Report supports tunnel’s heritage
A report commissioned by Baw Baw Shire has supported registration of the Horseshoe Bend Tunnel on the Victorian Heritage Register.
The report has formed part of council’s submission to the Heritage Council of Victoria for the Thomson River Diversion Tunnel Site (Horseshoe Bend) to be listed on the register.
The report recommended the statement of significance and extent of registration on the Victorian Heritage Register be revised to include the section of the Thompson River from 50 metres upstream of the Horseshoe Bend tunnel inlet, to 100 metres downstream of the tunnel outlet, and to the west side of the river valley to the Walhalla railway line.
The report also recommended council amend the Baw Baw Planning Scheme heritage overlay to include the same area.
The Biosis report recommendations support recognition of the culturally significant landscape of the Horseshoe Bend tunnel including the river banks and bed and historic and archaeological features.
A letter to the HCV from sustainable development manager Jayne Cluning said the tunnel site was located near Walhalla and was one of the last and longest of the 13 diversion tunnels constructed for gold mining purposes in Victoria.
“Over the years works in and around the site have damaged relics of past gold mining activities,” she said.
Council commissioned Biosis to investigate the extent of historical features related to the construction, operation, history and archaeological value of the Horseshoe Bend Tunnel on the Thompson Rover Walhalla.
The aim of the survey was to identify historical sites and assess their significance in relation to the registered and heritage listed Horseshoe Bend Tunnel.
The site investigation involved inspecting areas on each side of the Thompson River with assistance from Friends of the Horseshoe Bend Tunnel members.
The site has been previously assessed and parts of it have been included on the National Trust Register, Shire of Baw Baw Planning Scheme Heritage Overlay, Victorian Heritage Register and Victorian Heritage Inventory.
The investigation noted a number of historic mining remains believed to be related to gold prospecting, extraction and associated works that are directly related to the operation of the diversion tunnel, and were the reason for the tunnel to be constructed.
“The character of the surrounding forests can be considered a relic of mining. There are very few, if any old growth trees along this stretch of the Thompson River, which is a result of logging and timber getting forming props and feeding the boilers of steam engines.
“As a result, regrowth has formed a distinctive forest character and left considerable scars on the landscape in the form of holes from tree-throws, snig tracks and occasional remnant stumps.
“Background information demonstrates that there are extensive gold mining workings and other historical features located in the vicinity of the Horseshoe Bend Tunnel, which are at least roughly contemporary with the construction of the tunnel, and at least in some cases are likely to be historically and functionally related to the construction and operation of the tunnel.
The report said an understanding of the tunnel’s purpose can only be gained by recognition of where the water was being diverted from. It is therefore considered that the bed and banks of the Thompson River between the tunnel inlet and outlet are as much part of the culturally significant landscape, as the tunnel itself.
“It would therefore be appropriate for the heritage designation to recognise this by including the river bank, river bed and slopes of the river valley within the heritage area,” the report concluded.