c.1899). Mining machinery. Set of large concrete beds which are approximately 5.5 metres long and stand 1.5 metres high. At the rear of the beds are the remains of a stone boiler setting and another large concrete mounting bed. No shaft is visible and the mullock heap has been quarried. Battery. Immediately to the north of the mining machinery beds is a large concrete battery engine bed. Running north from this bed is an arrangement of stamper blocks and bearers (two battery boxes of 5-head of stamps). The rest of the stamper foundations have been bulldozed. Sludge pond. Below the battery foundations is a large quarried sludge pond.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Concrete foundations are in poor condition and the site has been bulldozed and mullock heap quarried.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Historical Significance, site of Redbank’s most successful gold mine. • Scientific Significance, due to the survival of an arrangement of large mining machinery foundations and sludge pond.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 2 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 3 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 4 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 5 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 6 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1864

8 Mining Surveyor’s Reports, June 1864 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1864 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1865 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1865 13 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1865 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 15 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 16 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1867 17 Mining Surveyors Reports, March 1868 18 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1882 19 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1882 20 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1882 21 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1887 22 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1887 23 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1889 24 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1889 25 St Arnaud Mercury, 20 Feb 1897 26 St Arnaud Mercury, 14 April 1897 27 St Arnaud Mercury, 10 June 1900 28 St Arnaud Mercury, 2 June 1900 29 1903, The Pyrenees Gold-Fields, No. 2, Geological Survey of Victoria 30 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1904, p69

340 Pryenees Company, Redbank

31 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1908, p116 32 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1910 33 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1911, pp130-31 34 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1912, p107 35 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1913, p104 36 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1914, p93 37 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1915, pp43-44

341 Grumblers Gully, Redbank

SITE NO. & NAME: 89.0 SHALLOW ALLUVIAL DIGGINGS

LOCATION: GRUMBLERS GULLY, ST ARNAUD

HI NO: H7524-0073

DIRECTIONS: 1.1 km north of Redbank. The gully runs along the western edge of Bridal Track Road

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: State Forest

HISTORY:

November 1860. Redbank--Hines Diggings. Redbank Rush, about three miles north of Moonambel, occurred at the same time as the rush to Mountain Creek ... (Nov 1860) ... and the major reward for the discovery was granted to John Parker, W. Hall and others, for the discovery of “Redbank, etc.”, which was stated otherwise as “Redbank Hines etc.” ... There was a further reward paid by the Prospecting Board also, to J. Dunleary, T. Smith and Joseph Henderson, for the discovery of “Redbank” in January 1861. A local paper mentions a J. White as a member of this party, and Henderson later told of this discovery, which was no doubt on the lower Grumblers Lead, near the town. In the first week in January 1861 there were 4000 diggers at Redbank, and a diggings had started close to Hines’ 1 Station, about two miles north of Redbank.

2 1861. Another lead was opened by Germans halfway between Grumblers and New Years Flat.

March 1865 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivision). A prospecting claim has been registered at the Old Slaughteryard Diggings at Redbank, the prospectors procured 18 dwt off the bottom. This is considered very good, and it is generally believed that a junction of the New Year’s Flat and Grumbler’s Gully leads will take place about this place. The depth of sinking is 70 feet, and very wet. The Old Redbank Mining Association Claim in Grumbler’s Gully is again being worked, the Company having been re-formed with an increased capital; and there is no doubt that 3 this ground will be fully tested.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 89.0. Grumblers Gully (Gully where the first gold at Redbank was discovered. The discovery of gold in this gully in January 1861 led to a rush attended by some 4,000 diggers). The gully is now known as Long Gully. Shallow alluvial sinkings--1.5 km long band of well defined and undisturbed sinkings which runs along the western side of Bridal Track Road. The band of workings has an inner core of very concentrated sinkings with more dispersed sinkings on the edges. The workings are relatively free of scrub and thus very visible from the track.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Good.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Historical Significance, being the gully where the first gold at Redbank was discovered. • Scientific Significance, because of the band of alluvial workings has the rare qualities of being both relatively undisturbed and visible.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 2 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1865

342 Richmond Reef, Redbank

SITE NO. & NAME: 90.0 RICHMOND TUNNEL CO. 90.1 HOUSE SITE

LOCATION: RICHMOND REEF, REDBANK

HI NO: 90.0 H7524-0074 90.1 H7524-0075

DIRECTIONS: 3.2 km south-east of Redbank, off Wright/Richmond Tracks

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: State Forest

HISTORY:

March 1864 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Division). Quantity of quartz crushed during the quarter, and the gold obtained therefrom: Tonnage crushed Yield oz dwt Stuart Mill Crushing Co., Lancashire Reef 150 54 Stuart Mill Crushing Co., Oxonian Reef 2 4 Stuart Mill Crushing Co., Lancashire Reef 3 5 10 Redbank Crushing Co, Brighthelmstone Reef 2 3 Redbank Crushing Co., Richmond Reef 1 3 Redbank Crushing Co., Darling Reef 10 10 Redbank Crushing Co., Pyrenees Reef 10 15 Redbank Crushing Co., Perseverance Reef 19 3 17 Redbank Crushing Co., Pyrenees Reef 42 50 Redbank Crushing Co., Pyrenees Reef 23 11 10 Redbank Crushing Co., Perseverance Reef 14 5 10 Redbank Crushing Co., Perseverance Reef 20 10 Redbank Crushing Co., Darling Reef 36 17 2 Total 332 192 7

June 1864 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Division). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Stuart Mill Quartz Crushing Company Eureka Reef & Lancashire Reef Childe Bros. machine, Stuart Mill Sailor’s Reef 3 Redbank Crushing Company Donkey Hill Reef, Pyrenees Reef & Appenine Reef

December 1864. (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivisions). There is nothing of importance to report upon in this division this quarter. Work on the Pyrenees Reef is suspended, awaiting the erection of pumping machinery. Darling 5 Flat still continues to yield remunerative wages.

343 Richmond Reef, Redbank

344 Richmond Reef, Redbank

March 1865 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivision). Although the quantity of stone crushed for the quarter is small, there have been several hundred tons raised on the Pyrenees Reef and ready for crushing. The holders are awaiting the erection of a new engine which has been recently purchased; portion of it is now on the ground, and the erection will be proceeded with immediately; when this is accomplished, large returns may be looked for. Another new reef has been discovered near Stuart Mill, it is called the Unexpected, the width of the reef, at a depth of 20 feet, is 4 feet, and the yield at the trial crushing of 24 tons was 7 dwt 22 grs to the ton. Owing to the continued scarcity of water, alluvial mining remains dull. This is particularly the case at Darling Flat, where large paddocks of dirt are heaped up, which cannot be tried till the first rains set in. A prospecting claim has been registered at the Old Slaughteryard Diggings at Redbank, the prospectors procured 18 dwt off the bottom. This is considered very good, and it is generally believed that a junction of the New Year’s Flat and Grumbler’s Gully leads will take place about this place. The depth of sinking is 70 feet, and very wet. The Old Redbank Mining Association Claim in Grumbler’s Gully is again being worked, the Company having been re-formed with an increased capital; and 6 there is no doubt that this ground will be fully tested.

June 1865. (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivisions). Leases have been applied for on the Pyrenees, Richmond, 7 and Slaughteryard Reefs.

June 1872. (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivision). An endeavour is being made to form a company to work the 8 Richmond Reef, Redbank, by tunnelling.

June 1876. (Redbank subdivision). An extended quartz claim has been secured on the Richmond Reef, near Redbank. 9 No stone yet crushed.

10 Jan 1897. Richmond Quartz Mining Co., Redbank. Notice, a call (the56th) of one penny per share.

11 September 1899. Richmond Tunnel Co.--working.

12 January 1900. Richmond Co., Redbank. The stone is widening as the drive from the winze south is extended.

June 1900. Richmond Co., Redbank. Negotiations for a trial crushing at Surprise battery of 50 tons from No. 2 13 shaft.

