This was a visit to the abandoned Tolwong mine. Copper, tin and arsenic was mined and refined here from 1910, to 1916. The refining was problematic owing to the type of mineral mined. About 1500 tonnes of refined ore was shipped from here during that time. The site was serviced by two aerial tramways (flying foxes), one went up out of the gorge to the east, the other crossed the river and, up and out of the gorge to the west. The western tramway had an altitude difference of 520 metres, the latter was used to transport the refined ore out of the gorge, the ore was then carted to the railway station at Marulan. Around sixty employees were working here.
Previously there has been some leaching of arsenic and other pollutants from the mine site into the Shoalhaven river, the mullock heaps have been covered and sealed in recent times. The Shoalhaven occasionally supplements Sydney's water supply as well as other nearby places.
Today's pictures are a little hazy due to smoke from the fuel reduction burns we have been having lately.
Further information about this mine can be found here.
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| Top of the Trestle Track |
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| The Shoalhaven flowing out of the Blockup Gorge |
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| Grass Trees on the Trestle Track |
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| Long Point is in the centre |
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| Mine Chimneys from the West Bank of the Shoalhaven |
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| Lower Flying Fox footing the other end of flying fox was on the peak in the top of the picture |
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| The Shoalhaven |
Stats,
distance: 14.7Km moving time: 2hr, 46min
Elevation: 690metres
Calories:952
