Cadia Engine House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cadia Engine House |
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| Location | Cadia, Blayney Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1865–1867 |
| Owner | Newcrest Mining Limited |
| Official name: Cadia Engine House & Surrounds; Cadia Valley Operations | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological-terrestrial) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 779 |
| Type | Engine House/Room |
| Category | Mining and Mineral Processing |
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The Cadia Engine House is a very old building in Cadia, Australia, that is protected because of its history. It was built between 1865 and 1867. Today, it's owned by Newcrest Mining Limited and is part of their Cadia-Ridgeway Mine area. This important site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's officially recognized as a special historical place.
History of the Cadia Engine House
In 1865, a special building called a "Cornish type" engine house was set up. It was built on the slopes of Mt Canobolis, near Orange in New South Wales. This building was part of a copper mine.
The mine worked for only a short time. By 1867, it was decided that digging for copper there was not making enough money, so the mine was closed down.
After the mine closed, much of the machinery was taken away. The buildings slowly started to fall apart. In the 1920s, some of the remaining metal parts were collected and sold for scrap.
In 1993, some work was done to help save the engine house. This included putting a roof over it to protect it from the weather.
What is the Cadia Engine House Like?
The Cadia Engine House is made of rough stone and brick. It has a tall chimney and two main parts: the engine house and the crusher house. These buildings stand in open countryside.
The engine house was built to hold a large machine called a "beam engine." This engine was very powerful. It was used to lift ore (rock with valuable minerals) out of the mine. It also powered a pump to remove water and drove the crushing machine that broke down the ore.
The crusher house is also made of stone and still has some wooden parts. However, it is not in as good condition as the engine house.
The chimney is quite tall. The bottom 15 meters (about 50 feet) are made of local stone. The top 5 meters (about 16 feet) are built from red bricks. Next to the bottom of the chimney, you can still see parts of the walls from the boiler house.
Some parts of the old machinery are still there. These include pieces of the beam engine, parts of the drive and brake systems, pump parts, and pieces of the crushing machine and the boiler.
Experts who studied the site in 1995 believe that even though many parts of the mine from after the 1880s are broken or missing, the area likely still holds important clues. These clues could tell us a lot about how people lived and what technology they used for mining in the past.
Why is the Cadia Engine House Important?
The Cadia Engine House, along with its other buildings and the nearby mine structures, is a very important historical site for Australia. It is considered to be of national significance.
Many parts of the original buildings are still standing and in good shape. We can still see how the mine was laid out. Plus, there are unique pieces of the engine and crushing machinery left. There are even original drawings of the engine and engine house from when they were first made! All these things together make this site one of the most important of its kind in Australia.
Because of its historical value, the Cadia Engine House was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