14 October 1900. Richmond Co. Put through a trial crushing at the Government battery at Moonambel.

1903. The Richmond Tunnel Company has erected a little crushing mill ... and the plant now only awaits a visit by the mining inspector to pass the boiler ere it commences on the quartz of golden lode nearby. The tunnel is into the 15 range about 1,100 feet.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 90.0. Richmond Tunnel Co. (Work on the tunnel appears to have commenced in 1872 and the adit was still being worked in 1903). Adit. Adit is located at the base of a the Pyrenees, south side of the track. The adit is open but flooded. There are several sets of wooden legs in the excavation leading to the tunnel. Mullock. Most of a tunnel’s once large mullock heap has been quarried. Dam. In the gully below the tunnel is a small breached dam.

Site 90.1. House site (according to Ken Hull, former Operations Area Supervisor, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, there is a grave associated with this site). House site. On the west side of Wrights Track are the remains of a stone fireplace.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Adit still open but its mullock heap has been largely quarried.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Scientific Significance, because of the intactness of the adit.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

345 Richmond Reef, Redbank

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1864 3 Mining Surveyor’s Reports, June 1864 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1864 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1865 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1865 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1872 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1876 10 St Arnaud mercury, 6 Jan 1897 11 St Arnaud Mercury, 2 Sept 1899 12 St Arnaud Mercury, 13 Jan 1900 13 St Arnaud Mercury, 27 June 1900 14 St Arnaud Mercury, 6 Oct 1900 15 1903, The Pyrenees Goldfield No 2, Geological Survey of Victoria

346 Suprise Company, Redbank

SITE NO. & NAME: 91.0 SURPRISE COMPANY

LOCATION: SURPRISE COMPANY, REDBANK

HI NO: H7524-0076

DIRECTIONS: 3.8 km south-east of Redbank, north of Sunraysia Highway

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land

HISTORY:

January 1897. Surprise Gold Mining Co., Redbank. First half-yearly meeting. Mine manager J. Barrow who stated an examination of the property showed the whole hill to be one mass of lodes and lode material ... the mine exceeded 1 anything he had seen on the Pyrenees.

2 March 1897. Surprise Gold Mining Co., Redbank. Property to be disposed of.

September 1897. Surprise Gold Mining Co. Company to be registered as a limited liability company ... intended now 3 to erect a winding and pumping plant, also 20 head battery and reducing mill.

March 1900. Surprise, Redbank. Good deal of work done at the mine ... intention of the board to sink the shaft a 4 further 100 feet.

June 1900. Richmond Co., Redbank. Negotiations for a trial crushing at the Surprise battery of 50 tons from No. 2 5 shaft.

September 1900. Surprise, Redbank. Shaft 300 feet ... Alterations made to battery. The plant has been increased by 6 plunger and pump workings and an additional 90 feet of 12 inch columns.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 90.0. Surprise Company (1897 to c.1900). Mine/shaft site. On the crest of a ridge is a largely intact mullock heap with two dumping lines. The heap measures approximately 50 metres by 30 metres. The shaft has been filled with part of the mullock heap. Machinery site. Approximately 20 metres from the shaft are the poorly preserved remains of a concrete boiler setting and mounting bed. Scattered around the largely buried foundations are lots of red bricks. Mullock paddock. On the south side of the shaft site is a U-shaped small mullock paddock. Battery. Uphill, and slightly to the south of the shaft site, are the remains of the battery’s loading ramp. At the base of the ramp are some concrete foundations which once held large wooden mortar blocks for 10-head of stamps. Sludge pond and tailings. In the gully below the battery are two small adjoining sludge ponds. Below the dams is a small dump of tailings.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Mullock heap is relatively intact but machinery foundations are in poor shape.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Scientific Significance, because it has a range of features which demonstrate the operations of a small scale gold mine.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 St Arnaud Mercury, 30 Jan 1897

347 Suprise Company, Redbank

2 St Arnaud Mercury, 10 March 1897 3 St Arnaud Mercury, 22 Sept 1897 4 St Arnaud Mercury, 3 March 1900 5 St Arnaud Mercury, 27 June 1900 6 St Arnaud Mercury, 8 Sept 1900

348 New Years Flat, Redbank

SITE NO. & NAME: 92.0 DEEP ALLUVIAL DIGGINGS (1) 92.1 DEEP ALLUVIAL DIGGINGS (2) 92.2 SHALLOW ALLUVIAL DIGGINGS (1) 92.3 SHALLOW ALLUVIAL DIGGINGS (2)

LOCATION: NEW YEARS FLAT/CRAWLERS GULLY, REDBANK

HI NO: 92.0 H7524-0077 92.1 H7524-0078 92.2 H7524-0079 92.3 H7524-0080

DIRECTIONS: 92.0. 3.0 km north-west of Redbank, north side of the Redbank-Barkly Road 92.1. 1.6 km north-west of Redbank, south side of Redbank-Barkly Road 92.2. 1.0 km north-west of Redbank, south side of Redbank-Barkly Road 92.3. 1.4 km north-west of Redbank, north side of Redbank-Barkly Road

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: Site 92.0--State Forest Sites 92.1 to 92.3--Freehold Land

HISTORY:

November 1860/January 1861. Redbank; lower Grumblers Lead, and diggings near Hines’ Station, about two miles 2 north of Redbank ... Also opened in January 1861 were New Year’s Flat, a little to the west; and Pyrenees reef.

3 1861. Another lead was opened by Germans halfway between Grumblers and New Years Flat.

January 1861. (St Arnaud Division). A slight increase in the number of miners has taken place during the last month in this division; owing to the large rush at McKinnon’s, Mountain Creek, New Year’s Flat, &c., having brought hundreds of alluvial miners close on the edge of this division, numbers of whom not finding profitable employment at the rushes, have scattered themselves in and about the surrounding gullies at and near Mr Hines’s station, where I think with a little energy they cannot fail to discover some other payable locality. I last week visited the rush at New Year’s Flat, Mountain Creek, &c., and also that close to Mr Hines’ paddock, and from the similar appearance of the country, imagined the latter to be equally as auriferous; the alluvial at Mr Hines’s is not very rich, 1/2 oz to the load being the best, but when taken into consideration that to obtain a load of wash-dirt nearly two loads has to be raised, two-thirds of it consisting of quartz boulders, it cannot pay very good wages. In one claim I visited the wash-dirt was 18 inches thick and the gold jet black. On the shallower ground in claims adjoining the gold was quite bright. From what I saw of the alluvial and the time I spent in the ranges I do not think the country between Hines’ and Sanderson’s would support any number of alluvial miners. Among the ranges there are many fine sweeping gullies running in some instances five or six miles, and every probability of their being auriferous. Near to Sanderson’s some Italians have been steadily at work for two years, and I am informed have lately washed a 4 prospect from new ground of 2 oz to the load.

349 New Years Flat, Redbank

350 New Years Flat, Redbank

June 1869 (William Byrne). In alluvial mining in this division there is little to report with the exception of several large areas being applied for under the leasing regulations on the Slaughteryard Lead. This is mainly owing to a report that has been obtained circulation that some very good prospects have been obtained by the White Elephant Company (lately the North British), New Year’s Flat. This company has erected a 10 horse power engine and pumping gear, and is now busily driving for the lead. The recent heavy rains have proved a great boon to those working the shallow ground in the neighbourhood of Victoria Gully, the miners having in many cases stored great 7 quantities of wash-dirt.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

New Years Flat/Crawlers Gully (Bulk of the alluvial mining in News Years Flat/Crawlers Gully area appears to have taken place in the 1860s. Presumably, like most other alluvial grounds, the ground was re-worked after this time).

Site 92.0. Narrow band of deep sinkings (shaft depression ringed by small mullock paddock) run across Barkly- Redbank Road. Sinkings on the north side of the road, which appears to be Crown Land, are the most intense.

Site 92.1. 0.5 km long, narrow band of deep sinkings runs along the southern edge of Barkly-Redbank Road. The workings are not visible from the road.

Site 92.2. A wide patch of shallow alluvial sinkings in a grazed paddock. The workings are not well preserved.

Site 92.3. Wide flat containing traces of shallow alluvial sinkings. Workings are weathered and overgrown with high grass.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: The sites containing the deeper alluvial sinkings are relatively undisturbed and quite visible. The two shallow alluvial mining areas have poor integrity.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Site’s 92.2 and 92.3 have poor integrity and little historical significance and hence low cultural significance.

