Fryerstown - Herons Reef Historic Gold Diggings
Herons Reef Historic Gold Diggings is an authentic gold mining site on 113 acres (45 hectares) in Fryerstown, Victoria, owned by Les Simmons. It is classified by the National Trust of Australia and is registered with Heritage Victoria.
On this site exist relics spanning three eras of gold mining activity:
Alluvial (1851 - 1870)
Deep Lead (1870 - 1890)
Hydraulic Sluicing (1930s)
All these workings remain as left when abandoned by the miners. A golden time capsule in a bushland setting.
Visitors are guided through these diggings on a tour conducted personally by Les Simmons. They pause at several points along the route and are conducted to relic sites off the main track.
During the tour visitors are shown relics of every known method of gold extraction used during the early history of gold mining - bank sluicing, mud surface sluices, incline and deep lead mining, puddling, opencuts, battery sites and adits, to name but a few.
Tour guide Les Simmons explains how the gold was won at each site, including how the Heron Nugget was discovered in April 1855. This nugget weighed 85.3 lb (approximately 40 kg) and was the 7th largest nugget in the world at that time. He also entertains with historical anecdotes relevant to the area.
The duration of a standard tour is approximately 2 hours. During this tour visitors are encouraged to allow their minds to be transported back in time to appreciate not only the hardship of the past but also to be aware of the tranquility which prevails amidst these now deserted diggings.
Herons Reef Historic Gold Diggings is not a commercial re-production of history. It is where it happened - one stands amidst the evidence of the toil, excitement, expectation, hardship and sadness endured by those from all parts of the world in their endeavour to find gold, up to 150 years ago.
How to get there: Turn South off Pyrenees Highway 122 at Chewton and and watch for the signs.
Opening Hours:
Not known
Cost:
Not known
Location
Fryers Road, Fryerstown 3451 Map
✆ (03) 5473 4387
