Cadia Engine House & Surrounds

Item details


Name of item:	Cadia Engine House & Surrounds
Other name/s:	Cadia Valley Operations
Type of item:	Archaeological-Terrestrial
Group/Collection:	Mining and Mineral Processing
Category:	Engine House/Room
Location:	Lat: -33.4495939998 Long: 148.9860642030
Primary address:	20km South West, Orange, NSW 2800
Parish:	Clarendon
County:	Bathurst
Local govt. area:	Blayney
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Orange

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
PART LOT	100		DP	576778

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
20km South West	Orange	Blayney	Clarendon	Bathurst	Primary Address
20km South West	Orange	Cabonne	Clarendon	Bathurst	Alternate Address

Statement of significance:


	The Cadia Engine House, associated buildings and immediate surrounding mine infrastructure constitute a historic site of national significance. The high level of integrity of the surviving structural elements, and the physical evidence of the mine layout, combined with the presence of unique components of the engine and crushing machinery, as well the manufacturer's original drawing of the engine and engine house, make the site one of the most important of its kind in Australia. Reference : Cadia Mining Precinct, Conservation Plan, Godden Mackay (January 1995)
	Date significance updated: 21 Feb 05
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Construction years:	1865-1867
Physical description:	Rubble stone and brick chimney and stone engine house and crusher house in open country side. The beam engine was used to raise ore, drive the pump, drive the crushing machine and power other machinery. The engine house of several storeys was built to house the beam engine. The crusher house was constructed of stone and possesses some timbering, but this building is in much poorer condition. The chimney is constructed of local stone for the first 15m; the top 5m are built of red brick. Abutting the base of the chimney is remnant walling of the boiler house. Extant machinery items include remains of the beam engine, drive and brake mechanisms, pump parts, and elements of the crushing machinery and the boiler.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	At the Cadia Mining Precinct, "Surface historical mining fabric related to all post 1880s phases is fragmented, partial and often ephemeral, but the precinct has high potential to contain significant archaeological deposits related to the lifestyle and technology of the former community and mining activity." CMP, Godden McKay 1995 Vol 1.
	Date condition updated:21 Feb 05
Modifications and dates:	In 1993 some stabilisation works, including roofing over the engine house was undertaken.

History

Historical notes:

The Orange region was known for its gold discoveries in the mid-1800s and today the Cadia Newmont gold mine is still one of the largest employers. 160 years ago, copper was all the rage at Cadia where there was a village including a store, school, butcher('s shop), bakery, pub and even a tennis court. The Canoblas Mining Company was active at Little Cadia region in the 1850s. The name of the company was spelt as a variation on the name of Mount Canobobolas. In 1859 the trustees were: William Tom from the Cornish settlement, which became Byng, near Lucknow. He was also involved in the discovery of payable gold in NSW in 1851. Other investors in the company were George Hawke, Richard Lane - a farmer from the Cornish settlement, Edward Nicholls of Sydney, who was previously a store-keeper at Orange, Orange storekeeper John Peisley and Cadia miner John Johns (Marschke, 2024).

The Canoblas Mining Company ceased operations between December 1861 and 1865. The Scottish Australian Mining Company took over and revived mining in the 1860s ald along with the Cariangullong Consolidated Copper Company, established a private township. The first birth (locally) was of John Jones, son of Welsh smelterman William and Gwen Jones, on October 12, 1863. Henry Bonnar became the first teacher when a school was built, Methodists held (church) services as early as 1861 and established a chapel in 1868. At that time, mines were opened on either side of Cadiangullong Creek, which flows through the valley into the Belubula River. Cadia developed on its eastern bank, near what became the main crossing of the creek (ibid, 2024).

At that time the Cornish were the acknowledged experts in deep mining for both tin and copper, however they had been forced to send their copper ores to South Wales, where abundant coal seams provided the necessary fuel for the smelters. Therefore the Welsh developed a tightly-held expertise in smelting from the 1580s onwards, although the Cornish tried to circumvent the high costs charged by the Welsh and gain the expertise for themselves. A product of this long-standing rivalry between Cornish and Welsh was Cadia's first mine manager and one of its founding members, John Penrose Christoe, who had been an adviser to the Scottish Australian Mining Company. He was born in Swansea, South Wales on 26/4/1830 to a family with a long mining association in Cornwall ... (ibid, 2024).