Site’s 92.0 and 92.1 have some: • Scientific Significance, because of the intactness of the alluvial workings.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 2 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 3 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, January 1861 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, February 1861 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1865 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1869

351 Fighting Flat, Redbank

SITE NO. & NAME: 93.0 FIGHTING FLAT ALLUVIAL DIGGINGS

LOCATION: FIGHTING FLAT, REDBANK

HI NO: H7524-0081

DIRECTIONS: 2.7 km south-east of Redbank, east of Richmond Track

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: State Forest

HISTORY:

September 1861. Redbank. Victoria Gully and Hard Hill were also opened, and Fighting Flat, south-east of Redbank, 1 were opened in September 1861.

June 1871. Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivisions. At Redbank, a small rush has taken place to the old Fighting 2 Flat Lead. The prospect is about 7 dwts.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 93.0. Fighting Flat Diggings (Gold mining commenced in 1861. A section of the gully now being re-mined). Shallow alluvial sinkings extending down two branches of a gully. A track runs to a silted dam which is surrounded by a massive bank of wash. No puddler visible. A small mining claim being worked downstream from the dam.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Workings have been disturbed in some places.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Scientific Significance, because of the survival of some relatively undisturbed shallow sinkings.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1871

352 Moonambel Lead

SITE NO. & NAME: 94.0 MOONAMBEL LEAD

LOCATION: MOONAMBEL LEAD, MOONAMBEL

HI NO: H7524-0082

DIRECTIONS: Moonambel, the lead runs along the west side of Greens Lane

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: ?

HISTORY:

November 1860. Moonambel. In this area, originally known as McKinnon’s or Mountain Creek Rush., gold was found first in November 1860 by John and James Thomas, at what is now the village of Moonambel (means Hole-in- 1 Mountain).

2 November 1860. McKinnon’s of Mountain Creek Rush.

1861. Early in January 1861 Edward Jopliss and William Darby opened Slaughteryard Gully, just east of the rush, 3 which was confined to an area about two miles in length, a few minor gullies to the east.

January 1861 (St Arnaud Division). A slight increase in the number of miners has taken place during the last month in this division; owing to the large rush at McKinnon’s, Mountain Creek, New Year’s Flat, &c., having brought hundreds of alluvial miners close on the edge of this division, numbers of whom not finding profitable employment at the rushes, have scattered themselves in and about the surrounding gullies at and near Mr Hines’s station, where I think with a little energy they cannot fail to discover some other payable locality. I last week visited the rush at New Year’s Flat, Mountain Creek, &c., and also that close to Mr Hines’ paddock, and from the similar appearance of the country, imagined the latter to be equally as auriferous; the alluvial at Mr Hines’ is not very rich, 1/2 oz to the load being the best, but when taken into consideration that to obtain a load of wash-dirt nearly two loads has to be raised, two-thirds of it consisting of quartz boulders, it cannot pay very good wages. In one claim I visited the wash-dirt was 18 inches thick and the gold jet black. On the shallower ground in claims adjoining the gold was quite bright. From what I saw of the alluvial and the time I spent in the ranges I do not think the country between Hines’s and Sanderson’s would support any number of alluvial miners. Among the ranges there are many fine sweeping gullies running in some instances five or six miles, and every probability of their being auriferous. Near to Sanderson’s some Italians have been steadily at work for two years, and I am informed have lately washed a 4 prospect from new ground of 2 oz to the load.

March 1864 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Division). The total number is thus distributed: Redbank 300 Hines 70 Donkey Hill 60 Moonambel 100 Emerald Flat 50 Victoria Gully 140 5 Stuart Mill 80

September 1864 (Redbank & St Arnaud South subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: Redbank 250 Hines 30 Donkey Hill 40 Moonambel 60 Emerald Flat 30 Victoria & adjoining gullies 120 Forest Hut 40 Stuart Mill 80

353 Moonambel Lead

6 Darling Flat 300

354 Moonambel Lead

September 1865 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivisions). The total number of miners is thus distributed: Redbank 250 Hines 30 Donkey Hill 40 Moonambel 60 Victoria, and adjoining gullies 80 Forest Hut 40 Stuart Mill 80 7 Darling Flat 200

December 1866 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivisions). The total number of miners is thus distributed: Redbank 130 Hines 20 Donkey Hill 40 Moonambel 40 Victoria & adjoining gullies 50 Forest Hut 20 Stuart Mill 30 8 Darling Flat 40

March 1867 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivisions). Redbank 120 Hines 20 Donkey Hill 30 Moonambel 40 Victoria, and adjoining gullies 60 Forest Hut 20 Stuart Mill 30 9 Darling Flat 10

December 1882 (Redbank Subdivision). Close to the western boundary of this subdivision a small rush has taken place about three and a half miles north-west from Moonambel, on the Landsborough road. The sinking is from 16 to 20 feet, wash-dirt from 1 to 2 feet thick, yielding as much as an ounce to the load has been obtained, since the recent rains have replenished the puddlers’ dams. There are about 300 men on the ground, and it is thought the run of gold will form a junction with the old Moonambel 10 Lead.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 94.0 Moonambel Lead. (First discovery of gold at Moonambel was made in November 1860. The lead has recently been re-mined and now is being rehabilitated. Originally known as McKinnon’s or Mountain Creek Rush). Shallow alluvial workings. Old workings have been obliterated by recent re-mining.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Historical Significance, because it is the site of Moonambel’s first gold discoveries.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp445-446 2 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp445-446

355 Moonambel Lead

3 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp445-446 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, January 1861 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1864

6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1865 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1882

356 Slaughteryard Reef sites, Moonambel

SITE NO. & NAME: 95.0 MOONAMBEL CO. MINE SITE 95.1 MOONAMBEL CO. BATTERY SITE 95.2 MOONAMBEL TUNNEL 95.3 MOONAMBEL EXTENDED 95.4 SHALLOW REEF WORKINGS 95.5 ADIT 95.6 ADIT AND HOUSE SITE

LOCATION: SLAUGHTERYARD LINE OF REEF, MOONAMBEL

HI NO: 95.0 H7524-0083 95.1 H7524-0084 95.2 H7524-0085 95.3 H7524-0086 95.4 H7524-0087 95.5 H7524-0088 95.6 H7524-0089

DIRECTIONS: Site 95.0. 2.1 km north of Moonambel, east side of Bridal Track Road Site 95.1. Moonambel Picnic Area, west side of Greens Lane Site 95.2. 2.1 km north of Moonambel, next gully to the east of Moonambel Co. mine site. Site 95.3. 2.3 km north of Moonambel, west side of Bridal Track Road Site 95.4. 1.6 km north of Moonambel, north abd south sides of Dead End Track Site 95.5. 1.6 km north of Moonambel, east of Site 95.4, north side of Dead End Track. Site 95.6. 1.6 km north of Moonambel, east of Site 95.5, near terminus of Dead End Track.

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: State Forest

HISTORY:

March 1867 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivisions). Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Slaughteryard Reef Co. Slaughteryard Reef, Moonambel

The Slaughteryard Reef Company, Moonambel, has had a trial crushing of 17 tons, yielding 7 oz 5-1/2 dwts. The 2 promoters of this company express themselves satisfied with the result.

March 1869 Redbank and St. Arnaud South Subdivisions (William Byrne). The Moonambel Tunnelling Company 3 has commenced operations; several tons of quartz were carted from their mine to Ballarat.

September 1871 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivisions). A lease has been applied for on the Slaughteryard Reef, Moonambel. A reef which has, I understand, produced as much as 60 oz per ton, but has been long unworked, 4 as it requires machinery for its further development.

June 1872 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivision). It is expected that machinery will be erected on the 5 Slaughteryard Reef, Moonambel, in the course of a month or six weeks.

June 1878 Redbank Subdivision. The customary dullness still prevails in this subdivision. Nothing worthy of record has occurred in mining during the quarter, except that the Old Slaughteryard Reef, at Moonambel, has been taken up 6 and is about to be worked again.

357 Slaughteryard Reef sites, Moonambel

January 1900. Green and Doherty has another nice return from their reef at Moonambel ... It is the intention of these 7 prospectors to erect a crushing battery on their claim.

