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FOREST CREEK TOURIST GOLD MINE

Location

DUKE STREET CASTLEMAINE AND HITCHCOCK STREET CASTLEMAINE, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE

File Number

607522

Level

Registered

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FOREST CREEK TOURIST GOLD MINE
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forest creek tourist gold mine
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forest creek tourist gold mine
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forest creek tourist gold mine

Statement of Significance

The Forest Creek Tourist Gold Mine possesses a complete and functional hydraulic sluicing plant. The machinery, including a 200hp gas engine and gas-producing plant was installed in 1936. The hydraulic sluicing plant operated from 1948-54, and again in 1957. On both occasions, payable gold was obtained from sluicing cemented gravels of an ancient river bed. The mining lease is now held under a Tourist Mine Authority.

The Forest Creek Tourist Gold Mine is of historical, archaeological and scientific importance to the State of Victoria.

The Forest Creek Tourist Gold Mine is historically and scientifically important as a characteristic and well preserved example of a major form of gold mining. Gold mining sites are of crucial importance for the pivotal role they have played since 1851 in the development of Victoria. The Forest Creek Tourist Gold Mine is important because it possesses the oldest functional hydraulic sluicing works in Victoria. The old gold mining machinery, including the Ruston & Hornsby engine and gas-producing plant, are also significant in their own right, as extremely rare industrial artefacts.

The Forest Creek Tourist Gold Mine is archaeologically important for its potential to yield artefacts and evidence which will be able to provide significant information about the cultural history of gold mining and the gold seekers themselves.

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