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MAGENTA QUARTZ MINE
145 MAGENTA ROAD CHILTERN, INDIGO SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
MAGENTA QUARTZ MINE SOHE 2008
MAGENTA QUARTZ MINE SOHE 2008
MAGENTA QUARTZ MINE SOHE 2008
1 magenta quartz mine chiltern shaft jan00
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
 Magenta Quartz Mine began as an open cut mine in 1860 on the Magenta gold fields, 1.6km northeast of Chiltern in north eastern Victoria. Following the discovery of gold in Victoria (1851), quartz gold mining developed in the mid-1850s, subsequent to alluvial mining practices, and intensified c.1860. Two separate Magenta quartz gold mining syndicates operated on separate reefs at different periods. The first Magenta Company remained in continuous operation until 1901 and excavated the open cut mine using horse and dray. The second Magenta Company, operating from c.1909 to the mid-1920s, mined an open stope reef to the west using a steam powered winch and pulley system. Mullock from the stope was dumped onto the open cut site filling in many of the tunnels extending down past the cut. Published figures indicate the mine yielded 9900 oz. of gold from 21 665 tons of crushed material, although it is believed that 13000 oz. is a more accurate sum.

Developing as a result of the rush to gold, Magenta was a significant township during the late 1860s and remained an important residential area up to 1907; World War I fostered its decline. The Magenta reef was briefly reworked during the 1930s depression years. The mining site is now open to tourists as part of the Chiltern Box-Ironbark National Park.

The Magenta Quartz Mine site comprises an open cut mine measuring 50m x 30m x 8m deep and an open stope mine west of the open cut measuring 20m x 5m x40m deep. The remains of two stamping batteries, two intact sealed shafts, and tailings dumps are evident. The mine's integrity has been moderately compromised due to disturbance of the tailings and partial filling of the open cut.

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, quartz mining, with its intensive reliance on machinery, played an important role in the development of Victorian manufacturing industry.

How is it significant?
 Magenta Quartz Mine is of historical and archaeological significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
 The Magenta Quartz Mine is historically important for its association with the Victorian gold rush and in demonstrating the contribution of quartz mining to Victoria's prosperity from gold.

The Magenta Quartz Mine is of archaeological significance for its potential to yield information concerning the technological history of gold mining in Victoria.

(Online Data Upgrade Project 2007)

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    • Permit Exemptions

      MAGENTA QUARTZ MINE - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component.

      General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and plan all works shall be in accordance with it. Note:A Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan.

      General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. Minor Works : Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works may submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      MAGENTA QUARTZ MINE - Permit Exemption Policy

      The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works that do not impact on the heritage significance of the place to occur without the need for a permit. Works other than those mentioned in the permit exemptions may be possible but will require either the written approval of the Executive Director or permit approval.

      The cultural heritage significance of the Magenta Quartz Mine is primarily archaeological. The site comprises an open cut mine, an open stope mine west of the open cut, remains of two stamping batteries, two intact sealed shafts, and tailings dumps.

      It is important that works that may impact on the surviving below ground archaeological deposits and/or the remnant mine features are subject to the permit process. A permit must be obtained for all works in the area of the registered land that may impact on the subsurface deposits.

Public contributions

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