WELCOME REEF SYNDICATE BATTERY
LOWER TRACK MALDON, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
How is it significant?
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WELCOME REEF SYNDICATE BATTERY - History
The Welcome Reef Syndicate Battery operated c. 1911-12. The Welcome Reef Syndicate erected a 12-head crushing plant on its lease (situated near Sandy Creek), and commenced mining operations in June last, since when operations have continued with, I understand, payable results. [Mines Dept annual Report 1911]
WELCOME REEF SYNDICATE BATTERY - Interpretation of Site
The battery site has a line of decaying battery stumps belonging to two battery boxes. The rough concrete footings for the eastern battery box contains a 7-1/2ft long line of stamper footings, made up of six, 1-1/2ft thick, stumps. The western battery box has only a 4ft long line of stumps. This arrangement suggests a battery having 12-head of stamps. A bed log with 1 inch mounting bolts separates the two battery boxes. In front (north) of the stumps, on their north side, is a largely buried concrete engine bed which measures 6 x 2-3/4ft. The bed has 1 inch mounting bolts. 3m north of the engine bed, in direct alignment, are two small concrete beds. The smallest of the two concrete beds is 2ft square and has a 1-1/2ft diameter impression. Below the battery site is a 50m wide sludge pond. The pond contains a small dump of treated tailings. The pond continues to the southeast and is empty of tailings. In the gully below the tailings, upstream from the battery, is a large, breached water dam. Located near the battery (above and to the north) are some mine workings which have been badly disturbed through shaft filling. The main shaft has been filled but is now subsiding. 200m south of the battery site is the remains of a small, single-roomed mud brick hut which is associated with iron scraps. The rubbish would date to the 1930s onwards. No fireplace is evident. The Welcome Reef Syndicate battery still possesses archaeological value and should remains a VHI-site. Apart from FMQF270 (foundations for unknown equipment) the other locations (mine openings) have poor archaeological value. This is due to their surrounds having been scrapped clean of material for shaft filling and/or associated with prospecting. The battery site is a good example of how a quartz mine worked - the mining of ore and its treatment. A protected abandoned mining site located in the State Forest has meant this place has largely remained intact.
Heritage Inventory Description
WELCOME REEF SYNDICATE BATTERY - Heritage Inventory Description
Decaying battery stumps belonging to 2 battery boxes. North is a mostly buried concrete engine bed and 2 smaller engine beds. A wide sludge pond contains a small dump of treated tailings; a large breached dam is upstream.
Heritage Inventory Significance: Local
SiteCard data copied on 28/06/2024: As part of the inspection the boundaries of H7723-0149 was re-mapped due its extent (a 200m circle from central grid point reference, mapped with the old datum, AGD66) having the wrong location and not being the correct shape or size. . All the features recorded in 1992 were found. These being: • a battery site has a line of decaying battery stumps belonging to two battery boxes. • a largely buried concrete engine bed which measures 6 x 2-3/4ft. The bed has 1 inch mounting bolts. 3m north of the engine bed, in direct alignment, are two small concrete beds. • A 50m wide sludge pond. • Largely removed mullock heap and main shaft. The shaft has been filled and is now subsiding. • A small, single-roomed mud brick hut which is associated with iron scraps.
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WELCOME REEF SYNDICATE BATTERYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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SANDY CREEK ALLUVIAL WORKINGS 2Victorian Heritage Inventory
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