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NEW CHUM GOLD BATTERY SITE
DEGREAVES TRACK BENAMBRA, EAST GIPPSLAND SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
1 new chum gold battery omeo water wheel
1 new chum gold battery omeo water wheel
1 new chum gold battery omeo water wheel
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Statement of Significance

The New Chum Gold Battery Site consists of a 15ft diameter iron waterwheel and the remains of a 4-head stamping battery. The wheel, which still retains its brass fittings, spokes and buckets has collapsed and now lies on top of the stamping battery. There is evidence of several hut platforms near the battery.

The New Chum Gold Battery Site is of historical, and scientific importance to the State of Victoria.

The New Chum Gold Battery Site is historically and scientifically important as a characteristic and well preserved example of an important form of gold mining. The iron-framed water wheel is very rare, with only one other known survivor (at the Morning Star battery at Donnelly's Creek). The New Chum waterwheel and battery was installed in 1898 to crush stone obtained from reefs on Bluey's Creek, a tributary of the Upper Tambo River.

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 Degreaves Creek battery site 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 New Chum Gold Battery Site 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.

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    • Permit Exemptions

      NEW CHUM GOLD BATTERY SITE - 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.

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