“The Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park stretches from north of Chewton, south through the Fryerstown and Vaughan Springs areas. From 1851 to 1854, this area was the world”s richest shallow alluvial goldfield and home to tens of thousands of migrant gold seekers. The Reserve contains the remains of the mines and gullies which yielded fortunes and retains much of its gold rush character. Relics of former mining activities scattered throughout the park include old shafts, tunnels and open cut mines, water races, building ruins, machinery foundations and abandoned machinery.”

[embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Npp-lxSeY[/embedyt]

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CENTRAL DEBORAH GOLD MINE (BENDIGO, VICTORIA)

“When gold was first discovered in Bendigo in 1851 it sparked decades of gold mining worth billions of dollars. Central Deborah Mine was one of the last two commercial mines to cease operation in the wealthy Bendigo goldfields, operating for just 15 years between 1939 and 1954 producing 29,865 ounces of gold. The Mine features an underground tour which descends 61m below the surface and a longer adventure tour which uses ladders to reach a depth of 85m.”

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FOREST CREEK HISTORIC GOLD DIGGINGS (CASTLEMAINE, VICTORIA)

“Forest Creek Historic Gold diggings is situated mid-way between Castlemaine and Chewton. A 400m interpretive walk allows you to discover how miners won alluvial gold from Forest Creek.”

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