MYSTERY BASIN SLUICE PIT

The Mystery Basin, Pioneer Hill to the north, and White Star Hill to the south are of local and regional historical significance. The long-term mining of gold deposits in these localities for over half a century was one of principal influences in transforming the Morse’s Creek and Growler’s Creek mining camps into the permanent township of Bright and Wandiligong. 

The range of mining sites within the Mystery Basin, from smaller quartz reef workings to the comparatively large-scale alluvial lead and hydraulic-sluicing operations, in conjunction with the rich Pioneer quartz reef mine, the White Star Range reefs, the shallow alluvial workings of Morse’s Creek, as well as the Bright State Battery, are historically significant for their association with the development of the Bright township at a regional level. The Mystery Basin sluice pit, in conjunction with these adjacent locations, offers a diverse range of mining types, historical themes and archaeological potential. This diverse mining landscape also has potential high interpretive and presentation values into the future. 

What is significant? 

The features of the broad sluice pit, in particular the visually spectacular large scale steep faces of the lower eastern sluice pit, including the alluvial drives and tailrace. The exploratory quartz reef prospecting tunnels of the early 20th century represent the speculative and opportunistic nature in attempting to unlock the mysterious source of gold that had been mined and searched for over the previous half century. 

The Mystery Basin Sluice pits and associated exploratory quartz reef workings are of historical, social, technological and archaeological significance to the region. 

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

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

The Mystery Basin alluvial and reef workings and immediate surrounds are of historic, social and technologically significant to the region. 

• The remaining sluice pit is a well-preserved example of alluvial mining of a geologically unique gold deposit. 

• The Mystery Basin Sluice pit is one of the most obvious and visually spectacular surviving mining sites and landscapes of the combined Pioneer to White Star Hill mining belt. 

• The features of the sluice pit workings demonstrate challenges and important role of water for the mining in the eastern mountainous regions of Victoria. From the hand excavated overburden of the upper sluice pit through to the hydraulic sluiced lower portions of the workings. As well as the driving of long tunnels to manually extract gold-bearing wash and carting long distances underground for creek-side sluice box recovery. 

• Of the once numerous gold mines that operated within and adjacent to the township of Bright (and Wandiligong), the sluice pit is the only significant and relatively undisturbed mine site remaining. An important historical link to the founding industry that formed numerous goldfield townships of eastern Victoria. 

• The immediate proximity of the Mystery Basin mines to present day ‘tourist’ townships provides a powerful opportunity to demonstrate how the Bright and many smaller goldfields towns of Victoria were built amongst the mines. 

Regional Significance (Heritage Inventory): The regionally historically significant mining locality was relatively rich and worked for a significant period of time (mid 1850s -1930s depression era). The alluvial workings were extensive mined and was an important economic contributor to its various claim and shareholders, as well as being a relatively large employer. Through the historic record, the Mystery Basin demonstrates the many challenges of mining; though fatal accidents, dangers of flooded workings and the challenges of mining a particular gold deposit. 

Technological Significance - Medium/High: The site clearly demonstrates a range of alluvial mining techniques from manual removal of overburden, hydraulic sluicing and extraction of gold-bearing gravels vial long and expensive tunnels and deep shafts. 

Archaeological Significance - Medium/High: The site has potential to reveal archeological features and artefacts that represent a relatively broad range of mining techniques. 

Historical/Social Significance – Medium: The mine workings were an important economic and founding contributor to the townships of Bright and Wandiligiong. Many local and regional families were involved in working the various claims. The stories of early life on the eastern Victorian goldfields are well represented through occurrences at the Mystery Basin mines. 

Interpretation/Presentation Values – High: The proximity of the site to the adjacent Mystic Mountain Bike Park and the recreational walking tracks within close proximity to Bright offers good access opportunities for future interpretation of aspects of the site.