JUNGLE CREEK FALLS DIVERSION SLUICE

GRANT HISTORIC AREA AND MCMILLANS ROAD COWA, WELLINGTON SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

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  • History

    JUNGLE CREEK FALLS DIVERSION SLUICE - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: Jungo or Jungle Creek was rushed in June 1861. The discoverer, Jean Gamel, told how: 'the first party were soon stripping a twelve by twelve paddock and had a tail race completed… Each of the sixteen claims averaged from eight to twelve ounces to the paddock.' By 1863, Jungle Creek was the major diggings at Crooked River: 'it has assumed an air of permanence, men making comfortable homes and bringing their families up.' By the end of 1864, the full extent of Jungle Creek had been worked for alluvial gold, and reefs were opened up. At that time, a party of alluvial miners was constructing a channel to divert the Wongungarra River across a flat near Howitville, in order to work the river bed and later the flat itself; the scheme was regarded as a pioneering enterprise. It would have been similar in function to—although larger in scale than—the Jungle Creek Falls diversion.During 1865, the alluvial mining population of Jungle Creek fell to only 15, as the focus of alluvial mining shifted to Upper Crooked River and its tributaries, and the Dargo. From the 1870s, alluvial mining at Crooked River was largely confined to creek and river banks rather than beds and flats, and it became increasingly rare for alluvial miners to work in parties of more than two or three. In 1874, however, the mining registrar remarked that, 'The falling off in quartz mining has had a beneficial effect upon the alluvial, leading to a more general prospecting of the rivers and creeks'—including Jungle Creek—'some of which are paying more than ordinarily good wages.'Because the Crooked River alluvial rush of 1861-3 coincided with a three-year lapse in mining surveyors' reports, little exists in the way of records for the period. When reports recommenced in 1864, and for a few years afterwards, the local mining surveyor was understandably preoccupied with the phenomenal reefing rush that was in full swing. The Jungle Creek Falls diversion sluice probably dates to the period 1861-5 or mid-1870s; but no record of its construction or use has been located.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    JUNGLE CREEK FALLS DIVERSION SLUICE - Heritage Inventory Description

    Diversion sluice - 100ft long - 6-8ft deep which now runs as main course of creek during winter original course runs.

    Heritage Inventory Significance: RegionalScientific significanceùas a well-preserved and accessible example of a rare type of site: ie., a diversion sluice.Network valuesùbecause of its proximity to the Jungle Creek battery and quartz mine site, which illustrates a different aspect of gold mining in the vicinity; and as part of the overall site network comprising the Grant Historic Reserve.

    Heritage Inventory Site Features: Diversion sluiceù100ft-long cutting, 6 to 8 ft deep, which now runs as the main course of the creek. During winter, the original course also runs. Directly below the cutting is a high waterfall to which a walking track has been established. Construction rubble lies either side of the cutting and very overgrown alluvial workings (bank sluicing, pebble dumps and water races) lie upstream.

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    JUNGLE CREEK GOLD MINING DIVERSION SLUICE

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H1258
  • JUNGLE CREEK FALLS DIVERSION SLUICE

    

    Victorian Heritage Inventory
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