Historical information

Taken between circa 1920 - 1930 this photograph depicts a Hydraulic water jet in the foreground and a man dressed in dark trousers, a white long sleeved shirt and broad-brimmed workers hat digging around in the Three Mile Mine at Barramutha. The mine was an important gold resource and was typically mined using a method known as hydraulic sluicing whereby high powered water jets are used to dislodge rock or move sediment. The remaining water sediment slurry is directed through sluice boxes to remove the gold.
The Beechworth mining district was one of six mining districts established by the governor-in-council on 4th of January 1858 under the provisions of An Act for Amending the Laws Relating to the Goldfields (21 Vic no. 32).

Significance

This photograph shows cultural and research value into the historical methods of hydraulic sluicing in the Beechworth mining disctrict. It also shows the evolution of the mining methods and has potential for understanding future engineering endeavors in the context of victorian mine goldfields.

Physical description

Black and White rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.

Inscriptions & markings

Reverse:
Copied from original on loan from Webb (QLD)/
Donated Nov 2009/ Barnawatha Three Mile Mine c1920-1950/
Owned by Plain Bros then Parkinsons/
Managed by John Weir, Peter Jenson, Jack Cox/
Slicing.