ruins of the 1870 Adelong Falls Gold Mill Ruins near Tumut NSW

The Adelong goldfield is one of the earliest reef mining localities in Australia. Payable alluvial gold was discovered in 1852 & reef gold in 1857. It is estimated the Adelong Creek & hillsides yielded over 25 tonnes of reef & alluvial gold with another 26 tonnes further down the creek at Grahamstown.

The Reefer Battery, now known as the Adelong Falls Gold Mill Ruins, is an integral part of the significant 19th century Adelong Goldfield mining landscape. The battery started life upstream from its present location in 1858 & was then re-established at the Adelong Falls site in 1870 where it worked for a further forty-five years.

The ore crushing mill was powered by two gravity fed two water wheels. The battery site comprised of associated weirs, races & aqueducts, a 24 foot buddle; an inclined trough in which crushed ore is washed with running water to flush away impurities, a series of holding tanks, a small quarry, a reverbatory furnace with separate brick stack, a weighbridge, a works office & a cottage.

Immediately downstream there was a weir, sluice & race that powered Gibraltar's works. An unknown battery stood upstream at the mouth of Sawyer's Creek.