Long Tunnel Extended Mine

From its mining lease at the northern end of the fabulous Cohen Reef, the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mining Company produced 13.7 tonnes of gold over an operating period of nearly 50 years.

In the period 1885 to 1911 the mine was one of Australia''s principal reef gold producers, being top Victorian producer in six of those years. From 1920 to 1936 the ''Renown'' Mine had very little success. The best results being in 1896 and 1897, the company topped the annual dividend list for the Victorian Reef Miners with $32 million in dividends, when dividends were greater than its paid capital.

Its dividend of about $32 million in present money value amounted to almost 14 times the shareholders'' paid capital.

The mine''s eight and a half kilometres of underground workings extended to a depth of 923 metres below the machinery chamber which in turn is some 150 metres below natural surface. The visitor can see:

- The world renowned Cohens Reef exposed in the workings

- The main adit or tunnel, which from its entrance, extends almost 300 metres to the machinery chamber

- The underground machinery chamber from which a vertical flue rises 152 metres to the surface and also from which an inclined air shaft 125 metres long was driven out to the far side of the hill

- Mine Museum

- Blacksmith''s Shop

- Entrance to Renown Mine

All tours of inspection are accompanied by a guide. Working areas or areas considered to be potentially dangerous are securely fenced off. All accessible areas have been carefully made secure and safe and are subject to regular inspection by qualified engineers and officers of the relevant authorities.