Image Gallery
News
News items related to mining history are added by members. The Webmaster welcomes relevant items of interest from members and others interested in mining history. Active items may remain indefinitely.
2010 Oct - Overland Gold 1851-1853
Overland Gold is a research project focusing on overland travel from South Australia to the Victorian goldfields in 1851-1853: in particluar the routes taken, the modes of travel and conditions experienced. The major component will be a web-based information resource where researchers and collecting institutions can contribute and share information and queries. The website which is now available for viewing, will be developed progressively with all sections to be finalised by May 2011. A feature is an interactive map of the route taken between Burra and Bendigo.
Information is being sought from family historians etc. whose forebears made this journey and may have diaries and first-hand accounts of travel or of travellers passing through regions along the route. The project is supported by a grant from the Victorian Government under the Local History Grants Program.
Contact: Ms Moira Drew Phone: 03 9525 9083 Email: overlandgold@cornishvic.gov.au
2010 Oct - Blinman Underground Tour
In 2012, the mining village of Blinman (population 22) in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges will celebrate 150 years since the commencement of its nearby mine. The Blinman Mine was worked during four separate periods from 1862 until 1907 when ore was exhausted. It yielded 200,000t of ore containing 10,000t of copper and was the largest mine in the Flinders Ranges. 3D view of the Blinman Mine
In 1996, the long abandoned mine site was turned into a local tourist feature by the Dept. of Mines and Energy (DME) which established a self-guided walking trail with interpretive signs and a brochure. A 65m long adit, which was excavated in 1899 to give access to the 27m level of the mine, was rehabilitated for public access with funds provided by the SA Tourism Commission (SATC). Viewing areas were installed at the end of the adit providing spectacular views of the upper workings of the mine which have been excavated to the surface leaving a huge chasm.
Since 2000, the Blinman Progress Association (BPA) has taken responsibility for the mine site with its main aim the redevelopment of the historic mine as an integrated tourism experience with the township. The Blinman Underground Tour project was initiated in 2005 with funding from the SATC supported grants from a range of bodies including the Dept. of Trade and Economic Development and the Northern Regional Development Board together with money from the Blinman Progress Association.
A new tunnel has been excavated connecting the adit to the 1860s Cornish workings which show mining features such as a winze, rise and large open stopes where rich ore was removed. This unique underground experience is enhanced by a spectacular light and sound show. The Blinman Underground Tour opened on a preliminary basis in October 2010 and immediately drew a steady stream of visitors. A formal opening is planned for March 2011.
2010 Sept - The Australian Cornish Mining Heritage Site (ACMHS)
The ACMHS has been shortlisted for consideration for National Heritage Listing with assessment by the Australian Government to be completed by mid-2013. The nomination was submitted by the South Australian Heritage Council following an approach from the Cornish World Heritage Site. Link to the Cornish Mining World Heritage website
The ACMHS consists of two areas - the Burra and Moonta Mines State Heritage Areas - which contain the most authentic and historically significant components of the Cornish Mining Landscape in Australia for the period 1845 to 1923. The site contains the mines, remains of infrastructure including Cornish beam enginehouses and distinctive settlement patterns
In 2006, the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape was inscribed on the World Heritage List. World Heritage status recognises Cornish mining’s fundamental influence on world hard rock mining, ore dressing and in particular steam engine technology during the nineteenth century. During this time Cornwall developed a distinctive regional identity whick took on global significance with mass migration of Cornish culture after 1840. The Cornish mining World Heritage Site is a serial listing of ten sites containing mining areas and associated settlements from the period 1700 to 1914.
The aim is have the ACMHS joined as a Transnational World Heritage Listing involving Cornwall, South Australia, Mexico, Spain and South Africa to the existing Cornish World Heritage Site. This would recognise that the distinctive mining landscapes in those locations were derived directly from the Cornish mining landscape.
Photos: Moonta Mines State Heritage Area and Burra Mine Historic Site