“Can you hear it?” The echoes of industry long past resonate here at Cheltenham Battery. This isn’t just a place, this is a story etched in time.
Cheltenham Battery stands as a testament to innovation. It showcases early efforts to extract precious metals in New Zealand. The site’s historical significance lies in its pioneering use of the cyanide extraction process.
Imagine the scene in 1888. Mr. Railey established a battery here. Later, the Crown Company took ownership. It became the first in New Zealand to convert to cyanide extraction. This process was revolutionary. It allowed for more efficient gold and silver recovery.
The Cheltenham Battery site faced challenges. Its small size and difficult access hindered its ability to process large volumes of ore. Despite these limitations, the battery played a crucial role. It paved the way for larger operations. A larger Crown battery was established further down the Waitawheta in 1893.
To transport ore, the company built an incline tramway. It stretched from the mine, about 500 feet above the river, down to the battery. In 1889, the Crown Co. introduced the MacArthur-Forrest cyanide extraction process. It had never been used commercially before.
The Cassell Co, owners of the patent, established a plant near the battery. This plant operated until 1893. Then, a larger, more reliable plant opened downstream.
Considerable quantities of fire bricks were found here. Some bore the inscription ‘CARDOWAN’. These bricks came from the Heathfield and Cardowan Fire Clay Co. This company was located in Heathfield and Cardowan, Scotland. It operated from 1852 to 1970. The presence of these bricks speaks to the global connections of this remote site.
The Cheltenham Battery site has several levels. The crusher plant sits lowest, about 30 meters above the main river. A water race, from a dam 400 meters upstream, powered the site. The water race fed a shaft, powering a Pelton wheel at the bottom. This wheel then powered a pulley system back up to the battery.
Merv Grafton, a Thames Coast resident, visited the site many times. He cleared and marked the trail. His efforts helped pinpoint the site using GPS.
The cyanide extraction process, first used here commercially, revolutionized gold mining. It was later used extensively throughout the Ohinemuri goldfields. The Cheltenham Battery site stands as a reminder of this innovation. It marks a turning point in New Zealand’s mining history. Its legacy lives on in the stories and remnants that remain.
Today, as you stand here, you are standing on hallowed ground. You’re standing where the future of gold mining in New Zealand was changed forever.