Exploring Gold mines in the Nowra area

My son in law and myself went to find some old gold mines in the Nowra area. It was a great day but it nearly killed this old fart as there were a few steep hills as you will see. The last one near the car was the worst.

[@adrianloves6792]

Hey ,the first Adit you walked through was called The Homewardbound Mine and it had a rail track system down to the SW and to the edge of the dam to the big battery stampers ,the adit led to the middle where they dug the entire 50 m wide by 50 m deep by 100 m long mountain out , In the middle was a wall between the Pioneer Mine quarry and the Homeward Bound quarry , The track that Leeds to the north was the Pioneer Mine rail track to a drop shaft pass and along to another drop pass shaft that Leeds to the bottom and a 400 m long adit that you went in near the end of the video ,that was the Pioneer Mine stamper Battery , the gold was in the host rock and not a quartz vein type gold ,which they finally realised and then had to process all the tailings hundreds of tonnes with new system of syanide recovery . There’s about 30 or more adits tunnels shafts passes quarry’s relics to explore The only high yielding quartz vein mines were called the Caledonian mines which are a 4 mine close together and they were at best 30 Oz per tonne as most others were at best 3 Oz per tonne

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi Adrian, Gee thanks mate for all that interesting information. Sounds like it was a really big operation, boy that 30 oz to the ton was a very productive one. I don't live there and only visit my daughter a couple of times a year from Grafton. As you probable noticed the walk in and then the climb back out up those hills nearly killed me, I don't think I could do it again as now 68 years old with heart issue, but glad I had been in to the mines. Once again thanks mate for watching and for that great comment. Dennis

[@willeveryday]

Adrian, do you know where I can find more info on mines in the area?

[@CONTAGENSAggression]

Adrian mate could i speak with you by some chance and get more info off you or be put in a direction i can get more info on this location. Right now im putting together a pdf on this history and the lost and forgotten diggings of nsw i have detailed maps of diggings already of places like adalong,tuena,braidwood,araluren, Bathurst and other locations iv known of several different mined areas down in nowra i had heard of this but getting infos been patchy at best so any history ect you know would be greatly appreciated id be happy to add your name to the info u supply to as this is based on accounts iv found a lot of old diggings are slowley getting lost so my aim is to record tjem all with GPS locations so not only this wont get lost but any shafts ect will have pin point so people know to keep clear or be careful at best id love to also know the best way to get in there via car an foot if possable. And gold den thank you so much for sharing it cool video i love this sort of stuff I'd love to chat to u mate as well on it exp of the gold fields of nsw ect thanks guys hope to chat to u soon

[@ExplorewithmeMarloC]

I love this.. always exciting to search around.. that cave is awesome.

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi EWMMC, Thanks for watching and commenting. It was awesome when you think of how much digging they did. Dennis

[@piratepete609]

“Someone’s had a bit of a dig here”

[@tacocaza]

Those were some neat caves. Thanks for sharing!

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi PB79, Thanks for watching and commenting, Yes very impressive to see the digging they had done. Dennis

[@blueyhanson6253]

I visited a few in the NOWRA area back in the late 60's early 70's. My old 1959 VW Beatle went where modern 4WD's would be scared to go.. Enjoyed many a coldie on the banks of the Shoalhaven River... Memories :)

[@Northwoodsdetectandadventures]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing!

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Was a great explore. near killed me that last hill. I subbed you mate. Dennis

[@ClaytonCountyHistoryHound]

Beautiful area and some cool mines. Thanks for sharing your adventure. Take care.

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi CCHH, Thanks for watching and commenting. Dennis

[@clifflee7461]

Hi used ride our motorbikes though those old mines and those things you found are the ends of the levers of the brake and clutch levers off motorbikes brings back good memories great video Cheers

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi Cliff, Thanks for watching and commenting. Glad to see it brought back memories for you. I bet you had an easier time climbing that last hill to the car park than what I had. Dennis

[@MrLodak]

Looks like a nice area, thanks for sharing it with us.

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi ML. Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes it was a nice area but boy was it steep in places as you can tell by the puffing of this old fart. Dennis

[@Famo59]

Those hills will definitely try you out..LOL.👍 Great job. Cheers Tony.👍🍺🤓⛏

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi F59, Thanks for watching. Yeh mate the bastards did try me out especially the last one. Dennis

[@paulh8179]

Interesting video. Thanks.

