Works continue to unearth Bendigo’s geological past

TWO former mining sites are closer to being rehabilitated as work to collect and analyse rock samples at sites in Kangaroo Flat and Woodvale continues and drill core samples are revealing the location’s geology.

Work at the Kangaroo Flat site, the Swan Decline, is further ahead and drill holes where the core samples were taken have been closed.

“The drill core to be stored at the Geological Survey of Victoria’s Drill Core Library are valuable geoscientific assets which will improve our understanding of Bendigo’s geology,” said Resources Victoria chief executive officer Matt Vincent.

“The Earth Resources Regulator has permanently sealed the Swan Decline, the primary gateway to Bendigo’s historical underground mining.”

In October 2022, Earth Resources Regulator, an entity of Resources Victoria, handed over 19 boxes of historical records and images dating back to the 1850s found at the Kangaroo Flat site to Bendigo Historical Society and Goldfields Library Corporation.

Bendigo Historical Society has made the records, including the 1350 photos, available to researchers.

“We’ve unearthed significant historical records and snapshots at Kangaroo Flat dating back to the 1850s and it’s great to be able to pass these on,” said Mr Vincent.

The Geological Survey of Victoria decided to transfer 223 pallets of the samples to the Drill Core Library in Werribee for further analysis.

Samples are still being taken from the Woodvale evaporation ponds site.