MORNING STAR MINE & MACHINERY SITE

MORNING STAR CREEK HEYFIELD, WELLINGTON SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    MORNING STAR MINE & MACHINERY SITE - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: Reefs were worked on Morning Star Creek by 1864, the most successful being the Crinoline Reef. Further down the creek, the Morning Star Co. put some rich stone through their steam-powered 12-head battery, erected (according to Milner/Supple et al) in 1865 (I found no record in the Mining Surveyors' Reports).Mines along Morning Star Creek were re-tried between 1904-10, and it was probably during this period that the extant waterwheel was installed at the Morning Star mine site. The amount of actual mining carried out was minimal and little gold was produced.References: Milner (1989/1) Supple et al, M12

    Heritage Inventory Description

    MORNING STAR MINE & MACHINERY SITE - Heritage Inventory Description

    Features of the Morning Star Co. mine and machinery site are a waterwheel and race, mine workings, and hut sites. Heritage Inventory Significance: The Morning Star Gold Battery Site consists of a metal pitchback waterwheel. The waterwheel is a remnant of a ore a crushing battery which was installed during the period 1904-10 and was one of a number of mills put in to serve mines working along Morning Star Creek. The site is badly obscured by blackberry bushes.The Morning Star Gold Battery Site is of historical, and scientific importance to the State of Victoria.The Morning Star Gold Battery Site is historically and scientifically important as a characteristic and well preserved example of an important form of gold mining. The waterwheel is the only recorded one of its type surviving in Victoria. Gold mining sites are of crucial importance for the pivotal role they have played since 1851 in the development of Victoria. As well as being a significant producer of VictoriaÆs nineteenth century wealth, with its intensive use of machinery, played an important role in the development of Victorian manufacturing industry. The abandoned mining machinery at the Morning Star battery site is historically important for its evocation of the adventurousness, hardship, and isolation that was part of mining life in the high country areas of the State.The Morning Star Gold Battery Site is archaeologically important for its potential to yield artefacts and evidence which will be able to provide significant information about the technological history of gold mining. Heritage Inventory Site Features: Waterwheel - Thompson 20ft diameter, 6ft wide, fabricated metal pitchback waterwheel, which was supplied with water from a race along the southern margin of the creek. Mine workings - the mine associated with the waterwheel is on the northern side of the creek a short distance upstream. The shaft at creek level has been filled in and the lower adit has collapsed. There is a second adit higher up the slope and above this the reef has been stoped to the surface. Huts - there is some evidence of building sites on both sides of the creek but the area is thickly infested with blackberries. Updated 19/07/2022 The site is accessed via a well-signposted and formed 2km walking track which begins on Middle Star Track about 200m north of its junction with Donnellys Creek Road. The walking track continues on to the Crinoline mine machinery site. The waterwheel site is at creek level but no flood damage was noted. The waterwheel was manufactured by Thompson’s of Castlemaine and is 20 feet in diameter and 6 feet in width. There is a small, partly-buried spur wheel on the north side of the waterwheel, and the water race which fed the overshot wheel is located in thick scrub to the west, drawing water from upstream. No mine workings were visible in the immediate vicinity of the waterwheel. Early lease plans indicate the workings were on the hillside on the opposite side of the creek. This hillside is very steep and is presently heavily vegetated. From the walking track on the hillside above the walking track, surface workings may be visible (see photo, following) but were effectively inaccessible under the conditions.
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