BLACK HILL

DESERT ROAD SCARSDALE, GOLDEN PLAINS SHIRE

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.

Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    BLACK HILL - History

    Contextual History:History of Place:
    Heritage Inventory History of Site:
    30.09.1857: there has been a rush to the gully at Black Hill which runs towards Linton; there are 2000 to 3000 miners on the ground including many Chinese and the yield is reported to be good with the depth of sinking at 60 feet.
    
    08.07.1858: companies are cutting races to use the water for the surfacing at Watson’s Hill and Black Hill.
    
    North-east side of Black Hill
    07.1859: a new lead has been discovered by a party of Chinese; 10 block claims have been registered; the gutter is found at a depth of 90 feet and produces 2.5 ozs per cubic yard; the last 2 claims are on trap-rock.
    BLACK HILL PUDDLING AND SLUICING COMPANY.
    04.08.1858: the Black Hill Sluicing Co. have commenced this week and have a fine reservoir opposite the German Lead.
    01.1860: fittings and machinery are nearly complete.
    05.1860: operation is in working order and the company is satisfied with the prospects of its adventure.
    06.1860: company to be reorganised; yield of 24 ozs from 500 cart loads has proved the ground but the operation is not very efficient; the present method of operation is to convey earth in trucks 160 yards along a steep incline to a puddling machine; recommends the expenditure of 1000 pounds on a steam engine and forcing pumps would allow the 16 shareholders to wash 500 loads per week and obtain a yield of 25 ozs.
    08.1860: partnership dissolved and the claim sold at auction; purchasers intend using skilful labor and proper machinery to make this a paying claim.
    (new company - no name given)
    11.1860: new sluicing company have their works almost prepared; their machinery is select and the operation is well run.
    12.1860: company in full working order.
    03.1861: operations suspended; trial was unsuccessful; claim and plant will be advertised for sale.
    BLACK HILL TUNNEL CO., Scarsdale
    24.04.1860: got their machinery into full working order after six months work; have put in a tunnel 150 feet, laid down 600 feet of double tramway, put a very substantial dam across Smythes Creek, cut a race 5 feet deep and a quarter of a mile long, sunk a well is placed a vertical acting set of pumps which raises water 45 feet and afterwards conveyed to a reservoir on the side of the hill to supply the engine and puddling machine; have a very neat 8 horse power engine which works first rate and answers their purpose admirably; the tramway has an incline of 140 feet, the full truck down pulls the empty one up with great ease; the works are a credit to the eight men in this company; they commenced puddling last Monday.
    BLACK HILL TUNNEL Co., Scarsdale
    14.09.1896: extended their drive to 553 feet.
    
    Jupiter Lead, Black Hill,
    12.1867: a new shaft was bottomed on the Jupiter Lead at Black Hill and it contains good prospects.
    Oldham Lead the south-western side of Black Hill
    10.1858: discovered.
    07.1859: has measured up to expectations; two companies using engines still at work on the lead; the first has not reached the gutter and the fortunes of the second fluctuate between subsistence and inadequate wages.
    BILLING AND COMPANY, north of Black Hill
    03.1861: sinking for a new lead and the indicators are good.
    BLACK HAWK PROSPECTING COMPANY, on the south-western side of Black Hill,
    07.1859: run of auriferous ground found at a depth of 45 feet; 6 block claims are busily at work producing 1.5 ozs per cubic yard from wash-dirt that is 1 to 2 feet thick.
    FITZROY COMPANY, at Black Hill, near Allotment 9 Scarsdale, described as the lowest in this gully;
    11.1860: sunk one shaft and are beginning another; this lead and the Oldham are likely to join and form a tributary to the main lead near Allotment 9 Scarsdale.
    SCARSDALE SLUICING CO., Black Hill, Scarsdale
    SCARSDALE HYDRAULIC CO.,
    18.08.1906: a sluicing company is constructing a dam and a pumping plant will be erected.
    27.10.1906: constructing a 30 million gallon water supply dam; the average depth of the wash is 40 feet; the plant to treat the wash will be ready by next year.
    24.11.1906: completed the concrete foundations for the machinery; boiler is expected to be delivered to day; construction of the large dam is going well.
    12.01.1907: machinery is about finished and active work will commence soon.
    23.03.1907: new pump to be installed which will be capable of pumping 100 tons per hour.
    13.04.1907: operating on a good face for three shifts; awaiting the 12 inch pump.
    20.04.1907: operating with two shifts on a face of wash 10 to 25 feet deep.
    15.06.1907: putting a 12 inch Robinson pump to replace the 10 inch one.
    03.08.1907: working three shifts,

    Heritage Inventory Description

    BLACK HILL - Heritage Inventory Description

    /nA large open cut caused by sluicing. It is 200 m long and 100 m wide commencing at Desert Road and going north. The cutting can be accessed from Desert Road and at the northern end the face of the cliff is 10 to 12 m high. The area around the cutting is planted with pines, the cutting itself is a stone reserve and there are signs of stone extraction activity. There are several small shafts around the outside of the cutting at the northern end. Some of these shafts are open for approximately 12 m. They are in good condition. Some are rectangular shafts 1.1 m by 0.6 m and others circular shafts, 0.9 m in diameter. Toe holes used to climb in and out are still visible in some of the circular shafts. South of Desert Road there is an open area which looks like it may have been where the material from the cutting was washed. At the end of this open area are the remains of a small mullock and a small quartz wash heap. These heaps together cover an area of approximately 25 m by 12 m by 3 m high. Most of the material in these heaps has been removed. It not clear whether the material came from a separate mine possibly the Fitzroy or whether it came from the sluicing operation at Black Hill.

    Heritage Inventory Significance: Local

• Location map
• Explore related places
  • Show:
    -- select -- Nearby Places

  • BUTE CO NO.1

    

    Victorian Heritage Inventory
  • FITZROY CO

    

    Victorian Heritage Inventory
  • DEEP LEAD MINE

    

    Victorian Heritage Inventory
• Public contributions