CRINOLINE MINE & MACHINERY SITE

DONNELLYS CREEK ROAD YANGOURA, WELLINGTON SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

CRINOLINE MINE & MACHINERY SITE

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    CRINOLINE MINE & MACHINERY SITE - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: The Crinoline Co. was the first to have a battery on the spot at Morning Star Creek, in 1864. The next year, the water-powered 12-head battery was expanded to 16 heads and a supplementary steam engine added. The Crinoline was by far the most successful of the Morning Star mines between 1864-8. It was subsequently worked by the North Crinoline Co. (1868), Victoria Co. (1869-71), and Golden Key Co. (1871-5). A tramway connecting the battery with the Bismark mine on Concord Creek was constructed in 1872. No mention was found of the Crinoline battery after 1874; however, the Bismark United Co. acquired its own 15-head battery at about the same time.In 1880, the peculiarly-named Gnome Co. was formed to work the old Crinoline ground. Prospecting, however, turned up nothing payable and the company quickly faded from the record.Mines on the Crinoline line were re-tried during a revival early in the twentieth century, but little gold was produced.References: Milner (1898/1)Mining Surveyors' Reports (Donnelly's Creek), 1864-75, December 1880, June 1881Supple et al, M12

    Heritage Inventory Description

    CRINOLINE MINE & MACHINERY SITE - Heritage Inventory Description

    Features of the Crinoline battery are a Cornish boiler, steam engine, and battery. Heritage Inventory Significance: National EstateScientific significance, because of its rarity and intactness.Heritage Inventory Site Features: Boiler - Cornish boiler, 5¢ ft in diameter x 17 ft long, still set in its stone setting.Battery engine - partly dismantled Canal Basing Foundry horizontal single-cylinder double-acting steam engine, complete with flyball governor and 9ft-diameter flywheel.Battery - partly dismantled battery. Two Fulton and Shaw wooden-framed 4-head stamp batteries, cast in Melbourne in 1866, and a Fulton wooden-framed 4 head stamp battery, cast in Melbourne in 1864. Updated 19/07/2022 - The site is accessed via a well-signposted and formed 2.5 km walking track which begins on Middle Star Track about 200m north of its junction with Donnellys Creek Road. The track passes the Morning Star waterwheel site. The entry track follows an old water race as it nears the machinery site. The site has several levels. A rock-retained wall is situated above the entry track and a track or tramway follows the contour towards a gully but disappears int thick scrub and blackberry growth. Below the entry track is a large benched landing containing a boiler in a stone setting. Below this landing is another large landing with numerous machinery relics being covered by blackberry growth. These include a large steam engine tipped on its side, two 4-head battery boxes, two 4-head battery camshafts and a few battery stems. No mine workings are visible in the vicinity of this site. The area is very heavily vegetated and there are limited lines of sight. From early lease plans, the Crinoline workings appear to be about half a kilometre south-east of the machinery site, near the Morning Star Track which climbs the crown of the spur to the east of the machinery site.
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