Lerderderg River diversion tunnel explained

The Lerderderg River diversion tunnel, known as The Tunnel, is located on the Lerderderg River approximately 25 km north-west of Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia. The river flows around a spur in a horseshoe bend. The tunnel was driven through the spur diverting the river and allowing the exposed river bed to be sluiced for alluvial gold.^[1]

The tunnel was dug during the Victorian gold rush, most likely between 1855 and 1870, and is one of around thirteen river diversions surviving from that era.^[2]

The site is within the Lerderderg State Park. It is a 3.0 km walk along Byers Track upstream from the O'Briens Crossing Picnic Area.^[1]

See also

• Lerderderg Gorge
• Lerderderg State Park

References

-37.49°N 144.3478°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lerderderg State Park Visitor Guide . Park Notes . . December 2010 . PDF . 27 November 2011 .
2. Web site: Historic Gold Mining Sites in the South West Region of Victoria, Report on Cultural Heritage . Victorian Goldfields Project . Department of Natural Resources and Environment . August 1999 . PDF . https://web.archive.org/web/20110315152542/http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/44565/SouthWestRegionfinalreport.pdf . 15 March 2011 . dead .