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CONNESS REEF MINE SITE
334 UPPER MURRAY ROAD TOWONG, TOWONG SHIRE
CONNESS REEF MINE SITE
334 UPPER MURRAY ROAD TOWONG, TOWONG SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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CONNESS REEF MINE SITE - History
Heritage Inventory Description:
Conness' Reef—north of the Gift lode, on the southern flank of Mt Talgarno (or Flagstaff Hill, as it was called)—was among the first reefs worked on the Bethanga field in the mid-1870s. In 1879, the mining registrar referred to 'Conness' old forfeited gold mining lease', which was then being worked by the Endeavour Co. From 1884, Conness' was part of the Wallace Bethanga Co.'s ground. Late that year, Conness' upper tunnel was reported to be in about 400 ft on a lode considered to be very rich. Good stone was produced until at least the end of 1886, and the tunnel was driven a further 200 ft during 1887-8.
After the Wallace Bethanga Co. was prevented from calcining (burning) its ore in open kilns at the upper Bethanga township in 1887, a 400-ton capacity calcining kiln was built on Conness' Reef and was in operation by 1889. (The company also had a public battery on Flagstaff Hill—possibly at Conness' Reef.)
References to Conness' Reef beyond that date have not been found, but it is almost certain that work on the lode was continued by the Bethanga Goldfields Co. when it took over Wallace's leases in the mid-1890s.
References:
Mining Surveyors' Reports (Mitta Mitta North) March 1879; (Bethanga Subdivision), December 1884, September 1886, June 1887, December 1889, March 1889
Philipp (1987), p. 170Heritage Inventory Description
CONNESS REEF MINE SITE - Heritage Inventory Description
/nThe Conness Reef mine site comprises two adit levels with large mullock heaps.
Heritage Inventory Significance:/nRegional. /nThe site has scientific significance because of its intactness.
Recorded By: David Bannear. Date recorded: May 1995
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CONNESS REEF MINE SITEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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Towong Hill HomesteadNational Trust
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