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Oriental Claims
Historic Area
In its day the Oriental Claims was one
of the largest gold-sluicing operations in the world. Today many of
the mining remnants, caves and mining sites can be viewed along the
short walks around the Claims.
Things to Do
Originally referred to as Livingstone
Creek, the name 'Oriental Claims Historic Area' may conjure up visions
of thousands of Chinese scurrying about with shovels and wicker
baskets filled with dirt. In fact, the name refers to a 19th century
European mining company, 'The Oriental Company', that worked a
particular piece of the ground. Discover the history of this area on
foot by taking one of the suggested walks below.
Ah Fongs Loop
45 minutes return
Crossing the Dry Gully Creek Bridge this leisurely walk takes you to
the site originally worked by Ah Fong in 1875. It is one of the most
extensive and rich sites within the Oriental Claims. The claims here
were worked at two levels and by comparing the height of the land
through the trees in front of you with that behind, you can gain an
appreciation of the amount of material removed from this site. This
loop walk incorporates information panels providing interpretation at
strategic locations.
Walk to Omeo
2.5 hour return
This pleasant walk follows the Livingstone Creek to Omeo. A variety of
native birds and Swamp Wallabies are regularly seen as the track winds
down Bloomfields Gully. In 1924 a pine plantation was established to
provide an income for the Omeo Primary School. The plantation was
never harvested. The trail arrives at the local swimming hole formed
by regulating the flow of Livingstone Creek.
Facilities
- Facilities include male and female
pit toilets, picnic tables, wood fuel barbecues, an information
shelter and in the near future, a lookout which will enable access
for people with limited mobility.
- Accommodation including motels, bed
and breakfast's, holiday units and a caravan park is available in
Omeo.
- The closest camping in Parks
Victoria managed land is available at Victoria Falls Historic Area.
Heritage
Gold in the Omeo district was first
discovered in 1851 and recorded in the Sydney and Melbourne press.
Miners were soon heading to the high country to stake a claim.
The Oriental Claim Historic Area is
approximately 500 acres. In the 50 years that it was consistently
worked, estimates total the gold production at 58 000 ounces, which at
today's prices would equal about 23 million dollars.
The Wardens report of 1854 stated that
there were 50 men working around the site of Omeo only receiving half
an ounce a day for their efforts. Daily success rewarded employed
miners with a weekly payment of up to seven pounds. Gold fever struck
the area with a vengeance and by 1856 a town was emerging with two
stores and a hotel, soon to be known as Omeo.
Water played a key role in the
sluicing process of mining at the Claims. Even the most basic
prospector required water to wash dirt from gold in a pan. Miners in
this area owed much to the development of a water race system.
With a distribution of one ounce of
gold to every hundred metres, a cubic metre would only yield about
five dollars at today's prices. Since man can only pan about a cubic
metre per day, faster methods of recovery were welcomed.
The new system ensured that water from
above the claim either flowed down the face, or through pipes and a
nozzle was sprayed against the face washing gravel through sluicing
boxes and down a tail race to the creek. As you walk through the
Claims you will notice from telltale gullies and crevices that much of
the work was directed by streams and gullies.
By 1873 the additional high level of
water allowed working in the Claims to alter from common ground and
box sluicing to hydraulic ground and box sluicing with a pressure
hose. This new technique formed the impressive cliff faces that are
still evident in the Claims today.
This new technique also created
significant problems with the discharge of sludge into Livingstone
Creek. This led to the formation of the Sludge Abatement Board, which
placed restrictions on the Oriental Claims area and eventually ended
hydraulic sluicing in 1904. Common box sluicing and hydraulic sluicing
also led to the construction of caves in the clay soil which were
built by miners following layers of alluvium.
Today the Oriental Claims Historic
Area takes us back to a time when this part of the high country showed
sufficient promise for future settlement and prosperity, encouraging
pioneers to forge out an existence in remote areas of Victoria.
Looking After
the Park
- All plants and animals are
protected. Please do not remove historic artefacts.
- Please remain on designated walking
tracks to minimise damage to historic earth works.
- Take your rubbish with you.
- Camping is not permitted within the
historic area.
Precautions
- When walking through the Oriental
Claims please remain on the walking trail as much of this area is
quite unstable.
- Beware of possible falling tree
limbs in the picnic area.
- Beware of unstable cliffs, caves
and mine shafts.
How to Get
There
Access to Oriental Claims Historic
Area from Melbourne is via the Hume Freeway (M31) to Wangaratta, Great
Alpine Road (B500) over Mount Hotham towards Omeo, or on the Great
Alpine Road from Bairnsdale. The Oriental Claims Historic Area is
three kilometres south of Omeo.
For further information go to Parks
Victoria web site.
Oriental Claims Historic Area |
