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TIPPERARY GULLY
BLACKBURN TRACK MAIN LEAD, PYRENEES SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory
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Statement of Significance

The Tipperary Gully Gold Puddling Site consists of the remnants of six puddling machines complete with dumps of washed pebbles, the associated water race and a patch of shallow sinkings. These working comprise a good characteristic example of the puddling technology developed in Victoria from 1854 in response to the need to process enormous amounts of clay soil which needed to be broken up to get at the gold. Horses were used to drag harrows around a circular ditch in which the soil and water were mixed.

The Tipperary Gully Gold Puddling Site is of historical, archaeological and scientific importance to the State of Victoria.

The Tipperary Gully Gold Puddling Site is historically and scientifically important as a characteristic and well preserved example of a site associated with an early form of gold mining which, from 1851, played a pivotal role in the development of Victoria. Puddling machine technology is particularly important in the history of Victorian gold mining as the only technology or method developed entirely on Victorian gold fields.

The Tipperary Gully Gold Puddling Site is archaeologically important for its potential to yield artefacts and evidence which will be able to provide significant information about the cultural history of gold mining and the gold seekers themselves.

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    • History

      TIPPERARY GULLY - History

      Heritage Inventory History of Site: The Mount Cole water race was constructed by the Wimmera Sluicing Company in the early 1860s. Various sluicing companies and proprietors of puddling machines used its water to work the Fiery Creek Lead and its rich tributaries such as Tipperary and Musical gullies. The archaeological evidence, coupled with local information supplied by Norm Dickman, suggests that the gully was a focal point for puddling in the 1930s and 1940s. Norm's father operated one of the puddlers on the site, using water from the race.

      Heritage Inventory Description

      TIPPERARY GULLY - Heritage Inventory Description

      Mount Cole water race - The race crosses Tipperary Gully via a 50 metre long, 4 metre high, embankment. The race supplied water for the puddlers.Puddling complex (east to west). Puddlers are located from 8 to 10 metres apart and fed by water from small dams and channels off Mount Cole water race. There are six adjoining puddlers: Puddler 1 - Diameter 16ft, inner mound pronounced and puddling trench is deep with sheer sides.. Puddler is obscured by fallen tree. Outlet and inlet channels are visible.Puddler 2 - Diameter 18ft, inner mound is pronounced and puddling trench is deep with sheer sides (still possible to see impressions of slabbing in walls). Slight depression on northern side of puddler where sluice box was set up. Outlet and inlet channels are visible. This puddler identified by Norm Dickman as the one operated by his dad in the 1940s.Puddler 3 - Diameter 20ft, inner mound is pronounced (traces of burnt pivot post) and puddling trench is deep with sheer sides. Outlet and inlet channels are visible. Seven dumping lines of wash extend from puddlers 3 and 4. Boundary fence between Puddlers 3 and 4.Puddler 4 - Puddler is very weathered but still retains its pivot post. Seven dumping lines of wash extend from puddlers 3 and 4. The longest dumping line would extend for 15 metres and is 1 metre deep.Puddler 5 - Puddler is very weathered, the inner mound has gone, distinguished by outer rim.Puddler 6 - Diameter 20ft, the inner mound is beginning to weather, puddling trench is still quite deep and pronounced. The outlet channel is visible and associated with several large dumps of pebbles-wash.Shallow sinkings - Running along the north side of Tipperary Gully, opposite the puddling complex, is a patch of well defined shallow sinkings. Shallow workings - The head of Tipperary Gully has been extensively surfaced. There is at least one embankment with very weathered puddlng site./n

      Heritage Inventory Significance: The site has:Scientific significance - relatively large concentration of puddling machines; intactness of the relics and alluvial workings.Natural values - well preserved alluvial landscape.SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: National Estate

      Recorded by: David Bannear

      Heritage Inventory Site Features: - Mount Cole water race. - puddling complex (east to west). There are six adjoining puddlers.

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