TOOMBON BATTERY SITE

DONNELLYS CREEK TOOMBON, BAW BAW SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    TOOMBON BATTERY SITE - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: A reef was first worked on Mt Lookout in 1864 by a prospector named Jessop. In 1868, two residence leases were taken up at Mt Lookout under the new 42nd section of the Lands Act, and the original prospectors of BB Creek worked the land as a market garden known as The Farm. Jessop persevered with his reef for years, sinking shafts and driving tunnels and 'obtaining such encouraging results that he underwent great privations rather than relinquish his hold on the ground, in consequence of which,' according to a report in 1871, 'he died about twelve months ago.' He did not live to see the success of the reef which would be worked variously as Jessop's, Fleming's, the Aberfeldy, Lily of the Valley, and Toombon. Just after Jessop's death it was announced that, 'A new reef on the Aberfeldy, containing fine gold, and of considerable width, has been taken up within the last week, situated four miles below the crossing of the Gippsland road.' Fleming was the discoverer, and a rush ensued. In 1871, Fleming's party was cutting a race in preparation for a battery, and the next year, as the Aberfeldy Co., they erected a 'powerful' water-powered battery of ten heads near the mouth of their tunnel. The returns were not much good and the shareholders were in disagreement about how best to develop the mine, so its performance during the 'seventies was. In 1881 the Toombon GMC was formed and a new main shaft commenced north of the road. The next year, a Langland's Cornish boiler, 33-hp steam engine, double winding drum, and pumping gear were installed near the shaft. A good-looking reef was struck in 1883, causing many new claims to be pegged out in the vicinity. In 1886, the Toombon Co.'s battery was increased to twenty heads, powered by a larger (40-ft) waterwheel, but with an auxiliary steam engine of 35 horsepower.The Toombon mine closed down in 1898, having reached a depth of nearly 1,000 ft. With a total yield of 50,844 oz from 61,888 tons, it had been the largest gold-producer in the Aberfeldy/Donnelly's Creek district.Another Toombon Co. was formed in 1934 to re-open the mine. Thirty thousand pounds was spent on clearing out the main shaft and winzes, but poor prospects closed the mine in 1940. Of the plant installed in the 'thirties, only the water tube boiler remains.References: AinsworthBailey & Bailey, p. 10Baragwanath, pp. 10-11KennyMining Surveyors' Reports (Jericho Division), September 1872, September 1879, June 1881; (Stringer's Creek Subdivision), June & September 1872, March 1874, ; (Aberfeldy Subdivision), 1876-83; (Donnelly's Creek Division), September 1875, December 1882, September 1886Supple et al, after Milner (1989/1)

    Heritage Inventory Description

    TOOMBON BATTERY SITE - Heritage Inventory Description

    Boiler: A three-pass Cornish boiler with Galloway tubes and a metal chimney stack. The boiler flue is connected to the base of the metal chimney stack (which is mounted on the slope above the site) by a rise cut up about 6 metres through the solid rock at the base of the boiler.Battery engine: Components for a single-cylinder horizontal double-acting steam engine with a loose eccentric.Stampers: Components for two 10-head wooden framed stamp batteries, a rivetted cylindrical drum possibilly used either for water storage or feedwater heating, several countershafts and sundry pieces of battery strapping and other ironwork. Battery manager's house: On the southern bank of the creek there is a flat area which was probably the house site.Tailrace: The creek is channelled past the battery site through stone-retained walls which may have formed the tailrace for the original waterwheel installationWaterwheel pit: At the south-west end of the site there is a large pit where the second waterwheel (of 40ft diameter) was positioned.Roasting kilns: On the slope above the wheel pit there are the remains of two roasting kilns, constructed of rubble masonry.Water race: Water for the wheels was supplied by a race from a dam constructed on Aberfeldy River at a point immediately below the New Dawn mine.

    Heritage Inventory Significance: National Estate

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