New Australasian Gold Mine disaster
Encyclopedia
The New Australasian No.2 Deep Lead Gold Mine, was a goldmine located in Creswick, Victoria, Australia, that is now infamous for being Australia's worst below-ground gold mining disaster.
At 4:45am, Tuesday 12 December 1882, 29 miners became trapped underground by flood waters that came from the flooded parallel-sunk No.1 mine shaft, only five men survived and made it to the surface. Despite two days of frantic pumping and with other equipment transported from the monitor ship HMVS Cerberus
, the waters filled the mine shaft. The trapped men scrawled last notes to their loved ones on billy cans
before they drowned. Some of these have been kept and still bear the messages. The men that perished left 17 widows and 75 dependent children.
In 1982, the Premier of Victoria, John Cain
unveiled The New Australasian No.2 Deep Lead Gold Mining Memorial, which relates the story on a plaque.
The site is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register
.
At 4:45am, Tuesday 12 December 1882, 29 miners became trapped underground by flood waters that came from the flooded parallel-sunk No.1 mine shaft, only five men survived and made it to the surface. Despite two days of frantic pumping and with other equipment transported from the monitor ship HMVS Cerberus
HMVS Cerberus
HMVS Cerberus is a breastwork monitor that served in the Victoria Naval Forces, the Commonwealth Naval Forces , and the Royal Australian Navy between 1871 and 1924....
, the waters filled the mine shaft. The trapped men scrawled last notes to their loved ones on billy cans
Billycan
A billycan, more commonly known simply as a billy or occasionally as a billy can , is a lightweight cooking pot which is used on a campfire or a camping stove.-Usage and etymology of the term:...
before they drowned. Some of these have been kept and still bear the messages. The men that perished left 17 widows and 75 dependent children.
In 1982, the Premier of Victoria, John Cain
John Cain II
John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...
unveiled The New Australasian No.2 Deep Lead Gold Mining Memorial, which relates the story on a plaque.
The site is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
.