GOING, GOING, GONE: Ballarat East resident Ivan Bolt in the backyard of his home where a fish pond once stood before a mine shaft collapsed yesterday.
A BALLARAT East man got the shock of his life yesterday when he found a large hole where his fishpond used to be.
Ivan Bolt, 74, returned from buying a newspaper to find part of his Haines St backyard caved in.
The hole was believed to be an old mine shaft.
It was about 2.5m wide, 4m deep and full of water.
In it was Mr Bolt's pond and pet fish.
Mr Bolt said he was lucky he was not in his backyard at the time.
"It was a big shock . . . to think that I walked over there about six times a day," he said.
"I'm glad I wasn't out there that's for sure - `cause I can't swim and I would've gone down the hole and probably gone for my last swim."
The only other near casualty was Mr Bolt's pet dog Barney.
"My little dog, he came out when my wife and I walked out and he ran over to the edge . . . and I just got him back in time," Mr Bolt said.
The hole, which first appeared about 10am, gradually got bigger throughout the day.
The State Emergency Service and a Department of Primary Industries mines inspector examined the scene yesterday afternoon.
Mr Bolt said an engineer would probably look at it today to determine how to fill it.
"If it's done in concrete it's going to cost between $10-15,000, and I just haven't got that money, so I'll have to fill it up myself," he said.
SES regional officer John Hooper said collapsing backyards were uncommon.