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Spring Hill Battery Complex
Permanent Declaration
Place
A range of archaeological remains are found at this site including a concrete amalgam retort, large corrugated iron water tank, an explosives magazine, remains of a rock and earth dam, a vertical boiler and a large cylinder compressor. The most prominent relic is a ten head stamp battery set into a terraced earth floor with a concrete base. The battery's mortar boxes bear the words "A.Harkness & Co Engineers Bendigo 1900". The stampers iron frame bear the mark "A.Harkness & Co. Victoria Foundry Bendigo 1895". This stamp was powered by an internal combustion engine. Only the concrete platform for this engine remains.
Gold was discovered at Spring Hill in 1882 by prospectors Messrs JH Lawries and McKenzie. It was one of the more productive mines in the Northern Territory during the late 19th Century and has been worked intermittently for nearly a century. Many improvements were made to the mine by various companies which owned the leases. By the end of the century the mine was mostly worked by Chinese miners. The mine was abandoned in 1903.
The Commonwealth Government attempted to revive interest in the mine through substantial government subsidies in an attempt to make the industry viable in the Northern Territory. In 1949 the Northern Territory Prospecting and Development Co. Ltd. intersected a valuable ore body. A ten head stamp battery was installed at the base of Spring Hill and was operated between 1950-1955.

Spring Hill Battery Complex is one of the best preserved 20th Century stamp battery complexes in the Pine Creek region. It is significant as an example of mining equipment used in the mid 20th Century in the Northern Territory. The entire complex is still evident through the remains of the water supply, ore transport and explosive storage facilities in juxtaposition to the crushing machinery. The mine is located in an area still subject to exploration and possible future mining activities.

01/08/1996
09/09/1996
26/03/1996
Comment sought
22/07/1998
14/09/1998
19/08/1998
H96/0026
Historic
Victoria Daly Region
Declared G32, 19/8/1998.
NT Portion 5272(A).
Approximately 7km south-southwest from Burrundie.
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewSpringHillBattery 060216_LR1 .JPGAccess14/JUL/21
ViewSpringHillBattery 060216_LR2.JPGSignage14/JUL/21
ViewSpringHillBattery 060216_LR3.JPGTank, boiler & compressor14/JUL/21
ViewSpringHillBattery 060216_LR4.JPGRemains14/JUL/21
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Scan
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewInstrument.pdf - 10/FEB/09
1 - 1
Further Information
   
no data found
Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
000 01630 8985STUARTDOUGLAS-DALY0001630 - - Pastoral Lease
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Status Explanations
   

Nomination Period - a nomination has been accepted by Heritage Branch, but has not yet been accepted by the Heritage Council; OR a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council but the place/object has not yet been subject to a heritage assessment.

Assessment Period - a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council and the place/object is in the process of being assessed.

Consultation Period - Heritage assessment has been completed and s24 of the Act has been instigated, ie comment has been sought on a proposal to declare the place/object.

Recommendation Period - the Heritage Council has made a recommendation to declare the place/object and the Minister's final decision is awaited.

Not Recommended - a decision has been made by the Heritage Council not to recommend to the Minister that a place/object be declared

Declared - the Minister has made a decision to declare the place/object

Refused - the Minister has refused to declare the place/object