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GUN REEF GOLD BATTERY SITES
UPPER WEST BRANCH OF OVENS RIVER SELWYN, ALPINE SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
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Statement of Significance

The Gun Reef Gold Battery Sites contain the remnants from three mining operations: the Big Gun, Big Gun Extended and the Little Gun. The Big Gun battery is very intact and contains 5-head of stampers in an iron frame, Pelton wheel, plate table and buried and partly buried pieces of machinery and blacksmith's tools. Above the battery is a water race, flying fox with various bits of associated equipment, an intact tramway with iron rails, and various levels of adits. The main relic at the Little Gun is a collapsed hut, and at the Big Gun Extended mine little survives except for the mine workings. One kilometre down the gully (E031 N096 on 1:100,000 map sheet number 8324 Bogong) are the remains of the Centenary mine which include a Pelton wheel (battery has been removed), hut and various pieces of machinery. The workings and batteries date from mining operations from 1896 to 1917.

The Gun Reef Gold Battery Sites are of historical, and scientific importance to the State of Victoria.

The Gun Reef Gold Battery Sites are historically and scientifically important as characteristic and well preserved examples of an important form of gold mining. 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 Gun Reefs Sites are particularly important because of the range of artefacts that still survive, including a very intact battery, and two flying fox systems. The abandoned mining machinery at the Gun Reef Gold Battery Sites 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 Gun Reef Gold Battery Sites 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

      GUN REEF GOLD BATTERY SITES - 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:

      EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:

      No permits are required for the following classes of works provided they are
      carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Conservation Plan For
      Historic Mining Sites prepared by David Bannear in 1996.

      Mineral Exploration
      Fire suppression duties
      Timber production
      Weed and vermin control
      Public safety
      Rehabilitation

Public contributions

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