Wentworth and Reform Gold Mines facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wentworth and Reform Gold Mines |
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Headframe over an abandoned mine shaft at Lucknow
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| Location | 4570-4578 Mitchell Highway, Lucknow, City of Orange, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1890–1940 |
| Architect |
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| Owner | Orange City Council |
| Official name: Wentworth and Reform Gold Mines; Main Mine or Wentworth Main Mine; Industrial Archaeological Site | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 24 August 2018 |
| Reference no. | 2004 |
| Type | Mine site |
| Category | Mining and Mineral Processing |
| Builders |
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The Wentworth and Reform Gold Mines are important historical sites in Lucknow, Australia. They used to be busy gold mines and are now protected as heritage sites. These mines show us how gold mining changed from 1890 to 1940. They are located on the Mitchell Highway and are owned by the Orange City Council.
Contents
Discovering Gold: A Rich History
The village of Lucknow is famous for its gold mining history. Gold was first found here in 1851. This was just two months after Australia's first major gold discovery at nearby Ophir. Lucknow became a great example of the many small gold mining towns that grew across Australia in the 1800s.
The area still has many signs of its early mining days. You can see structures both above and below ground. The tall steel structures, called headframes, at the Wentworth Main and Reform sites are very rare. They stand out on the main road and remind us of the village's exciting past.
Key People in Lucknow's Gold Rush
The Wentworth goldfield was special because it was privately owned by W. C. Wentworth. This meant he controlled who could mine on his land. The mining operations led to the creation of the village of Lucknow.
A very important person in the gold rush was Henry H. Newman. He was the mine manager during the busiest time. Newman later became a member of the NSW Parliament. He helped buy the Wentworth Main Mine site and set up its buildings and equipment.
The Reform Mine: A Small but Mighty Goldfield
The Reform Mine was known as one of the richest small goldfields in the world. Mining started here around the 1870s and was very successful until the late 1890s. In 1935, the Wentworth Company built a new poppet head (a frame over a mine shaft) here. It was used to pump water out of the mine.
During the gold rush, the hillside around the Reform site was full of activity. There was a battery (for crushing ore), a foundry, a large mine office, houses, and many shafts and tunnels. Today, you can still see impressive bluestone walls that were the foundations of the mill. Old equipment and overgrown piles of waste rock (mullock heaps) also remain.
Changes Over Time
Mining in Lucknow slowed down by the 1920s. However, it picked up again in the 1930s, especially when the Marshall family owned the mines. Much of the equipment you see at the Wentworth Main Mine today was built during this time.
The Wentworth Main Shaft was mainly used for "dewatering." This means it pumped water out of the mines. This helped lower the water level so mining could continue at the Reform mine. The mines had a complex system of tunnels underground. These are now mostly filled with water. By the 1960s, the mine site was used for small-scale farming.
Orange City Council bought the Wentworth Main Mine site in 2000. Since then, they have worked to protect and preserve the buildings and equipment.
What You Can See at the Mines
The Wentworth Main Shaft goes down about 240 meters (787 feet). The original timber poppet head was replaced with a metal one in the 1930s. Many of the buildings you see today, like the machinery room, office, and equipment store, are from the 1930s.
The site has several old corrugated iron buildings that are still in good shape. These include the mine office, equipment storeroom, first aid room, blacksmith shop, and a rare stamper battery shed. The stamper battery shed is very special because it's one of the few left in New South Wales. It holds a 10-head stamper (a machine for crushing rock) and tables for processing ore. You can also see a steam engine and ore chutes.
The Poppet Head and Dewatering
The most noticeable feature is the poppet head with its winding gear. This mine was used to pump water out of the Lucknow goldfields. This allowed miners to work in the Reform mine. You can even see a dewatering bucket hanging over the main shaft.
Because the Lucknow goldfield was private, the underground tunnels are very well organized. They form a large, connected system, though they are now flooded.
The Reform Mine Site
The Reform Mine started producing gold around the 1870s. It was considered one of the richest small goldfields. At its busiest, it had a battery, a foundry, a mine office, stables, and houses. It also had a large network of underground shafts and tunnels.
Today, the Reform Mine site is not as well preserved as the Wentworth Mine. You can see the poppet head, a small shed, overgrown mullock heaps, and parts of a bluestone wall. However, it still shows a clear history of intense mining activity.
Current Condition and Preservation
The buildings at the Wentworth site are in good condition. They have been repaired and maintained. While much of the original machinery is gone, you can still see parts and foundations. The winding engine and stamper battery are still there, but some parts are missing.
The Reform Mine site has underground shafts and tunnels, which makes it an interesting place for future study. The area is fenced off for safety.
To keep the site in good shape for visitors and education, ongoing repairs are needed. This includes fixing doors, windows, roofs, and pathways.
Why These Mines Are Important
The Wentworth and Reform Mines are very important to the history of New South Wales. They show us how gold mining was done in the central west, which was the most productive gold mining area in NSW. These sites are rare because their buildings are still mostly intact. They are also important landmarks that represent Lucknow's mining past.
A Look at Mining Through Time
These sites demonstrate three different periods of gold mining in NSW:
- The first gold rush in 1851.
- The use of machines for mining in the 1870s-1880s.
- The return of mining in the 1930s.
The Wentworth site is especially important because it shows how gold mining continued for over 100 years. The stamper battery building, with its crushing machine and ore tables, is a very rare example in NSW.
Important People and Their Connections
Famous people were connected to these mines. W. C. Wentworth, an explorer and politician, owned the site when gold was first found. Other important owners included James Dalton and Cobb & Co directors James Rutherford and W. F. Whitney. Henry W. Newman, a miner and politician, managed the mines during their busiest period.
A Landmark of Technical Achievement
Both mine areas show great technical skill. The Wentworth mine is a landmark that displays 100 years of mining technology. Its poppet head stands out next to the Mitchell Highway. You can easily understand the old ways of extracting and processing ore here.
The Reform Mine also has a unique poppet head. Its technical importance lies in its underground mining structures, especially the network of shafts. Uncle Tom's mine, part of this network, was one of the richest gold veins in NSW.
Community Connection
The Wentworth and Reform sites are important to the community. They show the rich mining heritage of Lucknow and the central west. Because they are next to a main highway, many people traveling through NSW see them. This makes them important landmarks for a wider audience.
Learning from the Past
These sites have the potential to teach us a lot about gold mining in NSW. Studying the buildings, machinery, and landscape features can reveal more about the history of gold mining, technology, and the communities that grew around it.
Rare Examples of Mining History
These sites are rare in NSW because they give a full picture of company gold mining from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. The stamper battery building and its equipment are especially rare, being one of the few still existing in NSW.
The Wentworth Mine is outstanding because its buildings are so well preserved and restored. This helps visitors understand the history of gold mining. The Reform Mine, though less altered, also shows Lucknow's gold mining history and is a visible landmark from the highway.
