Wentworth main mine in operation baling water circa 1930s
The second of the popular Wentworth Mine tours and talks will take place next Sunday, September 7 at 11am. The talks are held in conjunction with Orange City Council. Guest speaker this time will be Professor Warren Somerville, who is well known for his world class fossil and mineral collection. The collection used to be exhibited on his orchard where Harvey Norman now stands and is now much more salubriously displayed in the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in Bathurst.
It is safe to say that no-one knows more of the mines and mineralogy of the Lucknow goldfield than Professor Somerville. He grew up on an orchard on the eastern edge of Orange just a short bicycle ride from Lucknow. From a young age he would ride out and comb the mullock heaps for specimens, and in later years added to these with items he had obtained from other collectors. After attending Orange High School he obtained degrees in engineering, geology and horticulture and lectured brilliantly on a broad range of subjects at Orange TAFE College and to other groups. He is an associate of the Australian Museum and jointly they set up the wonderful exhibition in Bathurst.
The guided tour will start at 11am from beneath the poppet head/headframe and the talk will take place in the old blacksmith’s shop at noon. Participants are welcome to join us for coffee at the Two Fat Ladies, Lucknow, before the event from 10am and at the Goldfields Tavern after the event for lunch. Parking is available at the Two Fat Ladies Coffee Shop or at the picnic area on the northern side of the Wentworth Mine in Emu Swamp Road. The site requires a medium fitness, 300 metre round trip with about 30 steps on gravel surface. The $5 entry fee for adults is payable in the blacksmith’s shop at noon (free entry for children and pensioners). There is a limit of 30 people for the talk.
Bookings are essential. RSVP Phil Stevenson on 0402 412 188, email ibiswines@bigpond.com, or Alison Russell at Orange City Council on 6393 8170, email arussell@orange.nsw.gov.au.