HAND IN HAND CYANIDE WORKS

RED HILL ROAD DEEP LEAD, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.

Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    HAND IN HAND CYANIDE WORKS - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: The Deep Lead was first worked in 1857, and during the 1860s the shallower sections of the lead were monopolised by Chinese miners who used cradles to treat the auriferous wash. In the late 1860s one deep lead mining company - the Standard Co. - attempted to work the lead at depth. In 1868, the company's efforts were thrawted when its shaft was flooded. In 1871 there was an attempt to find the continuation of the Deep Lead which had been lost when the Standard Company's shaft had been flooded. The Tregea Alluvial Company commenced work on the lease with an old steam-powered engine and were soon getting payable good. The company was then reformed into the Hand-in-Hand Company. The new company erected steam-powered machinery for winding and puddling in 1873 and mined with limited success until 1876. During this time the Hand-in-Hand produced 150.71 kg. of gold. Other companies to mine with some success during this time were the Band of Hope, Ophir, and North & South.
    

    Interpretation of Site

    HAND IN HAND CYANIDE WORKS - Interpretation of Site

    Heritage Inventory Interpretation: Cyanide works - Most of the plant is located on top of a flattened tailings dump. Treatment plant consists of a row of five, 12ft diameter, brick soakage vats; and a row of three, 17ft diameter, brick soakage vats. The vats are rendered with concrete and set 4ft apart. A raised 12ft diameter, 3ft deep, galvanised iron tank is located where the two rows of vats converge. At the base of the heap is a brick trough, 12ft x 3ft; and 9ft diameter, concrete-rendered, brick drainage vat. The brick trough is petitioned off into five compartments by thin concrete walls. This probably housed the zinc boxes. Iron pipes run from both ends of the trough to the drainage vat. Near the processing plant foundations are the footings of a small brick building, 9ft x 8ft, with a 2½ft square fire place. Mullock heap - Intact large mullock heap with 16 dumping lines and filled shaft. The heap is located to the west of the cyanide works.Machinery site - Flattened machinery site with spread of rubble.Dam - Large full damIn the 1930s, along with a general trend elsewhere in the State, the Hand-in-Hand tailings would have been treated by the cyanide process. The large scale cyaniding operations that took place in the 1930s was brought on by a rise in the price of gold, and the introduction of new filtration process which enable low grade tailings to be cyanided profitably.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    HAND IN HAND CYANIDE WORKS - Heritage Inventory Description

    Cyanide works - Most of the plant is located on top of a flattened tailings dump. Treatment plant consists of a row of five, 12ft diameter, brick soakage vats; and a row of three, 17ft diameter, brick soakage vats. The vats are rendered with concrete and set 4ft apart. A raised 12ft diameter, 3ft deep, galvanised iron tank is located where the two rows of vats converge. At the base of the heap is a brick trough, 12ft x 3ft; and 9ft diameter, concrete-rendered, brick drainage vat. The brick trough is petitioned off into five compartments by thin concrete walls. This probably housed the zinc boxes. Iron pipes run from both ends of the trough to the drainage vat. Near the processing plant foundations are the footings of a small brick building, 9ft x 8ft, with a 21/2ft square fire place. Mullock heap - Intact large mullock heap with 16 dumping lines and filled shaft. The heap is located to the west of the cyanide works.Machinery site - Flattened machinery site with spread of rubble.Dam - Large full dam. In the 1930s, along with a general trend elsewhere in the State, the Hand-in-Hand tailings would have been treated by the cyanide process. The large scale cyaniding operations that took place in the 1930s was brought on by a rise in the price of gold, and the introduction of new filtration process which enable low grade tailings to be cyanided profitably./n

    Heritage Inventory Significance: The site has:Scientific significance - unusually intact cyanide works Archaeological potential - possibleSIGNIFICANCE RANKING: National Estate

    Recorded by: David Bannear Date Recorded: July 1994 Heritage Inventory Site Features: Mine site has an intact mullock heap; cyanide works is in good condition and has high integrity.

• Location map
• Explore related places
  • Show:
    -- select -- Nearby Places

  • HAND IN HAND CO

    

    Victorian Heritage Inventory
  • TREGA

    

    Victorian Heritage Inventory
  • 
    Deep Lead Ballast Line, north of Deep Lead Sandbar Road, DEEP LEAD

    

    Northern Grampians Shire
• Public contributions