HARP OF ERIN QUARTZ REEF WORKINGS & PAULUSSY'S BATTERY SITE

The Harp of Erin Quartz Reef Workings and the site of Paulussy’s water-powered stamp battery and water race in association with the history of the Paulussy family is of important regional significance. The context of the archaeological remains, historic features and the history of the site in the broader context setting of the remote Buckland Valley Goldfield is an important aspect of the history of the surrounding Buckland Valley Goldfield landscape. 

The Harp of Erin workings and Paulussy’s battery site is of historical, social, technological and archaeological significance to the State of Victoria. 

Criterion C – Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s regional cultural history. 

Criterion D – Importance in demonstrating the principle characteristics of a class of cultural places or objects. 

Criterion G - The importance of the place or object in demonstrating social or cultural associations. 

The Harp of Erin quartz reef workings and Paulussy’s battery site and immediate surrounds are of historic, social and technologically significant to the State of Victoria. The combined associated sites; 

• Are good, well=preserved examples of quartz reef mining in mountainous regions of eastern Victoria. 

• Demonstratie the differences between early alluvial and quartz reef mining methods. 

• The reef workings demonstrate the principal extraction processes of small 19th century quartz reef mining operations. 

• The battery site demonstrates the process of water-powered quartz reef mining technology for the extraction of gold. 

• The history of reef workings, the mill site and the surrounding context provide a powerful opportunity to demonstrate what life was like for a miner and family on the remote mountain goldfields of eastern Victoria. 

Regional Significance (Heritage Inventory): Paulussy’s battery site contains evidence of the layout and operation of water-powered stamp milling technology. The adjacent Harp of Erin workings provide an important contest for the mill site. The sites combined in association with the history of Stephen Paullussy and his family providing important social and personal insight into life of the Paulussy family in the Buckland Valley. 

The mill played an important role in sustaining quartz reef mining at a time when in other districts reef mining was waning. Paulussy’s battery provided opportunities for miners and prospectors to test the values of their reefs, and if economical, continue to cart and crush at the mill; or determine whether to set up their own plants at their relative claims. Paulussy’s battery filled the gap where government subsided stamp batteries usually filled the need for public crushing facilities. 

Technological Significance – Medium/High: the cutting of the battery site, in association with the water race, offers a good remaining example of late 19th century water powered quartz milling technology. 

Archaeological Potential/Significance- Medium/High: The site of the battery and immediate surrounds have potential to reveal further artefacts and features associated with the operation of this water-powered stamp mill and gold recovery process used at a small-scale mountain public crushing plant that was used for over a 15-year period. The reef workings can reveal insight into quartz reef mining techniques and methodologies. 

Historical/Social Significance – Medium/High: The site of Paulussy battery in conjunction with the Welcome Reef (Camp Flat, The Harp of Erin quartz reef workings, the potential site of the Paulussy residence and the family grave in the Buckland cemetery, clearly demonstrate what the life of an immigrant miners was like living in a remote mountainous goldfield and the opportunities that life on the Buckland offered this man and his family. 

Interpretation/Presentation Values – High: The proximity of the site to the adjacent old Buckland road and to the Camp Flat recreational camping area offer good opportunities for interpretation of the site and the life of the Paulussy family. The site was identified as part of an interpretive place in the Buckland Valley Recreational Master Plan (2021).