390. Jubilee Mine-Jubilee Historic Area 7.5km

 U3A Hike No 390.


Hike Report by Joan Brick

⛏️ The Journey Begins: Italian Gully

The Era of Alluvial Gold (1850–1882) The hike started with a history lesson at Italian Gully. Unlike the massive operations later in the day, this area was defined by "easy" gold.

  • Method: Shovels, picks, and pans.

  • The Boom: A rush of hopefuls arrived to work the surface earth, but the area was eventually abandoned once the easy gold and water supplies vanished.


🌸 Unexpected Finds & The Birdtrail

Nature Among the Ruins Before hitting the heavy industrial sites, the bush offered up its own treasures.

  • Spotted Hyacinth Orchid: A rare, leafless find that stood out against the summer scrub.

  • The Rainbow Birdtrail: We spotted the distinctive blue posts marking this 35km historical hiking and riding loop.


🧱 Scaling Up: Mullock Heaps and Dams

Signs of Underground Mining As the trail progressed, the landscape changed. Huge mullock heaps (piles of waste rock) signaled that we were entering an area of deep, substantial quartz mining.

  • Dams: Necessary for the heavy water requirements of industrial extraction.

  • Wildlife: We took a well-earned break by a dam, watching the birds among the reeds.

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🧪 Chemical Innovation & Safety

The Cyanide Ponds We encountered the concrete remains of cyanide vats. This method allowed miners to extract tiny particles of "residual" gold from crushed quartz that traditional washing would miss.

  • A Modern Perspective: Seeing these open chemical ponds made us appreciate today's strict OH&S rules compared to the hazardous conditions of the past.


🚂 Destination: Jubilee Reef Deep Mine

The Industrial Powerhouse (1899–1913) The climax of the hike was the Jubilee Reef Deep Mining area. This was a massive operation compared to the simple shovels of Italian Gully.

  • Technology: Driven by steam engines to power the stamper battery and wind the shafts.

  • Production: A staggering 125,000 ounces of gold were pulled from these depths.

  • Legacy: Today, it stands as one of Victoria's most significant archaeological sites for quartz mining.


🍽️ The Return

After a step back through sixty years of mining history, we returned to the present for a relaxing lunch. A perfect end to a day of exploration with great company.


Photos by Andrew Parker



























LINKS

INTERACTIVE MAP

GOOGLE MAPS START POINT

DOWNLOAD A GPX FILE

HISTORY PODCAST

FULLY REVISED HISTORY NOTES

THIS HIKE DURING COVID RESTRICTICTIONS We hike in three separate groups!









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