80.0 Cambrian Mine 80.1 Treated Tailings 80.2 Puddler
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Cambrian Reef SITE NO. & NAME: 80.0 CAMBRIAN MINE 80.1 TREATED TAILINGS 80.2 PUDDLER LOCATION: CAMBRIAN REEF HI NO: 80.0 H7623-0192 80.2 H7623-0193 80.3 H7623-0192 DIRECTIONS: 4.2 km south-east of Maryborough, junction of Cambrian and Mosquito Tracks MUNICIPALITY: Central Goldfields Shire LAND STATUS: State Forest (Craigie Block) HISTORY: December 1870. MARYBOROUGH DIVISION On no previous occasion have I been in a position to report so favourably as now respecting the material progress and stability of the general mining interest of this division. During the quarter several extended alluvial claims, situate at the Alma, and several prospecting quartz claims, situate on the Cambrian, Nelson, and Telegraph Reefs, have been 1 registered. Trial crushings from some of the quartz claims gave an average of more than half an ounce of gold per ton. December 1874. I would call special attention to the excellent yields obtained by the Nelson and Cambrian companies. The Cambrian Company have recently declared a dividend of £360. The Bristol Hill Company has been 2 almost idle during the quarter. March 1875. The yields of gold from the Cambrian and Nelson claims has been very good, as they average more than an ounce per ton. It is intended to erect at once a crushing plant on the claim of the Cambrian Company, who during 3 the quarter paid dividends amounting to £720. June 1875. The Cambrian Company have lately purchased an additional engine and boiler for their mine; the batteries 4 are rapidly approaching completion, and will be finished in about a month hence. 5 June 1877. The Cambrian Company have crushed 210 tons for 124 oz 5 dwts. March 1878. The Cambrian mine, at Mosquito, has passed into the hands of the Bank of Victoria. There is nothing 6 which appears to me to call for special remark in relation to the other leading mines in the division. December 1878. No quartz was raised from the Cambrian mine, at Mosquito, during the quarter, as the tribute party formerly engaged gave up their tribute, and the owners have not yet succeeded in finding another party to take their place. Thus, from 860 tons of quartz crushed for the public at the Cambrian battery, 617 oz 15 dwts of gold were 7 obtained, or an average of 14 dwts 8 grs per ton 8 September 1880. 383 tons were crushed at the Cambrian Battery, which gave an average of 18 dwts per ton. 9 September 1882. Three tons of sand from the Duke, treated at the Cambrian battery, gave 141 oz of gold. March 1883. The Duke Company are making satisfactory progress, and the yield from the mine continues good. All the machinery is in excellent order. The heading drives, in the north end of the mine, shows promising prospects. From one and a half tons of cement, taken from the mine, and treated at the Cambrian battery, a yield was obtained 10 from 46 oz 16 dwts of gold. March 1883. From a ton of sand, treated at the Cambrian battery, the New Kong Meng Company obtained a yield of 11 13 oz 15 dwts of gold. June 1884. Three loads of sand from the Duke Company which were treated at the Cambrian battery gave the 12 handsome yield of 106 oz 4 dwt of gold. 215 Cambrian Reef September 1884. Half a load of sand from the Duke claim, which was treated at the Cambrian battery, gave a return 13 of 12 oz of gold. December 1884. It will be seen that a ton of sand from this mine, which was treated at the Cambrian battery, gave a 14 return of 17 oz 18 dwt of gold. March 1885. A ton of sand from this mine, which was treated at the Cambrian battery, gave a return of 23-1/2 oz of 15 gold. March 1886. There is nothing of importance to report regarding the alluvial mines in this division. A considerable 16 quantity of cement from the Duke mine was treated, with fair results, at the Cambrian battery. March 1888. Two tons of sand from the New Kong Meng were treated at the Cambrian battery, and gave a return of 17 25 oz 8 dwt. March 1889. In quartz mining there is nothing to report of any consequence. Mr Ivor Davies, of the Cambrian battery, has crushed no stone during the quarter; and the returns I have received from mine-owners and managers, as 18 to work done and gold obtained, have been returned marked mostly “nil”. DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION: Site 80.0. Cambrian Reef (Cambrian Company operated during the 1870s, after this the battery mainly crushed for the public (deep lead mines). Mullock heap. The heap has been extensively quarried and only the ends of three dumping lines survive. Battery site. Near the south-west corner of the mullock heap is a large excavated working platform containing some rubble and footings. Water dam. On the opposite side of the road to the battery site, on Freehold Land, is a large water dam. Sludge pond. There are traces of a large (quarried) sludge pond in the gully below the battery site. Site 80.1. Tailings dump. Sand dump. A massive raised dump (200 metres long and 8 metres high) of treated tailings runs along the south side of Cambrian Track. No traces of any cyanide vats. The dump has been partly quarried. Site 80.2. Puddler. Puddler. In the gully below (north) the Cambrian mullock heap is a weathered 16 ft diameter puddler. It is still possible to distinguish the puddler’s inner mound and puddling trench. No pivot post is visible and no slabbing survives. INTEGRITY/CONDITION: All sites are in poor condition and have low integrity. CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: The sites have some: Cumulative Significance. Although the various relics are not that well preserved they do document a range of activities associated with quartz mining. SIGNIFICANCE RANINKG: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory. Assessor: David Bannear Date: April 1994. 