HUNTS DAM AND RACE

MIDLAND HIGHWAY DRY DIGGINGS, HEPBURN SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

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    HUNTS DAM AND RACE - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: Hunt's water race appears to have been built in two sections. In 1860, Mr Wilson constructed a race which brought water from Wollowbee Creek (now Wallaby Creek) across the elevated plains to Shepherds Flat. This race was some 15 miles long and supplied water for the Dry Diggings goldfield. Mr Wilson also had a battery, which was located on Middletons Creek, which presumably was water-powered. Wilson's race was purchased, in 1861, for the sum of £115, by the Prince Llewellyn Co - Specimen Parker Reef, Dry Diggings - for water for their crushing plant and dam. The race also appears to have been referred to as the Kangaroo Creek race: eg., in 1884, the race was supplying water for 15 sluice-heads for sluicing gullies in the Dry Diggings area, and also, for powering a water-wheel battery on Sportsman's Reef. Wilson's race was later extended by Mr Hunt to Middletons Creek where the water was used to sluice various gullies.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    HUNTS DAM AND RACE - Heritage Inventory Description

    Dam - Large full dam which is choked with weeds. The dam still has remains of wooden valve.Water race - Hunt's race runs down the north side of the gully, below embankment. This race is traceable to sluicing works on tributaries of Middletons Creek, south of Vaughan. [Sites recorded in Castlemaine and Fryers Creek Mining Divisions]

    Heritage Inventory Significance: The site has:Historical significance - one of Daylesford's major water racesScientific significance - well preserved race and dam systemNetwork values - Beehive mine and workings, Parkers Specimen Reef mine and workings, Hunts Dam and race. Hunts Dam and water race also linked to several sites at Middletons Creek, in the Fryers Creek mining Division.

    Recorded by: David Bannear

    Heritage Inventory Site Features: DamWater race

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