WILSON'S CREEK MINING AREA
WILSON TRACK EILDON, MURRINDINDI SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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WILSON'S CREEK MINING AREA - History
Heritage Inventory History of Site:
Wilson Creek, a tributary of Jerusalem Creek and 3½ miles from the nearest previously known gold, was rushed and named in July 1871. The discoverers made the following submission to the Secretary for Mines, on 8 July 1871:Sir,I have the honor to report that on Thursday, the 6th of July instant, David Wilson, Colin Wilson, and James Colba, and I the undersigned, commenced prospecting for gold in a creek running into the Jerusalem Creek, at a point situated three miles and a half from the nearest point where gold had previously been discovered; that on the same day that we commenced working we struck payable gold at a depth of four (4) feet from the surface; that on Friday, the 7th day of July instant, we washed up and obtained for the two days' work 1 oz 19 dwts 18 grs of gold; and that after obtaining this we washed another dish out of the same paddock, and obtained from it 3 dwts of gold; that, from the extent of ground available for mining, I believe that this will prove a goldfield which will support a large number of miners; and that I having, with my mates, been the first discoverers, we have reported this with a view to obtaining a Government reward, should such be given. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, WILLIAM WILSON"
One hundred miners were soon on the ground, engaged in shallow sinking. The Jamieson mining registrar visited Wilson Creek and wrote on 18 July that the gold obtained there was very coarse and of excellent quality, the bank paying £3 18s per oz for it. 'Very few of the miners,' he wrote, 'have as yet supplied themselves with appliances for draining their paddocks. Many are now, however, engaged in making Californian pumps, &c, ' He observed that 'there is a large area available for mining, the flats on the creek being of considerable extent, and many of the spurs and low hills in the locality being apparently "made" ground.' Two quartz veins were struck that same month and a total of 102 claims, alluvial and quartz, were registered, but half of them were never worked or abandoned within weeks. The rush to Wilson Creek was short-lived and the locality disappeared from mining records.During the 1930s, Rickards and son worked a quartz claim at Wilson Creek. A battery operated at their mine, with ore conveyed from the (lower) adit by incline tramway. In 1936 the Rickards crushed 210 tons for a yield of just 35 oz.
References:
Department of Mines Annual Report, 1936
Mining and Geological Journal, July 1937, January 1938
Mining Surveyors' Reports (Jamieson Subdivision), June 1871 (postscript); (Big River Subdivision), September 1871Heritage Inventory Description
WILSON'S CREEK MINING AREA - Heritage Inventory Description
The mining relics at Wilson Creek mainly date from the 1930s, although the locality was originally worked in 1871. Features of the Wilson Creek mine are a battery shed, remains of a 4-head battery, hut site, water race and puddling machine, and mine adit.
Heritage Inventory Significance: Regional. The site represents two periods of mining and has individual features.
Heritage Inventory Key Components: Battery - old battery shed with split paling chute, and battery foundations. Shed covered with iron roof, collapsed at one corner. Near the shed are parts of an old battery, including four stampers (manufactured by Vickery Burnley, Melbourne), also rails, small wheels from mining skips, lengths of pipe, and other small metal objects. The army removed a large fly-wheel from the battery (1970s?). Hut site - just above the battery is a hut made of rusted flat iron and containing a fireplace and two crude beds. The hut walls are pocked by gunshot. Race & puddling machine - water race leads from the battery site around the spur. Just below the race is a puddling machine, in very good state of preservation. Inlet and outlet are both visible. Mine adit - mine tunnel about 1.7 m high and 1 m wide. Excavated by Rickard's party in 1930s, originally about 120 m long. Tunnel is now significant as a roosting place for, and the most westerly occurrence of, the eastern horseshoe bat, Renolohus magaphyllus.
Archeological Potential: Site
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WILSON'S CREEK MINING AREAVictorian Heritage Inventory
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