Walhalla Travel & Tourism

13.7 Tonnes of Gold

From its mining lease at the northern end of the fabulous Cohen Reef, the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mining Company produced 13.7 tonnes of gold, which at recent prices represents a value in excess of $50 million.
In the period 1885 to 1908 the mine was one of Australia’s principal reef gold producers, being top Victorian producer in six of those years.
From 1920 to 1936 the ‘Renown’ Mine with very little success.
$32 Million in Dividends
On several occasions the Company topped the annual dividend list for Victorian Reef Miners, the best results being in 1896 and 1897, when dividends were greater than its paid capital.
Its dividend of about $32 million in present money value amounted to almost 14 times the shareholders’ paid capital.

Features

The mine’s 8.5 kilometres of underground workings extended to a depth of 923 metres below the machinery chamber which in turn is some 150 metres below natural surface.
The visitor can see:

• The world renowned Cohens Reef exposed in the workings
• The main adit or tunnel, which from its entrance, extends almost 300 metres to the machinery chamber
• The underground machinery chamber from which a vertical flue rises 152 metres to the surface and also from which an inclined air shaft 125 metres long was driven out to the far side of the hill
• Mine Museum
• Blacksmith’s Shop
• Entrance to Renown Mine

Safety

All tours of inspection are accompanied by a guide.
Working areas or areas considered to be potentially dangerous are securely fenced off.
All accessible areas have been carefully made secure and safe and are subject to regular inspection by qualified engineers and officers of the relevant authorities.

Educational

What you will see is not reproduction but the authentic and original workings of a world famous mine, created in the period 1865 to 1911.
The wealth produced by this and the adjacent miners on Cohens Reef contributed in no small measure to the development of Gippsland and Victoria and both by re-investment and example assisted in continued mineral development elsewhere in Australia.

What Is Happening?

The restoration of the mine is a project under the joint management of the Shire of Baw Baw and the Walhalla Board of Management, supported by both the Victorian and Australian Governments.
Future work will include some restoration of the Machinery Chamber, Surface Tramways as well as the Battery site and the re-opening of the Renown adit.

Tours and Times

Weekends, School and Public Holidays 12:00, 2:00, 3:00 pm daily.
Mon – Fri – 1:30pm.
School, Bus Charter and Special Tours at other times by arrangement.
Telephone
Guide for bookings (03) 5165 6259 Mine Office
Regular tours of the underground workings are conducted and take 45 minutes to complete.

• Before or after your underground tour you are welcome to explore the surface tramways and footpaths as signposted.
• Children under 12 years must be in the care of an adult.

Why Not Stay Longer?

After visiting the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine, why not stay longer in the area, and

• Visit the Walhalla Museum or the Old Fire Station, Cricket Ground, Gold Era Shops, the Band Rotunda, Mechanics Institute, Old Bakery, the Hillside cemetery, Old Timber Tramways and former Narrow Gauge Railway Route, Point Campion, Barnes Lookout and the host of other historic and natural attractions at Walhalla.
• Camp, swim, fish, fossick for gold or simply go walking
• Go Skiing at nearby Mt St Gwinear, visit nearby Mt Erica, standing at over 1500 meters above sea level on the Baw Baw Plateau; the massive Thomson Dam; Coopers Creek Townsite, Thomson River; the Moondarra Reservoir, below which lies a former township of Gould; picturesque Old Tanjil, the Blue Rock Dam on the Tanjil River
• Enjoy some time at Old Gippstown Pioneer Township, Moe

Location

Walhalla is 46 kilometres by road north of Moe, the home of Old Gippstown, which is on the Princes Highway 133 kilometres east of Melbourne.

"Conserving, restoring and promoting the historic gold-mining of Walhalla and its heritage whilst developing the town as one of Victoria's premier tourist destinations"

The Walhalla Heritage and Development League had its beginnings as a community action group in the 1930s and was formalised in 1945 to promote the preservation and development of Walhalla historic township. The League has a proud history of achievement which includes:

• Saving the narrow gauge railway bridge over the Thomson River
• Restoration of Walhalla's historic Fire Station and Bad Rotunda
• Acquisition and restoration of the Gold Era Shops
• Reconstruction of Mann's Cheap Furniture Mart
• Installation of the Walhalla Historic Town Walk

Today, the league has around 300 members locally, in Australia and overseas, many of whom have a family connection with Walhalla - who elect its committee of management and determine its policies. The League's ongoing activities include:

• Publishing the quartly Walhalla Cronical featuring Walhalla and district news and history
• Maintaining Walhalla's website, www.walhalla.org.au
• Hosting regular township outing and social functions
• Management of historic building in Walhalla to ensure their preservation and to provide funds for township activities

The League has recently established the Walhalla Heritage Research Centre in the Walhalla Mechanics Institute with funding from the National Library of Australia, the Australian Archives, the 150th Anniversary of Gold in Victoria celebrations and the Year of the Volunteer program. The aim of the Research Centre is to improve access to the League's priceless collection of photographs, artifacts, records and documents.

In recognition of the League's collection and heritage expertise, Baw Baw Shire Council's Walhalla Design and Development Guidelines suggest that applicants for planning approval contact the League of assistance. The League has also participated in all of the various municipal planning exercises leading up to the Design and Development Guidelines and supports Baw Baw Shire's Policy of Balance between preservation of natural and built heritage and sensitive tourism and community development.