WHITEHORSE GULLY NO.2 SHALLOW REEF WORKINGS
MOSQUITO TRACK MARYBOROUGH, CENTRAL GOLDFIELDS SHIRE
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
This record has minimal details. Please look to the right-hand-side bar for any further details about this record.
-
-
WHITEHORSE GULLY NO.2 SHALLOW REEF WORKINGS - History
The Maryborough goldfield was opened in 1853 and the following year saw the first of a number of great rushes to the area. The first lease on Frenchman's Reef appears to have been applied for in early 1860. Large crushings of half-ounce stone were reported in 1867 and in September 1868 the Mining Surveyor reported: "At Frenchman's Reef several claims are proving valuable. The Ah-Hing Co crushed 75 tons, which averaged 1 oz per ton. Depth of sinking 120 feet, width of reef 12 inches. Bertram and patty also crushed three parcels from their claim." In March 1969 a crushing of over 1 ounce of gold/ton was recorded from the reef. No fiurther information of the reef workings has been found.
Sources:
The History of Gold Discovery in Victoria, J Flett, 1970;
Mining Surveyors' Reports, Maryborough Division, Apri11860, var. 1867, Sept 1868, (Mines
Dept, Vic).
WHITEHORSE GULLY NO.2 SHALLOW REEF WORKINGS - Interpretation of Site
The line of reef workings shows the north-south orientation that typifies Victorian reef mining, accessing the steeply dipping N-S fault reefs. The scale of the workings varies, with outlying workings of small scale and large mullock dumps in the central section indicative of substantial, capitalised operations. Surface disturbance by bulldozing may have compromised or removed archaeological evidence of haulage methods employed at the mines. The existence of camps along the line is indicative of reasonably-sized labour forces employed at the mines. A crushing plant site is visible beside the central section of workings and may be an early site. Later crushing facilities may have been installed in lower areas with larger catchments for water supply.
WHITEHORSE GULLY NO.2 SHALLOW REEF WORKINGS - Archaeological Significance
The battery site is disturbed but retains a limited potential to reveal further information on the scale and nature of the quartz crushing operations carried out. Hut sites identified by stone fireplace ruins are numerous and appear in clusters (camps). The survey was a cursory one and there is high potential for more hut sites to exist adjacent to the line of workings. The has been considerable ground disturbance along the line of workings due to previous risk mitigation works in the mid 1900s (bulldozing). Archaeological significance is assessed as Medium.
Heritage Inventory Description
WHITEHORSE GULLY NO.2 SHALLOW REEF WORKINGS - Heritage Inventory Description
Reef workings - very intensive workings (filled shafts, bulldozed heaps and open cuttings) Runs northwest from Carisbrook 1:25,000 461.919 to 459.922.
Update from Rob Kaufman 2013: Battery site and hut sites associated with line of reef workings.
Heritage Inventory Significance: Local
-
-
-
-
-
CRAIGIE TALISMAN MINEVictorian Heritage Inventory
-
CRAIGIE LINE OF MULLOCK HEAPSVictorian Heritage Inventory
-
WHITEHORSE GULLY PUDDLER NO.1Victorian Heritage Inventory
-
-