CHILTERN VALLEY CHINESE CAMP
250 MARENGOS ROAD CHILTERN VALLEY, INDIGO SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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CHILTERN VALLEY CHINESE CAMP - History
As part of the Indigo Mining Division, encompassing Chiltern, Indigo and Rutherglen, settlement west of Chiltern Valley did not commence until the gold rush finally reached the north-east part of Victoria. Here Woolshed diggings were worked first, as early as 1853. As the first easy alluvial diggings were exhausted, new fields were opened up at Indigo at Chiltern in 1858, followed by the rush to Rutherglen in 1860.
By the end of 1860, seven deep leads and seven reefs were being worked. Thomas Thornely reported that the population of the Indigo Mining Division in December 1860 was 12,905, including 1,925 Chinese (Lloyd and Kennedy 2007: 28 and 29). Parish and geological plans of the period (ie. Everett 1868) refer to mining settlements such as Durham, Indigo and Cornishtown, each separated by 12 kilometres or so. However, mining on the Indigo was mostly shallow alluvial mining and/or search for gold found in deep leads that was easily exhausted. Places such as Chiltern Valley quickly declined after the 1860s and the Chinese men who stayed in the region, diversified to work in the winery and other local industries (Lloyd and Kennedy 2007:155).CHILTERN VALLEY CHINESE CAMP - Interpretation of Site
Despite the lack of evidence of surface features, ceramic remnants and brick have been collected from the area and the site has further archaeological potential.
CHILTERN VALLEY CHINESE CAMP - Archaeological Significance
The location of the camp at Chiltern Valley is of local importance, a Chinese camp in a region where these types of sites are relatively common. Despite the lack of evidence of surface features, ceramic remnants and brick have been collected from the area and the site has further archaeological potential.
The site is of regional significance as one of a number of Chinese settlements associated with the 19th century mining of the Indigo goldfield. A detailed survey and excavation of the Chiltern Valley Camp Land may allow an opportunity for further analysis of the material culture and structural remains associated with one of the most significant ethnic groups (said loosely) on the Victorian goldfields, little of which has been written about within this area of the north east. The association with a specific group means that it therefore may be of additional significance to members of that group.CHILTERN VALLEY CHINESE CAMP - Historical Significance
The site is significant through its association with 19th century mining in the north-east and more broadly with the history of non-European groups in Australia.
Heritage Inventory Description
CHILTERN VALLEY CHINESE CAMP - Heritage Inventory Description
Private property and road and creek reserve, inspected from Marengos Road. Land comprises some woodland adjacent to a creek gully and an open paddock marking the location of a former Chiltern Valley Chinese Camp (mid 19th century). Visible from the road was a scatter of hand made bricks located in the adjacent gully, but no other archaeological structures could be seen. The paddock is apparently the source of Chinese ceramics collected by a local landowner in the 1930s and 1940s (P. Marengo, source R. Fuge).
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CHILTERN VALLEY CHINESE CAMPVictorian Heritage Inventory
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