old mine is now mapped and recorded :)

I'd need to be in an elevator too Jaros.

A selection of mines to the south of Ballarat. The workings around this area date back to 1858 and were most active throughout the 1860s. Locals have remained aware of the existence of underground passages right to the present day. Since the 1890s people have been visiting and inscribing their names on the walls of the drives, the most recent being this year. An internet geocache games draws players to one of the adits and there is a hidden canister with a log book detailing visits. A type of cemented rock seems to be very common in this region. We recommend explorers wear hard hats when underground but it is not always possible to keep them on when crawling through confined spaces.

Interesting structure in the last Pic dean. Is it a water tank for reticulation to domestic households or did it have some other purpose?

The cistern provided water for the train engines on the Ballarat Geelong line in the days of steam. ( "The Geelong - Ballarat railway line is a broad gauge railway in western Victoria, Australia between the cities of Geelong and Ballarat. Towns on the route include Bannockburn, Lethbridge, Meredith, Elaine and Lal Lal. Major traffic includes general freight from the Mildura line, and grain. In 1978 passenger services on the line were withdrawn when the 153hp Walker railmotor used to operate them fell into disrepair, and a replacement bus service was introduced. Passenger trains from Ballarat and beyond continued to use the Geelong - Ballarat line as an alternate route to Melbourne until the 1990s, not stopping at any stations along the line." )

Thanks for the explanation Dean. The Tallangatta / Wodonga branch line also ran a Walker railmotor but the passanger service was terminated in sometime in 1962. There are 2 of these old railmotors at the Huon siding just sitting there awaiting someone to provide the money and expertise to restore them & give them a home. They are powered by Gardiner straight Eight diesels driving electric dynamos that in turn drove electic motors on the driving wheels.

Would like to examine this Walker rail motor at some stage. Thanks for your info. ( " As part of its election policy, the State Coalition government, elected in November 2010, instituted a study into reintroducing passenger services on the line. The so-called "Rail Revival Study", obtained by the Herald Sun in mid-2013 using Freedom of Information laws, concluded that returning rail passenger services to the line was not viable due to the high cost.This decision has been discussed in detail at Regional Rail Link = Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo where it is believed the re-opening can be achieved for considerably less cost. Most recently in November 2013 there has been a renewed push for the re-opening of these railway sections for passenger traffic." )

Ill have to go over to Huon and have another look at them & see if they are still accessible. They were boarded up to keep vandals out also had danger asbestos scrawled across the side, Ill take some photos if I can get inside.

Hey Dean

Fantastic Pics mate, but on a personal note and with the greatest respect " You Guys are NUTS!" but the resulting photos are fantastic

More power to you, but I'll sit out any invitation :8

Cheers

Bazz

More photos from a series of mines around the Ballarat area.

Some incredible pictures
Amazing effort by the oldtimers... All by pick & shovel
Unbelievable really

I get clostrophobic just looking at the photos.
Thanks for sharing.
Mackka

Mackka said:

I get clostrophobic just looking at the photos.
Thanks for sharing.
Mackka

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Thanks guys. Great to get some feedback.

Top pics mate, thanks for sharing

These abandoned Ballarat mines have always been popular with underground explorers.

Great photos. Thanks for sharing!

FIRST MINE WE DISCOVERED (WHICH GOT US INTO PROSPECTING)

THE ONLY HARD PART IS GETTING BACK OUT

ballaratgold said:

FIRST MINE WE DISCOVERED (WHICH GOT US INTO PROSPECTING)https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/7243/1465201432_optimized-img_0432.jpg

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Why the need for a rifle? Better still why the need for gun poses on here??