GOULBURN RIVER ALLUVIAL WORKINGS
A1 TRACK GAFFNEYS CREEK, MANSFIELD SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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GOULBURN RIVER ALLUVIAL WORKINGS - History
Heritage Inventory History of Site:
In August 1859, the Kilmore mining registrar wrote: "Reports have reached me of some few parties doing well in alluvial mining at the Upper Goulburn and the Big River; but from what I can learn great difficulties have to be encountered, both from the sudden flooding of the river claims, as well as from the difficulty of obtaining stores, provision, &c"
Early alluvial mining on the Goulburn River was largely confined to bank-sluicing claims, worked by both Europeans and Chinese.Until 1866, the bed of Goulburn River was only partially worked, by means of 'wing dams' from its banks ('Chinamen being the principal adventurers hitherto'). At that time, the first organised attempt to work the river bed was made at Tunnel Bend, south of Ten Mile (see foregoing site). 'The success of one attempt,' the mining surveyor wrote, 'would lead to the working of the bed of the river for many miles of its tortuous course.' Severe flooding stymied that attempt and appears to have continued to retard alluvial mining along the upper Goulburn. In 1868, the mining registrar was of the opinion that 'there is still remunerative employment for alluvial miners, if they would turn their attention to the banks and spurs of the Goulburn river'. But did they? Perhaps eventually, when Gaffney's, Raspberry and the other creeks were exhausted. In 1891, alluvial mining on the Gaffney's Creek field was confined to the Goulburn River.
References:
Lloyd & Combes
Mining Surveyors' Reports (Kilmore Division), August 1859; (Gaffney's Creek Subdivision), December 1865, September & December 1866, June & September 1867, December 1868Heritage Inventory Description
GOULBURN RIVER ALLUVIAL WORKINGS - Heritage Inventory Description
Evidence of alluvial diggings is visible from the road in many places. The most extensive are at 8123-3-2: 331501 (north of Picnic Point), where large trenches diagonal to the river extend to and across the road. These trenches might well have been 'wing dams' which were commonly used by Chinese (and others?) as a means of diverting water from the river, in order to enable working of the river bed or to house sluice boxes. At or near the ends of the trenches are short tunnels into an old river bed. The tunnels have partially collapsed near their entrances; some have been used by campers as rubbish pits. (Steenhuis, p. 46)
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GOULBURN RIVER ALLUVIAL WORKINGSVictorian Heritage Inventory
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