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GOOD HOPE CONSOLIDATED MINE
MCMILLAN TRACK AND GRANT HISTORIC AREA WONGUNGARRA, WELLINGTON SHIRE

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Statement of Significance
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The Good Hope Quartz Gold Mining Precinct consists of the remains of two crushing batteries: the Good Hope battery (remains of three 4-head stamp batteries, horizontal engine, and a Cornish boiler), and the Good Hope Consolidated battery (remains of portable steam engine and one 5-head iron framed stamping battery). The Good Hope Battery, which was installed in 1865, and has collapsed but has not been significantly scavenged. The other battery was installed in 1910 and still stands. Both batteries are associated with mine workings.

How is it significant?

The Good Hope Quartz Gold Mining Precinct is of historical and scientific importance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The Good Hope Quartz Gold Mining Precinct is historically and scientifically important as a characteristic and well preserved example of an important form of gold mining. The Good Hope battery is one of the oldest more-or-less intact batteries surviving in the State. 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 Victoria's 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 Good Hope Quartz Gold Mining Precinct 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 Good Hope Quartz Gold Mining Precinct 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.

[Source: Victorian Heritage Register]

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- History
  
  GOOD HOPE CONSOLIDATED MINE - History
  Heritage Inventory History of Site: In 1906, the Good Hope Consolidated Co. commenced a fifth adit, on the opposite side of the spur from the four existing adits of the Good Hope mine, with the intention of tracing the continuation of the reef from the No. 4 adit. The venture was luckless, but in 1909 the New Good Hope Consolidated Co. was formed to push on with the tunnel. A 5-head steam-powered battery was erected at the tunnel mouth in 1910. In 1912, the tunnel was 3,350 ft in length, and was ventilated by a powerful blower and 'capacious air pipes', driven by an oil engine. The tunnel failed to intercept the reef, and further prospecting turned up nothing payable. The mine closed down in 1915, an amount in excess of £20,000 having been spent since 1906, for neglible return.
  
  Heritage Inventory Description
  
  GOOD HOPE CONSOLIDATED MINE - Heritage Inventory Description
  
  Portable engine, battery, adit, mullock heap, mine workings.
  
  Heritage Inventory Significance: National Estate
  
  Heritage Inventory Site Features: Features of the Good Hope Consolidated mine site are a portable engine, battery, adit, and mine workings.Portable engineùWell-preserved portable engine with fly wheel and flue. All brass fittings have been removed. The engine is upright and still standing on its iron wheels. Diameter of fly wheel, 5 ft; diameter of cylinder, 8 inch; overall dimension of engine, 12ft. The boiler was last inspected on 6-2-1914. Batteryùfive head of stamps, iron-framed, manufactured by A. Roberts & Sons, Engineers, Bendigo. Mortar blocks have been burnt away.No. 5 aditùThe adit is blocked by weeds and running water. An associated large intact mullock heap has been retained in places.Mine workingsùAbove the battery are an open stope, mullock heap, and the remains of an ore truck. Another ore truck is situated further down the slope.The No. 5 adit was worked between 1906-15, reaching a length of 3,350 ft. The 5-head battery and steam engine were installed in 1910.
- Show:
- GOOD HOPE QUARTZ GOLD MINING PRECINCT
  
  Victorian Heritage Register H1268
- GOOD HOPE MINE
  
  Victorian Heritage Inventory
- GOOD HOPE CONSOLIDATED MINE
  
  Victorian Heritage Inventory