Historical information

The Archbold (Chewton) Gold Treatment Works was erected c.1884 by Jeremiah Archbold who operated an assay and metallurgical business specialising in the treatment of gold-bearing ore. The battery, furnaces and Chilean mills which survive on the site suggest that the chlorination process was used to assay pyritic ore. The
works subsequently incorporated the cyanide process after its introduction to Victoria in the late 1890s. Upon Jeremiah's death in 1917, the works continued to be run by one of his sons, Herbert. Herbert Archbold went on to become widely known throughout Victoria for his cyaniding expertise. Herbert died in 1966 and the property was
bought by his son Harry. When Harry Archbold died in the late 1980s the treatment works was closed and everything left as it was.
https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/7899/download-report

Physical description

Nineteen page document. On front page: ' Mount Alexander Diggings, Archbold's Gold Treatment Works, Tour Guiding Notes, prepared by Robert J. Kaufman, Prepared for the Mount Alexander Shire Council, 2002. The processes used in the treatment plant are described, including: fire assays, crushing, retorting and smelting, refining, grinding, chlorination, and cyanidation. The Archbold family history and an overview of the gold treatment works overall, is presented in the report. Black and white photographs and diagrams of various artefacts and processes are included. Advice on commentary from each viewpoint on the tour, is provided for tour guides.