Eldorado Gold Dredge, 1936 - Engineering Heritage National Marker Eldorado, Victoria, Australia
By Team MavEtJu on 10-Jan-18. Waypoint GA11560

Cache Details

Difficulty:
Terrain:
Type:	Virtual
Container:	Virtual
Coordinates:	S36° 18.852' E146° 30.209' (WGS 84)
	55H 455428E 5981086N (UTM)
Elevation:	178 m
Local Government Area:	Wangaratta

Map

Whodunit Difficulty

Description

Eldorado Gold Dredge, 1936 - Engineering Heritage National Marker

ELDORADO GOLD DREDGE

This is the largest and most intact bucket-style dredge still surviving in Australia. There were many smaller Australian dredges mining gold and/or tin, but only a few survive – mostly in ruins. The Tronoh Dredge at Harrietville was larger, but was moved to Malaysia.

The Eldorado Dredge was designed by Mining Engineer Douglas Fletcher in 1934, and was built by Thompson’s Engineering and Pipe Co. Ltd., Castlemaine & Williamstown, in 1935- 36. The dredge worked along Reedy Creek from 1936 to 1954, recovering alluvial gold and tin. It started north-east of Eldorado township and ended work here. The pontoon (hull) now leaks and sits on a gravel bed, leaving the bow end and part of the deck submerged.

The Eldorado Dredge is recognised by the Institution of Engineers, Australia, as being an engineering work of National Heritage Significance. The recognition plaque was unveiled on 11th October 2015. The significance of the dredge has also been recognised separately by the Australian Heritage Commission, by Heritage Victoria, by the Rural City of Wangaratta, and by National Trust of Australia (Victoria).

This dredge is now under care of Parks Victoria. For a more detailed history and description of the dredge, see the nearby Parks Victoria information panels.

To log this virtual, please place a photo of you and/or your GPSr and the marker.

For more information, please see the website https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/heritage/eldorado-gold-dredge-1936

Logs

23-Mar-22

TG47

I was with Smittengranny when we saw this cache.

23-Mar-22

Smittengranny

We spent the morning moving camp washing and grabbing some caches around the Wangaratta area that I needed for a specific challenge. This afternoon it was Pa's time and so I wasn't anticipating doing any caching at all. On arrival he said, aren't there any caches here?. So I discovered the Earth cache and on entry to this incredible piece of equipment I was greeted by this plaque. Thanks Team MavEtJu for adding to my excitement today. Very Happy

Rated: for Overall Experience

16-Jan-22

Kashbound

Decided to have a rest from doing lab cache and drive out here for another history lesson learned heaps really enjoyed this location thanks for sharing this interesting site cheers

15-Jan-22

gregandjudi

Visiting here to learn about the nearby GC earthcache and this marker was a bonus.
TFTC

Rated: for Overall Experience

29-Nov-19

Cybergran V

Out Geocaching with my son dalerious he brought me to see this huge dredge. It’s enormous!
But a bonus for me, an Engineering Marker for GCA and an Earthcache for GC.
Thanks for my daily cache Team MavEtJu

Rated: for Overall Experience

10-Oct-19

sharnie's tribe

We're caching in the Wangaratta area today trying to find as many GCA caches as possible in our limited time here. We managed to find our way to GZ via little country roads, a quick find. The required photo is attached. TFTC and the history

05-Apr-19

Tassie Trekkers

A very impressive Dredge that we wouldn't have discovered without geocaching.
Many thanks Team MavEtJu for publishing this cache and adding to our geocaching experience.

Tassie Trekkers are now a locationless geocache we have published a 'Geocacher cache' - Travelling Trekkers GA10932 - so if you spot us in your area sign our log book and receive a code word to earn yourself a Very Happy

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Rated: for Overall Experience

02-Feb-19

Whheels

A nice warm day to visit the dredge again, but my first visit here as a Geocaches. The machine deserves a cache in its own right, and the blessing of the Engineers adds to its gravitas.

TFTC Team MavEtJu.

11-Jan-18

Team MavEtJu

Updated location after confirmation by 2y'stassies! Thanks!

11-Jan-18

2y'stassies

S36° 18.852' E146° 30.209'

We were very pleased to see this cache published. We came across the Eldorado Gold Dredge in November 2015 and found the Engineering Heritage Marker. Later in the month we sent details, including the coordinates and photos, to the CO for possible inclusion in this series. We were fascinated by the dredge. We had read about the dredge but it wasn't until we were at the site that we appreciated the enormity of this monster. We had seen a number of mining dredges before but nothing like this. The interpretation signs made for very interesting reading. It must have been horrific to work in, mainly because of the noise. One sign indicated that the dredge was quite audible from a distance of 10 miles. Two composite photos have been added to the Gallery: the first contains two views of the Engineering Heritage Marker; the second contains two views of the dredge. The coordinates for the marker are S36 18.852 E146 30.209. Thanks TeamMavEtJu for including this very significant piece of alluvial mining history in the series.