WALLABY MINE WORKINGS & MACHINERY SITE - 1

WALLABY CREEK AND OFF SIBLEY TRACK GAFFNEYS CREEK, MANSFIELD SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

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  • History

    WALLABY MINE WORKINGS & MACHINERY SITE - 1 - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: The reefs towards the head of Wallaby Creek were discovered in 1864 and water wheel driving a small four head stamp battery was in operation by September. This was replaced a year later by a 16 horsepower horizontal steam engine driving a 12 head stamp battery. The upper levels were worked by adits at least until the end of the nineteenth century. The most productive phase of mining was between 1869 and 1879 when some 4 000 ounces of gold were obtained from about 15 000 tons of stone. Mining continued sporadically until 1912. In 1904 a shaft was sunk to reach the lower levels, but this does not appear to have been successful;. There was a trial crushing in 1907 and limited development work for several years thereafter. A fresh start was made in 1923 by driving a long adit from lower down the creek in order to get the lower workings more economically. The old steam driven battery was shifted down from the old workings to a new site on the creek 25 metres below, but the results were disappointing and the mine was abandoned in 1927. Some of the smaller and more easily transportable equipment was removed several years later.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    WALLABY MINE WORKINGS & MACHINERY SITE - 1 - Heritage Inventory Description

    The original workings are situated towards the head of Wallaby Creek at the junction of three gullies and consist of several collapsed adits, a shaft and associated mullock dumps. In the creek below the workings there is machinery site which contains an early Clayton, Shuttleworth and Company portable boiler; 6 foot diameter and 20 feet long, with a single lap circumferential and radial joints using rivets with pointed heads.

    Heritage Inventory Significance: State. The site is relatively intact.

    Heritage Inventory Site Features: Adits.Shaft and associated mullock heap.Machinery site.

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