WOAH HAWP CANTON MINE SETTLING PONDS
705-711 GEELONG ROAD CANADIAN, BALLARAT CITY
![Victorian Heritage Inventory](http://api.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/img/owner_icons/1087.gif)
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Statement of Significance
The Woah Hawp Canton Mine Settling Ponds is of local significance due to its association with the Gold Rush generally, and Chinese miners in Ballarat more specifically.Under the terms of the Heritage Act 2017 there is protection for all historical archaeology sites and objects in the state.
Please visit the Heritage Victoria website to find out more about the Heritage Inventory.
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WOAH HAWP CANTON MINE SETTLING PONDS - History
The associated site - Woah Hawp Canton (H7622-0126) consists of a substantially intact three-finger mullock heap 40m by 30m by 12m high. It is part of a cluster of mines, all of which were connected to and worked by the Woah Haup Canton Company in the period from 1909 to 1916. This cluster of mines includes Tinworth's and the North Prince Regent/South Woah Haup.
The Culture Victoria website, accessed 14/06/2019 states that the The Woah Hawp Canton Quartz Mining Company of Ballarat was founded in 1882 by a conglomeration of Chinese shareholders and business men who chose to employ Chinese workers.
That said, a photo of the 'Woah Hawp Canton Mine' dated to 1880 is available on the Culture Victoria website, accessed 14/06/2019.Unfortunately, due to scant and conflicting records as to the period of operations of the Woah Hawp Canton Mine it is not possible to state precisely when the settling ponds were constructed or in use; however, it is likely to have been in the order of 1880-1916.
Following the closure of the Woah Haup Canton (H7622-0126) the settlings ponds were covered with fill. The sub-surface evidence of the settlings ponds is generally at a depth of 400-700mm. The fill has caused the site to be artificially elevated above the adjacent Canadian Creek floodplain located to the east.
The southern section of the site - for which there is only surface brick as evidence of the settling ponds - was the location of a dwelling from the 1940s to 2007. The dwelling was of a weatherboard construction; however, likely had brick in the foundations and chimneys and the origin of the surface brick may, or may not be, linked to the dwelling. Since the demolition of the dwelling the property has been vacant land. It is now proposed to construct a hotel on the property.WOAH HAWP CANTON MINE SETTLING PONDS - Archaeological Significance
Documented evidence states that the Woah Hawp Canton Mine and associated settling ponds was in operation from circa 1880 to 1916. Following the closure of the Woah Hawp Canton (H76220126) the settlings ponds were also covered with fill. CHMP testing determined the sub-surface evidence of the settlings ponds is generally at a depth of 400-700mm. The fill has caused the site to be filled above the adjacent Canadian Creek floodplain located to the east. The settling ponds were comprised of red brick, asphalt and concrete, these materials were identified in multiple test pits. Since the demolition of the c. 1940s dwelling (2007) the property has been vacant land. It is now proposed to construct a hotel on the property. This demonstrates the site's significance for historical archaeological features, deposits and artefacts.
WOAH HAWP CANTON MINE SETTLING PONDS - Historical Significance
The site is significant for its association to a cluster of mines in the close vicinity of the settling ponds. The settling ponds are an example of mining operations in the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century in the heart of the goldfields. The site will provide an opportunity to gain further knowledge of mining operations in the local Ballarat area.
Heritage Inventory Description
WOAH HAWP CANTON MINE SETTLING PONDS - Heritage Inventory Description
The property is located in the Ballarat suburb of Canadian approximately 3km south-east of the Ballarat CBD. The property is bound to the north by Elsworth Street East, to the east by the Canadian Creek floodplain, to the south by existing residential properties and to the west by Main Road.
The northern section of the property has been filled and is elevated above the Canadian Creek floodplain to the east. The northern section of the property is densely grassed with a small number of mature native trees (gums).
The southern section of the property has been subject to grading and is not elevated above the Canadian Creek floodplain to the east to the same extent as the northern section of the property. The southern section of the property is sparsely grassed and has exposed brick rubble and other modern detritus visible on the ground surface. The southern section of the property contained a weatherboard dwelling until it was demolished in 2007.The archaeological site Woah Hawp Canton Mine Settling Ponds is located sub-surface under fill in the northern section of the property and possibly on the surface of the southern section of the property. Evidence of the Woah Hawp Canton Mine Settling Ponds was located in a sub-surface context during excavation undertaken for the Complex Assessment for Cultural Heritage Management Plan #16477 in the form of red brick, asphalt and concrete.
A local named Fred ???? noticed the field team excavating and advised them 'that they wouldn't find any Aboriginal cultural heritage here' as it had once been the location of the Woah Hawp Canton Mine Settling Ponds. Fred showed the field team a relatively intact example of the settling ponds on the Canadian Creek walking track approximately 100m south-east of the property. The field team noted that the settling pond was constructed of red brick, asphalt and concrete and determined that it was likely that the materials being excavated on the property were derived from the settling ponds to which Fred ???? referred.
The excavation of STP2 in particular had shown a curved wall constructed of red brick that the field team had initially thought to be a cess pit. Evidence of the settling ponds in a surface context is limited to the presence of red brick on the ground surface in the southern section of the property.
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BALLARAT MUNICIPAL OBSERVATORYVictorian Heritage Register H0936
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PORTER PREFABRICATED IRON STORE ORIGINALLY IN GEELONGVictorian Heritage Register H2248
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MINERS RIGHTS COLLECTIONVictorian Heritage Register H2112
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