Barossa and Para Wirra Goldfields, Williamstown, South Mt Lofty Ranges (Adelaide Hills), Mt Lofty Ranges, South Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Barossa and Para Wirra Goldfields	- not defined -
Williamstown	Town
South Mt Lofty Ranges (Adelaide Hills)	Mountain Range
Mt Lofty Ranges	Mountain Range
South Australia	State
Australia	Country

Some consider these as a single goldfield (Barossa), traditionally they are two separate fields, which also adjoin the Deloraine Goldfield to the south and Gumeracha (Watt's Gully etc.) Goldfields to the south-east.

The co-ordinates listed here for the goldfield are for the museum and interpretative centre run by the 'Friends of the Barossa Goldfields' group.

They are included here under one heading for two main reasons,
1. To prevent confusion as to which is which, as the major part of both are now within the boundaries of the Para Wirra National Park.
2. These are now both protected areas where all collecting is prohibited

SARIG Record Sheets State;

"BAROSSA GOLDFIELD, discovered in 1868, developing principally as an alluvial goldfield, trending NE for ~5km, with the main body of the workings located ~7km SW from Lyndoch. The goldfield is no longer available for mining, with the southern part of the field located within Para Wirra Recreation Park where fossicking is prohibited. Initial workings were in alluvial deposits to depths of 6m in Spike Gully but, as the prospectors moved to the surrounding hillsides Tertiary leads were discovered to depths of 36m below surface. From 1868-69 a series of rushes took place as new leads were discovered. The most significant were Goddards Hill, White Lead and Victoria Hill. Activity declined until 1887 with the discovery of Sims Rush. Subsequently several companies were formed, with the main activity from 188791 on a deep lead at the northern extremity of the field. The principal mines operating during this period were the Barossa Enterprise (1887-1889), and Barossa Deep Lead (1889). There was small scale alluvial mining in the 1930s, with the last reported activity on Goddards Hill in the late 1960s.Reef mining commenced in 1894 on auriferous reefs in a gorge on the South Para River. Much effort was exerted, and a battery was installed, but the ore proved to be of low grade, and operations ceased in 1899. Total production was estimated at 100,000oz (3110kg) of bullion gold."


"PARA WIRRA GOLDFIELD, discovered in 1868 when alluvial gold was recovered in Hamlins Gully. An immediate rush followed, with 100s men working the alluvials for recovery of >500oz. Many small nuggets were found the largest to 3oz. Auriferous quartz reefs were discovered in the 1870s, with syndicates soon formed to work them. The principal workings were at Humbug Scrub, which worked quartz reefs, now located in Humbug Scrub Wildlife Sanctuary, adjacent to Para Wirra Recreation Park. The most significant mine was Lady Alice, where a company erected winding and pumping machinery and a 20-head stamp battery. Lady Alice became the first gold mine in the state to declare a dividend, and up to closure in 1879 produced about 6,000oz of gold and 203 tonnes of copper. A township was established on the mine. During 1877-78 a number of small rushes took place on alluvial gold shows in the Humbug Scrub area, the most notable being at Marys and Devils Gullies, and Bismark Diggings. In 1932 reef mines were opened above alluvial workings at Stockyard Gully 6km west of Kersbrook, and worked to a depth of 30m. The Stockyard Gully Mine produced about 180oz of gold, and the adjoining Para Wirra Mine produced 106oz, both mines closing in 1953. The gold at these mines occurred in quartz-ironstone reefs associated with copper and bismuth minerals. Production from the field was poorly recorded, being estimated at 8,000oz (229kg), 75% of which came from the Lady Alice Mine."

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