The Rosebud Mine Weir.

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Well my adventures in the surrounding areas of the Mary Kathleen Township where myself and Graeme my friend are currently camping at and exploring the areas that surrounds the township.

In the last blog we explored the Rosebud Mine and what was left of the town of Burlonga, and the information board stated about the construction of a concrete Weir to help resist the water flow into the mine in the wet season.

This is a exert from the information board at the entrance to the Rosebud Mine.

On 31 May 1914, work commenced on Rosebud Weir to control the inrush of water into the mine during the wet season and to supply water to the township of Burlonga.

The adventure today is to explore the remains of the Rosebud Mine Weir. 


It must be said work started 31st May 1914, this is 106yrs ago so keep in mind that the remenence of this past history is remarkable that still see what remained after a 106yrs.

Graeme walking on-top of the remaining Weir wall.







Well there still most of the concrete Weir intact across the Corella river, this said has stood the test of time. Currently the Corella river is not flowing just a few big puddles of water. This is a beautiful area and is accessed via a gravel road. This area is a part of history where the pioneers of the mining industry had the foresight to manage the high risk in keeping a Copper Mine operating. The dry river bed has colour streaks through the bedrocks.










This area is also a camping area with beautiful Vista views, such a nice way to explore the history of this area. Black cows grazing on the grass this is like an oasis for this area.




Rosebud Mine had a steam engine that drag two carts from the railhead of Ballara to the mine of Burlonga. The Rosebud Mine also did smelter for the copper ore for other mines in Ballara. 

The Rosebud Mine is on the side of a mountain and it would have been a massive engineering feat to construct a rail line back in the 1915 era with no modern machinery to help. This would have been back breaking work of early day miners.

World War 1 had a significant need for copper in making weapons. This made mining for copper a good business strategy of this era.

This brings us to the next adventure to discover the rail line and how it ran through a 77 metre tunnel running through the hills of Hightville.

Yes we a still traveling in the mighty Ford Ranger of Graeme at the wheel so we stay on the right track as Graeme is a experienced 4wd enthusiastic driver. 

I feel this is a better option than taking my truck and losing traction and getting hung up on some of the tight dip areas. This is also about the width of the truck is also wider than the Old track line that we will be driving on. This track has very rough and vertical drop off at the edge.

This is becoming a very lengthy blog so read the next blog to follow the exploration of this area.







 






 

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