LORD HARRY MINE

221 BEACONSFIELD ROAD SMEATON, HEPBURN SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    LORD HARRY 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 Lord Harry was floated in August 1879. When shaft sinking commenced, problems with water were soon encountered. In August 1883 capital was increased to £36,000. By March 1884 only 900 ounces of gold had been won from the payment of £24,364 in calls. In March of the following year the company was obliged to suspend operations pending the installation of additional capital. Nominal capital was increased to £72,000. The mine remained idle until the last quarter of 1885 when preparations were made to begin pumping.By the following February six weeks of pumping had been undertaken but, without help from adjoining claims, this proved to be of little effect. In the second half of 1887 pumping was recommenced, and by September 1888 the directors reported they had opened up 'an extensive field of payable wash.' Six months later the wash had not proved 'equal to expectations.' By February 1891, shortly before its closure, the mine had produced gold worth £43,896 and shareholders had contributed £59,600. Working expenses had reached almost £109,000 but no dividends had been paid. By the date of its closure in 1891, the Lord Harry had produced only 6,850 ounces of gold and paid £2,250 in dividends.Machinery Information extracted from The Significance of Some Mining Machinery Sites in the Creswick Division, 1859-1927, P. Milner, March 1988.September 1886: 45,000 gallons per hour pumped out but barely able to lower water level. 10 x 7 foot strokes required on pump to keep water at Level 1015, 50 feet above the plat. Water pumped into Bullarook Creek. Tangye steam engine used to pump mine water for use in the boiler.1886: Continuously pumping then with 18 inch pumps (6 million gallons per week); water 40 feet up shaft which is 620 feet deep.1901: 26 inch cylinder non-condensing steam pumping engine 18 inch pumps, 7 foot stroke, 9 stokes per minute to 600 feet.Significance As a gold producer Lord Harry was insignificant. It does illustrate the difficulties posed for profitable mining

    Heritage Inventory Description

    LORD HARRY MINE - Heritage Inventory Description

    Mullock - Intact heap with one dumping line. Pebble - Intact dump with one dumping line. Shaft/bob-pit - Open fenced shaft with small section (east wall) of brick bob-pit. Machinery site - Benched platform containing an extensive spread of rubble (red brick, stone and mortar) and shell of Cornish Boiler. Powder magazine ? On the western side of the benched platform is doughnut-like feature with stone retained earth walls. The structure has a 35ft diameter, narrow entrance and slot that leads to a 7ft diameter chamber./n

    Heritage Inventory Significance: The site has: Scientific significance - intact foundations Social value - mullock heap is a prominent landscape feature Archaeological potential Network values - part of the Berry network of significant mining sites

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

    Heritage Inventory Site Features: - mullock heap- pebble dump- shaft/bob pit- machinery site - powder magazine (?)

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