Historical information
The photograph depicts a mine cut with a tractor. Water is being used to sluice the front of the tractor, possibly to separate any gold that may have been picked up from the earth. A few people watch the demonstration.
Water was a significant part of gold mining in the Beechworth area and miners used a method known as 'hydraulic sluicing'. Due to the amount of water required, many water races were constructed throughout the Beechworth Mining District. These were cut through solid rock and are an example of engineering achievement. Water usage in the area put Beechworth at the heart of water policy, with many firsts for Victorian colonial goldfield water management being established in the Beechworth Mining District.
Significance
This photograph is significant as it depicts the use of water in gold mining in Beechworth. Beechworth was notable for it's use of water in mining.
Physical description
Black and white square photograph (portrait orientation) printed on matte photographic paper.
Inscriptions & markings
Reverse:
SW-50-2 / 1997 31136 /
unreadable pencil markings
Subjects
References
- The Goldfields Information on hydraulic sluicing in Beechworth.
- Historical archaeology of water management at Beechworth ISBN/ISSN: 9780992433253 Information on water races and water management on Beechworth mine sites.
