MAFEKING ALLUVIAL WORKINGS
GRAMPIANS ROAD MAFEKING, ARARAT RURAL CITY
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Statement of Significance
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MAFEKING ALLUVIAL WORKINGS - History
Heritage Inventory History of Site: In 1900 there was a large rush to the Grampians area, south of Mount William, to what became known as the Maefking Rush. Gold was first found in the area by two wood splitters, named Arthur and David Schache, but was not found in payable quantities, until Philip and Frank Emmett prospected the area. In July 1900 a small rush set in and gold was found in at least ten gullies. The government issues free rail passes to field, and within a few weeks 10,000 men were on the Maefking field. The surveyed township at the rush was called Naram Naran. The gold was found in several steep-sided gullies draining off the eastern flank of Mount William. The rush was short lived and soon the mining population had been reduced to about 60 or 70 men. These men were described as sluicers and fossickers who were reported as making 'good wages' when water was available. At other times, the men found work in the local sawmills. In all some 25,000 ounces of gold was won from the field.As little to no new country was opened up the field did not experience in dramatic revivals or development of organised mining . One prospecting party did spend a couple of years driving a tunnel into Sugar-Loaf in search of a reef, but with no success. There was also a syndicate formed (Maefking Syndicate) to undertake extensive sluicing operations at Mount William. In 1938, the syndicate's tail race was reported as completed, but that sluicing had been postponed due to lack of water. The syndicate does not appear to have mined with any success. In 1939 the township of Maefking was destroyed by a bushfire.Heritage Inventory Description
MAFEKING ALLUVIAL WORKINGS - Heritage Inventory Description
Alluvial gold memorial - Constructed of granite boulders now marks the site of Mafeking Township and goldfield, gold discovered by PE & FH Emmett in June 1900, population 10,000 erected by the Shire of Ararat and subscribers, 25th March 1964. Alluvial workings - Mafeking interpretation walk goes by two large sluice holes with 20ft high vertical faces: Poverty Gully and Brownings open cuts. Both open cuts have large dumps of pebbles and are very overgrown with trees and ferns. There is a deep tail race running from the eastern end of Brownings open cut, and presumably one would also run from the end of the Poverty Gully hole. Around the open cuts are sections of water races, dams and open shafts. Like the open cuts, these features are well hidden by vegetation.
Heritage Inventory Significance: Regional
Recorded by: David Bannear Date Recorded: July 1994
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MAFEKING ALLUVIAL WORKINGSVictorian Heritage Inventory
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