Campbells Creek - Mopoke Gully Water Wheel
Bendigo and Fryers Goldmining Company built the 60ft diameter Mopoke Gully Waterwheel to power the ten-head stamp battery. They operated the waterwheel from 1887 to 1900.
The wheel mounted on large stone foundations was set into the hill and set in motion by a supply of water located by a nearby water race.
The site includes two massive stone abutments set into the side of a hill. There are substantially intact and include holding down bolts for the axle housing. On the west side of the abutments is a large stone retained loading ramp.
Below the ramp is a levelled floor containing a roughly square depression belonging to a decayed stamper stump.
An underground stone-lined culvert drains from the base of the waterwheel pit. There is also a small intact tailing dump in the gully below the abutments. Two water races are clearly visible above the abutments about 10 metres apart. The mine workings located above the battery are characteristic of this era.
Note: Care needs to be taken around the water wheel because it's a huge drop if you slip from the top.
Location - The Mopoke Gully Water Wheel sits in the bush just off Blankett Gully Road (east of road) south of Campbells Creek. It is at least 800m south of the Skeens Gully Road turnoff from Blankett Gully Road. Don't believe the location on Google Maps as fact. We spent almost 90 minutes searching for the correct location. As you travel south along Blankett Gully Road, look for a small wire frame gate on the left side of the road which is the access point. From the gate, it is a 100m walk to the water wheel.
Photos:
Location
Blankett Gully Road, Campbells Creek 3451 Map
