SUNDAY 15th APRIL

Left Echuca this morning heading to Bendigo not the best weather, overcast and showery. Not a long drive, stayed in caravan park just north of Bendigo called "The Gold Nugget". Drove into town and stopped at Bendigo Pottery for a look. Lovely things but don't need anything. Interesting old kilns and displays.

Inside pottery factory, one of the very old kilns not used now just part of the display.
Went to Info centre and booked an underground mine tour and tram ticket and Chinese Joss House. Debbie recommended these.
We wnet to mine tour last one of the day. Amazing down in lift cage to 61 metres where we were kitted up with helmet and miners light and told all the rules!!!It was a maze of tunnels andconditions must have been horrendous for the miners. The mine was called "Central Deborah Gold Mine" right in the heart of Bendigo. It has been restored and left just as it was. We didn't find any gold!!!!!!!The mine was sunk in 1911 and then abandoned until some new technology and then operated from 1939 to 1954. It yielded 929kg of gold about $53 million worth today.

61 metres Level 2

Very inexperienced miners, but a lot of fun and some amazing stories.
Excellent display and talks were great.