Historical information

Victoria Quartz Gold Mine was situated on Victoria Hill, Bendigo. Victoria Hill is situated on the Marong Road, opposite the Gold Mines Hotel.
Victoria Hill was one of the richest areas on the Bendigo Goldfield. It had many successful mines, including Lansell's '180' and the Victoria Quartz, once the deepest gold mine in the world. At the turn of the century, this was the site of one of the premier mines on the Bendigo goldfield.
In 1908, it boasted the world's deepest shaft - 4,478 feet (1,365 metres). The shaft reached a depth of 4,613 feet (1,406 metres) in 1910.
In 1857 eight small claims in this area had been merged to form the Victoria Reef Quartz Mining Co. Another merger in 1877 led to the formation of the Victoria Quartz Co.
For the next three decades, the mine produced consistent profits. In 1910, water burst into the claim, flooding the shaft and halting operations.
The company baled water for six months then handed the mine over to the tributers who worked the upper levels for the share of the profits.
The mine closed in 1913, having produced over 48,000 ounces of gold and paid dividends of £99,600.

Physical description

Printed in black text on light tan paper: 'Underground workings, Victoria Quartz Co''. Written on accompanying label: "Victoria Reef, underground plan'. Plan shows shaft, drives and geological features.
Plan forms part of the Margaret Roberts Collection.