Adelong Falls Gold Workings facts for kids

The Adelong Falls Gold Workings is a special historical place in Adelong, Australia. It used to be a busy site where people processed gold. Today, it's a lovely picnic spot and reserve. It was built in 1860 by David Wilson and William Ritchie. This important site is also known as the Adelong Falls Gold Workings/Reserve. It's looked after by the Snowy Valleys Council. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, meaning it's protected for its history.

History

A Golden Past

The Adelong Falls area became a goldfield on February 15, 1855. This meant it was a place where people could legally search for gold. Much of the land around Adelong Creek was Crown land, meaning it belonged to the government. In 1980, more land was added to create the reserve we see today.

The Wilson and Ritchie Battery

Between 1860 and 1885, two men, David Wilson and William Ritchie, set up a gold processing plant. It was called the Wilson and Ritchie Battery. This was one of the main places where gold ore was processed in the Adelong area. The ruins of their battery became part of the reserve in 1980.

How Gold Was Extracted

By 1859, people were already mining for gold in Adelong. Wilson and Ritchie built their first "Reefer Battery" around this time. In the late 1860s, they moved it to its current spot at Adelong Falls.

Their battery was designed to get gold out of its ore. They used water and mercury to separate the gold. First, the ore was crushed into fine powder. Then, it was washed over plates treated with mercury, which would attract the gold. Any leftover material was further processed to catch even more gold. They even had a furnace to separate the gold from the mercury. This careful process helped them get as much gold as possible.

A Smart Location

The battery's location was very clever. It was built where Adelong Creek had natural waterfalls, providing a constant supply of water. The sloped land meant that ore could move through the processing steps using gravity. This reduced the need for machines to move the ore.

The main road connecting Adelong to the gold mines also crossed the creek right near the battery. This meant a steady flow of miners and ore passed by the site.

Success and Expansion

The battery officially opened on July 17, 1870. Because of its smart design and good location, it was an instant success. In 1881, Wilson and Ritchie expanded their operations. They bought another battery and built a dam and a water channel (called a race) to power it. This was a big project, including a bridge over Sawyer's Creek.

They tried new methods like silver traps and cyanide processing. But their original design was so effective that it remained the main way they worked. The Adelong Falls Gold Workings operated from 1870 to 1910. It was one of the most successful gold processing sites in Australia during the late 1800s.

The Reserve Today

Since 1980, the gold workings have been open to the public as part of the Adelong Falls Reserve. In the early 1990s, important work was done to protect the ruins. This included making the standing walls stable and clearing plants. This helped people see how the site originally looked. Mining companies have continued to explore for gold in the area since 1986.

What You Can See There

The Adelong Falls Reserve covers about 28 hectares (69 acres). It has steep, rocky slopes with scattered trees. These slopes lead down to Adelong Creek and Sawyer's Creek. You might also notice many Xanthorrhoea plants, which are a type of grass tree.

The Falls themselves are on Adelong Creek, about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) north of Adelong town. Here, the creek flows through a narrow gorge about 300 meters (984 feet) long. It drops about 30 meters (98 feet) in height over this distance. The remains of the Wilson and Ritchie Battery are located here, about 200 meters (656 feet) along the waterfalls.

What's Left of the Battery

When experts studied the site in 1985, they found that the battery ruins are part of a larger area. This area includes:

• Two water wheels with their dams and water channels.
• A large, round machine called a buddle, used for separating heavy metals.
• Several holding tanks.
• A small quarry where they got stone.
• A furnace with a separate brick chimney.
• A weighbridge, used for weighing ore.
• An office building.
• A small cottage with a terraced garden.
• A stone-lined entry road.
• Three paths and a flat area (terrace) whose purpose isn't fully known.

Just downstream from the main site are the remains of another gold operation. Upstream, you can see stone supports from a large dam. This dam supplied water to the battery's water wheels. The owner's house used to stand on a ridge overlooking the site.

Building Materials

The buildings and structures at the site were mostly made from rough granite stone. This stone was quarried right there on the site. The only exception was the brick chimney for the furnace. They used both concrete and lime mortar to hold the stones together. Wood was used for things like water channels and floors. The roofs were made of corrugated iron.

Current Condition

The site is now in ruins, but these ruins are stable and well looked after. There's a lot of potential for archaeologists to learn more from the site. The amount and quality of the ruins and natural features in the reserve are truly amazing.

Changes Over Time

In 1881, the site was expanded. They bought another battery at Sawyer's Creek and built a new dam, water channel, and aqueduct (a water bridge).

Why It's a Heritage Site

The Adelong Falls Gold Workings is a special place because of its history and how it looks. It blends in well with its natural surroundings, which haven't changed much since the gold workings were active. It's a key part of the Adelong goldfields landscape.

The way they used natural materials and the land's shape to extract gold was very clever. It shows great creativity and technical skill compared to other similar sites in New South Wales. The number and quality of the ruins and landscape features are truly remarkable.

The story of gold exploration and extraction is a big part of Australian history. This battery complex helps us understand how gold was taken from its ore. It's an important example because it was both innovative and is still mostly intact.

The Adelong Falls Gold Workings was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, for these reasons:

• It shows great creative or technical skill in New South Wales.

The site looks very consistent in its materials and design. It fits perfectly into its natural setting, which has remained largely untouched. It's a vital part of the Adelong goldfields.

• It can teach us about the history of New South Wales.

The smart way they used local materials and the land's shape to get gold stands out. It shows amazing creative and technical skill compared to other gold sites. The battery complex helps us understand how gold was extracted. It's important because it was innovative and is still mostly complete.