Golden Gully and Archway, Heritage mining site in Hill End, Australia
Golden Gully is a mining site in Hill End with a deep channel system and exposed shafts dating from the 1800s. The gully displays the extraction methods of both European and Chinese miners through their different shaft designs and underground passages.
The site began during the 1851 gold rush when miners dug shafts to extract alluvial gold from an ancient river bed. Commercial mining stopped in 1999 when the site was registered for heritage protection.
The different shaft designs reveal how two groups of miners worked side by side in this gully. Europeans created square openings while Chinese miners built round shafts, and both styles remain visible today.
The site is accessible on foot, but wear sturdy shoes as the ground is uneven and slopes steeply in places. There is little shade across the site, so plan your visit for cooler parts of the day and bring water.
The gully displays different colors throughout the day as sunlight and shadow shift across the deep channels and exposed rock faces. Natural water flow has continuously reshaped the landscape, revealing layers and patterns created over many years of mining activity.
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