The remnants of the Tarnagulla State Battery are hiding in the bush to the north east of the famous Poverty Reef mine in Tarnagulla.
The site consists of two sets of cyanide vats from various phases, the most prominent being a set of galvanized iron vats alongside the battery site.
Bolts and a set of mostly burnt wooden mortar blocks show the site of the five head stamp battery. The outline of the battery shed can be made out, and remnants of the walls are still visible in the ground.
Foundations for the engine are set near the mortar blocks.
History of the Tarnagulla State Battery
The Tarnagulla State Battery and cyanide plant was erected in 1915, and in 1945 was reported to be a 5 head battery powered by gas.
This site was used for several cyanide operations over time from the late nineteenth century:
- Duncan, Noyes & Co Cyanide Works, 1896 - ?
- Lyndon & Dowsley Cyanide Works, 1902 - 1912
- State Battery and Cyanide Works, 1915 - 1957
How to get to the Tarnagulla State Battery
The Tarnagulla State Battery is located off the track in the bush to the north east of the Poverty Reef mine in Tarnagulla.
It is only a few minutes walk through the bush, but be wary of uneven ground, open mine shafts, snakes, and mosquitos.
Surviving state batteries in Victoria
From the late 19th century, assistance was provided to gold miners by
the Victorian Government through the installation and operation of small
gold batteries.
These were known as State or Government Batteries, and
were installed in areas where there were no private batteries available
for public use.
During the 20th century there was a peak of over thirty
Victorian state gold batteries in operation, however only
six of them
remain for us to see today.
PROSPECTORS AND MINERS ASSOCIATION VICTORIA
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in 1980, the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria is a
voluntary body created to protect the rights and opportunities of those
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BBQ
Tarnagulla