358 Slaughteryard Reef sites, Moonambel

May 1900. Messrs Green and Doherty, prospectors at Moonambel--sensational yield last week. From 12 tons the prospectors dollied 90 oz, and also picked out 23-1/2 oz. They then took the remainder to the battery and obtained an additional 50-1/2 oz. They have now had 300 oz. from the claim in one month ... This is by far the best ever find 8 in the ranges at Moonambel.

1903. The Moonambel mine has received attention from miners at intervals for many years, but the real nature of its gold-bearing deposits appears to have been hardly understood, until Mr. J.N Dunn, who has much experience of the mines of Ballarat East, inspected the mine; he grasped the nature of the mine and the result is that the Moonambel Company is about to undertake extensive works below. In the meantime, stoping is proceeding from an old shaft 100 feet deep, and a first-class 5-head mill is crushing stone, the first crushing from which has just been put through for a return of 170 oz. of gold from 113 tons. Fifty per cent of all yields goes, however, to pay off the purchase-money, 9 viz., £3,000, to the prospectors, Messrs Doherty, Green and party.

1903. I found that good progress was being made with the new shaft of the Moonambel Company, and I hear that sinking is to be continued for at least 200 feet further. Immediately to the north-west, Messrs Wright, Stuart, and Co. are putting down a prospecting shaft on the same system of cross lodes as is being opened by the Moonambel 10 Company. Their works are within 400 feet of the latter’s company’s main shaft.

1904. At the Moonambel mine steady work, including a good deal of prospecting, has been conducted in search of a succession of the rich patches met with, and worked out, at a higher level. The stone crushed amounted to 224 tons, for a yield of 465 oz. of gold. The average number of men employed below ground was 30, and 15 on the surface. 11 At the Moonambel Extended mine a useful winding plant has been erected and the shaft sunk to greater depths.

1912. At Moonambel mining is at a standstill with the exception of a little work in the indicator country. Small 12 parties of payable stone have been put through the Government battery.

13 1913. At Moonambel a few parties continue to work on the indicator belt with varying results.

14 1914. Several small parties are prospecting in the Pyrenees, and working on indicator belts at Moonambel.

1916. Redbank and Moonambel. A few parties are still working on the Pyrenees indicator belts, both on the 15 Redbank and Moonambel sides. Several small parcels of ore have been treated, yielding fair returns.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 95.0. Moonambel Co. mine site (Mine operated c.1903/1904). Mine site. Remnant of mullock heap, near which is a flattened machinery site (spread of red brick, stone and mortar). The local shire has opened a quarry to the west of the mine site.

Site 95.1. Moonambel Co. battery site (Mine operated c.1903/1904). Battery site. The battery used by the Moonambel Co. was erected on the north side of Mountain Creek. The battery site has been reclaimed and is now a Picnic Area (tables and a toilet block). Only a small section of the battery’s loading ramp survives.

Site 95.2. Moonambel Tunnel Co. (Adit may have been started by Moonambel Tunnelling Company c.1869 but probably re-worked at later date). Adit. In the next gully to the east of the Shire’s quarry is an open adit with two intact mullock dumps. The adit is quite large (5 to 6 ft in height) and is slightly flooded. The excavation leading to the adit contains some collapsed sets of wooden legs. Mullock heaps. One of the heaps is about thirty metres long, the other is about twenty metres. The longest of the dumps still retains traces of its wooden tramway. The Shire’s quarry comes within 40 metres of one of the mullock heaps.

Site 95.3. Moonambel Extended Co. mine site (Mine operated around the same time as the Moonambel Co.’s mine, c.1903/1904). Mine site. Just beyond the northern boundary of a block of Freehold Land is a small, partly bulldozed mullock heap. Shaft has been filled and no machinery foundations are visible.

Site 95.4. Reef workings (Main period of mining was from late 1860s to turn of century).

359 Slaughteryard Reef sites, Moonambel

Reef workings. The workings run across Dead End Track. The workings on the south side of the track are on Freehold Land and include at least five collapsed adits with small intact mullock heaps. Also some shallow shafts and at least one stone blacksmith’s forge. The workings on the north side of the track run down and up the other side of a gully. These workings include at least three collapsed adits with small mullock heaps. Also some open shafts, some of which still retain traces of their wooden collars.

360 Slaughteryard Reef sites, Moonambel

Site 95.5. Adit (Main period of mining was from late 1860s to turn of century). Adit and open shafts. In the next gully east from Site 95.4 is a patch of shallow reef workings. The workings, which are located at the head of the gully, include two open shafts with wooden collars and a collapsed adit. The adit has a small intact mullock heap with two dumping lines and in the excavation leading to the mouth of the tunnel are several collapsed sets of wooden legs.

Site 95.6. Adit and house site (Main period of mining was from late 1860s to turn of century). Adit and mullock heap. Near the terminus of Dead End Track, to the east of Site 95.5, is another collapsed adit. This adit has a large intact mullock heap with two dumping lines. Both dumping lines still bear traces of wooden tramways. The construction of Dead End Track (a fire-track) has resulted in part of the mullock heap being bulldozed. House site. On the north side of Dead End Track, just before the adit, is a stone retained platform which measures 14 metres x 5.5 metres. On the platform, western end, is a large stone fireplace (measuring 7-1/2 ft x 4-1/2 ft, and 4-1/2 ft high). Associated with the stone fireplace is a narrow, rectangular arrangements (house outline) of post stumps (measuring 26 ft x 12 ft). The posts are set 3 ft apart. At the eastern end, contained within the rectangular arrangement of stumps, of the house platform is a stone blacksmith’s forge.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Sites 95.0 and 95.1 have been more-or-less obliterated. Site 95.3 still has an intact mullock heap but no machinery foundations and the reef workings found at Site 95.4 have been disturbed by bulldozing. The adit sites, Sites 95.2, 95.5 and 95.6, have good integrity.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Site 95.3 has little integrity or historical importance and hence poor cultural significance.

Site 95.0 and 95.1: • Historical Significance, being associated with Moonambel’s most successful quartz mining company.

Sites 95.2, 95.4, 95.5 and 95.6 • Scientific Significance, due to the intactness of the adits and associated features. The significance of Site 95.4 has been diminished by bulldozing.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp445-446 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1869 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1871 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1872 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June1878 7 St Arnaud Mercury, 27 Jan 1900 8 St Arnaud Mercury, 16 May 1900 9 1903, The Pyrenees Gold-fields, No. 2, Geological Survey of Victoria. 10 1903, The Pyrenees Gold-fields, No. 2, Geological Survey of Victoria. 11 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1904, p69 12 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1912, p107 13 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1913, p104 14 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1914, p93 15 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1916, p14

361 White Patch Diggings, Moonambel

SITE NO. & NAME: 96.0 WHITE PATCH ALLUVIAL WORKINGS

LOCATION: WHITE PATCH, MOONAMBEL

HI NO: H7524-0090

DIRECTIONS: Moonambel. The workings run along the west side of Bonsors Road

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land

HISTORY:

September 1871 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivisions). At Messrs Wills’ alluvial claim, White Patch, 2 Moonambel, winding and pumping machinery is being erected, and mining operations will be shortly commenced.

March 1872 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivisions). The Homeward-bound Company, White Patch, Moonambel, is driving at a depth of from 25 to 43 feet. They have driven about 200 feet on the lead from the main 3 shaft towards Mountain Creek.

June 1872 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivision). The Homeward-bound Company, White Patch, Moonambel, is engaged in driving towards the creek, through a large body of wash-dirt ... The Homeward-bound Company, 4 Moonambel, has not forwarded the number of machine loads of wash-dirt.

September 1872 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivision). The Homeward-bound Company, White Patch, 5 Moonambel, has, I regret to state, suspended work without, I fear, any prospect of renewal.

December 1872 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivisions). The machinery has been all removed from the 6 Homeward-bound Company’s claim, White Patch, Moonambel. Alluvial mining generally is very dull.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 96.0. White Patch Diggings (Main period of mining appears to have been early 1870s). Deep alluvial sinkings. Sinkings are not well preserved and are overgrown with vegetation. Size of the heaps suggests that the sinking was quite deep.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has poor integrity and hence low cultural significance.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp445-446 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1871 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1872 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1872 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1872 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1872

362 Four Mile Lead, Moonambel

SITE NO. & NAME: 97.0 FOUR MILE LEAD ALLUVIAL DIGGINGS

LOCATION: FOUR MILE LEAD, MOONAMBEL

HI NO: H7524-0091

DIRECTIONS: 5 km west of Moonambel, north side of Moonambel Road

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land

HISTORY:

November 1860. Moonambel. In this area, originally known as McKinnon’s or Mountain Creek Rush, gold was found first in November 1860 by John and James Thomas, at what is now the village of Moonambel (means Hole-in- 1 Mountain).

