Hepburn Estate Leasehold Co. Mine & Machinery Site
The company operated two shafts on their property. The most significant extant remains are at No. 1 shaft and consist of a substantial mullock dump, chiefly made up of water-washed quartz pebbles and stones, and the beam wall of a brick Cornish engine house. The beam engine used here was the second largest such engine to be made locally in Victoria. It was identical to that installed at the Berry No. 1 mine down the road.
By 1895, however, the drives from the main shaft had been driven to an unprofitable distance and plans were drawn up for a new shaft. The following plant was to be shifted to the new (No. 2 ) shaft - one 24 inch cylinder pumping engine and gear, one 16 inch winding engine and gear, a capstan engine and gear, one roots blower, three Cornish flue boilers, four puddling machines, and one puddling engine. A mine managers house, store room and blacksmith's shop was also erected at the new shaft. The surplus plant at the old (No. 1) shaft, including the 70 inch Cornish beam engine, was offered for sale. When the No. 1 shaft was abandoned it had produced gold to a value of £153,481.
The Hepburn Estate No. 2 shaft went onto to become one of the main Creswick mines of the late 1890s: by 1901 the shaft had yielded gold worth £80,941 but expenses had totalled over £71,000. It had paid out £14,000 in dividends, but this was a small return for the £94,900 invested by shareholders.Machinery In 1884 the company's plant consisted of one 24 inch cylinder winding engine (used for pumping); one Cornish pumping engine - 70 inch cylinder, 9 feet stroke - capable of working two sets of pumps - 14 inch and 17¾ inch; four Cornish flue boilers; four puddling machines and one 16-inch cylinder engine to drive same. Additional plant was to be installed to this due to the large volumes of water encountered.
Significance: The Hepburn Estate mine indicates many of the problems faced by mines on the northern end of the Berry leads. Although the eighth producer of gold this mine was less profitable than the 16th producer. To deal with the water problems the company possessed some of the most extensive plant on the lead, particularly its 70 inch cylinder, Cornish beam pump and brick engine house.
Source: http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/68520
THE ACCIDENT IN THE HEPBURN ESTATE MINE
(By TELEGRAPH FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
CRESWICK, TUESDAY.
An inquest was held today at Smeaton before the deputy coroner Mr I S Cooper and a jury into the cause of death of Thomas Annear who was killed yesterday in the Hepburn Estate Company mine. Mr Stewart inspector of mines was present. A good deal of evidence was taken, from which it appeared that the deceased and two other men were working above the surface putting in new buntings for carrying the skids or guides for the cages. They were sent below to put something right in connection with the lifts. A carpenter named Cain, who took up the work they had left put in one bunting by cutting a slot in the upright above the mortice in which the tenon of the bunting, fits in order to get the bunting in. To enable the men to go below, a bucket was removed from one compartment on the shaft to another causing the rope to catch under the edge of the bunting which was 8ft 9in above the surface. The bunting was not properly secured and while the carpenter was at dinner the deceased was coming up in a bucket when the bunting which was 6ft. by 3in and weighed 64lb was dislodged and fell upon the the deceased about 70ft cutting his head open frightfully. He fell a depth of 200 ft into water which, had to be pumped out before the body was recovered. A verdict was returned of death by accident. The deceased leaves behind a wife and six children. He was a steady man, and much respected.
Source: Article from The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wed 31 Mar 1886 Page 6, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/275334