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MONMOUTH CO.

Location BOUNDARY ROAD NORTH ENFIELD, GOLDEN PLAINS SHIRE Level Heritage Inventory Site

Statement of Significance

This site provides a representative sample of the nature, characteristics and extent of mining activities within the Monmouth Gully (referred to in historical records as the ‘Monmouth Lead’). It exhibits features representative of the complete mining process, from prospecting activities right through to the processing of excavated materials by way of puddling and sluicing, the final retrieval of gold, and the release of sludge that has covered extensive portions of the wider landscape. The site also provides an excellent example of the effect early mining activities had on the landscape during the gold rush years.

This site is significant for it’s association with Theme 4 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes, ‘Transforming and Managing Land and Natural Resources’. This site provides an understanding of how occupation and use of the land and the exploitation of its natural resources have changed Victoria’s natural landscape, and how occupation and the use of the land contributed to the development of Mining and Mineral processing industries. Specifically, this site can be directly associated with Sub-Theme 4.5 ‘Gold Mining’, which considers mining for gold, alluvial, deal lead and quartz, and includes mining sites and machinery, gold mining technology, and the loss of topsoil and vegetation in mining areas; all of which are represented at this site. Consequently, this site is also significant for its association with Sub-Theme 4.5 ‘Gold Mining’ as it is an important example of early mining activities and its effect on Victoria’s natural landscape and early mining technology.

Group

Mining and Mineral Processing

Category

Mine Shaft