2 November 1860. McKinnon’s of Mountain Creek Rush.

1861. Early in January 1861 Edward Jopliss and William Darby opened Slaughteryard Gully, just east of the rush, which was confined to an area about two miles in length, a few minor gullies to the east ... In April 1861 gold was discovered four miles west of the rush near the Adelaide Road and Four Mile Lead was opened. In May ... Forest Hut was prospected, about two miles north-west of Four Mile Rush. Wild Dog Gully, south-west was worked in 3 various tributaries at this rush, and later, but the main workings occurred at a rush in 1890.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Four Mile Lead (First opened in 1861). Most of the shallow alluvial sinkings have been levelled.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has poor integrity and hence low cultural significance.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

363 Forest Hut Lead, Moonambel

SITE NO. & NAME: 98.0 FOREST HUT ALLUVIAL DIGGINGS

LOCATION: FOREST HUT LEAD, MOONAMBEL

HI NO: H7524-0092

DIRECTIONS: 5 km north-west of Moonambel, north side of Taltarni Road

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land

HISTORY: November 1860. Moonambel. In this area, originally known as McKinnon’s or Mountain Creek Rush, gold was found first in November 1860 by John and James Thomas, at what is now the village of Moonambel (means Hole-in- 1 Mountain).

2 November 1860. McKinnon’s of Mountain Creek Rush.

364 Forest Hut Lead, Moonambel

March 1867 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivisions). Redbank 120 Hines 20 Donkey Hill 30 Moonambel 40 Victoria, and adjoining gullies 60 Forest Hut 20 Stuart Mill 30 7 Darling Flat 10

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Forest Hut Diggings (Main period of working appears to have been mid 1860s). Most of the sinkings have been flattened. Site has little integrity.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has poor integrity and hence low cultural significance

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp445-446 2 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp445-446 3 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp445-446 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1865 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867

365 New Garden Reef, Moonambel

SITE NO. & NAME: 99.0 NEW GARDEN REEF CO. MINE SITE

LOCATION: GARDEN OR TORMEYS REEF, MOONAMBEL

HI NO: H7524-0093

DIRECTIONS: 1.6 km north-east of Moonambel, west of Moonambel-Natte Yallock Road

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land

HISTORY:

March 1887 (Redbank Subdivision). In alluvial mining nothing worthy of note has occurred during the quarter. Operations have been commenced at the Garden Reef (Tormey’s), Moonambel. The water has been baled out from the previous workings, and the reef appears varying from 15 to 18 inches in thickness, showing gold, and being 1 apparently of a permanent character.

January 1897. New Garden Reef, Moonambel--expect to have battery completed in two weeks. Some very good 2 stone met about 20 feet below old company’s workings.

3 January 1897. New Garden Reef, Moonambel--almost completed battery.

4 March 1897. New Garden Reef--stoping.

5 May 1897. New Garden Reef. Tribute party was broken up.

1903. About a mile and a half to the south of the Moonambel mine, and pretty well on the same band of country, are the remains of the Garden Reef, otherwise Tormey’s Reef, mine ... The yield to date from this mine total 351oz. of gold from 285 tons ... A new shaft, 10 feet by 4 feet, has been sunk to a depth of 200 feet, and due preparations have 6 been made to open works on a suitable scale.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

New Garden Reef Co. (1897 to c.1903). Mine site. Partly quarried mullock heap and open (fenced) shaft. Associated with the shaft are the remains of what appears to be a small stone-lined bob pit. Battery site. Near the south-west corner of the mullock heap is a flattened battery site (concrete rubble, outline of concrete boiler setting and linear excavation marking location of stamper mortar blocks). Sludge pond. Below the battery are two small adjoining sludge ponds.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: A number of features survive on the site but all are not well preserved.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Scientific Significance, because of the survival of a range of features that help document the operation of a small-scale quartz mine.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1887 2 St Arnaud Mercury, 13 Jan 1897 3 St Arnaud Mercury, 27 Jan 1897 4 St Arnaud Mercury, 10 March 1897

366 New Garden Reef, Moonambel

5 St Arnaud Mercury, 5 May 1897 6 1903, The Pyrenees Gold-fields, No. 2, Geological Survey of Victoria.

367 Hines Diggings

SITE NO. & NAME: 100.0 SHALLOW ALLUVIAL SINKINGS 100.1 REDBANK DREDGING COMPANY

LOCATION: HINES, NEAR READBANK

HI NO: 100.0 H7524-0094 100.1 H7524-0012

DIRECTIONS: Site 100.0 is located 2.4 km north of Redbank, east side of Sunraysia Highway Site 100.1 is located 2.8 km north of Redbank, west side of Sunraysia Highway, running along the south side of Hines Lane.

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land

HISTORY: March 1860 (St Arnaud Division). In the southern portion of this division, the population is daily increasing more especially in the neighbourhood of Hines’ and Navarre. The alluvial in this portion of my division is of a very poor and patchy kind; in some cases pieces weighing from 1 oz to 9 oz being found where the wash-dirt from which they are taken does not exceed in yield 10 dwt. per load and rarely average this. The quartz from the Liverpool, Somerset and Cambrian Reefs, as far as I have seen, does not appear to me very good, the best I should think would yield about 1-1/2 ton. On the Somerset Reef, situated close to and north of Hines’ Station, about 20 claims are at work, the reef on the surface in the Prospecting claim is about 10 feet thick--prospect very poor. On the Cambrian Reef they are greatly hindered from prospecting by the quantity of water obtained at the depth of 40 feet; most of the claimholders on this reef have grants for dams on their claims, to retain the water baled, for washing purposes. In the alluvial at Hines’ Proper, but few obtain payable claims; in some instances, and those claims few and far between, 1 and 2 oz to the load have been obtained, and the average of the best claims cannot be estimated at over 10 dwt, and the majority do not yield more than 5 dwt to the load; when this is considered and the price of cartage, and 1 use of toms for washing, it cannot be wondered at their seeking better results from quartz.

November 1860. Redbank—Hines’ Diggings. Redbank Rush, about three miles north of Moonambel, occurred at the same time as the rush to Mountain Creek. (Nov 1860) ... and the major reward for the discovery was granted to John Parker, W. Hall and others, for the discovery of “Redbank, etc.”, which was stated otherwise as “Redbank Hines etc.” ... There was a further reward paid by the Prospecting Board also, to J. Dunleary, T. Smith and Joseph Henderson, for the discovery of “Redbank” in January 1861. A local paper mentions a J. White as a member of this party, and Henderson later told of this discovery, which was no doubt on the lower Grumblers Lead, near the town. In the first week in January 1861 there 2 were 4000 diggers at Redbank, and a diggings had started close to Hines’ Station, about two miles north of Redbank.

November 1860/January 1861. Redbank; lower Grumblers Lead, and diggings near Hines’ Station, about two miles 3 north of Redbank ... Also opened in January 1861 were New Year’s Flat, a little to the west; and Pyrenees reef.

February 1861. Hines Diggings--main areas at Hines, which became known as Wattle Flat and German Gully, were 4 opened in February.

January 1861 (St Arnaud Division). A slight increase in the number of miners has taken place during the last month in this division; owing to the large rush at McKinnon’s, Mountain Creek, New Year’s Flat, &c., having brought hundreds of alluvial miners close on the edge of this division, numbers of whom not finding profitable employment at the rushes, have scattered themselves in and about the surrounding gullies at and near Mr Hines’s station, where I think with a little energy they cannot fail to discover some other payable locality. I last week visited the rush at New Year’s Flat, Mountain Creek, &c., and also that close to Mr Hines’s paddock, and from the similar appearance of the country, imagined the latter to be equally as auriferous; the alluvial at Mr Hines’s is not very rich, 1/2 oz to the load being the best, but when taken into consideration that to obtain a load of wash-dirt nearly two loads has to be raised, two-thirds of it consisting of quartz boulders, it cannot pay very good wages. In one claim I visited the wash-dirt was 18 inches thick and the gold jet black. On the shallower ground in claims adjoining the gold was quite bright. From what I saw of the alluvial and the time I spent in the ranges I do not think the country between Hines’s and Sanderson’s would support any number of alluvial miners.

