AMHERST RESERVOIR ALLUVIAL WORKINGS
LILLICUR ROAD AMHERST, CENTRAL GOLDFIELDS SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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AMHERST RESERVOIR ALLUVIAL WORKINGS - History
Contextual History:History of Place:
Heritage Inventory History of Site:
April 1861: Extensive rush set in near the head of Amherst Flat, about 1ΒΌ miles distant from Amherst township, and which owes its existence to the reservoir now being constructed there...excavation to bedrock across the flat from range to range.... The rush at present is extending down the flat towards the old lead which was lost some years ago, a little above the township of Amherst.
May 1861: Reservoir Rush is declining, at one time there was 3,000 miners on the ground, but as the lead proved to be a very narrow one there was not sufficient room, now about 1500 on the lead.
June 1869: The Amherst Reservoir was leased to the 'Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses of the Borough of Amherst' for 99 years at £1 per annum. The lease was apparently forfeited in October 1874 and the reservoir was described as 'useless' in the council minutes. It was at this stage that the council sought to purchase the Talbot Reservoir at Evansford.
1885: The manager of the Talbot and Amherst Gold fields' Common applied for a permanent reservation of the dam as a site for water supply purposes and temporary reservation was granted on 11 May 1886. However in 1918 the purpose of 'water supply' was augmented by inclusion of 'recreation purposes' in the temporary reservation.Heritage Inventory Description
AMHERST RESERVOIR ALLUVIAL WORKINGS - Heritage Inventory Description
/nAmherst Reservoir Alluvial workings - small patch of shallow sinkingsThis is one of three major reservoirs which served the shire (the others being at Evansford and Bullarook). All these sites are complemented by a linear network of water races. (p.191) EXTANT REMAINS: This reservoir is still full but not used for domestic supply. The reservoir is located in a forest setting and remnants of shallow alluvial diggings are located in the reserve. (p.191) SOURCES: Talbot and Clunes Conservation Study, Richard Aitken, 1988
Heritage Inventory Significance: EXISTING HERITAGE LISTING: Amherst Reservoir, off Talbot-Avoca Road, Amherst: Schedule One: Buildings recommended for inclusion or retention in the Shire of Talbot and Clunes Interim Development Order; The Amherst reservoir is a vital and early reminder of the importance of water to the central goldfields area, both for domestic supply and mining. The site is enhanced by the proximity of early shallow alluvial gold workings. (p.191) Integrity of gold workings reduced as to have very little interpretive value LOCAL
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AMHERST RESERVOIR ALLUVIAL WORKINGSVictorian Heritage Inventory
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