J.P. Christoe came to Australia to work at the Kapunda Copper Mines in South Australia in about 1850. While there he married Dorothea Smyth Blood and returned with her to Wales. In 1858 they travelled with their three eldest children to NSW, with son Neptune born on the ship, in 1858. He became the mining and smelting manager at the Carangara Copper Mine at Byng, the Cornish Settlement. Christoe advised the Scottish Australian Mining Company colonial manger Robert Morehead on the propspects of the Good Hope Mine, near Yass, in 1859 and in evaluating resources at Cadia. Morehead prasied Christoe's abilities to company directors and urged his appointment, writing 'Mr Christoe can proceed to erect furnaces, and to carry on smelting, with the confidence that is engendered by his having already done all this, with perfect success, in the neighbourhood, his local expertise...'. In 1861 the SAMC took out a 21 year lease for mining purposes on three portions of land at Cadia. They started operations on Oaky Creek Cooper Mine at East Cadia, also known as the Cadiangullong Copper Mine, almost immediately. Christoe was placed in charge of the work, assisted by Captain Johns, who had been a member of the Canoblas Mining Company at Little Cadia ... By May 1863, the road to the mines had been surveyed and marked out by surveyor Edward Combes, though the mining company itself had expended funding on road making by December 1861. By November 1861, 200 tons of highly productive ore had been raised at East Cadia, Cadiangullong Mine. On 12 December 1861 the Western Examiner newspaper of Orange noted that a smelter was being erected. (ibid, 2024).

In 1865 a 'Cornish type' copper mine engine house was established on the south-eastern slopes of Mt Canobolis near Orange in New South Wales.

The mine operated for a short time until it was abandoned as uneconomical in 1867. Subsequently, much of the equipment was removed and the structures fell into ruin. Some of the machinery was salvaged for scrap in the 1920s.

In 1993 some stabilisation works, including roofing over the engine house was undertaken.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples.	Cornish migrants-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples.	Welsh migrants-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples.	Welsh mining practices-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples.	Cornish mining practises-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples.	Cornish mining practises-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of mining-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Mining-Activities associated with the identification, extraction, processing and distribution of mineral ores, precious stones and other such inorganic substances.	Mining for gold-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Technology-Activities and processes associated with the knowledge or use of mechanical arts and applied sciences	Technologies for obtaining metals from earths-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Leasing land for mining-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Administering and alienating Crown lands-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from rural to tourist-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th Century Infrastructure-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in mines and quarries-

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
CMP-Endorse	Conservation Plan submitted for endorsement	Revised CMP - original completed in 1995		Jun 4 2019
CMP-Comment	Conservation Plan submitted for comment	CMP - Cadia Engine House - 20kms south west of Orange - Version 9		Jun 18 2021
CMP-Comment	Conservation Plan submitted for comment	CADIA MINING PRECINCT CMP for endosement		Sep 21 2021
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) OF THE HERITAGE ACT 1977 Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977. I, the Hon James Griffin MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage, pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales do by this Order, effective at the time of publication in the New South Wales Government Gazette: 1. revoke the order made on 9 November 2020 and published in the Government Gazette Number 318 of 13 November 2020; and 2. grant the exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 that are described in the attached Schedule. The Hon James Griffin MP Minister for Environment and Heritage Signed this 2nd day of June 2022. To view the standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 click on the link below.	Jun 17 2022

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		00779	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00779	11 Sep 98	132
Local Environmental Plan	Cabonne Shire 1991
Institution of Engineers (NSW) Historic Engineering Marker

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Marschke, Tanya	2024	Early days of Cadia unearthed: the people behind the first wave of mining	View detail
Written	Resource Strategies	2004	Ridgeway Deeps: Statement of Environmental Effects

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5014215
File number:	EF14/4428; S91/01158

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