368 Hines Diggings

Among the ranges there are many fine sweeping gullies running in some instances five or six miles, and every probability of their being auriferous. Near to Sanderson’s some Italians have been steadily at work for two years, and I am informed have lately washed a 5 prospect from new ground of 2 oz to the load.

369 Hines Diggings

February 1861 (St Arnaud Division). Since ... my last report a great improvement has taken place in the southern portion of this division, more especially near Mr Hines’ station, in the neighbourhood of which there is a population between 8000 and 9000 working miners; and yet this number could not be taken as belonging distinctly to this division, as numbers live at New Year’s Flat, and walk here one and a half mile daily, consequently these would probably be enumerated as belong to the Avoca division. When I visited this place previous to my last report, I felt sure it would be the scene of an extensive rush--it has now proved payable likewise, reaching from Mr Hines’ north about four miles. As the lead progresses towards the foot of the ranges, the quality of gold seems improving and loses its blackness; the average yield cannot be estimated at more than half an ounce to the load, with the boulders formerly mentioned being taken out, but the quantity of wash-dirt in many places increases, some taking two or three feet. A great and serious drawback to the development of this portion of the district is the great scarcity of water during these summer months, although with a slight outlay of capital more than enough could easily be stored for the years. From the station north three miles and half a party of Germans have opened a new lead on the Union Flat; from seven tubs they washed 12-1/2 dwt of coarse gold; the formation being a gutter about thirteen feet wide, the high reef on the east being steep and hard, the auriferous drift composed of red gravel and hard sandstone boulders, with a little quartz, the most and largest boulders lying in immediate contact with the low reef. On the northern side of the ranges, and about four miles from Messrs Sanderson’s, a number of prospecting parties are busily at work, in some instances gold being found, but not as yet in payable quantities. About two miles north-west of Mr Hines’ another party has secured a prospecting claim; depth of sinking 18 feet; 6 prospect, 10-1/2 dwt per load--gold coarse.

April 1861 (St Arnaud Division). At Hines’ and in the surrounding neighbourhood several prospecting claims have been applied for, some with very good prospects. At Sing Song Gully, 1-1/2 miles west of the Ten-mile-hut, Hunter and party obtained a prospect of 2 dwt to the bucket, also two small pieces weighting respectively 2 and 3 dwt from the bottom of their shaft, sinking four feet; on the following morning a rush took place when 60 or 70 holes were bottomed, but with the exception of one claim, in no other has gold been found. On the same day a prospecting claim was applied for in the deep ground at Hines, prospect 1 dwt to the bucket; gold coarse, depth 60 feet, require slabbing, 10 feet water in the shaft when inspected. Scarcely anything worth recording was doing at Hines’ proper, the ground still continuing patchy, the general yield of good claims not being more than 10 dwt per load. The reefs in this portion of my division are yet being worked, but in the absence of all crushing machinery (the nearest being 20 miles) it is rather difficult to ascertain by a small trial, 7 the likely yield of the quartz.

May 1861 (St Arnaud Division). Generally in this division but little in the alluvial is doing except at Hines’, and there it is only the number of miners which make it appear so, as the average of the dirt washed from 1-1/2 dwts to 7 dwts, after deducting only the actual expenditure, leaves scarcely a subsistence to those working. 8 The reefs at Hines’ are looking very much better than they have yet done.

March 1864 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Division). The population is as follows: Europeans Chinese Alluvial miners 500 50 Quartz miners 250 Other Population 1,200 Total 1,950 50

The total number is thus distributed:

Redbank 300 Hines 70 Donkey Hill 60 Moonambel 100 Emerald Flat 50 Victoria Gully 140 9 Stuart Mill 80

June 1865 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivisions). Very little has been done in alluvial mining lately, in consequence of the scarcity of water in these subdivisions. This applies more especially to Victoria Gully and the 10 other gullies situated between Hinds and Stuart Mill, where the gold is extracted principally by sluicing.

370 Hines Diggings

December 1866 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivisions). The number of miners is as follows: Europeans Chinese Alluvial miners 220 10 Quartz miners 140 Total 360 10

The total number of miners is thus distributed: Redbank 130 Hines 20 Donkey Hill 40 Moonambel 40 Victoria & adjoining gullies 50 Forest Hut 20 Stuart Mill 30 12 Darling Flat 40

March 1867 (Redbank and St Arnaud South subdivisions). Several parties at Hines’ Diggings have been doing well of late. Victoria and adjoining gullies still giving remunerative returns. There is no scarcity of water in the 13 subdivisions.

June 1872 (Redbank and St Arnaud South Subdivision). A small rush (principally of Chinese) has set in to the lower 14 end of Hind’s Diggings.

September 1889 (Wedderburn Division). Several fresh finds in quartz have been made during the past quarter. From the No. 2 South, Potter’s Hill line of reef, 6 tons of stone were taken to Eaglehawk for crushing, yielding 108 oz. Cerelir and party, from the Old Lane’s line of reef, crushed 13 tons, which yielded 21 oz. Miss Gordon Reef. A crushing of 54 tons of stone from this claim yielded 48 oz. The Wedderburn Reef. From this claim 100 tons of stone was crushed, yielding 57 oz. The Champion Quartz Mining Company have come to a complete standstill, the mine being flooded with water to the surface; consequently the claims north and south are idle from the same cause. Nothing can be done on this line of 15 reef until machinery is erected.

September 1889 (Redbank Subdivision). I have to report that no work has been done by any gold mining company in this division during the last quarter, and as many of the alluvial miners left during the shearing season their number has fallen off. The amount of gold purchased at Redbank during the last quarter was 82 oz 12 dwt 15 gr, two-thirds of which came 16 from Paul’s Gully, Sailor’s Flat, near Hind’s, the ground mentioned above.

July 1937. Maryborough District. Dredging lease applications in the Alma, Avoca, Amphitheatre, Redbank and Landsborough districts have been 17 inspected (Upper Redbank Alluvials appears to be the name of the dredging operation).

January 1938. Maryborough District. Redbank Dredging. Mine Manager J J Hunter 18 This pump dredge has been installed at German Gully, and has commenced regular production.

July 1938. Maryborough District.

371 Hines Diggings

The Redbank Dredging Company is installing modern dredging plant and machinery at Redbank, and it is estimated that operations will be in progress about October next. Redbank Dredging, Redbank. Dredge Master J J Hunter. Dams have been constructed on the property, and the erection of an electric bucket dredge, with a capacity of 25,000 19 cubic yards per week, is nearing completion.

372 Hines Diggings

January 1939. Maryborough District. Increased interest is being centred on alluvial mining in the district. Redbank Alluvials N.L. expects to commence operations with its new electric bucket dredge early in the New Year. Redbank Dredging Construction of electric dredge, power house and reservoir dams nearing completion (Photo of 20 works).

July 1939. Maryborough District. Redbank Dredging. This electrically-driven dredge, which commenced operations on 21st March, has a capacity of 25,000 cubic yards a week, and is designed to dig to a depth of 33 feet on the western lease. The area is estimated to 21 contain 6,000,000 cubic yards of payable material.

January 1940. Maryborough District. 22 Redbank Dredging. The earlier returns from this dredge were disappointing.

September 1940. Maryborough District. The Redbank Dredging Co. has resumed work at Redbank after increasing its power plant in order to make possible 23 larger scale operations.

March 1941. Sluicing and dredging have been restricted owing to very limited water supplies, but several prospecting parties at Dunolly, Tarnagulla, St. Arnaud, and Wedderburn are obtaining payable returns. Cyanide plants are 24 numerous in the district, and have been continuing treatment with satisfactory results.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 100.0. Shallow alluvial sinkings (Main period of working was 1860s). Patch of weathered shallow sinkings (low mounds and shallow depressions). Mainly visible from the road due to white clay in the small heaps.

