Goldfields Mining Site
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 23 Aug 2014 22:17
|
Goldfields Mining Site Opposite Roaring
Meg
 Driving along admiring the colour of the water in the gorge, we saw a
turning by some old buildings, time for a stop and explore.
 I like the
idea of something being called Roaring Meg, anyhooo. The Goldfields
Mining Centre site remains much as it was in the days when the early miners
lived and worked here. It is an authentic example of a fully functioning
goldfield preserved as New Zealand’s premier demonstration site.
   Discovery of gold in the 1850’s and
1860’s began the early settlement of the untamed inland South Island.
Prospectors from the four corners of the globe flocked to the region to seek
their fortunes and began the settlements of Queenstown, Arrowtown, Cromwell and
many more of the local townships.
The Goldfields twenty five hectare
reserve covers an area once known as Gees Flat like many other pioneers and
miners that left the marks of their industry as well their names, on what was
once wilderness. Gee left nothing to tell us about either himself or his
fortunes but his discovery of gold on this site started a hundred year
gold-rush.
   Today we could see the original
tunnels, mine shafts, water races and dams built by the early miners, the
water-powered machinery still works as it did over a hundred and thirty years
ago. There is a tiny stone cottages of Chinatown, huts and early shelters of the
first settlers. The site is still considered to be very rich and is now
protected by the Department of Conservation, nuggets are sometimes found with
smaller flakes on a daily basis.
  The trigger finger leapt into action
and Bear scurried off to his quarry, sadly, what he thought was a cannon
sticking out was in fact just part of a
sluice.
 A bigger
sluice.
 Relics.
  Pulley boxes
waiting quietly.
 I really liked the pulley cart against
the pinks of the eucalyptus tree.
 Every miner
wished........
  ALL IN ALL A FEEL FOR GOLD
MINING
AN EXCITING
PAST |