Hydraulic Sluicing

Hydraulic sluicing is a mining method that employs high-pressure jets of water to blast away large areas of earth and wash it down and through a sluice box. Gold gets caught in the sluice, with the remaining slurry washed away. This mining method is extremely effective but causes significant environmental damage and impacts waterways and agricultural operations. Hydraulic sluicing at the Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve was halted in 1890 due to such damage being wrought on the local landscape.

Miners

The goldfields of Heathcote rang to the sounds of 1270 working miners in 1865. Of these, 1200 were European and 70 Chinese. Miners came to the goldfields from across the globe – from Great Britain, Europe, South Africa, China and Chile. Sailors left ships; farmers walked off farms. Wives accompanied many of the men and set themselves up as bar owners, washerwomen or cooks. As the surface gold became scarce, miners moved onto other goldfields, returned to the farms or obtained jobs with the growing deep mining operators.

The ‘cliffs’ themselves are small hills of the remaining granite, riddled with reddish-brown cracks filled with quartz. The quartz became stained with iron-rich solutions, and erosion has led to the moonscape type appearance.

The Colours

The colours of the cliffs change during the day depending on the type of light. There are two lookouts; according to Parks Victoria, the scenic circuit walk takes 30 mins and takes you past both the upper and lower lookouts. Allow a good hour or more if you have a camera in hand 😉 We visited in the middle of the day, but I would love to go back and see them around sunset.

Location

Park in the carpark opposite 68 Pink Cliffs Road, Heathcote and walk in.

The post Heathcote’s Amazing and Historic Pink Cliffs appeared first on Bevlea Ross Photography.

History

Robe is a fishing town and one of the oldest towns in South Australia. Colonists founded it as a seaport and village in 1847. It was named after South Australia’s fourth governor, Major Frederick Robe, South Australia’s business seaport. Only Port Adelaide was busier.

Rockets were stored in the obelisk and were fired out to the ships. Thus creating lifelines back to shore. Baskets were also used to ferry passengers to safety. Later, as it was visible 20 km out to sea, it was used as a navigation beacon. While it’s no longer needed for that purpose, it became, over the years, an icon of the coast.

Due to the crumbling cliffs creeping ever closer to the obelisk, the council has deemed it too costly to repaint or stabilise the cliffs. It also can’t be moved as it was built from many stones that were mortared together. Eventually, the 12m obelisk will fall into the sea and the cliffs below it.

The area is popular with photographers and walking and biking trails. The entrance is free of charge, and good parking is available.

Update

In June 2024, the contact pounding of waves on the rocks around the obelisk could lead to it collapsing into the sea at any time. However, the council has stated there was also a chance it could still be there in 100 years.

While we recognise its profound historical significance, various factors such as cost, environmental impact, practicality and community opinion present significant challenges,” she said

Mayor Lisa Ruffel

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