Site 100.1. Redbank Dredging Co. (Dredge operated between the years 1937 to 1941). Dredging. Arrangement of large rectangular ponds with low embankments running along the south side of Hines Lane. Also three large ponds filled with water. According to local residents there are also remains still surviving of the power plant.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION Site 100.0 has poor integrity. Site 100.1 (Redbank Dredging Co.) has quite good integrity.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Site 100.0 has poor integrity and hence low cultural significance.

Site 100.1 has: • Scientific Significance, because of the survival of a relatively undisturbed dredging landscape. First landscape of this type to be recorded though more are expected to be found.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1860 2 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 3 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 4 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria, pp446-447 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, January 1861 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, February 1861 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, April 1861 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, May 1861 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1864

373 Hines Diggings

10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1865 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1865 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 13 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1867 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1872 15 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1889 16 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1889 17 Mining and Geological Journal, July 1937, pp50-57 18 Mining and Geological Journal, Jan 1938, pp41-51 19 Mining and Geological Journal, July 1938, pp39-47 20 Mining and Geological Journal, Jan 1939, pp41-46 21 Mining and Geological Journal, July 1939, pp26-31 22 Mining and Geological Journal, Jan 1940, pp100-104 23 Mining and Geological Journal, Sept 1940, p170 24 Mining and Geological Journal, March 1941, p229

374 Cambrian Company, Hines

SITE NO. & NAME: 101.0 CAMBRIAN COMPANY

LOCATION: CAMBRIAN REEF, HINES

HI NO: H7524-0095

DIRECTIONS: 2.2 km north-north-west of Redbank, south of Hines Lane

MUNICIPALITY: Pyrenees Shire

LAND STATUS: Freehold Land

HISTORY:

March 1860 (St Arnaud Division). In the southern portion of this division, the population is daily increasing more especially in the neighbourhood of Hind’s and Navarre. The alluvial in this portion of my division is of a very poor and patchy kind; in some cases pieces weighing from 1 oz to 9 oz being found where the wash-dirt from which they are taken does not exceed in yield 10 dwt. per load and rarely average this. The quartz from the Liverpool, Somerset and Cambrian Reefs, as far as I have seen, does not appear to me very good, the best I should think would yield about 1-1/2 ton. On the Somerset Reef, situated close to and north of Hines’ Station, about 20 claims are at work, the reef on the surface in the Prospecting claim is about 10 feet thick--prospect very poor. On the Cambrian Reef they are greatly hindered from prospecting by the quantity of water obtained at the depth of 40 feet; most of the claimholders on this reef have grants for dams on their claims, to retain the water baled, for washing purposes. In the alluvial at Hines’ Proper, but few obtain payable claims; in some instances, and those claims few and far between, 1 and 2 oz to the load have been obtained, and the average of the best claims cannot be estimated at over 10 dwt, and the majority do not yield more than 5 dwt to the load; when this is considered and the price of cartage, and 1 use of toms for washing, it cannot be wondered at their seeking better results from quartz.

May 1861 (St Arnaud Division). The reefs at Hines’ are looking very much better than they have yet done. On the Cambrian the great drawback is the heavy body of water. On the Liverpool Reef where they have long continued prospecting but with a poor prospect, I am glad to report they 2 have at last struck quartz apparently highly remunerative.

December 1884 (Redbank Subdivision). The only incident worthy of mention in mining matters ... is the fact that a 3 mining lease has been applied for on the site of the Cambrian Reef.

June 1885 (Redbank Subdivision) Mining ... is very dull at present ... I, am glad, however, to say that a contract has 4 been let for the sinking of a shaft for the Cambrian Reef Company near Redbank.

September 1885 (Redbank Subdivision). The Cambrian Company is still pushing on with their new shaft, and good 5 progress is being made with it.

December 1885. I am sorry to report that, in quartz mining, the prospects of the Cambrian Company appear to 6 wane.

June 1889 (Wedderburn Division). Mining in this division, more especially quartz, has been steadily improving for some time past. The A1 Company has had a crushing of 44 tons of quartz, which yielded 37 oz of gold, the stone taken from surface to a depth of about 20 feet. The Champion Company crushed 15 tons of quartz, yielding 43 oz of gold ... A new shaft has just been started to the west, for the purpose of testing the reef at a greater depth. The Korong Prospecting Association has a shaft down about 120 feet on the Potter’s Hill line of reef. They found a patch of loose quartz, weighing about 20 lbs, at a depth of from 16 to 20 feet, which yielded 95 oz 10 dwt of gold. The Miss Gordon Company has struck a well-defined reef, about 18 inches in thickness, showing gold pretty freely. Alluvial. A large rush took place to some ground near the old workings at Opossum Point in consequence of the 7 finding of a 27 lb nugget by C. Celovitch, who has since got a smaller piece about 7-1/2 oz.

375 Cambrian Company, Hines

June 1889 (Redbank Subdivision). Cambrian Gold Mining Company is in treaty for the purchase of a pumping and crushing plant; they have 100 tons of stone at grass, of which a trial crushing at the Cambrian battery, at 8 Maryborough, gave 5 dwt of gold to 1 ton 8 cwt of stone.

9 January 1897. Cambrian Prop, Redbank. Main shaft. Contractors sunk to total depth 130 feet.

376 Cambrian Company, Hines

February 1897. Cambrian, Redbank. Since last June a plant has been erected on the mine consisting of winding, pumping engines, with necessary housing, poppet heads, 8 inch lifts. A dam had been completed and now holds 10 500,000 gals of fresh water, sufficient for boilers throughout the year.

11 March 1897. Cambrian, Redbank. Main shaft, total depth 163 feet.

November 1897. Cambrian Prop. Purchased a 15 head battery and engine. Tenders called for taking down, carting 12 and re-erection.

December 1897. Cambrian Prop. Erecting battery. Framework in position, partly bolted down. Bedlogs and piles 13 for stamper boxes filled in with concrete, overhauled pumping engine.

April 1899. Cambrian Mines, Redbank. The company’s leases are Nos. 3882, 4028, 3843, 4026 and 3864; and these extend north-west from the Redbank cemetery and close to the township of Redbank. The present workings are on lease No 3483 where the Cambrian line of reef is being worked. In lease No 3882 the Liverpool line of reef has had a little work on it. Workings (3843). A main vertical shaft has been sunk to 170 feet ... since the present day company has been working they have had poor prospects from the reef, although the two following crushings at Parkers (Footscary) gave a fair return, 1 ton/8dwt and 1 ton/6dwt. 14 Future work. The company is now inviting tenders to sink the shaft another 25 feet.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 101.0. Cambrian Co. (Cambrian Reef had been worked to the water-level by 1860. Its main period of mining appears to have been from mid 1880s until the turn-of-the-century. In 1897 a battery was reported to have been erected at the mine). Mine site. Site not surveyed, but according to local residents not much of it survives because of bulldozing done by the Department of Mines.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: According to local residents the site has poor integrity.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

According to local residents the site has poor integrity.

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1860 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, May 1861 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1884 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1885 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1885 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1885 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1889 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1889 9 St Arnaud Mercury, 9 Jan 1897 10 St Arnaud Mercury, 3 Feb 1897 11 St Arnaud Mercury, 10 March 1897 12 St Arnaud Mercury, 3 Nov 1897 13 St Arnaud Mercury, 22 Dec 1897 14 A. M Howitt, 13 April 1899, Mining Development Report

377 Emu Diggings

SITE NO. & NAME: 102.0 CEMENT WORKINGS/CYANIDE WORKS 102.1 MINE SITE AND SHAFTS

LOCATION: EMU OR ISABELLE REEF, EMU

HI NO: 102.0 H7326-0005 102.1 H7326-0006

DIRECTIONS: 102.0. 2.2 km north-east of Emu, end of Pit Road 102.1. 1.4 km south of Emu, west side of Stuart Mill-Logan Road

MUNICIPALITY: Yarriambiack Shire

LAND STATUS: Site 102.0--Freehold Land/Shire of Yarriambiack Gravel Reserve Site 102.1--Freehold Land

