Wattle Gully Gold Mine Gold

Mineral Matters #475

Following on from the previous two Mineral Matters posts, here is what the mining was all about. Gold!

The Wattle Gully Gold Mine in Chewton, Victoria, was first worked in 1853 when gold-seekers dug away the ten metres of soil covering the gully bed. They not only won huge amounts of alluvial gold but also unearthed a quartz reef studded with the precious metal.

In 1934, a remarkable accident led to the discovery of a rich gold deposit. A drill was deflected westwards, striking a new lode of gold. This discovery yielded 350,000 ounces of gold over the next 30 years.

By 1940, the Wattle Gully Company had paid out £207,000 in dividends to its shareholders. The mine continued to operate profitably through the Second World War, despite manpower shortages.

The mine has worked intermittently since 1970. Recent additions include a new ore processing plant and a decline tunnel. The site retains evidence of its development since 1937, with intact and working machinery.

Below: Gold, Galena, Wattle Gully Gold Mine, Chewton, Victoria. Width of view 9mm. Click on the image below for a higher resolution version.