5. Walhalla Goldfield

This information has been developed from the publications:

Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in Central Gippsland (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams and S.M Kraemers,
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance on the coast of Port Phillip Bay and in the Catchment of Westernport Bay (1984, 88) by Neville Rosengren.

Geological heritage sites, including sites of geomorphological interest and volcanic heritage sites, are under regular revision by the Geological Society of Australia, especially in the assessment of significance and values. Reference should be made to the most recent reports. See the Earth Science Heritage section of the Geological Society of Australia website (external link) for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:

Access:

Ownership:

518004. Walhalla.

Erica-Walhalla Road.

Crown Land and Private Land.

Entrance to Long Tunnel Extended Mine

Sites of Geological & Geomorphological Significance - Figure 56

Sites 8122 - 5 6 7

Geology/Geomorphology:

A more or less continuous auriferous belt extends 80 kilometres from Walhalla to Woods Point. The gold mineralisation is associated with dyke intrusion of Walhalla Group sediments with the gold bearing quartz reefs commonly occurring along or sub-parallel to the dykes, or in shears or fractures cutting across dyke bulges. The Long Tunnel group of mines at Walhalla is representative of the former type, while the Toombon mine (475232) is one of the few important mines in this area where the gold bearing quartz reefs were not associated with dyke rocks.

Remains of boiler room in Long Tunnel Extended Mine

Significance:

State. The Long Tunnel group of mines were the largest in eastern Victoria and are representative of the mode of mineralisation which extends northward to Woods Point. They are of particular importance for their historical interest as there is abundant evidence of the results of mining, e.g. spoil heaps, adits, shafts, and relict machinery.

Management:

All the mines are now abandoned and derelict, and safe access to the mineralisation zones is no longer possible. Reclamation along the lines of the tourist development at the Long Tunnel Extended mine at Walhalla or recommencement of commercial mining are means by which the potential of these areas may be utilised.

References:

Douglas, J.G. and Ferguson, J.A. (eds.) 91976): Geology of Victoria. Spec. Publ. geol. Soc. Aust.,5.
Whitelaw, O.A.L., (1916), The topography, geology and mines of trhe Woods Point district. Mem. geol. Surv. Vict., 13.

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