Lawrence - Berry No. 1 Deep Lead Gold Mine
The Berry Lead System, the state's richest deep alluvial gold lead system, runs north from Creswick, slightly to the west of Smeaton. Mining of lead system took place from early 1870s. The Berry No. 1 mine was floated in 1881 and by the end of 1884, the company's main shaft had been sunk 494 feet. Confronted with large flows of water, the company erected some of the most extensive pumping machinery in the State, including a 70-inch cylinder Cornish engine which was capable of lifting 60,000 gallons of water per hour. The engine was housed in a brick engine house. The Berry No.1 mine was not one of the field's major gold producers. In fact it was spectacularly unprofitable: in twenty years its record was 50,000 ounces of gold, dividends of less than 5,000 pounds, and operating costs of 278,764 pounds.
The engine pump house at the Berry No.1 mine, which still remains. is a reminder of the move by the mining industry from the use of imported Cornish pumping engines to locally produced engines.
Note: The Berry No. 1 mine is located on private property and entry is prohibited. You get a very nice of the pump house and neighbouring mullock heaps from alongside the Daylesford-Clunes Road.
Location
1541 Daylesford-Clunes Road, Lawrence 3664 Map
Web Links
→ Berry No. 1 Deep Lead Gold Mine (Victorian Heritage Database)
→ Berry No. 1 deep lead gold mine - Engine House (YouTube)
