OLD SPECIMEN HILL

SPECIMEN HILL TRACK DAYLESFORD, HEPBURN SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    OLD SPECIMEN HILL - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: The Specimen Hill Reef was discovered by a sluicing party (Woodburn, Fullarton & party) in 1857. For several years the reef was worked on a small scale, but in the mid 1860s the Specimen Hill Company was organised and a large amount of ground was taken up by the company. The company worked for profitably for a number of years, realising nearly a ton weight of gold. The company installed substantial new plant in 1869, when a large body of quartz was struck at the 349-ft level, which contained large quantities of iron pyrites; 20 tons of which yielded 55 ounces of gold. Another good shoot of gold was also struck in March 1878, at the 460-ft level. The Specimen Hill Company ceased mining in 1880 and the ground remained abandoned from then until the lease was acquired by the Victorian Star Company in 1906. During the years 1867 to 1880 inclusive, the company crushed 88,339 tons of quartz for 24,985 ounces of gold. The company's shaft reached a depth of nearly 600ft. Machinery installation on the Specimen Hill1866 - the Specimen Hill Co. engaged in procuring and erecting additional powerful machinery1869 - Specimen Hill Quartz Mining Co. - 17 heads of stampers, Hungarian mills, Chilian mill, and buddle; and also the furnace.1876 - the Specimen Hill Company are erecting a fourth engine (winding).

    Heritage Inventory Description

    OLD SPECIMEN HILL - Heritage Inventory Description

    Mullock heap - 200 metres to the north-east of New Specimen Hill is a large intact mullock heap which has three dumping lines. Each dumping line is approximately 50 metres long and are completely hidden by broom. Machinery site - At the rear of the mullock heap, covered by thick broom is a large spread of brick, stone and mortar rubble./n

    Heritage Inventory Significance: The site has:Archaeological potentialNetwork values - part of the Specimen Hill-Rising Star group of quartz mining sitesSIGNIFICANCE RANKING: Regional significance

    Recorded by: David Bannear

    Heritage Inventory Site Features: Mullock heapMachinery site

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