1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1870 2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1874 3 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1875 4 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1875 5 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1877 6 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1878 216 Cambrian Reef 7 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1878 8 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1880 9 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1882 10 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1883 11 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1883 12 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1884 13 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, September 1884 14 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, December 1884 15 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1885 16 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1886 17 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1888 18 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1889 217 Princess Royal SITE NO. & NAME: 81.0 PRINCESS ROYAL MINE LOCATION: CAMBRIAN REEF, MOSQUITO GULLY HI NO: H7623-0194 DIRECTIONS: 3.7 km south-east of Maryborough, north side of Mosquito Gully Road MUNICIPALITY: Central Goldfields Shire LAND STATUS: Freehold Land HISTORY: 1938. The dry conditions have caused the Maryborough Municipal Council to reopen the Princes Royal Mine for the purpose of obtaining underground water to supplement the town supply. The shaft was reconditioned to 150 feet 1 and a 6-inch “Pomona” pump installed. DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION: Site 81.0. Princess Royal Company (First worked in the 1870s) (See Site 80.0). Shaft re-used in late 1930s. Mullock heap. Two small adjoining mullock heaps. Machinery foundations. By the largest of the mullock heaps (the one closest to Mosquito Gully Track) is an arrangement of small concrete mounting beds. INTEGRITY/CONDITION: Poor. CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: The site has poor integrity but some historical value as a landscape feature. SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Site Listed Heritage Inventory. Assessor: David Bannear Date: April 1994. 1 Mines Department Annual Report, 1938 218 Schicer Gully SITE NO. & NAME: 82.0 EUCALYPTUS DISTLLERY 82.1 PUDDLER LOCATION: SCHICER GULLY DAM HI NO: 82.0 H7623-0195 82.1 H7623-0195 DIRECTIONS: 2.8 km south-east of Maryborough, north side of Mosquito Road MUNICIPALITY: Central Goldfields Shire LAND STATUS: State Forest (Craigie Block) HISTORY: No references found. DESCRIPTION & INTERPRETATION: Site 82.0. Eucalyptus distillery (Twentieth century). Eucy distillery. On the north side of the dam’s embankment are the remains of a flattened Eucy distillery. It is still possible to distinguish two brick-lined vats amongst the rubble and high grass. Site 82.1. Puddler (The puddler ‘s state of preservation suggests it operated during the twentieth century). Puddler. On the southern end of the dam’s embankment is a well preserved 20 ft diameter puddler (inner mound pronounced and puddling trench deep with sheer sides). Fossickers have dug a small hole in the inner mound which has exposed part of the pivot post. Also traces of slabbing in the puddling trench and outlet channel. Most of the wash has been quarried. INTEGRITY/CONDITION: The puddler is in good condition. CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: The site has: Cumulative Significance. The relics show how an old mining dam was later re-used by another industry. SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Sites Listed Heritage Inventory. Assessor: David Bannear Date: April 1994. 219 Bluchers Gully SITE NO. & NAME: 83.0 PUDDLER (1) 83.1 PUDDLER (2) 83.2 PUDDLER (3) 83.3 PUDDLER (4) LOCATION: BLUCHERS GULLY HI NO: 83.0 H7623-0196 83.1 H7623-0197 83.2 H7623-0198 83.3 H7623-0199 DIRECTIONS: The puddlers are located in Bluchers Gully 3.3 km south-east of Maryborough, near the junction of Shicer Gully and Bluchers Gully Tracks MUNICIPALITY: Central Goldfields Shire LAND STATUS: State Forest (Craigie Block) HISTORY: 1854-6. Mr E. O’Farrell, formerly Chairman of the Mining Board of the Maryborough Mining District, has communicated some information relative to the gold workings in his district.