Hill End Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hill End Historic Site |
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| Location | Hill End, Bathurst Region, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1851– |
| Architect | Various |
| Owner | Office of Environment and Heritage |
| Official name: Hill End Historic Site | |
| Type | state heritage (conservation area) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 993 |
| Type | Townscape |
| Category | Urban Area |
| Builders | Various |
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Hill End Historic Site is a special place in New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a very busy gold rush town. Today, it is a small village that helps us remember Australia's exciting gold mining past. It is located about 300 kilometers northwest of Sydney.
Contents
Discovering Gold at Hill End
Before the 1820s, the land around Hill End was the home of the Wiradjuri people. Around 1820, settlers like Suttor and Cummings started raising sheep and cattle there.
The First Gold Rush
Gold was found in the Tambaroora and Hill End areas in mid-1851. This discovery happened after other gold finds nearby. Soon after, the number of people living there grew very quickly. For a while, this area was even bigger and richer than the goldfields in Victoria.
Early gold miners looked for "alluvial gold." This type of gold is found in the clay beds of creeks and dams. It was easy to get with simple tools. This meant many new miners, often without much experience, came to the area.
Hill End's Growth and Peak
In 1859, Hill End started to grow in a more organized way. By 1872, during the second, bigger gold rush, it was the largest inland town in New South Wales. At its busiest, about 8,000 people lived there.
However, as the main gold sources ran out, the population slowly decreased. Today, only about 120 people live in Hill End. This is a big change from its peak.
How Hill End Became a Historic Site
Interest in Hill End grew again in the 1940s. This was thanks to artists like Donald Friend and Russell Drysdale who painted the area. In the 1950s, hundreds of old photos of Hill End from the 1870s were found. These photos, taken by Beaufoy Merlin and the Holtermann collection, made people even more interested.
Because of this renewed interest, the town was officially made a historic site in 1967. This means it is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
Exploring Hill End Historic Site
The Hill End Historic Site is about 80 kilometers north of Bathurst. It covers about 130 hectares (about 320 acres) of land. This includes the village of Hill End itself and two other areas: Valentine's Mine and the Roasting Pits.
What You Can See at the Site
The historic site has many old buildings and places to explore. These include:
- Old houses like Bennett House, Murray House, and Holtermann's House.
- Important community buildings such as the District Hospital, Royal Hotel, General Store, and Post Office.
- Churches like the Catholic Church.
- Mining-related sites like the Assay Office and Bryant's Butchery.
Many of these buildings are still in good condition. They look much like they did a long time ago. There are also many archaeological sites that help us learn about the past.
Valentine's Mine and Quartz Roasting Pits
Valentine's Mine
Valentine's Mine has many old mine shafts and a large pile of leftover rock called a tailings dump. You can also see the remains of a trolley way, a boiler block, and a battery house. A "battery" was a machine used to crush rock to get gold. There are also old explosives sheds, cyanide tanks, and a manager's residence.
Quartz Roasting Pits
The Quartz Roasting Pits are about 10 kilometers north of Hill End. Here, you can see two special kilns shaped like upside-down bells. There are also remains of a battery building and two houses. These pits are one of the oldest gold extraction sites still existing in Australia. They show how gold was processed long ago.
Why Hill End is a Special Heritage Site
Hill End is very important to Australia's history and culture. It has great beauty, historical value, scientific importance, and social meaning for everyone.
A Glimpse into the Past
Hill End has a unique collection of buildings, old items, and archaeological sites. These things are very valuable for their architecture, beauty, and for research. The village is located along a gold-rich area within rolling hills. This makes it feel peaceful and isolated.
The village, its buildings, and gardens still show how people lived during the gold rush. They also show how the town changed over time.
Learning from History
Hill End is very important for understanding the history of New South Wales. It has many old timber, earth, and brick buildings. These buildings are surrounded by old gardens and orchards. The land around the village still shows many signs of mining activity. The village has not changed much since the early 1900s.
The town and its goldfields were also where the first "reef mining" happened in Australia. Reef mining is when gold is found in veins of rock deep underground.
Inspiring Artists and Communities
Hill End's beautiful setting, with its 19th-century buildings and ruins, creates a peaceful atmosphere. Many parts of the landscape look the same as they did when the gold rushes ended. This brings to mind the busy and exciting times of the gold rush.
Old gardens, orchards, and street trees have grown and now add to the beauty of the village. This mix of old fences, ruins, and surviving buildings has inspired many famous Australian artists. Many buildings still have their original insides, furniture, and items. These collections are very rare and special.
Hill End is also a lively place today. Its history is very important to the people who live there now. Many of them are proud to be related to the original miners and villagers. The buildings, their original interiors, and gardens help us understand the daily lives of the people who lived there.
A Place for Research and Education
Hill End is an amazing place for scientific research. Experts can study its history, architecture, and how society and engineering changed over time. Almost every site, from Tambaroora in the north to Hawkins Hill in the south, can provide valuable information. This includes how mining techniques and building styles developed.
The site is also a wonderful place for recreation, learning, and education for people now and in the future.
A Rare and Special Place
Hill End Historic Site is very rare because of its historical, technical, and aesthetic importance.
