Balaclava Mine facts for kids
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Balaclava Mine in 2016
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| Location | |
|---|---|
 Balaclava Mine
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| Location | Whroo |
| State | Victoria |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 36°38′43″S 145°1′23″E / 36.64528°S 145.02306°E |
| Production | |
| Products | Gold |
| Production | £6000 |
| Financial year | year |
| Type | Open cut |
| Greatest depth | 125m |
| History | |
| Opened | 1854 |
| Closed | 1920s |
| Owner | |
| Company | John Lewis, Archibald Menzies |
The Balaclava Mine was an important open-cut gold mine in Australia. It was located in a place called Whroo, which is now known as a ghost town. The mine started operating in October 1854. This was about a year after gold was first discovered nearby in Rushworth. Mining at Balaclava Mine continued until the 1920s. Today, the old mine site is a popular place for tourists to visit.
The Story of Balaclava Mine
Gold was first found at Whroo in October 1854. Two sailors, John Thomas Lewis and James Meek Nickinson, discovered a gold nugget. They found it simply lying in the grass! This was the same month as a famous battle called the Battle of Balaclava. This battle happened during the Crimean War. That's how the mine got its name.
Lewis and Nickinson decided to open the mine together. In their first year, they hired 100 workers. They made a lot of money, about £15,000. In 1857, Nickinson left the partnership. Lewis then ran the mine by himself. Over the next few years, less gold was found. By 1859, the mine was making about £6,000 each year.
By 1881, there were only about 150 miners working in the whole Rushworth area. This included the Balaclava Mine. By the 1920s, there wasn't much mining happening at Balaclava. So, the mine eventually closed down.
Visiting the Mine Today
In the 1980s, people tried to get the mine officially protected. They wanted it to be recognized as a historical site. However, these efforts were not successful.
Even so, the old open-cut mine is now a place for visitors. People can come and explore the site. There used to be a tunnel through the mine wall. But this tunnel has recently been closed. It was shut down to keep everyone safe.
