Barossa Goldfields
| Place type: | Locality |
|---|---|
| Town or Locality: | Yattalunga |
INTRODUCTION
Alluvial gold was discovered by Job Harris in 1868 in Spike Gully 1.5 kilometres north of
the present park boundary.
About 25 000 ounces (778 kg) were produced from the goldfield, between 1868 and
1871 mainly from alluvial workings. The goldfield extends northward for a distance of 4
kilometres from the South Para River and is now located partly on private property and
partly on Para Wirra Recreation Park. The trail is within the park, which is managed by the
National Parks and Wildlife Service, and was established in conjunction with the
Department of Mines and Energy.
HISTORY
Within a week of the first discoveries in early October 1868, about 2 000 people had
rushed the area, a block of unsold Crown Land was proclaimed an official goldfield, and a
Warden of Goldfields and police trooper were dispatched to issue gold licences and settle
disputes. At its height within the first few weeks, the rush attracted up to 4 000 people. The
township of Barossa was soon established and consisted of a narrow lane of stores and
hotels. An institute and school were added later and the township survived until the 1950s.
NORTH
North
Tunnel
SOUTH
Transverse
Main Shaft
Phoenix Tunnel Batter
Site
Winze
Tunnel Sout
Para
River
Stoped (mined out) area
Lady Pearce Tunnel 100
METRES 92-546
Longitudinal section of the Menzies Barossa Mine (see plan for line of section)
By late 1870, only 100 miners remained working old claims, many having moved to the
newly discovered fields at Mount Pleasant and Birdwood.
New discoveries brought diggers back to the field at Sims Rush in 1887 and Yatta Hill
Rush in 1889 near the northern end. Between 1887 and 1891, several companies were
formed to explore and test the deep alluvial ground at the northern extremity of the field.
The principal mines were the Barossa Enterprise and Barossa Deep Lead, but the
operations were unsuccessful.
During the 1890s, companies were formed to work quartz reefs between Victoria Hill
and the South Para River. In 1894, the Comet Syndicate started driving into a reef on the
side of the South Para River but, lacking finance, was reformed into the Lady Pearce
Syndicate. In 1895, the Royal Phoenix Syndicate took up a lease on the northern side of
the Lady Pearce Mine and commenced tunnelling. In 1896, an American mining authority.
Mr Menzies, acquired these leases and formed the Menzies Barossa Gold Mining
Company.
A tramway linking the various tunnels and shafts to a 40-head battery was constructed.
and extensive machinery was installed. Menzies planned to make the mine the largest in
Australia and, in 1898, 100 men were employed. The first crushing of ore in early 1898
was, however, an economic disaster and operations were suspended immediately.
The alluvial deposits on the field were reworked during the 1930s depression years.
Barossa township, 1869
The initial diggings were in the modern alluvium in Spike Gully at depths of 2 to 6
metres but, by early 1869, prospecting syndicates were formed and more than 20 individual
rushes took place in neighbouring gullies and hillsides during 1869. These later rushes
won gold from ancient river channels (leads) buried by up to 30 metres of sand and gravel.
The most prominent of these later rushes were located on Goddards Hill and Victoria Hill
where a second township, Victoria, was established in 1869. Menzies Barossa battery, 1898
GEOLOGY
Three types of gold deposits existed on the field. The oldest deposits occur in quartz
Please <click here> to view articles regarding the Barossa Goldfields, as printed in The Bunyip Newspaper.
If you want to learn about the nearby Barossa Goldfields, please click on this link
http://www.samininghistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/barossa-gf-broch-red.pdf .
Related Articles
References
Memories of Barossa Goldfields
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