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Beautiful ruins of the Victorian Goldfields

Posted 09/12/2020 in Places



There are a huge amount of ruins scattered throughout the bushland of the Victorian Goldfields, which are always fascinating to stumble upon. You can find sites ranging from small mud brick fences to the extensive ruins of mighty gold mining companies. Some of them are truly beautiful, so I've gathered this list of six of the region's most picturesque ruins!

Herons Reef, Fryerstown VIC

Gorgeous stone miners hut at Herons Reef Gold Diggings, Fryerstown VIC

Part of the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, Herons Reef is an extraordinary site in Fryerstown filled with extensive ruins and remnants of the Victorian gold rush. The area showcases examples of many different methods and eras of gold mining, multiple stone ruins, blacksmith forges, and a remarkably intact Cornish miner's hut! The Cornish miner's hut was built c. 1867 from local stone and mud mortar, and is the only known surviving hut in such condition on the Fryers Creek goldfield. Click for more information...

Specimen Gully Ruins, Barkers Creek VIC

Impressive stone ruins at Specimen Gully, Barkers Creek VIC

The remarkable remains of a cottage stand along Specimen Gully Road, constructed of Specimen Gully slate. Visitors can get a close look at these ruins, as well as check out a monument commemorating the first gold discovery in the Mount Alexander District. The discovery occurred on Dr William Barker's pastoral run in 1851, in a nearby area but not at this site. This was a life-changing discovery which sparked the Mount Alexander gold rush and transformed the region from a quiet pastoral area into one of the most famous goldfields on earth! Click for more information...


Mount Alexander Silk Worm Farm Ruins, Harcourt North VIC

Beautiful scenery surrounds the ruins of the Mount Alexander Silk Worm Farm, Harcourt North VIC

Nestled among exotic ornamental trees and surrounded by beautiful views, the ruins of a 19th century silk worm farm lie along the rocky south-eastern slopes of Mount Alexander. The gorgeous stone ruins are all that remain of the silk worm farm established here in 1872 by Mrs Bladen Neill and the Victorian Ladies Sericultural Company. The farm included a magnannerie for breeding worms, a leaf room, a cottage, residential quarters, a building used for educational purposes, and plantings of mulberry trees for the worms to eat. The remains of at least two structures remain at the site today. Click for more information...

Mopoke Gully Water Wheel, Campbells Creek VIC

The ruins of the Mopoke Gully Water Wheel can be found hidden in the bush near Campbells Creek, VIC

The fascinating Mopoke Gully Water Wheel ruins are tucked away in the bushland just out of Campbells Creek. The water wheel which once operated at this site was used to drive the ten-head stamp battery of the Bendigo and Fryers Goldmining Company, and the impressive stepped masonry of the water wheel abutments remain intact today. Click for more information...


Grand Duke Mine, Timor VIC

Massive stone arch at the Grand Duke Mine, Timor VIC

A fascinating glimpse into the region's rich gold mining history, the impressive stone arch of the Grand Duke Mine is all that remains of the pump house which used to remove water from underground. The massive ruins stand out dramatically against the surrounding landscape. Click for more information...

Jubilee Mine, Staffordshire Reef VIC

Surrounded by forest, the ruins of the Jubilee Company Quartz Gold Mine are a must-see in Staffordshire Reef, VIC

The extensive ruins of the Jubilee Company Quartz Gold Mine are a fascinating place to explore! A fantastic self-guided walk takes you around the site of the Jubilee Company Quartz Gold Mine. Features you will discover along the walk include battery foundations, engine beds, a water race, old mine shafts, surface workings, cyanide plant, tailings, old house sites and more. Illustrated signposts provide lots of information along the way. Click for more information...

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