The Shining Star Gold mine at the town of Yankee Jim's Creek now
known as Old Warburton was the site of another water wheel. After
walking over from Walhalla, Walter Fisher a master carpenter was
commissioned to build a large over shot wheel to drive a crushing
battery. A water race was constructed around the hillside to
deliver water from the upper section of Big Pat's creek to
supplement the water from Yankee Jim's creek. On completion of the
project the wheel was "christened" with a bottle of whisky and set
in operation.
.
As for if the 10,000 pound cost of the race, a major sum in the
1870s, was ever recovered we can't be sure. At it's peek the mine
yielded 14 Oz per ton. It is recorded that after the mine closed
the race was maintained for some time by a local named Jacky Wood
who was payed to do so. The crushing battery may also have served
the Lady Hopetoun mine.
Much hydraulic mining also took place in this area that saw
large quantities of soil washed away using high pressure water in
order to reach gold on a "false floor" below. Walter Fisher is said
to have found a large nugget while "stripping" a paddock using this
method at Scotchman's creek not far away.
The Cache
This cache takes you to what I believe to be the site of the
above wheel. Take the
picture with you and take a look at the topography then and
now. Wally may have done a bit of "Paddock stripping" just up from
here after the picture was taken I suspect 
. Watch your step when approaching the
cache as there are a few holes about. I haven't seen anything
really big in the area but it always pays to keep your eyes open in
these old gold areas. This cache is almost a drive by but be sure
to park in a safe place. The cache is a 1 liter Sistema box with
the usual items in what I suspect should be a obvious place. Cito
items are also in abundance here so take a few with you.
If you haven't already done so be sure to visit Nutcache's very
closely related cache
Shelob's Lair (LR10) not far away.