Tues, 28th July, 2015 Greens Campground, Whroo Historic Reserve (exploring Whroo)

7.30am it was 10 degrees inside and 5 degrees out. Mum and Dad rang returning my call from last night. They were all out to dinner for Matthew’s birthday. Caught up on all the news, poor Val has been in the wars again but she is amazing and is all good again. Charles & Sue rang about Bruce's court case.

After smoko we headed off to explore Whroo Historic Reserve (pronounced ‘roo’). The Reserve was set aside in 1982 and covers 490 hectares. Information boards where the old church and first school are located at the base of the Balaclava Hill.

During the metal detecting boom this 'Miners Retreat' was built on the church site (hence the church door).

An old wooden water trough.

Behind the church was a replica miners hut.

On the school building was more information. The bricks were handmade.

Inside were some great photos. 1894 photo of the Balaclava Hill.

Obviously the information boards hasn’t been maintained over the years. At least the miners could continue on with the timber industry when the gold ran out.

Followed the track around to one of the mine entrances.

Further around and up the hill to the top of the open cut Balaclava Mine.

Looking to the left to where the tunnel that we looked into would have come out.

Then over the open area of the mine which was once Victoria’s largest open cut mine. There were six rich reefs that intercrossed through the quartz producing gold worth over a million pounds stirling.

Zoomed in on the tunnel entrance where the tramline went through under the hill to take the quartz to the battery to be crushed. They have now closed it off to the public but we can still walk down to the bottom.

My camera is starting to crack up after the 1000s of photos I have taken so might be shopping for a new one when I get home. Not focussing and sometimes won’t open the lens!!

100 steps down (yes I counted them!!) Down the bottom looking up to a shaft that must be open at the top.

Of course some people don’t follow the rules and have entered – with bolt cutters it seems.

They even signed their names!!

Another entrance with the timber supports.

Back up the top looking down on the narrow crevice on the opposite side where I could see another shaft entrance.

Headed around to the other lookout point. Can’t get close enough to look down into the mine but gives a good view of the stairs.

Here is the top of the open shaft we could see from below.

Down the side of the hill to the other end of the tramline tunnel.

Looks like there is another tunnel off it.

Followed the path around to a lovely open green grass area where we found some old wells (unfortunately used as rubbish dumps now). This would have been the site of Mr Lewis homestead. Looks like people camp here too.

These pine trees are a couple of the four that were planted in Lewis’ four acre garden beside his brick home.

Another shaft as we head back to the truck.

Onto the main road to Rushworth we found some more information – unfortunately someone has used it was target practice too.

 Steve was interested in the ingenuity of the miners with the horse driven winding devise (photo on the right).

Back along the road was a puddling machine.

Some more info on Whroo.

Nearby were some cyanide vats just up from the dam.

Back along the road to the campground was the cemetery.

Further along the track we found the aboriginal water holes which weren’t big and only about a foot or so deep. I would have to be desperate to drink from them!

Back on the road back to the campground and a big branch of the tree has snapped off. Being the good guy he is Steve decided we should move it out of the way. Got out the snatch-em strap again and hauled it back off the road. He should find lots of gold for doing his good deed for the day!!

Unfortunately he didn’t find any gold – oh well. Nice fire again with the sky lovely and clear and the moon getting fuller. At 7pm it was 6 degrees outside so we all headed into our nice warm vans for the evening.