HAUNTED GULLY DIGGINGS, UPPER BEACONSFIELD
HAUNTED GULLY ROAD BEACONSFIELD UPPER, CARDINIA SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
Haunted Gully Diggings has archaeological potential to provide evidence relating to the alluvial gold mining works and associated activities. The integrity of some of the shafts has been compromised through wombat burrowing. The site retains evidence of gold ming operations and habitation within a narrow creek gully.
This area is locally significant as a small sample of alluvial mining activity in the Beaconsfield area, and is a visible indicator of the intense human activity required for this type of mining. The evidence found helps to complete the story of alluvial mining within the locality. The site is of local social significance. Oral records remain from a later mining foray which is associated with the 1890s depression period when mining became a major source of work for large numbers of unemployed in the area.
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HAUNTED GULLY DIGGINGS, UPPER BEACONSFIELD - History
December 1860 - Gold discovered on Cardinia and Tarneit Creeks, known as the Eything Goldfield
March 1872 - Auriferous ground discovered in Haunted Gully, 4 miles east of Berwick
March 1873 - At Haunted Gully, Berwick, several claims paying well
June 1873 - Discovery of payable auriferous ground called Sailor's Gully, west of Haunted Gully
September 1873 - At Pakenham (Cardinia Creek), near Berwick, two new auriferous gullies found - Welcome and Burke's. Walkers, Mayfields and Barnes gullies opened soon after.
December 1873 - Alluvial tunnelling claim at Haunted Gully, Berwick
June 1931 - Haunted Gully (except for a few chains of the upper portion) is now included in a water reserve and is closed to mining. Head of the alluvial gold in Haunted Gully is just north of the water reserve fence - area was recently prospected, by cuts and trenches, but nothing payable found. Several old shafts to SW, including one 90ft deep. Old alluvial three-compartment shaft at junction of Welcome and Sailor's gullies - about 50 ft deep with NE drive of about 200ft.HAUNTED GULLY DIGGINGS, UPPER BEACONSFIELD - Interpretation of Site
Alluvial mining activity earthworks. Settlement area.
Heritage Inventory Description
HAUNTED GULLY DIGGINGS, UPPER BEACONSFIELD - Heritage Inventory Description
Various components of alluvial works remain, including evidence of water-diverting eathrworks. Scattered pits/adits and mullock heaps in lightly wooded gully on either side of a small creek bed. Single remainign settlement area on open flattened land west of the creek bed.
Various components of alluvial mining works remain, including evidence of water-diverting earthworks. Scattered shaft pits/adits and mullock heaps in a lightly wooded gully, on either side of a small creek bed. Single remaining previous settlement area on open, flattened land west of the creek bed.
Scattered alluvial sinkings - collapsed adits and several shafts following the line of a narrow creek bed. Small mullock heaps. Clearing on the east bank of the creek. Possible evidence of some water-diverting earthworks undertaken around the creek running through the remains of the goldfields.
Physical Conditions: Scattered remains; a small remnant of a larger goldfield covering gullies now flooded by the Beaconsfield Reservoir. Pits and small mullock heaps. No artefacts found during inspection other than a single half-brick in the presumed settlement area. The integrity of some of the shafts and pits has been compromised through later use by wombats.
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HAUNTED GULLY DIGGINGS, UPPER BEACONSFIELDVictorian Heritage Inventory
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