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'BLOWHOLE' DIVERSION CUTTING
BLOWHOLE TRACK HEPBURN SPRINGS, HEPBURN SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The Blowholes Gold Diversion Tunnel is a creek diversion which was probably built in the early 1860s when Jim Crow Creek was being extensively worked by European and Chinese miners. The short tunnel was used to divert the waters of Jim Crow Creek effectively cutting off a long section of the original creek. The dry creek bed has been extensively worked.

How is it significant?

The Blowholes Gold Diversion Tunnel is of historical and scientific importance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The Blowholes Gold Diversion Tunnel is historically and scientifically important as a characteristic and well preserved example of an early form of gold mining. Gold mining sites are of crucial importance for the pivotal role they have played since 1851 in the development of Victoria. Water diversion and sluicing are important key ingredients in an understanding of gold mining technology as it was employed in mountainous country where water was plentiful and perennial.

[Source: Victorian Heritage Register]

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    • History

      'BLOWHOLE' DIVERSION CUTTING - History

      Heritage Inventory History of Site: Where an auriferous river or creek formed a peninsula, it was common for alluvial miners to cut a tunnel or an open channel through the isthmus, at a level to divert the water course and lay bare the gold-bearing gravels of the steam bed. Some thirteen such diversions have been recorded in Victoria: New Adventure tunnel, Omeo; Tunnel bend diversion, Gaffneys Creek; Thomson River tunnel, Platina; Jericho tunnel, Jordan River;Goulburn River tunnel, Flourbag Creek; Gibbo River tunnel, Benambra; Houghtons or McKoys Flat tunnel, Nicholson River; Big Peninsula tunnel, Upper Yarra; Blow Holes tunnel, Daylesford; Lerderderg tunnel, Blackwood; Evelyn tunnel, Pound Bend, Warrandyte; Delegate River tunnel, Bendoc; and Harrisons Cut, DargoHistorical information has been found about only six of these diversions. In all cases, the diversions were constructed by European miners and range in date from 1868 to 1889. No information wad found on the Daylesford diversion cutting

      Heritage Inventory Description

      'BLOWHOLE' DIVERSION CUTTING - Heritage Inventory Description

      Diversion cutting - a wide, deep cutting through a narrow spur. The creek now runs through the cutting. The cutting effectively cut off about 0.75km of the original creek. The dry creek bed has been extensively worked.High terrace sluicing - High terrace gravels have been worked - well preserved pebble dumps and stone-retained tailraces - in several locations in the vicinity of the diversion: ie., at 7723-3-4: 443.665 (end of the spur); 7723-3-4: 444.668 (next spur north from the diversion cutting); and 7723-3-4: 442.670 ( next spur north).

      Heritage Inventory Significance: The site has:Scientific significance - well preserved diversion and associated alluvial workingsNetwork values - Bryces Flat network: Bryces Flat mine, 'Chinese' gardens, Blowhole diversion cutting, Glaston mineSIGNIFICANCE RANKING: National Estate

      Recorded By: David Bannear

      Heritage Inventory Site Features: Diversion cutting - High terrace sluicing

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