MADAM BERRY WEST NO. 3 MINE

660 CRESWICK-LAWRENCE ROAD CRESWICK, HEPBURN SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    MADAM BERRY WEST NO. 3 MINE - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: The following history was extracted from The Berry Deep Leads: an historical assessment, CF&L, October 1986, Charles Fahey. The Madame Berry west Company was formed in 1882, from the western portion of the Madame Berry lease. Prior to the 1890s the mine appeared to have produced little gold. The first major return of gold was in 1893, when 9681 ounces were produced. In the 1890s the Madame Berry West was a major employer of labour in the district: from a work force of 180 men and boys in 1893, the number rose to 350 in 1897. Thereafter the Madame Berry West mine was a regular producer of gold. In 1903 there were only two companies - Berry West and Berry Consols Extended - engaged in productive mining. These two mines worked until the First World War and both, at times, employed considerable work forces: eg., in 1906 the Madame Berry West work force averaged 145 men. By 1907 the Madame Berry West had produced 147,467 ounces of gold and paid £81,137 in dividends. Called up capital amounted to only £9,000. At this date foul air proved to be a major problem for the working of the mine. Machinery Madame Berry West Company - 3 shafts, No's 1, 2 and 3. Shafts No. 1 and No. 2 'of this company 'are steamless' Significance Although we have little documentation on the Madame Berry West, the value of its gold production makes it a significant mine: only the Madame Berry and the Berry Consols produced more gold. The Madame Berry West was also highly profitable in the late 1890s, when most other mines were experiencing decline

    Heritage Inventory Description

    MADAM BERRY WEST NO. 3 MINE - Heritage Inventory Description

    Mullock - Large heap; Pebble - remains of dump; sand - massive sand dump. Machinery foundations - Large tank-like bed which measures 58ft x 11ft and stands 7ft high. The bed has stepped brick work and 2 inch mounting bolts. Hand-made bricks set in concrete mortar. Smaller bed on the east side which measures 26ft x 4ft, with 11/2 inch mounting bolts. Bob pit - North end of main bed, measures 33ft x 61/2, and 11/2 thick walls. Pit constructed of a combination of basalt blocks and red bricks. Boiler house - North-west corner of boiler house survives - west wall 30ft long and north wall 23ft. Stone walls stand to height of 5ft. The western wall appears to be intact and has a line of six portals, each one measures 21/2ft x 10 inch. Rest of building reduced to rubble./n

    Heritage Inventory Significance: State. The site has: Historical significance - the third largest gold producer on the Creswick field Scientific significance - intactness and massive size of the foundations Social value - mullock heap is a landscape feature Archaeological potential Network values - part of the Berry network of significant sites SIGNIFICANCE RANKING: National Estate

    Recorded by: J. Harrington & David Bannear Date Recorded: 00SEP1994

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