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi PGF, Thanks for watching mate and commenting. Dennis

[@burningsandsexploration3711]

Awesome mine caves! Is this in the Blue Mountains? Forgive a silly question. I'm in Nevada, USA. Excellent explore. This is right up my alley. I really enjoyed this.

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi BSE, Not a silly question. The area is on the southern coastal area of NSW. There are mountains which are part of the great diving range (blue mountains) close to the coast. We are about 10 km's west of the city of Nowra. Thanks for watching and commenting. Please subscribe if you haven't and hit the like if you would like. Dennis

[@fernandocapelinha2615]

any gold

[@wvtreasurehunters2319]

Thanks for sharing very cool

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi WVTH, Thanks for watching and commenting, It was nice and cool also in the mines as it was bloody hot outside. Dennis

[@CoilstotheSoil]

Wow, great caves, good video

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi CTTS, Thanks for watching glad that you enjoyed. Dennis

[@muajin]

You got balls. LOL Honestly, I can't see myself going into a mine. You never know wtf will happen. T.T

[@PsychoTB48]

That's a awesome spot mate I would have been detecting right through the mine shafts and the walls mate you may have found a nugget they missed lol. I know you said don't laugh but I couldn't help myself hahaha

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi Blake, HA,HA,AH,

[@dingdong2776]

I've searched and searched and can't find these caves ahhhhhh

[@michaelstevenson3872]

is this the yalwal area?? it's the only reservoir I can see in the area..

[@JacobJulyMetalDetecting]

Nice spot 👍😎

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi JJMD, Thanks for watching and commenting. Dennis

[@RATs62]

if you would have walked left out of the big tunnel, up that track, there's another 3 mines up there. one goes straight through and at the end there is a 20 mtr hole hole straight down,. and another one, you have to climb down an air shaft and two more mine shafts closer to the water.

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi Mate, Thanks for watching and commenting. Yeh did see some other shafts etc down there. Did not see the ones closer to the water, may be next time I have a look. Dennis

[@Bigted3737]

Any gold in that river is it worth doing some panning?

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi Ted, I have never had a go. I know the Shoalhaven river has gold. If you check out Wal&Liz utube channel they do some panning and sluicing in the river up stream and do alright. Also a Facebook account C.P.F.F, NSW Camping prospecting fishing four wheel driving NSW. Nikki Baillie runs the account they may be able to help with some info. Near the mines the river ahs been flooded for a dam. Dennis

[@isabelhollis9580]

Went here last weekend! Did you notice how cold the mines are?

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi Izzy, Thanks for watching and commenting. I was there when it was a bit warmer. All I noticed mate was how bloody unfit I was, and still are. Those hills really stuffed me, How did you handle them. That mine where you could walk through was interesting. Dennis

[@isabelhollis9580]

Gold-Den - Yeah it was quite hard to get up all this hills! Thanks for replying!

[@banteringboomer4280]

the alloy thing apperas to be the handle end from a bike clutch/brake lever

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi SS, Thanks for watching and commenting, you are correct they are off motor bikes. Dennis

[@banteringboomer4280]

@@gold-denprospecting8066 reason i know is i stacked my bike and snapped the clutch lever tip off exactly like you found the ball end bit

[@CoilstotheSoil]

@@banteringboomer4280 school of hard nox right there

[@user-ic9qv2bq3o]

Like 👍👍👍

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi Thanks for watching and commenting. Dennis

[@nswdetecting8520]

Awseome place mate👍👍👍 You should probaly have a crack in them! HH Flynn

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi NSWD, Thanks for watching and commenting, Would like to but not enough time on the day. Dennis

[@caznden]

Looking for Wealth, Good Luck.

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi Dennis, Thanks for watching and commenting. Always looking mate, found nothing so still looking. Merry Christmas. Dennis

[@krisdeus1864]

😁👍👍👍👍

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi, Thanks for supporting my channel by watching and commenting. Dennis

[@user-mf2yu2wz8z]

👍

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi Thanks for watching and supporting my channel. Dennis

[@user-mf2yu2wz8z]

@@gold-denprospecting8066 Oh yes, it stimulates, next year I plan also a couple of raids on the caves. :)

[@graemejordan1487]

good video i think you should stick to flat ground hi hi

[@gold-denprospecting8066]

Hi Graeme, You are possible correct there mate, that was one of the hardest hikes I have had for many years as you could tell. That last hill tested out the old heart. Great to hear from you all's good with you I hope. Dennis