RED ROBIN MINE
HOTHAM HEIGHTS, ALPINE SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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RED ROBIN MINE - History
Heritage Inventory History of Site:
In 1941, after several years of prospecting the country between Mts Hotham and Feathertop, Bill Spargo opened up the Hotham Heights field, which comprised two reefs: the Red Robin and One Alone. The Red Robin was fabulously rich where it outcropped: a sample crushing yielded an average 112 oz per ton. Small, rich crushings continued through the 1940s. In 1949, a road into the Red Robin mine was completed and a 3-head battery brought in. Three years later the mine was purchased by the owners of the Sambas mine at Harrietville. They cut an improved track down to the mine and reconditioned the battery, also adding a hopper and self-feeder. At that time, the Red Robin was one of the richest in Victoria in terms of its yield per ton, not total production and was the highest mine in the State. Being well above the snow-line, the mine could only be worked seasonally, and its crushings remained small. In 1954, the mine crushed 49 tons for a gold return of 48 oz. From 1956 stone from the Red Robin was sent to the government battery at Bright for crushing. A 10-head battery (formerly the Bairnsdale government battery) was erected at the Red Robin mine in 1966, lower down the valley than the earlier plant had been. The mine and battery are still in operation.Heritage Inventory Description
RED ROBIN MINE - Heritage Inventory Description
/nThe original workings of the Red Robin mine are still intact, as is the prospecting hut of Bill Spargo, the mine's discoverer. The original (top) battery shed is standing, but in poor condition. The 1966 battery is still in operation, as is the mine (three adits, underlay shaft, etc.). Mine - remains include Spargo's original hut site, No.1 to No. 3 adits, site of Spargo's original discovery, mine workings along outcrop, carting tracks and tramway, rock wall retaining switchback, site of original battery (wooden foundations, etc), Spargo's second (1940s) hut, sand dam with rock retaining wall, ore tip, and mullock heaps. Battery - remains include new battery shed and associated other sheds, accommodation hut (ex Bonegilla), two-storey stone house, tailings dams, and carting tracks. New Battery Shed?5 head stamp battery and 5 head partly installed, c.1920s Wilfley table, berdan pan. All flat-belt driven from diesal engine. Spargo's original hut - some of the material of the hut still survives. Spargo's second hut - is intact at the mine. It is in excellent condition and is fully furnished
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RED ROBIN MINEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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