MONARCH BATTERY
GREAT ALPINE ROAD HARRIETVILLE, ALPINE SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The Monarch Gold Battery Site consists of the remains of one 5-head stamp battery (in a 10-head iron frame), portable steam engine, shaking table, various buried and partly buried piece of machinery, blacksmith shop and quartz mine workings. The battery and portable steam engine etc., are remnants of crushing facility that last worked in 1935. The site is obscured by blackberry bushes and tree ferns.
The Monarch Gold Battery Site is of historical and scientific importance to the State of Victoria.
The Monarch Gold Battery Site is historically and scientifically important as a characteristic and well preserved example of an important form of gold mining. Although being very close to the main Harrietville Road, the machinery has not been significantly scavenged.
Gold mining sites are of crucial importance for the pivotal role they have played since 1851 in the development of Victoria. As well as being a significant producer of Victoria's nineteenth century wealth, with its intensive use of machinery, played an important role in the development of Victorian manufacturing industry. The abandoned mining machinery at the Monarch battery site is historically important for its evocation of the adventurousness, hardship, and isolation that was part of mining life in the high country areas of the State.
The Monarch Gold Battery Site is archaeologically important for its potential to yield artefacts and evidence which will be able to provide significant information about the technological history of gold mining.
[Source: Victorian Heritage Register]
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MONARCH BATTERY - History
Heritage Inventory History of Site:
The 10-head battery (2 x 5-head boxes) at the Monarch mine was originally purchased by the New Options Co. in 1896 and was operated by Pelton wheel at a site near the company's Crescent mine. The New Options Co. closed down in 1904, and in 1913 the battery was moved to the Monarch Reef.
The Monarch Reef was one of those discovered in the difficult country above the west branch of the Ovens, south of Harrietville, in 1896 and taken up by the New Options Co. After an initial few rich crushings, yields became small and patchy. Nonetheless, by 1900, the reef had produced 2,446 oz from just 519 tons. The Monarch was prospected again during the 1910s, after which the Monarch GMC was formed in 1913 and the ex-Crescent battery installed, powered by steam engine. The mine was taken over by C.F. Proctor in 1915, and he prospected and developed it for many years, driving an adit at battery level, without success. Finally, in 1927, payable stone was struck and crushing commenced. According to Lloyd, the mine employed a 5-head battery, initially powered by a portable steam engine, which was later replaced by an oil engine. The last recorded crushing at the Monarch battery was in 1935. Four years later, bushfires incinerated the mine buildings and badly damaged the battery.Heritage Inventory Description
MONARCH BATTERY - Heritage Inventory Description
Features are: a portable steam engine, a 5-head battery, remains of a shaking table and battery feeder chute, a water tank and mine workings.
Heritage Inventory Significance: National Estate The site has scientific significance, for its rarity, as one of the best-preserved battery site in Victoria. Network values - as part of the east Ovens group of mines
Heritage Inventory Key Components: Portable steam engin - situated on an excavated platform, the portable engine which powered the Monarch battery is still upright and in good condition. It stands close to a small creek and is partly buried by silt. Its wheels and broken fly wheel have been removed and lie in the eastern corner of the platform. The engine has a single cylinder, measuring 10 inches in diameter and 1ยข ft long. The engine's overall length is 12 ft. The boiler still has most of its timber lagging and some of its brass fittings. The front of the firebox has a small brass registration plate which reads No. 6144. A similar plate on the guide for the piston rod reads AK PE 56, and on a bearing for the fly wheel, AK PE 36. Stampers - Five stamper heads remain of an iron-framed 10-head battery, the other 5-head box having been removed from the site. The battery's enclosed 6ft diameter fly wheel and cam shaft are still in position. The maker's plate on the battery reads: 'Thompson and Co., Makers, Castlemaine, Victoria'. The mortar blocks are in good condition and a substantial portion of the shaking table still survives. Near the table lies the remains of the battery feeder chute. There is a iron water tank on the western side of the battery. Mine - On the opposite side of the gully is a large mullock heap and collapsed adit.
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NEWTOWN BRIDGE PRECINCTVictorian Heritage Register H1424
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RESIDENCEVictorian Heritage Register H0354
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FLETCHERS TAIL RACEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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