Yalwal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids YalwalNew South Wales |
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 Yalwal
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 0 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2540 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 142 m (466 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Shoalhaven | ||||||||||||||
| Region | South Coast | ||||||||||||||
| County | St Vincent | ||||||||||||||
| Parish |
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| State electorate(s) | South Coast | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Gilmore | ||||||||||||||
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Yalwal is a place in New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a busy gold mining town. Today, it is mostly a picnic area and the site of Danjera Dam. You can find Yalwal about 29 kilometers (18 miles) west of Nowra. It sits where the Danjera and Yarramunmun Creeks meet. These creeks then form Yalwal Creek, which flows into the Shoalhaven River.
Yalwal is also the name of a larger area. This area includes the old mining town and stretches into the Morton National Park. The land around Yalwal has been home to the Wandandian people for a very long time. They are part of the Yuin nation.
Contents
Gold Mining at Yalwal
Gold was first found in the Yalwal area in 1852 by a person named Rev W.B. Clarke. People started looking for gold more seriously in 1870. They used a method called sluicing, which uses water to separate gold from dirt. However, a big flood in 1871 stopped their work.
Early Discoveries and Growth
In 1872, miners found a main gold vein at a spot called the Pinnacle. They started digging open-cut mines there. The first deep shafts were dug at the Homeward Bound mine in 1872. By 1874, they were finding good amounts of gold.
- In 1875, the first machine to crush rock, called a stamp battery, was set up.
- A mail station opened in 1880, so people could send and receive letters.
- A public school opened in 1884. It closed for a while in 1918, reopened in 1924, and then closed for good in 1928.
- The Yalwal Post Office officially opened on January 1, 1883.
The gold found in the quartz rocks could be very rich. For example, in 1895, nine tons of rock produced 337.5 ounces of gold. That's a lot of gold from a small amount of rock!
Challenges and Decline
In 1895, another gold mine was found nearby at Grassy Gully. However, the town of Yalwal started to shrink. In 1890, people from Nowra bought all the useful scrap metal from the town. More buildings were taken apart during the First World War. Their materials were used to help with the war effort. The last new gold discovery was in 1934 at a place called Fountainhead.
Terrible bushfires hit Yalwal in 1939. Most of the town was destroyed. Only one house, one shop, and the Post Office survived. Sadly, one person died in that fire. Another bushfire in 1953 destroyed five more buildings, including the Post Office. Twelve people survived by staying in the creek until the fire passed.
After the 1939 fire, gold mining slowly stopped. In 1971, the Shoalhaven Council built the Danjera Dam. This dam flooded most of the old town site and the lower mine areas.
Exploring the Old Mines Today
Even though much of the town is gone, you can still see some things from the past.
- Some old mine shafts and digging sites remain.
- There is a graveyard with graves dating back to 1854.
- You can also see a five-head stamp battery, which was used to crush rocks.
About 35 old mine workings can be reached by walking or canoeing. Some are safe enough for kids to explore, but others are very dangerous. It's important to be careful and not enter if you are unsure. The main mine areas are about a 15-minute walk from the car park. They can be interesting to explore for a whole day.
In recent years, the way the historic mine area is managed has changed. Signs that used to explain the mines and history have been removed. Now, new signs mostly tell visitors what they are not allowed to do.
Danjera Dam and Recreation
Today, the area is known for Danjera Dam. This dam is part of the Shoalhaven water supply system. It is also a popular spot for picnics.
- You can go canoeing and swimming on the dam.
- However, power boats are not allowed.
- The dam stretches about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) to the south.
- It's a good place for bass fishing.
The rocks in the Yalwal area are quite old. They include different types like quartzite and phyllites in the valleys, and sandstones on the higher ground. Gold deposits formed in these rocks a very long time ago. Other metals like silver, copper, tin, lead, arsenic, and zinc have also been found here.
