Lolworth Creek Battery facts for kids

The Lolworth Creek Battery is an old gold processing site in Queensland, Australia. It is located near Basalt, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Charters Towers. This site has a special heritage listing because it shows how gold was mined and processed in the past. It was built around 1930 to 1932.

Discovering Gold at Lolworth Creek

The area around Lolworth Creek, also known as Mount Hope, was a place where people found gold. Miners dug up gold from quartz rocks found in the ground. Even though a lot of the area was covered by thick basalt rock, miners found gold in specific spots.

Early Gold Mining Efforts

In 1920, a government geologist named W.E. Cameron looked at the gold veins. He thought miners could make money if they used simple equipment. He also suggested opening up more areas for mining.

Finding Copper and Gold

In 1926, a miner named W.H. Shetland found gold mixed with copper at the Crystal Oak mine. Between 1928 and 1930, the ore was sent to Charters Towers for processing. By mid-1931, miners had dug out about 700 long tons (710 t) of rock. From this, they picked out 37 long tons (38 t) of gold and copper ore. This amount just covered their costs.

The Gold Rush Begins

The Lucky Hit mineral claim was one of the first new claims in the Lolworth Creek area. This discovery brought many diggers to the field. By late 1932, about 40 to 50 new mining claims had been made.

Building the Battery

The Lolworth Creek Battery was built between mid-1930 and 1932. It was set up on the north side of Lolworth Creek. This battery was used to crush rocks from various mines. It helped extract gold from the ore. The battery likely operated until about 1938. During the 1930s, about 60 small gold mines were active in the area.

What the Battery Site Looks Like

The Lolworth Creek Battery site is on the northern bank of the creek. It sits at the bottom of a steep hill. The site still has many parts of the old gold processing plant.

Main Structures and Equipment

• Stamp Battery: This is a five-head stamp battery. It was made by Burns & Twigg Engineers in Rockhampton. A stamp battery uses heavy weights to crush ore.
• Steam Engine: Next to the battery is a two-cylinder portable steam engine. This engine provided power to the battery.
• Battery Shed: Both the battery and engine are inside the frame of an old shed. This shed was made from bush timber. The metal roof and walls are now gone.
• Settling Tanks: Below the shed, near the creek, are three earth-settling tanks. These tanks were used to separate gold from the crushed rock. They are reinforced with timber.
• Weighbridge: There is also an almost complete weighbridge with scales. This was used to weigh the ore. The scales were made by H. Pooley & Son of Liverpool.
• Other Remains: You can also see a pile of leftover crushed rock, called tailings. There are also signs of a cyanide treatment area. A concrete ford across the creek acted as a small dam. Evidence of an old campsite, including a wood stove, is also present.

Why Lolworth Creek Battery is Important

The Lolworth Creek Battery was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on June 14, 2003. It is important for several reasons.

A Rare Look at the Past

The stamp battery at Lolworth Creek is a rare example of equipment made by local manufacturers like Burns & Twigg. The portable steam engine is also uncommon. The weighbridge with its scales is another rare surviving piece of equipment. These items show us the technology used in the 1930s.

Showing How Gold Was Processed

This site is a great example of a small, isolated gold processing plant. It shows how miners used older designs and machines even in the 1930s. The bush-timber shed frame is still partly there. The earth tanks and other processing areas show the simple methods used to get gold from the ore. The remains of the camp also give us a glimpse into the daily lives of the miners.

A Special Historical Landscape

The old ruins mixed with the natural surroundings create a unique historical landscape. It helps us imagine what mining life was like long ago.