NEW CHUM MINE WORKINGS

The New Chum Mine Workings contain a number of mining features that date from the 1850s to the early twentieth Century. The semi-permanent population would have settled in the locality as long-term modes of alluvial mining was established. The river, adjacent flats and hillsides would have been the location of mine and alluvial working, habitation sites and water management systems (including water races, dams and reservoirs).  

 

The discovery of gold-bearing quartz reefs in the vicinity during the late 1860s and early 1870s saw a further flourish of activity and a more permanent population settle in the area. This activity extended further into the surrounding hills with discovery of gold-bearing reefs among the immediate ranges; with construction of tramways, dray and sleigh roads, erection of stamp batteries and a host of dwellings and associated gardens. 

 

Features of the New Chum workings are; open stopes and adits on several lines of reef, associated level and incline tramways, sleigh tracks and the six-head portion of a twelve head battery. 

The site is of regional historical, archaeological and technological significance. 

The site is of historical significance for its diverse representation of features as a mining landscape and its potential to reveal information about aspects of mining technologies and mining communities in the Ovens Goldfields.  

 

The site is of significance as a rare example of remnant battery fabric in the Buckland Goldfield. There is ony one other knwn example, at the Nelson battery site. The battery is of scientific (technologically) significance for its unique design; few other 6-head mortar box batteries remain in their original context in Victoria. The site also has the potential to reveal information about early mining settlements, living conditions and material culture.