A mineshaft, believed to have once been one of the wealthiest in the world, has fallen through in Sebastopol.
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The mineshaft, located on a non-descript block of land in Grant Street, opened sometime this week.
The Victorian Historical Mineshaft Chasers group member Dean Anthony found out the mine had opened yesterday.
“Someone put me onto it that the mineshaft had fallen through,” Mr Anthony said.
He understands the mineshaft was called the Band of Hope and was one of the wealthiest gold mines.
Mr Anthony said there were more than 4700 mine shafts in Ballarat, but the Sebastopol one was one of the largest.
He said mines were capped in the 1970s and 80s with wooden planks.
When the planks rotted they often fell through.
He said weather would have played a part.
Group co-ordinator Raymo Shaw said members of his crew had gone and inspected the shaft.
The group Facebook page is dedicated to tracking mineshafts in Victoria.
“We go out to different suburbs (that have goldfields history),” Mr Shaw said.
“We have a plan of attack … and go down,” Mr Shaw said.
“I’ve been doing it since I was 10. It’s like an obsession … I always want to know what’s down there.”
Council workers are onsite and are believed to be capping the mineshaft.
City of Ballarat has been contacted for comment.
Olivia Shying
Police and emergency services reporter.
Police and emergency services reporter.