HISTORY: December 1858. A great number of diggers left Synott’s and Burke’s Flat rushes in December 1858 for Four Mile Flat, known then and today as Emu, which place, like Burke’s Flat, in 1867 became a reefing centre, around the 1 activity on the Isabelle Reef. June 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The population of miners is as follows: Europeans Chinese Alluvial miners 589 63 Quartz miners 215 Total 804 63 The total number is thus distributed: St Arnaud 149 New Bendigo 54 Forty-feet 8 Sawpit Gully 18 Armenian Gully 10 Gap Gully 7 Emu 12 Rostron’s 60 Scrub Gully 6 Bristol Reef 14 Canadian Reef 4 2 Greenock Reef & n’borhood 23

378 Emu Diggings

September 1864 (St Arnaud North Subdivision). The total number is thus distributed: Douglas Hill 10 Silver & Sebastopol Reef 32 Sawpit Gully Reef 4 Frieberg 10 Master’s Reef 2 Sindersky’s Working 4 Yarrow’s engine 3 Chapman & others, Chrysolite Hill 14 Frenchman’s 11 Carapoole Bank 7 Forty-feet by Peters’s 30 Bristol Reef 4 Butcher’s Engine 7 Shuring’s Reef 10 Gap Gully 175 New Bendigo 57 Wagner’s Hill 2 Peevor’s Flat (Moggs) 14 Cochrane’s Hill 6 Tunnel Hill 6 St Arnaud 2 Brigg’s Hill 10 Greenock Reef 10 Spinster & Sailor’s Reef 4 Peter’s 205 Dogbury 45 Emu 6 Rostron’s 50 Four-mile Gully 4 3 Doctor’s Gully 4

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Emu 4 Rostron’s 8 Salter’s Hill 12 4 Banshee 12

380 Emu Diggings

381 Emu Diggings

Karney’s 3 Master’s Claim 4 New Bendigo 118 Peters’s 250 Tunnel Hill 6 Warwickshire Reef 4 Wilson’s Gully 20 Rimmer’s Lease 6 Rostron’s and Higgins’s 5 Rostron’s Diggings 19 Silver Mining Association 18 Sawpit Gully and Reef 4 Sanderske’s Lease 6 St Arnaud United 11 Spinster Reef 2 6 Salter’s Hill 11

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March 1868. St Arnaud North Subdivision. Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Rising Star Rising Star and Cross Reef Rowan’s Lease Bristol Reef Chrysolite Lease Chrysolite Reefs Pioneer Armenian Reef Wilson’s Hill Eastern and Western Reefs Carr’s Lease Gap Reef Rimmer’s Lease Ballarat Reef Perry’s Lease Hopeful Reef Penberthy’s Lease Blink Bonny Reef Nicholl’s Lease Bristol Reef Freiberg Lease Walkers and Trinidad Tuckers Reef Emu Reef The Emu, Stirling, and Isabelle Reefs, near Emu Bridge, have been regarded as worthy of a thorough good battery of 9 20 stampers, which is now complete.

December 1868. St Arnaud North Subdivision. Quartz crushed during the quarter by/from: Tributors Carr’s Lease Hoskin and Co. Wilson’s Hill Jerejaw Jerejaw Reef Sanderske and Co. Sanderske’s Lease Tributors Bell Rock Lease Johnsons and Co. Bristol Reef Cenel and Co. Garibaldi Lease Chapman Chrysolite Hill Rimmer and Co. Chrysolite Hill Perry and Co. Hopeful Reef

383 Emu Diggings

Penberthy and Co. Blink Bonny Brown and Co. Warwickshire Reef Croyden and Co. Bristol Reef Mount Emu Mount Emu Reef St. Arnaud Walker’s Lease Malcolm and Co. Fishhook Reef McMahon and Co. Bristol Reef 10 Prospectors Greenock Reef

March 1869. St. Arnaud North Subdivision (John Phillips). The prospectors of Isabelle Reef, near Avoca River, are 11 putting up their stampers.

June 1869. (John Phillips). The Isabelle Reef machinery is just now to commence on a large batch of quartz, 12 promising well.

September 1869 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Isabelle Reef, at Mount Emu, is showing well, and the workers 13 are busy.

December 1870 (St. Arnaud North Subdivision). The Emu new diggings are about 1-1/2miles north-west of the 14 township. Some miners have been earning from £3 to £5 per week for the last two months.

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15 December 1880. The Royal George Company, Emu Reef, is driving for a reef at a depth of 130 feet.

16 March 1881. The Royal George Company, Emu, is driving and stoping at the 140-foot level.

17 December 1897. Prince George, Emu. Taking down machinery for removal to mine.

18 February 1899. Prince George, Emu. West drive in 159 feet from No. 1 bore.

19 April 1899. Prince George, Emu. New engine arrived from Ballarat. Now being put in position.

20 September 1899. Applications made for leases of 650 acres at Emu to dredge the bed of the Avoca River.

21 August 1900. Randall and Jones at the Royal George Reef, Emu have a good crushing 42 tons for 59 oz.

1903. Emu. At Emu, the Royal George Company is shut down, and at Bourke’s Flat, Wehla and Kingower, work is 22 confined to the treatment of old accumulations of tailings by the cyanide process.

1908. Several small parties have been prospecting with varying results. The Reform Company at Emu, North St. Arnaud, has resumed work, and cut down the shaft from 6 ft x 3 ft, to 10 ft x 3 ft to the 200 ft. level; and made 23 additions to the plant, which consists of winding, pumping and a 10-head battery.

1910. Emu. Mining in this locality has not made the progress anticipated early in the year. The Star of Emu Company erected a ten-head battery and a small winding plant, sunk a shaft to 210 feet ... treated 1,035 tons for a yield of 184 oz. The Reform Company, after a few small crushings of rich ore--one parcel yielding 9 oz. of gold per ton--ceased 24 operations owing, it is said, to the shoot of gold being short and narrow.

1911. Emu. At Emu, the Emu Star Company was taken over and worked for a short time by tributers, but the stone 25 being of low grade, operations ceased.

DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION:

Site 102.0. Cement workings/cyanide works (No historical information was found re this structure. Most probably the remains of a cyaniding operation and the state of preservation suggests a 1930s date). Cyanide works. Timber framed structure which holds the remains of two collapsed 8 ft square sheet iron vats. The insides of the vats have been coated with tar. The vats are raised 8 ft above existing ground level and rest on broad axe hewn sleepers. Three of the corner posts are bush-timber logs. The builders utilised a live tree for the fourth corner. Bush-timber rails retain the vats. A considerable age for the structure is suggested by the fact that the tree has started to grow around some of the log rails. There is a loading ramp at the western end of the structure and also a scattering of sheet iron which suggests there was once a third vat. Sand dump. On the slope around the cyanide vats are low dumps of sand covering an area approximately 100 metres x 100 metres. Cement workings. Filled shafts and small heaps of white clay and gravel occur on several hilltops to the west of the vats. These have been badly disturbed by gravel quarrying and also rubbish dumping.

Site 102.1. Mine site and shafts (Most probably Emu or Isabelle line of reef. The last serious mining to take place on this line of reef was just prior to the First World War). Mine site. Collapsing shaft and an eroding mullock heap. Mining machinery would have been located in adjoining paddock. This paddock is now in crop. Shafts. In the adjoining cropped paddock are a number of open shafts.

INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Structure in good condition, cement workings have been badly disturbed by gravel quarrying and rubbish dumping.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site has: • Scientific Significance, because it is a most unusual type of cyanide works.

385 Emu Diggings

SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory.

Assessor: David Bannear Date: September 1993.

1 James Flett, 1979, The History Of Gold Discovery in Victoria,pp299-301 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1864 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1864 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1864 5 Mining Surveyors’ Report, March 5 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1865 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1866 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1867 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1868 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec1868 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1869 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1869 13 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Sept 1869 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1870 15 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, Dec 1880 16 Mining Surveyors’ reports, March 1881 17 St Arnaud Mercury, 8 Dec 1897 18 St Arnaud Mercury, 8 Feb 1899 19 St Arnaud Mercury, 26 April 1897 20 St Arnaud Mercury, 2 Sept 1899 21 St Arnaud Mercury, 29 August 1900 22 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1903, p71 23 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1908, p116 24 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1910 25 Annual Report, Department of Mines, 1911, pp130-31

386 Emu Diggings

387