Herons Reef Historic Gold Diggings is an authentic gold mining site on 113 acres (45 hectares) in Fryerstown, Victoria, owned by Les Simmons. It is classified by the National Trust of Australia (Vic) as "The Anglo-Australian Gold Mine Site Fryerstown" and is registered with Heritage Victoria. It also won the Central Victorian Regional Tourism Award for "Best Tourist Attraction" in 1993.
On this site exist relics spanning three eras of gold mining activity:
All these workings remain as left when abandoned by the miners. A golden time capsule in a bushland setting.
Visitors are guided through these diggings on a tour conducted personally by Les Simmons. They pause at several points along the route and are conducted to relic sites off the main track.
During the tour visitors are shown relics of every known method of gold extraction used during the early history of gold mining - bank sluicing, mud surface sluices, incline and deep lead mining, puddling, opencuts, battery sites and adits, to name but a few.
Tour guide Les Simmons explains how the gold was won at each site, including how the Heron Nugget was discovered in April 1855. This nugget weighed 85.3 lb (approximately 40 kg) and was the 7th largest nugget in the world at that time. He also entertains with historical anecdotes relevant to the area.
The duration of a standard tour is approximately 2 hours. During this tour visitors are encouraged to allow their minds to be transported back in time to appreciate not only the hardship of the past but also to be aware of the tranquility which prevails amidst these now deserted diggings.
School groups are especially catered for and return tours are common.
Herons Reef Historic Gold Diggings is not a commercial re-production of history. It is where it happened - one stands amidst the evidence of the toil, excitement, expectation, hardship and sadness endured by those from all parts of the world in their endeavour to find gold, up to 150 years ago.
It has been shown on local and international television and is a part of the chain that links the goldmining areas together, helping Central Victoria to be an exciting destination of Australian and Overseas visitors.
The ownership, content and control of this business is 100% local.
"When I squinted my eyes I could see the miners working away" (A comment in the visitor's book).
For a more detailed look at a small selection of the sites and relics to be seen at the Herons Reef Historic Gold Diggings please peruse our Photo Album.
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