Historical information

The depicted Ballarat School of Mines Assaying Furnace probably dates back to the mid 1890s. The photo first appears in the Ballarat School of Mines Calendar for 1900, but references to these facilities were mentioned in 1887. These facilities were updated and expanded on several occasions.

Physical description

Black and white photograph of the assay furnaces at the Ballarat School of Mines. The Assay-room contained 16 smelting furnaces, 16 muffle furnaces fro coke, charcoal, bituminous coal and gas, and featured all the usual tools and appliances. There was an adjoining weighing room.