LESLIE'S GULLY MINING LANDSCAPE

The site is an alluvial mining landscape. Gold was first discovered in the Ararat Region in 1854, with the first workings consisting of alluvial gold sites. Early newspaper refers to Leslie’s Gully as one of the earliest workings in Ararat. The stream bed of Leslie’s Gully was mined during the gold rush period by shallow shafts and through the use of sluices and puddling machines. After the initial Ararat Rush, shallow alluvial mining in the area slowed and the majority of gold resources were recovered from reworked gullies and creek beds by sluicing or puddling parties, or alternatively by shallow shafts. Mining in the area continued into the early 20th century. 

 

The alluvial mining landscape is currently mostly covered by thick scrub and most of the extant features are open or filled shafts associated with the extraction of gold from the cement beds contained in elevated terraces. The gully was most likely worked by sluice or puddling machines, however, no evidence of these mining methods was found. At the head of the gully are two small dams and near the top north-side dam there is evidence of a possible mud-brick structure.  

 

The site contains archaeological remains that relate to the activities of the Ararat Goldfields during the Victorian Gold Rush era. 

This site is of historical significance as one of the earliest alluvial diggings in the Ararat Goldfield. The site is of scientific significance for its potential to provide information about mining methods and techniques utilised in the Ararat goldfields.