Hepburn Springs Blowhole
The Blowholes gold diversion tunnel is a creek diversion excavated through a narrow rock spur by miners which was probably built in the early 1860s when Sailors Creek was being extensively worked by European and Chinese miners.
Ancient rivers flowed through this area, with gold mixed among the gravel of the stream beds. Lava from active volcanoes flowed along these river beds, consuming all in its path. More recently new rivers have formed, flowing across the land carving away at the edges of these lava flows revealing the ancient buried rivers of gold. This is just one of the water diversions recorded from Victoria's gold rush period, the blowhole demonstrates the miner’s determination to find and work the gold.
Many walking tracks in this area follow old water channels that delivered water to miners for sluicing. This constant need for water and the price miners paid for it, often made water more precious than gold.
Most active in winter and spring the Blowhole is part of Hepburn Regional Park, rich with natural spring and relics from the gold mining era. The surrounding hills were exposed by miners following the discovery of gold at nearby Daylesford in 1851. The park's regrowth forest now hides the scars left by "gold fever".
The Blowholes Gold Diversion Tunnel is historically and scientifically important as a characteristic and well preserved example of an early form of gold mining. Gold mining sites are of crucial importance for the pivotal role they have played since 1851 in the development of Victoria. Water diversion and sluicing are important key ingredients in an understanding of gold mining technology as it was employed in mountainous country where water was plentiful and perennial.
Questions
At the parking area and posted coordinates you will find information signs that you will need to read to answer the following questions.
1: Give 3 reasons why water was so precious?
2: How many water diversions are recorded from Victoria's gold rush period?
3: What sort of stone was left behind when the Lava cooled?
4: Tell me how you think the tunnel was constructed?
5: Include a photo of yourself or your team name with the Blowhole visible in your log.(mandatory)
I hope you enjoy your visit to this great location.
There are no wrong answers, as long as you have a go.
Please feel free to log at your leisure, but logs without corresponding answers will be deleted.